I think it all comes down to Walter's character. That is to ask; was he honest (a bit radical, perhaps even crazy) or just a dreaming wanna bee? I believe he was in Nam because if he was just making up stories I think the Dude, having known him for years, would call him out on stories he knew were bullshit coming from Walter. That is, of course, assuming the Dude knew Walter rather well, which it appears that he did.

The Dude had no problem calling Walter out when he would begin to talk shit......

"Walter, come off it. You're not even fucking Jewish"

Also, at Donny's funeral, Walter seems to go into some detail about the battles he has been in........

"In your wisdom you took him, Lord. As you took so many bright flowering young men, at Khe San and Lan Doc and Hill 364"

And, his famous speech (more like a typical Walter outburst) in the Family Restaurant, indicates that he was there........

"Lady, I got buddies who died face- down in the muck so you and I could enjoy this family restaurant!"

So, yes, it does look like Walter had "some time out in the shit" as dude's who were in Nam often called it.

...the man in the black pajamas.

And another thing.If you weren't there,how can you challenge someone who was?

To keep it simple; I know of no reason to believe that Walter was not in Nam, and never rolled out naked.

I can't think of any reason he wouldn't have been. Just because Hill 364 was called "Party Hill" or whatever doesn't mean there wasn't any fighting to take it in the first place. And as stated before, I bet The Dude would've called him out if he wasn't there.

i disagree that the dude folded like a piss soaked rug when confronted by aggression. he was remarkably cool and collected while being attacked by the thugs and until the marmot started clawing at his johnson, he didn't show fear in the face of the nihilists. he talks back to virtually everyone who gives him shit. throwing punches around wouldn't have helped him against the cop or the thugs or the big lebowski or the nihilists.

truth is, most physical fights are best avoided. i dabbled in martial arts for several years (thai boxing, brazilian jiu jitsu, kick boxing, krav maga) and decided to stop because it made me more aggressive. suddenly i found myself nearly getting in fights because i wanted to test my new powers. i was going around wrestling with people who didn't want to be wrestled or thrown into arm-bars. i think if you live in a dangerous neighborhood or in medieval japan then being a "warrior" would come in handy. but even if the dude were adept at anything more aggressive than tai chi, he wouldn't have improved his situation one iota.

moreover if walter had just given a few bucks to the dipshits he wouldn't have gotten stabbed or lost donny. one could argue that the nihilists had been taught a lesson and wouldn't so easily pick on unarmed saps. we had a similar discussion before about this of course. i think the scene is telling because it's not so cut and dry. one definitely feels a sense of pride in walter's dispatching of the dipshits, but one might argue that that emotional reaction (which every action movie preys upon) is a genetic anachronism. remember that before civilization some 50 percent of men died in combat with other tribes because of this testosterone fueled mania. may have been necessary then, but now it's responsible for a shitload of misery and bad decisions.

furthermore, let's not confuse real hippies with fashionista hippies. the real hippies were brave souls who stood up to their government in a way that is sorely lacking today. the dude and his ilk tried to make a difference. the fact that they failed (partially) is not testament to their weakness. it's a testament to the unlimited resources of the powers that be and the seduction of creature comforts and status. which the dude bravely eschews. it is a watered down and weakened form of heroism, but it's the only one within reach. The same conclusion was reached by Voltaire in Candide. You're never going to beat city hall. So tend to your own little garden party.

i disagree that the dude folded like a piss soaked rug when confronted by aggression. he was remarkably cool and collected while being attacked by the thugs and until the marmot started clawing at his johnson, he didn't show fear in the face of the nihilists. he talks back to virtually everyone who gives him shit. throwing punches around wouldn't have helped him against the cop or the thugs or the big lebowski or the nihilists.

truth is, most physical fights are best avoided. i dabbled in martial arts for several years (thai boxing, brazilian jiu jitsu, kick boxing, krav maga) and decided to stop because it made me more aggressive. suddenly i found myself nearly getting in fights because i wanted to test my new powers. i was going around wrestling with people who didn't want to be wrestled or thrown into arm-bars. i think if you live in a dangerous neighborhood or in medieval japan then being a "warrior" would come in handy. but even if the dude were adept at anything more aggressive than tai chi, he wouldn't have improved his situation one iota.

moreover if walter had just given a few bucks to the dipshits he wouldn't have gotten stabbed or lost donny. one could argue that the nihilists had been taught a lesson and wouldn't so easily pick on unarmed saps. we had a similar discussion before about this of course. i think the scene is telling because it's not so cut and dry. one definitely feels a sense of pride in walter's dispatching of the dipshits, but one might argue that that emotional reaction (which every action movie preys upon) is a genetic anachronism. remember that before civilization some 50 percent of men died in combat with other tribes because of this testosterone fueled mania. may have been necessary then, but now it's responsible for a shitload of misery and bad decisions.

furthermore, let's not confuse real hippies with fashionista hippies. the real hippies were brave souls who stood up to their government in a way that is sorely lacking today. the dude and his ilk tried to make a difference. the fact that they failed (partially) is not testament to their weakness. it's a testament to the unlimited resources of the powers that be and the seduction of creature comforts and status. which the dude bravely eschews. it is a watered down and weakened form of heroism, but it's the only one within reach. The same conclusion was reached by Voltaire in Candide. You're never going to beat city hall. So tend to your own little garden party.

He had his head stuffed into a toilet.
Had his personal living space invaded by Nihilists and his possessions destroyed.
He met with Jackie Treehorn who he knew had ordered the rug pissers and he treated him like a gentleman and he was willing to give his money to the Nihilists. He never once made any effort whatsoever to stand up for himself.
He consistently pussied out over and over.
Call it a philosophy if you like but as far as I'm concerned he's a hypocrite.
When dealing with a 15 year old he didn't shy away from threatening to cut off his Johnson and when dealing with a fat little brother shamus he was willing to fight.
It's only when he is in danger that he does as always. Pussies out.
If they had given money to the Nihilists they would have bled them dry.
they never would have left them alone. Those men are cowards Donnie.
Across this line you do not....
Avoiding a fight in a Bar with some wise ass is much different than taking it up with someone who enters your home and stuffs your face into the toilet.
There is no excuse except cowardice. Not philosophical or practical.
He was to afraid of getting hurt to take a stand for his own person and property.
I have no respect.

yeah, he was a shithead when dealing with little larry. his nadir indeed.

but i disagree that he pussied out. you can't fight a cop, or three nihilists with an attack ferret. or with a sword. plus, it's not cool endangering others by starting a group fight. walter insisted they fight and donny and dude were obliged to do what they saw no need to do. and he couldn't win against the muscular thugs even if he was still holding the bowling ball.

bikerdude, you've got lots of good ideas but i just can't understand this machismo. it betrays your otherwise estimable record of logical, humanistic thinking. doesn't add up. why is it so important to engage in fisticuffs when there is nothing to be gained?

Well that's your opinion.
I don't know when he was gonna fight a cop.
But you fight anyone who invades your personal residence. Period end of story.
It's not a question of winning or losing. Maybe one could make a case for giving money to a mugger.
But not the nihilists.
The Nihilists were all show. Anybody could see that.
If the only time a person is willing to fight is when they feel secure in winning they are nothing but a bully.
Just another type of coward.
You have to be willing to get your ass kicked from time to time fighting for yourself. It's the essence of being a man.
It's not just a pair of testicles.
This is not machismo. This is bottom line.
Beyond this point a person abdicates the right to absorb oxygen.
To act like the Dude in the face of danger is shameful.
I deny that this is in any way illogical. It is backed by a good deal of philosophical background.
For instance Socrates and Aristotle. The Greeks are pretty clear about it.
Read the republic.
And even beyond that I find it consistent with an aesthetic principle.
I don't believe that our attitudes about ourselves are arbitrary. Some things are innate. Like our expectations for genders. Yes they are influenced by society but as a general rule they remain pretty consistent. You just don't find societies where the women are the hunters and warriors. Aesthetically I find this kind of cowardice in a man disgusting. I simple find that a willingness to confront injustice is irreplaceable in the male character.
A lack of it is personally disgusting. It simply turns my stomach to see an example of such a "shadow of a man."
I feel that I stand on a long tradition of philosophical discourse when making that stand.