OK, maybe I am paranoid but why is it that over the last few months, I have seen an increasing number of threads (on all forums, not just here) started by new folks, as evidenced by their low post count, asking about something illegal or otherwise enticing the membership to admit to doing something illegal, unsafe, or unsavory.
Here’s some examples:
Illegal:
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161290
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=160566
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161190
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=121340
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161290&page=1&pp=25
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=163228
Unsafe:
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=142362&highlight=SHTF
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159324
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=163559
Unsavory (in my opinion, of course):
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=123894
http://forum.saiga-12.com/index.php?showtopic=3918&hl=
As much as I sympathise with the starter of thefiringline #163228, its still bad press for us to the anti-2A’s- and most importantly to the fence sitting public!.
Here are some posts that for one reason or another just make me go “hmmmm…” and get a suspicious feeling in my gut. They still impact our image so I include them in this post.
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=163628
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=163614
163614 just made me shake my head.
OUR IMAGE IS EVERYTHING right now. We need people to see our undentable armor of class, gentlemanliness (and gentlewomanliness), tolerance, polite manners, level-headed, peaceful, and law abiding nature so that when the traitor senators introduce the new AWB and other laws, people check the forums and see a bunch of respectable folks whose character cannot be assailed.
Think they wont check the forums? Ever since some news cast reported us BY NAME for smashing a gun poll, people have been lurking who have not before. See story here:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=127194&highlight=poll
and
http://www.harktheherald.com/module...article&sid=48258&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
The firearms forums are now more in the public eye than ever! Maybe that’s where all the new posters are coming from? Again, I dunno.
There are others of course, but from folks with HUUUGE post counts: so they are unlikely trolls. A real troll wouldn’t have the patience to post hundreds or thousands of times before revealing itself. But they still dealt with: how drunk I’m going to get on some holiday, of which country I’d like to nuke, or who was nearly hit by a bullet with his/her most recent negligent discharges. Some forums are unmoderated, so the stuff really flies in there! Unmoderated discussions have their place, to be sure. I wouldn’t do away with them.
I guess I am a really boring guy.
Now, please, PLEASE listen (read): if you are one of the posters or responders in a thread above I mean no offense to sincere posts- none whatsoever. I very much DO mean to rat out trolls, however: especially ones who ask me if I do illegal things.
Despite that apology, I expect A LOT of flames/hate mail/ etc from people who will think I am insulting them. I can only say I am sorry once again.
I can see someone posting on DU or on CNN speaking for the Anti-2A lobby that ‘firearm owners self admit to illegal carry of concealed weapons, unsafe firearm handling, shooting under the influence of alcohol, illegal manufacture of machine guns, etc.’ and using that gleefully to further the bad press against us. If so, it could be used as serious bad publicity ammo to drum up support for the next sweeping ban.
Frankly, it would be very successful at that!
So as for me, I’ll try to present the boring, responsible image my grandma would be proud of.
I sure am not perfect, never have been. On some forums my post count isn’t very high at all. I have posted questions regarding illegal things- for info only, or for how to AVOID it. My concern is when someone asks you if you ever DO anything illegal – a serious difference!!
I am not against having a good time, having a drink, carrying for defense, etc- but now, more than EVER, our public image is vital to our legislative success. Just want folks to remember that on public boards.
Carry on,
C-
Here’s some examples:
Illegal:
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161290
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=160566
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161190
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=121340
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161290&page=1&pp=25
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=163228
Unsafe:
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=142362&highlight=SHTF
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159324
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=163559
Unsavory (in my opinion, of course):
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=123894
http://forum.saiga-12.com/index.php?showtopic=3918&hl=
As much as I sympathise with the starter of thefiringline #163228, its still bad press for us to the anti-2A’s- and most importantly to the fence sitting public!.
Here are some posts that for one reason or another just make me go “hmmmm…” and get a suspicious feeling in my gut. They still impact our image so I include them in this post.
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=163628
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=163614
163614 just made me shake my head.
OUR IMAGE IS EVERYTHING right now. We need people to see our undentable armor of class, gentlemanliness (and gentlewomanliness), tolerance, polite manners, level-headed, peaceful, and law abiding nature so that when the traitor senators introduce the new AWB and other laws, people check the forums and see a bunch of respectable folks whose character cannot be assailed.
Think they wont check the forums? Ever since some news cast reported us BY NAME for smashing a gun poll, people have been lurking who have not before. See story here:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=127194&highlight=poll
and
http://www.harktheherald.com/module...article&sid=48258&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
The firearms forums are now more in the public eye than ever! Maybe that’s where all the new posters are coming from? Again, I dunno.
There are others of course, but from folks with HUUUGE post counts: so they are unlikely trolls. A real troll wouldn’t have the patience to post hundreds or thousands of times before revealing itself. But they still dealt with: how drunk I’m going to get on some holiday, of which country I’d like to nuke, or who was nearly hit by a bullet with his/her most recent negligent discharges. Some forums are unmoderated, so the stuff really flies in there! Unmoderated discussions have their place, to be sure. I wouldn’t do away with them.
I guess I am a really boring guy.
Now, please, PLEASE listen (read): if you are one of the posters or responders in a thread above I mean no offense to sincere posts- none whatsoever. I very much DO mean to rat out trolls, however: especially ones who ask me if I do illegal things.
Despite that apology, I expect A LOT of flames/hate mail/ etc from people who will think I am insulting them. I can only say I am sorry once again.
I can see someone posting on DU or on CNN speaking for the Anti-2A lobby that ‘firearm owners self admit to illegal carry of concealed weapons, unsafe firearm handling, shooting under the influence of alcohol, illegal manufacture of machine guns, etc.’ and using that gleefully to further the bad press against us. If so, it could be used as serious bad publicity ammo to drum up support for the next sweeping ban.
Frankly, it would be very successful at that!
So as for me, I’ll try to present the boring, responsible image my grandma would be proud of.
I sure am not perfect, never have been. On some forums my post count isn’t very high at all. I have posted questions regarding illegal things- for info only, or for how to AVOID it. My concern is when someone asks you if you ever DO anything illegal – a serious difference!!
I am not against having a good time, having a drink, carrying for defense, etc- but now, more than EVER, our public image is vital to our legislative success. Just want folks to remember that on public boards.
Carry on,
C-