Has anyone here noticed any odd trends?

M

MeekAndMild

New member
[tinfoil hat mode]
I've noticed an odd trend recently. All of a sudden my 'ignore' list is blossoming. Much of this has been the usual trolls who irritate me just before the staff remove them, but not all of them are trolls. More of them are just wearisome, almost like a plaintiff's lawyer trying to win over a hostile witness.

I've seen a large number of new members and even new "senior members" this summer who, while not reeking of Troll, still give a pretty strong odor of Anti. Some relatively innocuous threads seem to have too easily drifted from what appears to be having to explain the basic principles of the political philosophy of RKBA to a need to rehash and rebut tired old DNC rhetoric which uses slightly different words and slightly different phrasiology than last year's rhetoric.

I'm starting to wonder if we are being exploited as a testbed for attack by hard core Anti ideologues or for training of their interns? I'm not talking about the DU "useful idiots", or the British "true believers" who drop in from time to time, but rather wondering if we might be playng host to the ones who formulate Anti policies?

[/tinfoil hat mode]
 
M&M-
Noted, not as to positions, but as to manner of arguments....on both sides.

We value language and logic at TFL. If one cannot back up an argument with clear written dialog, reasonable spelling, grammar and punctuation; If one cannot support a "proclamation" with source; well, then, "one" is simply background "noise".

There isn't much Staff can do about slothful reasoning, spelling or grammar. But we are about to do something in regards to gutter delivery...at least here in L&P.

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/announcement.php?f=18
Rich
 
Perhaps Testing/Agents in Place for Elections

I am also in tinfoil hat mode. Having said that, I wonder if they are 'testing our rifles' or doing a stealth recon now, with the purpose of shutting down the site for the next election or the next Presidential election.

I intend to use this forum as a board to post suggestions for pro-RKBA activities in every election cycle, both state and Federal. I also intend to check it often in the weeks before elections and on election day to find candidates who need monetary or volunteer help, to use locally ideas posted here, to find out what dirty tricks are being used at polling places, etc.

Is it too paranoid to imagine the opposition would set up hundreds of accounts and then overwhelm the site with dummy messages in the days before an election? That way the site is effectively shut down BUT there was no hacking or ISP attack, which would be a criminal offense. The net result (no pun intended) would be the same.

I don't have the technical expertise to do a good Threat Analysis and it may be that the ISP/Site can handle a hundred thousad hits a minute. Still, this is worth thinking about.
 
I think the staff here does a good job of eliminating the chaff.....nice site here. You can agree to disagree in a civil tone. Some folks have told me that I should bend a little in views on firearms ownership.... I see what bending has done in the UK, Canada and Austraila. Just going to bend into the wind instead of letting it blow me back.
 
I don't think there's any "conspiracy" here as such. The recent problem posts seem to be (in part) new, young folks. The "buzz words" give them away (along with some obvious immaturity). I'm very glad to hear it's being dealt with. I have to listen to gutter language on the job every day, and it's refreshing to be able to come here and interact with mature, intelligent folks that can articulate in more than 4 letter words, even when we don't agree :D .
 
An Utterly Off Topic Aside...

Even the strongest oak must bend to the winds of fate.
Click to expand...

This is a heck of a day to come across that quotation. One year ago today, all my big oaks fell down before the winds of Charlie. They don't bend. They break or just get uprooted.

Cypress trees, it turns out, bend like grass, but never break or fall over. Even the really big ones will just bend. I'd recommend them for your quotation.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled forum...
 
With so many people from different backgrounds, there are going to be differences of opinion, and while it can be annoying to have to argue a point, it is supposed to be a good thing. I always like to try to see another point of view and get to facts I wouldn't otherwise have read about. We don't have to agree :)
Are anti-gun folks hiding out here? I'm sure some visit, but i doubt we are the victims of a conspiracy (in this case!).
 
Rich, thanks for putting in

reasonable spelling, grammar and punctuation
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I should know to work on this problem, I used to be allot better at it, I've let myself go.

I noticed the sticky and agree. I am just as guilty to "letting myself go" on my choice of language. I was getting tired of seeing the four *'s, we all know what they are and it was getting out of hand.

In order to try to be better, I will start running Word again and checking my spelling.

As for the trends, I've noticed that also. I don't use the ignore lists though, I find that I like to debate with folks and those that are, well, trolls I just don't read the posts by them. Those that are "semi" trolls, I'll read them and then read what others better than I have to say to "blow them out of the water" :D.

Wayne
 
The greatest danger of the echo chambers is unjustified extremism. It's a well known fact that if you get a group of people who tend to think alike, after they talk to each other, they end up thinking a more extreme version of what they thought before. And the danger of that is you can make a situation where mutual understanding is difficult, and people don't appreciate but instead demonize those who disagree with them.
Click to expand...

The above is a brief description of the echo chamber effect. The theory is that if like minded individuals talk only to each other that they become more and more extreme in whatever it is they are like minded about. For instance liberals would become extreme liberals if all they did was associate with each other. They need to talk to conservatives (and vice versa) to keep from becoming ridiculously extreme. Same thing with conservatives, or 2nd ammendment folks.

BUT, I have not seen a lot of evidence of that on this board, some but not a lot. There does tend to be some demonizing from time to time, but the moderators are good about keeping it between the lines. There are a lot of varying opinions on this board, and that is a good thing. It is a good thing for all of us.
 
I agree, the language lately is getting out of hand.
And the staff should monitor and govern the language and conduct.

But I think the sticky should not be there.... kinda makes us all look like uncontrollable heathens.
 
Trends

Trends are like my Uncle Henry's thoughts on autos, when he owned a Ford, everything else was junk, then he got a Chevvy and ditto, ditto.

All you have to do is bring up your preferences upon 9mm vs. .45ACP, 1911s vs, others, knockdown power and you will be labeled everything but a milk cow, some might award you four udders and call you that! But we must never forget that opinions are like hineys, we all have one.
 
I have noticed that I personally have felt that my pub has been visited by some ruffians. I am familiar with language and I prefer not to use foul or cutting words. I hate inane cartoons. I prefer to debate. Eoropeans and especially the British speak freely and openly, fine with me. My favourite experiences and some lasting friendships have been found in pub discussions. I think of TFL as my local. Gentlemen and women welcome but, there are children here too. I suggest no actions or words that would reflect poorly on your parents or embarass the children. Even vicars spend time in here.
 
Guest and new comers will look down upon the forum in my opinion.
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Can't agree there, BC. It's more like guests and newcomers will look down on us if they DIDN'T address the situation. Spelling it out in big, bold letters sends the message that here is finally a forum that cares about its content and won't tolerate degenerate behavior. The sticky may drive some off (don't let the door hit 'em in the behind on the way out! :eek: :D ), but it will draw others of the type we all like to see here.
 
It is a sad state of affairs when we resort to vulgarities rather than the rest of the english language to express ourselves. Expletives do have a place - they help to express an extreme feeling, but if there are kids around then I think we can all refrain.
The single most annoying thing on this forum is the current trend of people taking issue with every minor point someone has to make. I see thread deteriorate into mudslinging which started out as "which ??? do you like best" etc.
Lets express ourselves, have opinions, but try not to offend eachother unnecessarily.
 
Well, that is a relief that nobody believes we're being invaded by a bunch of junior Soros and Bradys sharpening their pens for an assault! I was getting really frantic for a little while 'cause the dog ate my tinfoil hat while I was out at the store. :eek:
 
I have noticed the writing styles of some of the more aggressively intolerant types from THR as new members here lately, although a little more toned down than they were over there
 
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