What is wrong with The Firing Line

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Mark Freburg

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(This is likely to tick off some of you, so if you're in a rotten mood maybe you shouldn't read it.)

What is wrong with The Firing Line is also wrong with much of the Internet: too much use of screen names. Okay, what with AOL (aka "Romper Room On Line") having been a huge influence on the Internet in general, the use of screen names is understandable, but when it comes to firearms I just can't see it.

Firearms are a serious subject, even when enjoying light-hearted, "hobby" type discussions. Why is everyone so afraid to use their name? How do we take people serious in serious discussions when they are using some goofy screen name? Frankly this puts me off to the point of not wanting to read messages or offer comments posted by people named "BIG GUN," "DR BLAB," "KOCKED&LOCKED," etc. For all we know they are just kids up past their bedtime...

If you are the type of self-reliant individual who takes his freedom and security seriously, surely you don't really need to hide behind a screen name, do you?

I'd sure love to find a forum that doesn't allow such silliness, but I won't hold my breathe.

Okay, I'm off the soapbox, take your best shot.... :)

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Mark
 
TFL was the first forum I ever frequented. Knowing what I know now, I would have used my real name, like I've done on every forum since. I am no longer afraid to tell people who I am when it comes to RKBA.

I guess I could change my name on here. Many people have done it, but I think TFL is now set up for only one Email entry?? Isn't it Rich?

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Shooter's Enrichment Forum
 
Mark,

Given the number of people on the internet, it's a sure thing there are some
nutty ones - some of whom could be dangerous.

Many people feel the need for the added security provided by an alias. "If
you can't find me, you can't hurt me."

This is similar to some people who feel the need for the added security
provided by a firearm.

True, some folks hide behind an alias to protect themselves from the results
of inappropriate behavior. Here on TFL, we have ways of tracking them down
and/or keeping them out - so their attempt at anonymity usually fails.

OTOH, the use of a user name is not the result of any TFL policy or
suggestion. Therefore, if there is something “wrong” with user names, it
pertains to each individual - not TFL.

Good question, Mark.

(BTW, “Dennis” is my real name! :D )
 
I aint going to shoot you or flame you...
Prepare to be educated!

Screen Names: This is important to many people. To me at first as well. There are those that like to wear a "mask" if you will for personal comfort reasons. Being able to voice opinion without the guy next door knowing who you are is helpfull... Especially if what you say is generally held as unpopular. Firearms are very unpopular and many do not want to get listed and become potential targets for antigun activists. Also - do you think Firearm industry people would be willing to advertise personal opinions and risk such personal opinions as being construde as company opinion? We have a couple guys that use real names... But dont expect Bill Ruger to post under his real name... "Hey Mr Ruger - I got one of you pistols and have an issue..." Get my drift?

It sounds like you have been to some other "Gun Forums" and have a bad taste in your mouth. Understandable.
Here is your solution.
Wash your mouth out, sit back, relax, and read. Your new and dont seem to be a long time lurker. If you were to read enough to really get the feel for TFL - you will find we are on a whole other level from other sites... such as AR15.com or weaponsforums.com or the dreaded shooters.com forums... (shudder)
We dont tolerate slander, flaming, undocumented rumor-mill trash, trolling, etc.
We share validated information, higher brow opinion, and ocassionally some humor.
If you cant handle that - whats wrong with you?


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Rome did not create a great empire by having meetings; they did it by killing all those who opposed them.
 
I use my name on TFL and a couple of other forums. I use a nick in others. Don't really see how it detracts or enhances the discourse...esp. since my tagline links to my site with the real name mentioned.

OTOH, a guy with nick "ho's down, pimp's up" got a poor reception at Ms. Magazine forum...maybe there's a lesson in that.

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Oleg "cornered rat" Volk (JPFO,NRA)

http://dd-b.net/RKBA
 
Mark, I guess I don't really understand why this deal bothers you. Why would you WANT to know someone by their real name if you are just casually talking about a particular subject like guns, knives, or cooking for that matter. I see no problem with people using handles. If they don't want to be bothered by some anti that would like to threaten them or their family for their beliefs. Or some psycho that just wants to target someone off the internet. In this day and age, unfortunately, since there is so much of this stuff going on we have to protect ourselves and loved ones. It's not only smarter but it's just safer to not throw all your info out there for all to see. Are you asking for us all to go by a first name basis or do you need our entire given name? If you are just talking first names, well mine is Chris. How many Chris's do you know? I know about 100 and also can promise you that there is at least 1 other registered in this forum. If we went by a first name then that could get to be a little confusing. These screen names help to tell us apart more than anything.

[This message has been edited by HukeOKC (edited April 12, 2000).]
 
Mark, you lead the way. First, post your address, telephone number, and occupation.

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"I don't believe in individualism, Peter. I don't believe that any one man is any one thing which everybody else can't be. I believe that we are all equal and interchangeable."--Ellsworth Toohey
 
I've been feeling a bit silly about my screen name for... oh, about the last 1100 posts that I've made. But I'm not going to change it any time soon-- too many people know "Long Path," but wouldn't know "Matt Guest." So I stick with it... for awhile. (Guess that I haven't got the guts of Don Gwinn ("Gwinnydapooh"), or Oleg Volk ("Cornered Rat"), or George Hill ("Kodiac"); I like my current identity.

Why did I start with this silliness? Because I didn't know the people here. I was posting on a board I'd barely even lurked on, and was pretty durned sure that I didn't want to be discussing my guns and my experiences with them on a public forum. After all, I'm in the phone book.... dig?

But I've met so many wonderful people here, and so few dorks, that I'm comfortable with people knowing who I am. It's all in my Profile, if you care. But I doubt you do. :)

Now, what kinds of weighty, serious-type firearms discussions are planning to get into around here, fella? :) :D

Fire away! The "Submit" button is weapons-hot.

L.P./M.G.
 
Mark Freburg:

First, welcome to TFL. I hope your participation in this palladium of firearms forums will continue for more than two days, in the belief that you will not find our pseudonyms off-putting in the future.

My TFL nom de plume carries a lot of RKBA significance, and I like to think that use of a pseudonym in our cause carries on a tradition - you have heard of The Federalist, yes?

Any TFL member who wants my true name can have it by even exchange - send me an e-mail with your true name, and I will reply with mine.

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Slowpoke Rodrigo...he pack a gon...

Vote for the Neal Knox 13

[This message has been edited by Slowpoke_Rodrigo (edited April 12, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Slowpoke_Rodrigo (edited April 12, 2000).]
 
Svt stands for the FULL initials to my real name. My signature links to my website, which has my real name, Son. Why do you need to know my full name? Do you want to call me up or visit my house like we were old friends? Sorry, whether you use “Cocked and Locked” or some other alias, it doesn’t matter as long as you can carry on an intelligent conversation. If my initials aren't good enough to discuss a complete disassembly of various firearms, high points, low points of various firearms, then I guess I'm just a kid that knows enough about RKBA and guns. Um, if that were the case, I'd be damn proud if I had a kid that knew enough about firearms, politics and is willing to discuss it with strangers. I'd care less about what name he uses on an online forum. Age shouldn’t matter, content is what counts.

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Svt
1911 Addiction
1911 Forums
"Rangers Lead the Way!"
 
For me a handle on the internet is a carryback to the CB days... Now I've gone and dated myself... I've always thought that it was kind of fun to see all the various ideas people come up with for handles. Most tend to reflect their personality. As to knowing who someone is, after time, getting to know someone, you will find out their true names.



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Richard

The debate is not about guns,
but rather who has the ultimate power to rule,
the People or Government.
RKBA!
 
I think my handle may be one in you category :D. When I first came here I was still sitting on the fence shall we say, so I didn't feel any reason to give my real name. Many know my name is Sandy but I don't feel comfortable saying my last name. So as George says maybe it is a mask :D If you knew me my handle really does fit me well :D Don't let Dennis tell you different, there really is a halo above my head :D.

Welcome aboard! :D

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Sandys' Homepage
RKBA forums
We are as one as we all are the same fighting for one cause -Metallica
 
On the Compuserve Firearms forum where Mark was manager, you were required to use your full name and preferably your state. I was Greg Graham/TX. There was a smaller close-knit membership there and it worked pretty well. Here with over 5,000 members, it would be difficult to regulate that kind of thing and I wouldn't want to. Screen names don't bother me. If you have been on this forum for any length of time you will see everyone develops a distinct personna whether it is a handle or a real name. You know who is serious and who is knowledgeable. I use the screen name Greg G because I couldn't think of anything clever when I first joined.

Also, Slowpoke, Did anyone ever guess the RKBA significance of your name?
 
I started with an alias and then switched over. The deal is, it's a hassle to switch because an administrator has to delete the old account. Because TFL is so careful about making sure you can't be anonymous enough to spam at will, you can't change the account yourself and you can't just go out and get a hotmail account (I tried.)

By the time I changed mine I'd been thinking about it for awhile, but I probably still wouldn't have bothered with it if people hadn't kept referring to me with feminine pronouns. :D My old nick was apparently somewhat ambiguous to many people. Other than that, I didn't see what the big deal about the nicks were. If you're a real member of the community, your nickname IS a real name. When I was at the BLADE show with some members of Bladeforums, we were all introduced but no one was using anything but their screen names. We are a community and no one saw the need to use a "real" name because the screen name was good enough among friends.

Besides, TFL is the kind of place where you can get away with using a real name; I wouldn't use it at AR15 or a few other places.
 
Greg G:

Yes, EQUALIZER understood the significance perfectly and won a JPFO membership.

I have been remiss in that I did not repost in that thread to announce the winner, for which I blame Gulf War Syndrome.

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Slowpoke Rodrigo...he pack a gon...

Vote for the Neal Knox 13
 
I like the color of the screen names, although I took the boring approach of my first name. (I do sign many posts with my nick name and SigForum screen name of Roon.)

I miss gwinnydapooh a whole lot, as well as Kodiac. (Don and George are great folk regardless of their 'handles'.)

One think that does 'irk' me a bit is when someone starts flaming and then you notice they don't allow email. These folks are, for the most part, relatively new. My feeling is that if you're going to dish it out, you should be willing to receive it in like kind, without clogging up the forums.

Roon
 
My handel = 12-34 designated number i got when i started with the sheriifs department; Hom = first three letters of my last name.

I'm not hiding anything, and if you want my full name and where i live it's all right in my profile here on TFL. Content is whats important here and quality also. Many learned people here Mark so sit back and enjoy the ride!!
 
I agree with those who are cautious about putting their real names on the open internet, particularly when dealing with a controversial subject such as gun control. There are too many nuts with too much time on their hands that could make your life a living hell with very little effort on their part if they knew your name and where you lived.
That said, I use the same handle on every forum in which I participate.
 
If you worked in my city 5 years ago, you'd know who I am by the call sign (now obsolete but I've grown attached to it). The street people know me by my first name and I always insisted on first name basis with them.

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Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt
 
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