Ageism in Firearms/Sporting Activities

[SideShow Bob]

Haha I wish, all I can grow are some mean sideburns.

Grab the wife’s/girlfriends eyebrow pencil & fill in the blank spots....

[ChickNorris]

I'm not without empathy or understanding.

I have my own related 'ism' troubles but won't usurp the thread.

Not a range bunny is my next title

[Scanker19]

I'm of the opinion that any time someone claims something is "______ism/ist" They are simply using their own preconceived notions to explain their grievances. They think people don't like young people or women or colored people. Young shooters, by definition, are generally less experienced, therefore are usually keep under a more watchful eye. Women shooters, typically, are less experienced because there are simply less women shooters. To not acknowledge that these are things that just exist, is obtuse.

Are there experienced younger shooters? yes. Are there experienced women shooters? Of course. Are there inexperienced older men shooters yes. To say otherwise is similar to using the God of Gaps fallacy but with "isms" rather than god.

If i read your post right you bought a rifle and they wouldn't sell you ammo for it? Because you "looked too young." Sorry but i`m calling bullshit on that. Unless you mistook we won't sell .22 PISTOL ammo to someone too young. that does happen usually though ignorance of of the clerk.

People will have preconceived notions about others based on reality. I used to wonder why people would follow around a young mexican in a hoodie (me) around their stores, then it dawned on my oh because white guys in suits aren't shoplifting from them. We all do it. I do it, even you, though maybe not willing to admit it, do it.

[hobowh]

Carry some metamucil bars in your range bag. If someone says something you feel is "ageist", pull one out and say, "If you want to give me shit, you'll need to eat this first. Don't forget to drink water with it, gramps." If they laugh, they're cool. If they throw a fit, ask where their nursing home handler is.

Now that's funny. I've seen it too. For my part I try to invite the younger shooters over to shoot whatever I brought with me that day, if for no other reason than they can make a more informed decision on what they do/don't want next. It's my way of repaying what a few of the old guys at Golden Gun club did for me early on.

[CS1983]

You're so foxtrotist.

[ChickNorris]

Um, not going to muck with your ideology, much.

Giggle snort

[UrbanWolf]

27 now, I started buying guns and ammo in my late teens and never have had people deny me sales because of it. Sure there are a few grumpy guys who doesn’t like to talk to me in gun shops here and there, but you get the same kind of people everywhere.

[UrbanWolf]

By the way, I really wouldn’t consider Walmart and Big 5 employees part of the firearms sport community, they are just another min-wage worker who said they have experience with guns and got the job.

[nelson]

It exists, yes, but only at the hands of certain personalities; it's not a broad stroke. While I am older than you by a bit, I owned a firearm-associated business continuously since I was probably younger than you. My best tip is to not let it bother you, and instead find some amusement in it, as the truth of the matter is it is a circumstance that is outside of our control. There is DEFINITELY a presumptive bias in age with firearms in the business context; I overcame it by avoiding the issue entirely. E.g. act older than you are, and people won't generally notice. (Maybe you are cursed with the face of a twelve year old or something though, I don't know). It was amusing when those who I had worked with for years did realize my age.

It also exists somewhat, but less so in a general shooting context. Truth is, people like to associate with themselves - e.g. same age, interests, etc., think of it as cliques in school. If you go to a range full of 65yo guys, you're going to be getting side-eye. You'll also get it if you go to a dance studio full of 45yo yoga instructors. Or if you go to a range full of nothing but 20-something women. If you don't fit into the clique, don't expect acceptance.

People often misinterpret or over analyze situations as well, example: Minority getting pulled over for a traffic stop, officer is an asshole. Minority assumes it to be racist, when truth in fact, that specific officer is just an asshole to everyone. This is why it's important not to have a "I'm being discriminated against" mindset, as it gives you a type of cognitive dissonance that lets you recast many of the sucky experiences of life that everyone suffers into being instead, some kind of oppression. People aren't fair, but it's important to cast our mental processes right - don't assume oppression, ignore it - as cognitive dissonance is a trap that will harm your interpretation of the world and limit your success in life.

Many minorities of all types would find themselves more successful if they adopted that realization. Life sucks, most of the time, it isn't for the reasons they want to be. [people are simply assholes to everyone]

Good perspective here, quite helpful. Truth be told I do let it bother me so if I simply just didn't let it get under my skin then I'd probably have a better time.

[nelson]

By the way, I really wouldn’t consider Walmart and Big 5 employees part of the firearms sport community, they are just another min-wage worker who said they have experience with guns and got the job.

Totally agree.. ignorant 18-19 year old me didn't realize this, as soon as I switched to LGS it's been a much better experience.