Observations on Forum Etiquette and Life in General

[thane]

I've only been here a couple of weeks, but I've noticed a few habits some people tend to have around these forums.

First off, a little background about myself to provide some context for these observations.

I started shooting when I was five years old, using a bolt action .22 my late father gave me for my birthday. I seemed to have a nack for it, so by the time I was eight I was involved in competition trap shooting. My dad was an avid gun collector and shooter, and novice gunsmith, so I had the privilege of shooting a wide variety of calibers and configurations, and the habit has carried on into my adult life. I love to shoot, I love guns as both a hobby and a method of survival/self defense.

My natural talents and intellect however, lead me to pursue a career in business, where I've enjoyed personal success and satisfaction. I still shoot in my free time and read about weapons as time permits, but I don't have near the time I used to, nor the ability to aggregate the hands on experience or knowledge of an LEO/FFL/Gunsmith/Military person.

Do you care about my life story? I doubt it.

But the point I'm trying to make is that, while I don't have any professional or educational qualifications concerning firearms, I have grown up and maintain a huge passion for the subject matter, and do what I can to further that knowledge on a daily basis, although that is severely limited by the demands of my job and family.

I was hoping for a welcoming, helpful, and like-minded community here. However, it seems there are a few people on this forum that seem to look down upon us mere "hobbyists". Somehow your opinion is exponentially greater to ours because you served in the military or the police force, or some other sort of para-military role.

And granted, your profession may have given you some valuable knowledge or insight that would prove helpful to those of us who don't have the time or resources to learn as much as you.

But that doesn't make you better. If you have something to offer, offer it in humility and if some of us make a mistake, correct it with kindness.

Many people use the anonymity and impersonal qualities of a forum to vent their daily frustrations and negative emotions, but please, don't call people "mall ninjas" or call their opinions "BS". This isn't some elite club you need to protect. Every capable citizen in America should strive to have as much knowledge as they can about our 2nd amendment rights, and those of you who are blessed with above-average knowledge should strive to help educate your neighbors, not condemn them and lord your knowledge over them. It may provide you with a fleeting sense of self-importance, or a small reprieve from the daily troubles of life, but in the long run it's a dangerously self-destructive habit, and one that leads to bitterness and ruin.

Love your family, serve your community, and take everyday as a chance to improve the world you live in.

Even on the forums.

- Jack Thane

[Irving]

Jack, being a Mall Ninja is the same thing as being a ricer. It's often where people start off in the hobby. While it can be insulting, some times you just have to call someone a mall ninja and explain why.

Also, being a mall ninja is more complex than just being someone who wants a laser for their long range rifle, or has to have a DE as their carry piece. For instance, one time I was a Sportsman's Warehouse looking at a brochure for Khar pistols, this guy was reading it over my shoulder. I told him I was familiar with them and didn't need the brochure if he would like to look at it. He took this opportunity to tell me no thanks, as his gun of choice was the XD 45. He was unsure of it at first, but since it was his issue weapon in Iraq, and he got trapped in a fire fight where he shot "at least 500 rounds, didn't have time to clean it and went out the next day and it did the same thing again." I told him that I wasn't aware of a modern pistol made that would have a problem shooting 1,000 rounds without being cleaned and thanked him for his story. I didn't bother to ask when the military switched to the XD 45 as a service issue weapon, or how he managed to carry around 500 rounds of ammo packed into 38 magazines.

The point is, with some people, they don't deserve kindness when they are just looking to bullshit you with fake stories.

[theGinsue]

Well said thane.

I've seen a couple of threads here recently where the exchanges have gotten a bit nasty to say the least.

I believe that stating your credentials, where they exist, and a simple "Based on ....., I respectfully disagree...here's my take on the matter..." or "Based on my experience, I believe you're incorrect about...... because...." would be sufficient.

We've got losts of experience and knowledge here on the site and lots of folks who are happy to share this knowledge. We've also got folk, like me, we aren't credentialed but have a certain understanding of things, sometimes it's inaccurate.

The two main reasons I'm on this site are (a) social fellowship with like-minded individuals, and (b) to learn.

When I read through a thread where the exchanges become personal assaults to other members, I immediately lose interest and, as a result, lose the opportunity to gain important knowledge.

Perhaps we could remember to show each other the respect we'd like to be afforded. then again, perhaps you all feel I'm full of BS and should STFU. Your call.

The point is, with some people, they don't deserve kindness when they are just looking to bullshit you with fake stories.

True, but when someone genuinely believes what they are saying, we could consider being less hostile in our approach to put them on the right path.

[thane]

True, but when someone genuinely believes what they are saying, we could consider being less hostile in our approach to put them on the right path.

Agreed. All verbally assaulting a person does is make them even MORE defensive and MORE solidified in their dilusions.

And besides, even your deluded "mall ninja" deserves a little kindness, or else a mall ninja he will remain, and possibly an angry one at that.

It's like having an overweight friend. You can call him fat all you want. It's not gonna do much for him, or your friendship.

On the other hand, if you offer him some eating advice and a solid exercise program, he might lose weight, and it might even serve to strengthen your relationship.

[BigBear]

It's like having an overweight friend. You can call him fat all you want. It's not gonna do much for him, or your friendship.

On the other hand, if you offer him some eating advice and a solid exercise program, he might lose weight, and it might serve to strengthen your relationship.

Or in my case, the more I workout, the bigger I get! It's not fair.... Yeah, I feel better and all but I need to weigh LESS.... not more.

[Irving]

The answer is cardio then. Don't lift weights to work out, just cardio. Even strength training, as long as it is cardio.

[theGinsue]

Is stuffing my face with food considered cardio? 'Cuz that's what I do.

[BigBear]

Yup, I do as much cardio as I can. Usually on a bike though. With my accident, knees are not the best functioning and I can't run as far/fast as I can bike.

[TFOGGER]

... I need to weigh LESS.... not more.

Or just put on a mask and become a professional wrassler...


Simply stated, if you can't support your opinion with hard evidence, it's OPINION not fact. If I am stating an opinion, I usually identify it as such, along with a discalimer about getting what you pay for .

[Irving]

And how do you treat the guy that shows up to his security job everyday telling old war stories about shooting kids in Iraq, when you can tell that the closest this dumb piece of shit has ever been to the military was hanging up on a recruiter? I run into guys like that on occasion and they are the kind of mall ninja that don't deserve anything but to be put into their place. Thane I think that there is an important difference between a mall ninja and a fudd, and your post refers to fudds more than ninjas.

Also, this same guy was the kind of guy who would ride people's asses in the fast lane in the security Jeep, then light them up with the all yellow light bar like he was a cop. This guy was a total failure at life. Glad I never had to work with him.