It’s funny how people will be cruel online knowing they reside safely in anonymity or a location far away. As firearm folks we rant about how the world would be so much more polite, and people less “offended” if we were all armed.
Yet, even in firearm circles online, people resort to typing things that they more than likely would not say in person period, let alone knowing the other individual was packing.
The PistolSnipe VIP Club is designed to be a safe haven for firearms enthusiasts to talk about the weapons we love without risking insult and childish behavior. It has nothing to do with being thin skinned or easily offended. It has everything to do with being respectful of others. If there is any advantage to getting old, one would be that you SHOULD learn life is too short for petty bickering.
I grew up with the Ford vs Chevy debate with trucks. By the time I was old enough to know what was going on, my dad had made the switch from Chevy to Ford and would never go back. My kids used to repeat a movie quote (complete with voice – and no I don’t remember the movie) “I haaaad a baaaad experience”. My dad was fed up with Chevy’s.
As I got older I realized 2 things:
- There were other families who were Chevy families because they “haaad a baaad experience” with Ford
- Insulting someone or the items (or people) they love will NEVER change their mind; just create an enemy
- (bonus) Friends come and go, enemies accumulate – so focus on making friends
Further, it shouldn’t take a wise person too long to figure out that “engaging” people online, such as on facebook, is nothing more than a waste of time. Again, the older you get the more you (should) realize the value of TIME.
Few people will ever change their mind about something major anyway: “Don’t confuse me with the facts, I have my mind made up!” Ratcheting up the insults will NOT help; in most cases it will probably hurt your cause.
Once in a while, though, genuine, logical, respectfully presented information might. I remember telling folks who I knew where Obama supporters back in the beginning that it was beyond me how a man with the middle name of Hussein could possibly get elected anything, let alone President, so soon after 9/11 in the USA.
Maybe it’s because I often was, but many thought I was joking. “Google it”, I would say. And you should have seen their face when they learned it was true.
Now, I’m not that good at keeping my mouth shut and – as my dad would instruct – “bite my tongue”, yet I was able to refrain from shouting “WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN, UNDER A ROCK? HOW COULD YOU NOT KNOW HIS MIDDLE NAME WAS HUSSEIN?”
Even though the left leaning media tried their best to keep it a secret…
Calling them stupid, or an idiot would not have benefited my intent of trying to change their mind. Attempting to inform respectfully, though, at least had a slim chance.
Insulting Guns
Hi Point is the poster child for getting no respect; and yes, there are bad experiences out there. Yet I will about guarantee there are bad experiences about all brands; some you might just have to dig a little deeper than others. Don’t like it? Don’t buy it. Offer to inform someone who doesn’t know certain facts but stop short of attempting to impose your will.
At least Tom Deeb founded a firearms company; that’s probably more than any of us can say.
I had a bad experience with my first Glock (bought used). A Glock armorer (a LEO who was the armorer for the Glock armed department) could not see a problem. He told me what I didn’t know: that I could send it in to Glock for just the cost of 1 way shipping. Glock PROMPTLY returned the pistol and there has never been a problem since.
If you want to make it clear that those darn plastic pistols are garbage you would never bet your life on, that’s fine – it’s your OPINION. If someone counters that they don’t understand having to sell 40 acres of prime hunting land in order to afford a decent 1911 that won’t jam every other magazine – that’s fine too. Keep it light hearted and good natured.
There is no reason for tempers to flare, blood pressure to rise or anyone to be insulted or called a name. This isn’t grade school.
My suggestion, though, is to offer constructive PROVABLE information in an effort to persuade. Tossing out that “I knew a guy who’s [fill in the blank] exploded in his face” is useless. We don’t know the condition of the gun, what ammo was used or whether the bullet from an undetected squib load was stuck in the barrel from the previous round.
Simply name what gun YOU prefer and SOMEONE likely has a similar anecdotal (true or not, who knows?) story about your favorite.
The PistolSnipe VIP Club is all about the members. Don’t worry about offending me, I’m smarter than that. But start insulting other members and you will get banned. I’ll refund your money happily, I don’t want it.
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