[Art Eatman]

Art's Grammaw

The purpose of this Website is to promote the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Part of the deal, here, then, is to add more votes to our weight and make sure we don't lose votes. We want those folks who go to the ballot box to be on our side when it comes time to elect the people who make our laws.

I'll agree with anybody that few of those who are anti-gun or pro-gun-control will ever be swayed by our presentation of facts or by our behavior-whether this latter is good or bad. Those who can be swayed are the people who have little or no opinion one way or the other, or who might be mildly anti-gun with some amount of "don't know" in them. The way we act might just bring them into our camp-it has happened before.

To me, this means we must hold ourselves to a high standard in our language, our use of words, and our behavior, whether when posting here at THR or out in public. We are all salespeople for an idea: RKBA.

Sometimes passions run high on some subjects posted here. The job of any moderator is merely to see that folks follow our rules and act like ladies and gentlemen. Act like mature adults. This latter gives me some difficulty, of course. I have no idea what I'll turn out to be if I ever grow up. :)

Anyhow, not wanting to come across as too much of a hard-guy on the issue, I use what I call Art's Grammaw. My grandmother was a staunch member of the WCTU and was rather rigid in her views of propriety-although she was indeed a very compassionate woman. She was just one of those folks you didn't want to offend since she was never one, herself, to give offence. She came of old pioneer stock, of a family which helped settle the Texas Panhandle in the 1880s. Her brothers cowboyed for the XIT ranch, among other endeavors.

To me, then, the deal is courtesy and politeness and acting like grownups. If this gives difficulty, fake it. Just pretend Art's Grammaw is watching…

:), Art

[Schuey2002]

Just pretend Art's Grammaw is watching…
Will do. ;)

[sm]

quote: "Just pretend Art's Grammaw is watching…"
---
Yes Sir

---
quote: "I have no idea what I'll turn out to be if I ever grow up.";)
---
Me neither, I must be in good company then;)

[Mike Irwin]

DON'T LOOK, GRAMMAW! This ain't gonna be pretty!

:p

[QuarterBoreGunner]

I, (state your name) do herby take the Art's Grammaw pledge of civility and gentlemanly conduct.


Can we still make fun of the French though?
:D

[BevrFevr]

What I don't understand is why would anybody want to go through life with someones gramma watching their every move?

That's why people move out, get jobs, drink whiskey and go to strip joints.

Besides I really really doubt that anyone but certified gun nuts would even find this forum let alone stick around long enough to be converted to rkba advocates?

What's next "Let's be 'polite' for the childrens sake" or "my daddy fought and died in the war so people could be 'polite'."

I'll tell you what it's like to be a mature adult as it seems you are wondering.

An adult would just say "let's just try to be cool".
Another adult might say "bevrfevr, I find your username offensive"

Using ambiguity and grammas watching is like trying to spell out curse words in front of children. We are not children. At least most of us.

-bevr

[Art Eatman]

BevrFevr, your statement, "Besides I really really doubt that anyone but certified gun nuts would even find this forum let alone stick around long enough to be converted to rkba advocates?" is incorrect as to fact because of actual, real-world history of conversions at TFL. I have no doubt it will happen here if it has not already been the case.

My preference is to offer fairly gentle reminders as to behavior and language. I would rather tease somebody into acting like the grownup they probably are, rather than hammer somebody with warnings or a ban. I use the "Art's Grammaw" thing in an effort to let people smile at some needed effort on my part as a moderator.

And so Art's Grammaw totters around the joint from time to time, cleaning up behind the occasional misbehavior--and all comfy and happy in the knowledge that hers is the only opinion that counts. :D

As usual,

Art

[HankL]

Let's see. When Art was a student he was a wiz at chemistry.
Of course there were only three elements on the periodic chart at the time. Fire Earth & Water. ;) Now if Art's Grandmaw truly is lurking on the forum we all had better behave ourselves because I'm not 100% sure that God might not be a woman.

[Mike Irwin]

Grammaw is watching you...


http://www.roangelo.net/valente/Kitchen.jpg



Don't make her mad!

[Hkmp5sd]

Not to mention, she wields a wicked rolling pin. :)

[sm]

Soups done!
...were all waiting on Art, Grammaw sent him back to wash up-again.:)

[David Wile]

Hey Art,

Good to see you again. I have only recently been looking in on this forum. My wife and I have been hiding from Old Man Winter down in Florida since January, so I haven't been much in touch since TFL went silent. I have always agreed wholeheartedly with your approach to encoraging basic civility in our communications with each other. When folks comments get down in the gutter, they are neither cute nor funny. They are boring. Keep up your good work!

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

[Don Gwinn]

Strip joints and whiskey bars are fine if that's where you want to go. THR, however, is not a strip joint nor a whiskey bar. It is a privately owned, funded and hosted discussion board created by Oleg Volk. Oleg wishes people to be polite and decent while using the service he provides. If he'd wanted to create a place to be rude or a place to look at naked people, he'd have done so. He didn't. He created a place with the mission of advancing the responsible use and ownership of weapons.

There are lots of places you can go to insult people and be insulted, cuss, and look at naked women. THR is not one.

http://www.hardcoretalk.com will let you say any racist, stupid, profane, illegal or pornographic thing you want. There must be lots of others.

[DAL]

Not to be a hypocrite, because I've let emotions get the best of my better judgement (Or judgment, if you prefer; they are both correct.) at times, although I don't remember ever cussing outright, but just remember that times have changed, unfortunately. I don't mean that offensive behavior should be condoned, much less tolerated, but only that fewer people seem to know how to express themselves without profanity. It's a sign of the times.

I'm not going to go into my theory of what is causing this; many others smarter than I have already nailed its reasons. I will say this, though--a semi-literate population doesn't help matters.

Maybe my generation was the last (I'm 43) that still feels odd about cussing in front of females, even though those same females cuss up a storm. Maybe not. I am only a prisoner of my own experiences. Where I work, I supervise 38 hourly workers, many of whom are females. Only a handful of the females don't cuss in the course of normal conversation. Another sign of the times.

Finally, I like Art's yardstick for behavior. If we don't use that standard, whose standard should we use? Hollywood's? As said before, this is a privately owned board, so its owner can set whatever standard he likes. And guess what--it ain't censorship, it's discretion! Censorship only applies to the government.
DAL

[rhedley]

Well, I like that concept, " Art's Grammaw." I raised my kids under that type of rule. And they turned out pretty good !! Some people resist any form of authority, no matter what it's based on. Well, Grammaw's still watchin !"

[sm]

The yardstick known as Art's Grammaw , was used on TFL. TFL proved , without a doubt, responsible firearm discussion could be discussed via the internet. Proved people wanted to know the truth--from both sides of the fence. Interest continued, and grew because of attraction, education and providing valuable truthful information to those whom researched.

The High Road has taken the reins and continues this endeavor.

Truth is, regardless of genre',while many internet forums have come and gone, TFL is still providing valuable information. Many persons have joined THR because of their research for the truth they ended up at TFL. TFL, though not 'active', is still educating. Persons seeking active input and interaction, have joined THR.

Just as occurred at TFL , THR has members whom used to be on the other sideof the fence.

This medium is just one facet of what the members are about. In daily matters the rules of conduct continue. To thy ownself be true.

'73

[Byron Quick]

Art's Gramma is watching is a good reminder.

There's another that governs me: The Churchill Rule.

Seems that the Empire of Japan attacked the British Empire as well as the USA on December 7, 1941...with similar results. Prime Minister Churchill responded with measured words. The mannerly tone of that response was challenged in Parliament in formal debate. Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill's reply was that just because you had to kill a man was no reason to be impolite.

I concur with PM Churchill's sentiment. And since I feel no need to be impolite to folks I'm about to kill; doesn't it follow that there is absolutely no need to be impolite to my brethren and sistren on this website?

[BevrFevr]

You folks crack me up!

You know I endorse civility and sometimes even practice it but I find these psuedo-Psych approches to civility far more offensive than any foul language.

The asian community has an ancient history of using this same approach to 'maintain civil order'. I wonder if the chinese really feel free to express themselves. I think not.

If Art's grammaw did hear some foul language do you think she would give some bs about imagining that Her Grammaw is watching. I hope not.

If you want maturity then lead by example.

This is the umpteenth time I've heard this grammaw aproach to dealing with relationships/communication. Is there some sort of book going around or some sort of seminar or something? Get your money back.

Just ask people to be mature for maturities sake. It has its own rewards. If they aren't, then they should pay the price.

And as far as leading by example goes, If one of us members had started this thread it would have been moved to the general forum already.

Remember Art's Grammaw is watching and she hates double standards!

-bevr

[Byron Quick]

Sir,
I cannot make the claim that I never use profanities or vulgarities.
I do. However, it is with close friends of long acquaintance who I know will not be offended by such. Never with strangers, never to opponents or enemies. A double standard? Perhaps. Or maybe just old fashioned.

I was raised to Southern traditions. Churchill's standard fits me nicely. It feels right. And it confuses the devil out of your enemies which is always to be desired.

Tell you what. I always try to be accomodating: Please be mature on The High Road.

Happy?

[Art Eatman]

BevrFevr, the reason I try to make a half-a-joke out of the Art's Grammaw thing is to do my best to avoid making anybody "pay the price". My wrinkles come from grinnin', and I'm gonna keep on livin' thataway. :D

Art

[Mike Irwin]

Bummer...

Looks like grammaw got a better offer from another website, Art! :)

[Art Eatman]

Well, now, Mike, there is always that occasional soul who struggles along, cherishing the delusion that his opinion is relevant to something...

Art

[HSMITH]

Art, if grammaw gets a bit uptight at something I say you will let me know PRONTO right? Fair enough then, I will try to do my part and if not grammaw will let me know when I have let the rest of you down.

It is just too bad we cannot take the switch and granmaws' taste out into the world we live in daily...........

Don't get me wrong, a proud sailor here that has been there and done that, but it has a time and a place and I am a GUILTY offender.

[Mike Irwin]

"Well, now, Mike, there is always that occasional soul who struggles along, cherishing the delusion that his opinion is relevant to something..."

You'll have to tell us sometime how you've managed to cope all these years... :)

[Art Eatman]

As an engineer and mechanic, I made my living from facts, not opinions. I wasn't a lawyer, social worker or gunwriter. :D Musta worked; been retired since I wuz 45.

Who am I to argue with success?

:), Art

[Mike Irwin]

Funny that you'd say that gunwriters don't deal in facts, Art...

By spending your days here, as an internet gunwriter, you're what...

Mr. Opinion? :D

[Art Eatman]

Dangfino. :) I sure ain't makin' no money at it. Oleg's payscale ain't worth squat.

Enuf. I think we've all made our points. And, if we part our hair right, they won't show.

Art