[only1asterisk]

After reading suggestions that James Castilla go to gun control forums and check them out, I decided to do so myself. I thought I would go in, write a post about who I am and my thoughts on gun control. I wanted to see how I would get treated, and if the people there had anything thought provoking to say. It didn't turn out like that. After much searching, I found a couple of forums, but after looking around I decided not to post. I can not believe that people can be so obtuse. To me, it is like listening to people trying to convince each other that the sky is green. How do you argue against that? Maybe someone with a higher tolerence for BS should try, I still think it's a worthwhile idea.

Dave

[hammer4nc]

The James Castilla thread set a high water mark for civil discussion in this forum, yes? How to behave when an admittedly opposition viewpoint comes forth. Even though I didn't post (others more eloquent), I felt proud to be part of THR after reading through it. Some real gems there.

A few days ago, someone posted a link to a "gore in 2004" website...I noticed it had a discussion forum, so I posted what I thought was a benign question about Gore's position on gun control. Link here: http://earth.he.net/cgi-bin/suid/~ag2004/YaBB/YaBB.cgi?board=general;action=display;num=1055694702

I must say, the level of responses was disappointing. One person offered to get a position paper from Gore staff (hasn't happened yet), most responses were a quick jab, with a longer critique of Bush policy. Granted, this was a really small group, didn't have the depth that THR has.

Conclusions:

1. For many political activists, seems that destroying the opponent takes priority over other considerations related to issues; "the beltway syndrome".

2. I don't quite know how to express it, but it seemed that the arguments were so disconnected, as to be a different language. Logic vs. emotion? Left brain vs. right brain? And I don't know how to bridge that gap.

3. Perhaps the "Castilla" experience can be replicated, either by posting links to other liberal fora, or inviting their members here...with positive results?

[MicroBalrog]

Maybe somebody should try that on DU?
I can't - they recognise my IP and re-ban me withing 1-2 hours. I went through 5-6 usernames there already, tired of them.

[geekWithA.45]

The simple matter is this:

MMM & The brady bunch don't have open forums because they can't tolerate, or survive in the face of informed dissent from their dogma, which doesn't hold water in the light of day.


If you shine a light on an anti, they will either grow and join us, or close their eyes and ears tighter shouting na na na na na while they scuttle towards the darkness.

We, on the other hand, hold each other to high standards of intellectual integrity, and are generally prepared to stand corrected.

There is a whole world full of difference between those two positions.

Research that supports individual RKBA tends to stand the test of time, and "research" that doesn't always seems to crumble in fairly short order.

Based on the evidence, I think it's time that we can collectively declare that the "debate" is over, and accept that the Individual Right To Keep And Bear Arms is supported by first principles, natural rights, history, and both pragmatic and social utility, and is therefore axiomatic.

People who pretend otherwise should be treated with the same bemused sympathy we would treat someone who insisted that the earth is flat.

[BowStreetRunner]

i read all of Hammer's thread at that draft gore site
i almost fell off my chair laughing when the first respondent went on about "leading questions"
hehe:rolleyes:
ok buddy
MicroBalrog, i thought i read in one of your posts that you are liberal, what did you do to be bansished from DU multiple times?
not saying that just because you are a liberal that you must agree with them but just wondering
BSR

[gun-fucious]

not many anti gun forums out there...
heres one:
http://www.saneguns.org/discus/index.html
not much traffic

i gather most of the grabbers are not as dedicated and are off tilting at other windmills

here some nattering:
http://www.handgunfree.org/HFAMain/about/default.htm
http://speakout.com/activism/guncontrol/
http://www.gunfree.org/
http://www.hgabuse.org/

[rick newland]

For the past year around the 15th of the month I have to send an email to "handgunfreeamerica.org, explaining why I think their ideas are full of crap. Don't know why I haven't recieved a response from them yet.

[Standing Wolf]

Anti-Second Amendment bigotry is a lot like racism: it doesn't exactly thrive in the clear light of reason and open discussion.

[gunsmith]

http://forums.craigslist.org/login/?forumID=20
it's the world political forum @
www.craigslist.org
a "community" web board out of San Francisco.
They are now all over the country and are a darling
of the liberal "community" ...
please do not invite them here, THR is a new found oasis
of sanity from commie frisco...
plus they hate me :rolleyes:

[Zackmeister]

What are the forums DU and MMM? I have heard members referring to them and I would like to visit them.

[Sunray]

Hi, only1asterisk. I suspect it's like most of the shooting forums where there are all kinds of postings about our choice of sport and Stateside rights. It's preaching to the converted. Read enough of them and you start thinking, "Geez, these guys are illiterate and can't put a sentence together to save their lives. How can we ever convince the anti's to listen?"
Logic has nothing to do with the views of people who don't care what your opinion is. "Liberals" have a tendency to think there's one law for them and another for everyone else. There are lots of examples of rabid anti-gun media hacks outright breaking the law. Sarah Brady buying a gun for her kid is a classic example. And the Washington, D.C., media hack shooting a kid for swimming in his pool at night. Don't remember his name.
Up here, our PM assaulted a protestor. No charges.
Do what you can with letters etc, but don't make yourself crazy over it. You and I are just guys that like to shoot for recreation. Go to the CMP shoots, the NRA shoots and enjoy.

[KY Moose]

The DU, or Democratic Underground (http://www.democraticunderground.com) , is the Mecca for all that is liberal.

You better have plenty of duct tape handy when you go over there. You will have to wrap your head with the tape at least two or three times to keep it from exploding.

Check it out, but don't say I didn't warn you.

[Solinvictus70]

I looked at the anti sites and by and large, they are dead. Very little activity and few updates.

[Telperion]

One thing that keeps anti-gun groups from forming dedicated forums is that, gun control being a purely political issue, there is nothing else that ties these people together. Shooters have a lot more to talk about: equipment, sports, tactics, and politics.

[Solinvictus70]

I have started on the Democratic Underground and there are a surprising number of pro-RKBA people there.

[AK103K]

I have started on the Democratic Underground and there are a surprising number of pro-RKBA people there.

There are some, but you wont last long if you dont agree with them or offer anything that isnt in the democratic mood. If your republican, bite your tounge or your stay will be very short. They dont like "disruptors". :) Trying to have anything that resembles an intelligent discussion is almost impossible. They will twist what you say, what they said, and when you present them with the truth, they will attack you directly or do anything they can not to discuss what they dont want to hear. A favorite response is to babble and ramble then accuse you of being the one that is rambling and babbling. They also selectively edit things, so dont be surprised if what you post happens to disappear if they dont like it. As was mentioned, duct tape your head and put your tin foil on, your gonna need it! :D