Perhaps it's time for a new forum rule ... or two

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I like helpful suggestions. Granted, I do tire of the "Get a Glock and be done with it" responses. Nothing helpful in that.
But I've been looking for a .45 carry gun and just never considered a Glock. I've asked questions about a number of other possibilities and If someone had taken the time to courteously explain all the specific and relative benefits of the 30S I would have come to that decision much sooner.
So no, I wouldn't vote in favor of the OP's rules. Computers have a scroll button.
 
jmr40 said:
Nope, I don't agree. I've been around this and several other forums related to guns and other topics for a long time. Many times when someone comes asking for advice they don't know enough to even ask the right questions. I've seen lots of alternate suggestions made that the OP never even knew existed that proved to be the best option.
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That does happen but is some what rare, IMO.

Usually the OP has done some homework and know what general they want to go and its a matter of the OP questions doesn't fit the answer some people want to give.


There are plenty of examples where the OP wants input about 22lr revolver A or 22lr revolver B based on their home work of their likes and needs for general plinking.

Then 3 knuckle heads will suggest a Ruger Mk? or Browning Buckmark .... then 2 others will start arguing over which is better, the 10/22 vs Marlin 60..... then another will say the Neo is a great bargain, and another will point out that the 22lr is not a self defense round and they should get an AR, a 12ga, or...... a plastic wonder 9/40striker pistol !!!1!!1!!!1
 
This^^^. If I want to know about brand x, and post a question asking about brand x, then I give myself free permission to skip over responses about brand Y. Except that I usually at least skim them because I sometimes accidentally learn things.
 
danez71 said:
I think some relative thread drift and other suggestions are good. However, I don't think that's what the OP here is talking about.


What I see happening and is a bit disrespectful of the OP is this type of scenario (example changed to protect the guilty)

OP, I'm looking for a new car. I'm 75 years old and I have a bad left knee, need fuel efficiency, and all wheel drive because we get a little snow here. I also have 3 grand kids and 2 dogs that travel with me as I take them too school several times a week. Ive done some research and looked at several makes and models. The Subaru Forrester looks to fit the bill and is in my price range. Does any one have any experience with a Subaru Forrester?

Reply: You should get a motorcycle. Nothing gets better mileage than a motor cycle.
OP: I have kids and dogs
Reply: Get a trailer for when the kids and dog are with you.
OP: We also get light snow and I'm not comfortable riding a motorcycle... especially in the snow (remember my all wheel drive requirement?)
Reply: You just lack training. Ive offered you a better suggestion. I don't know what else I can tell you if youre not willing to look at the facts.


Reply: Ford F350 4x4 with a 8" lift with a 5 speed manual transmission and 38" Super Swamper mud tires is unstoppable.
OP: I have kids and a dog and a bad knee. That's too big, too tall, not in my price range, not fuel efficient and my bad knee cant be pushing in the clutch peddle too much. Also, I said light snow, not deep mud. No one recommends mud tires on snow paved roads.
Reply: Get a ladder, save up and spend the extra $7k to get the diesel then and make your own biodiesel fuel in your barn.
OP: That's doesn't help, plus my knee cant take pushing in the clutch like I mentioned
Reply: A 5 year old can push in the clutch. You need training.
OP: Its also waaay out of my price range.
Reply: Buy once, cry once! UNSTOPPABLE!!!!!1!!1!!
OP: I also don't have a barn, I live in a city.
Reply: Sucks to be you. Id never live in a city. You should move to a free state. If your daughter and grandkids are not willing to come with you, they must be liberals that like having every part of their lives oppressed by communist tyrants.


It would be one thing to reply with:
I don't have experience with the Forrester but I did look into one a few years ago and ended up going with a AWD minivan. Relatively the same price, low step in height for your bad knee, not quite a good MPG, but a LOT more room inside for the kids and dog and the AWD does well in light snow. Did you look into those when you were doing your research?

But instead, we too often see the above types of responses.
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This is the first or second time I've seen a car example actually work in a gun forum.

The last example "I've had good luck with my AWD mini van" it's a good way to handle suggesting something different, but unfortunately, is often met with "Here come the mini van fanbois. A station wagon is just as good. You don't need to pay extra for a mini van!"

There are some posts that's best to just scroll past. I bet I've written my share of those
 
I think we all come here to learn something (at least I often do), cuss and discuss with like minded individuals, or be helpful to others about something we each have a specialty of. Some threads do veer off the rails and I also will try to steer them back if it does happen if possible. There is enough moderation already and those guys appear to have about as much fun as herding a group of cats. I also can tune out the responses that are not relevant without getting TOO annoyed most times with the scroll key:scrutiny:. GOD--- I am starting to sound like my father! :what::neener: Oh well.:)
 
Heres an idea, make this a new subforum... great place to vent, and make jokes that are harder to tell are jokes in other areas.
 
2 things,
1 the report button gets action,
I would not infract an of topic post, it might get deleted and/or you might get a pm or I might just jump in the thread and say "guys let us get back on track." Or it it might be it just you and no action is taken.
and
2 Nothing wrong with any member posting a polite " dude the OP is talking about X, not Y. "
Or put those that pluck your last nerve on your ignore list.
I think Sam made some relevent points.
I dont own a striker fired pistol so I absolutely stay out of those threads, but I do know a troll or fanboy when I see one and have no problem deleting a reported off topic post with no value. That is not to say alternative insights into different models or problem solving techniques are off topic. It is complicated.
 
Old Dog said:
Can we look at making a rule to only discuss in threads the actual brands, models or platforms specified in the original post?

I can't speak for all the rest of the forum members, but I know I speak for at least myself when I say that one of the major annoyances in internet forum-land is when an original poster asks a question pertaining to one specific brand or model of firearm, or poses a choice between two specific brands or models of firearms, and inevitably, a fanboy of an entirely different platform, brand or model chimes in ... Generally, the discussion devolves and there's no further opportunity for folks with actual experience of the brand(s) in question to bring up valid points either pro or con.

To wit: OP asks "Looking at a mid-range full-size 1911, Springfield Armory or Kimber?"

Within three responses: "It's not a real 1911 if it doesn't have a pony on it."

Within five responses: "You really need to be looking at the Dan Wesson Valor."

Within seven responses: "Do yourself and favor and just stick to the Glock 17, the best handgun ever made."

Or -- OP asks, "Looking for a striker-fired pistol, Glock or S&W M&P?"

Within three responses: "The H&K VP series has the best trigger of any striker-fired pistol out there."

Fourth response: "Stay away from the SIG P-320 (unsaid: yes, we know you didn't ask), the high-bore axis (unsaid: most hand-gunners don't even know what that is) is just such a problem (unsaid: since I personally have never shot one, I'm talking out of my ass, but at least I'm increasing my post count).

Within five responses: "The Walther CCP is hands-down the best striker-fired pistol on the market."

Or -- OP asks, "Is the S&W M&P-15 a reliable AR for me? It's just going to be for plinking around the farm and target shooting down at my local gun club."

Within three responses: "The M&P-15 is meh. You really need to look at the top tier ARs, such as a Larue, Daniel Defense or Bravo Company." (Unsaid: you've never actually shot an M&P-15, you're simply parroting what you hear about "Tier 1 ARs" on ARFCOM and want to sound like you know what you're talking about)

Or -- OP asks, "I want to buy a home defense handgun and my budget is $500, any ideas? I'm looking at Taurus or Ruger pistols."

Within three responses: "Stay away from Taurus, my buddy had one and it was a jammomatic, plus everybody knows their customer service sucked for a long time (unsaid: even though I've never owned one or even shot one) ... You need to pony up a couple hundred extra bucks and just get a Glock, everybody has one."

Okay, I'll confess to my curmudgeon status. It just seems as though most posts about guns are turning into fanboys sticking up for their favorite platforms or just trying to wordsmith their posts to sound as pithy or knowledgeable as possible.

We're sure not gonna attract any potential, or new gun owners with these types of responses. I get that everyone wants to come across as though they know what they're talking about, but sometimes, maybe, more reading, less posting, or letting those with something productive to say post, will further our cause a bit more.
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Terrible idea. Suggesting something better is nice way of opening peoples minds. I have a better idea if you don't like a post don't read it.
 
Of course, when dealing with topics, we often come to the forum with the impression we will get some specific detailed info that highlights the distinct differences we want to know more about.

"Which is better for home defense, the Garand or M1A?" The problem with that in a very insular forum is the "hive mind" which only want's to look at it from that specific narrow viewpoint. No other alternative options could lead the OP to choosing one or the other - when something else may be better.

The problem comes up with somebody spouts off with "AR Pistols Rule!" and there is no supporting reasons to go with it. What we are dealing with there is the posters inability to articulate - we brush them off even tho there may be some very good things to consider.

Lets not forget that inside that hive mind of comfort, similar viewpoints don't accept ideas from outside well. If that were to be applied to real life, our troops would still be equipped with Garands and 1911's - it would be no different than Lincoln's Generals ignoring the lever action and it's superior firepower. Handing out single rounds in the face of the Zulu because "it's right and proper" might feel comfortable but we do know that it doesn't work, right?

On some forums there would be a stout defense of the practice based on tradition and doing things the way our grandfathers did it. The reality is that if we handed them an AK with chest harness they would come back in half an hour begging for more. The American natives sure did in their day transitioning from stone pointed arrows to horseback and lever guns - as do almost all other peoples who confront more modern technology. Seeing the actual performance is it's own sales pitch.

Do we need to shoot the messenger just because they present something out of our experience that challenges our preconceptions? Eugene Stoner sure did. Look at his legacy now. Lead, follow, or get out of the way.
 
Then of course there is the trollish OP who will open his post by declaring he has no interest in "toy guns from Mattel", "plastic Tupperware" or anything not conceived by " JOHN MOSES BROWNING".
 
Old Dog,
When I got back into shooting a couple of years ago after a 20 year hiatus, the gun industry had obviously changed. The issue I had was that I didn't know what I didn't know and had no idea what questions to even ask when looking at semi automatics. Constructive suggestions to consider options I was not aware of were helpful. I do agree with you in regards to the tone some posters have. I'll never understand someone who gets upset because someone that they'll never meet chose to buy a gun that's different than what they prefer. If that's the worse problem I have, I've had a pretty good day.
Tom
 
I agree with the others that this is a bad idea. Arizona Mike had the perfect example of a situation where he wasn't aware a gun existed, so someone mentioning it was very helpful. I'll go one step further and say that when someone says stuff like (just for example), "I don't want any plastic guns," or, "I don't want a gun without a safety," they might have valid reasons for those types of preferences, or they might have those preferences out of ignorance.

Sure, if they don't like polymer frames or they prefer to have a safety, that's totally fine. But what if they're under the mistaken assumption that polymer frames aren't durable, or that it's unsafe to carry a handgun that doesn't have a thumb safety? Both of those things aren't necessarily true, and if someone digs deeper to find out why the OP has these preferences, he may end up educating him.
 
Then of course there is the trollish OP who will open his post by declaring he has no interest in "toy guns from Mattel", "plastic Tupperware" or anything not conceived by " JOHN MOSES BROWNING".
Click to expand...

I see absolutely no reason that I was dragged into this conversation and referred to as a Troll....;)
 
I don't see the need for new rules to address the OP's question. I'm not in favor of "legislating" social behavior, aside from the extreme stuff. Mods or even regular members can bring a thread back on topic.

Yeah, the fanboy stuff wears thing very quickly. But quite often, the sideline comment is useful info. My bug is when someone drags a thread completely off topic. No new rules needed there. Other members or mods can bring the thread back on course, a mod can close thread, and/or a mod can delete the offending post...

On the whole, THR is a paradise compared to some of the other forums out there. A veritable oasis in a sea of ... err, well that would be using a word that is a rule violation.
 
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