Are Gun Forums becoming P.C...

[gizamo]

I am seeing a huge drift towards gun forums becoming politically correct.
I do not understand it, but somehow know what is at stake...discussions that of importance to many members are being banned...

So do you think that:

1. Yes the forums have changed over the years and are becoming more mainstream P.C.

2. I see changes that reflect our current times, but not a big change

3. I see no change, whatsoever....

Giz

 

[Sean Dempsey]

I don't know what you're referring to. They seem the same to me.

 

[Dgreno]

If anything, I have seen MANY more women on the gunboards that I frequent. Look around at some of the peoples profiles on here and you will notice that there are quite a few women on here.

 

[GhostlyKarliion]

This one seems to confuse me as well, could you give an example to what you mean by "P.C"?

 

[brigadier]

I think moderators are highly prone to overstepping their bounds. Sometimes it's a power trip, sometimes it's because they don't have it in them to keep personal views and feelings out of their way of running things but most often, I think it's because people tend to be a little unstable in judgment and basically, are imperfect.
I use to be a mod at a different forum, and know the world. I personally (other then not being able to watch the forum all day) was a model moderator who was fair and consistent by nature (I also avoided the position for nearly a decade) but noted that it's a rather scarce talent that requires someone who thinks and operates separate from the community and can separate personal feelings from his responsibility as moderator.
5 years ago, even gun forums were a different world. Allot of fighting and hatred was going on. Since then, many forums outlawed certain topics all together, namely politics and religion. My experience has been that this rule is best enforced only when it needs to be. The forums who did it this way have made out well, while the strict practitioners have run in to problems, though admittedly less then the problems they prevented. Unfortunately, especially among those who tend to end up moderators, the kind of judgment necessary to delicately handle these issues is not much of a talent and can be more damaging by trying to play fair, so they just resort to playing strict with only obvious exceptions.
It's like any human dealings. It's never perfect.
I hope I am right and never have to eat my words, but I myself think the moderators are for the most part, doing their best, and I am saying this just after facing a moderator decision here on THR that I strongly disagree with, but never challenged as I believe it was nothing more then an occasional mistake by an imperfect person and certainly never took personally.
Think of it like the job an umpire has in making the calls. Once you realize and accept that mods have a tough job of keeping the peace and are imperfect, you will find decisions you disagree with much less offensive.

 

[bogie]

Are gun forums becoming PC?

Nope. They are, however, becoming overrun with folks who ask questions that are either insanely stupid, or grossly misleading, or combinations thereof... Or who completely misrepresent who they are.

So... My parents are antis because they won't let me have a gun - who here can sell me one that will fit under a trenchcoat? It has to be one of the ceramic ones, so I can get it into the school...

We're not PC... We're disgusted and bored.

 

[owlhoot]

These forums are all privately owned and the moderators tend to reflect the views and attitudes of the owners.

The rest of us are guests. And we are obligated to respect the house rules. That seems reasonable to me. If we don't like it, we can start a board of our own and operate it as we wish, or we can look until we find a forum that is a better fit.

I find the gun forums I've visited to be remarkable civil. This forum is more "civil" than most. The name of the forum, The High Road, tells you that is the policy. I can live with that.

 

[Catherine]

YES. Very sad, eh? If people don't SEE what has happened - they are not paying attention because Political Correctness infects, yes, infects like a disease, all media outlets. Private and public owned places.

Some of us 'women' have been on public and private gun/political boards for 10 to 12 years. Some even longer than that time frame. Some of us had our own boards and moderated boards for 'other' people too.

Some of us used to do EMAIL lists for getting out PRO FREEDOM and PRO FIREARM issues, laws, etc. They were very OPEN in ideas especially back in the 90's when everyone hated you know who. Now if you hate a law or an idea or someone in 'politics' - both sides - you can't say that or you are called anti American or a 'terrorist' or a bigot or FILL in the blank names.

Yes,,, gun boards are TOO P.C.

However... the owner of that board can do whatever the heck he or she wants to do with it!

Unfortunately... some, not all, gun people are their own worst enemies.

Yours in liberty,

Catherine - I was one of those 'women' and some on THR remember me from many years ago, on boards, in person, in mail, from the telephone, shooting together, etc.

 

[Josh Aston]

Haven't been on Arfcom lately have you?

 

[rbernie]

Sometimes, we *are* our own worst enemy. But not in the way that some of us would suggest.

Sometimes we jump to conclusions, accuse without fact, and generally try to bend the meager scraps of data that we get to fit our personal world view. And sometimes, we just yell past each other about topics for which there will never be universal agreement, seemingly just to have our voice heard.

None of that helps us, and doing it in a public forum makes these foibles all the more potentially damaging. So sometimes, those discussions need to be, um, guided or simply deferred to more suitable forums. I do not see that as a bad thing, just as I do not see the job of a teacher or mentor or coach to be a bad thing.

That's not politically correctness at all. It's trying to encourage adult behavior.

And those that cannot tell the difference between adult behavior and PC behavior will not understand a word that I just wrote.

 

[cliffy]

No, I didn't vote yet

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[Catherine]

I just asked my husband what arfcom was. He said it was an AR 15 website. I don't belong there and never belonged to that board.

He said that he used to go there but has not in some time.

I don't know if it is a site that the fill in the blank 'political' people took over in politics or if it is the 'type' that only thinks that THEIR GUN is the BEST.

I have no clue and I may go over and look at it. There used to be a high power rifle site that I read on and off over 10 years ago. It did not impress me, no offense, some of it was interesting but the rest of it discussed guns that I did not own, were not interested in, etc.

Some of those guys were 'macho, macho men'. They complained about women NOT being in guns but the few women who went there, who asked questions or were NEWBIES, as I was back in May 1998, except for using my late husband's gun were mainly IGNORED or made fun of. I never joined that board but I did read it on and off. I went elsewhere for forums, chats, my own books, research, library books, notes, my gun store, my own gun buying and so forth.

Yes, I was ONE of those women who asked if such and such 9MM ammunition was the same as x, y or z in another brand, 'name' or size. I asked my gun store man/owner, my husband, other old timers in the shooting sports, etc. I did know about 357Magnum and 38Special Plus P if I had to buy ammunition - same as with 22LR in bulk. I wanted to be sure that if I saw a sale or deal on 9MM for my Glock Model 19C, that I was getting the right thing. So they explained it to me. If you are NEW and learning, you are new and trying. I knew what model gun that I owned, how to shoot it, clean it and the safety measures in that gun as in the one that I used for years for my self defense gun - his revolver.

There are good and bad forums as there are good and bad people. Nothing is perfect in it's own way. Many of them differ or are INTO a special type of gun.

There is a big difference in being politically 'correct' all of the time and I do not happen to think that it is always about 'good manners'. I think that it is sometimes due to fear or 'rocking the boat' or if someone has ties to the government in a 'contract' or any other income - sponsor or NO sponsor... usually there is a reason for that. Sometimes it is the 'safe thing to do' - not be critical or to take a stand especially in a real Constitutional Issue!

Some people don't like distraction because they take 'offense' if you bring out a subject matter about an incident. The incident may be TRUE or above the law or Unconstitutional but if you dare to mention it... immediately the 'sensitive ones' may have their feelings hurt and call it x, y or z bashing or a party affiliation bashing even if it is just 'the facts'. My, oh my, how 'sensitive' this country has become (Gun people too!) and how much females and males feel threatened because their 'image' and/or LEADER may be tarnished. I think that it just nuts but so be it.

The owner of any TYPE of website and/or business can do what she or he wants to do. Some businesses have to follow certain rules but you get my DRIFT. If you don't get the drift on that issue = sorry about that! They own it and they make the 'rules'.

Yours in liberty,

Catherine

 

[jakemccoy]

Lets all shine the light on the sites that are garbage.

[rant]

If you really want to be annoyed, spend some time over at Calccw.com and Calguns.net. You're pretty much a nobody over at Calccw.com unless you have a California CCW permit. That basically means you happen to live in a rare county where the sheriff has a basic understanding of the Second Amendment. However, the CCW permit holders over at Calccw.com seem to think they're automatically more law-abiding and more knowledgeable than you. They're more annoying than that idiot you knew in college who knows he'll be running his daddy's company when he graduates. Anyway, after you become a somebody with your CCW permit, you’ll be allowed to talk without the resident stalker overanalyzing your every post and ruining your experience. Just make sure to bow down to the leaders of the website clique. Otherwise, you'll get beat down pretty quickly by the commanding mall ninja and his understudies. Yeah, Calccw.com, you guys can do a lot better.

[/rant]

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I think moderators are highly prone to overstepping their bounds. Sometimes it's a power trip, sometimes it's because they don't have it in them to keep personal views and feelings out of their way of running things but most often, I think it's because people tend to be a little unstable in judgment and basically, are imperfect.
I use to be a mod at a different forum, and know the world. I personally (other then not being able to watch the forum all day) was a model moderator who was fair and consistent by nature (I also avoided the position for nearly a decade) but noted that it's a rather scarce talent that requires someone who thinks and operates separate from the community and can separate personal feelings from his responsibility as moderator.
5 years ago, even gun forums were a different world. Allot of fighting and hatred was going on. Since then, many forums outlawed certain topics all together, namely politics and religion. My experience has been that this rule is best enforced only when it needs to be. The forums who did it this way have made out well, while the strict practitioners have run in to problems, though admittedly less then the problems they prevented. Unfortunately, especially among those who tend to end up moderators, the kind of judgment necessary to delicately handle these issues is not much of a talent and can be more damaging by trying to play fair, so they just resort to playing strict with only obvious exceptions.
It's like any human dealings. It's never perfect.
I hope I am right and never have to eat my words, but I myself think the moderators are for the most part, doing their best, and I am saying this just after facing a moderator decision here on THR that I strongly disagree with, but never challenged as I believe it was nothing more then an occasional mistake by an imperfect person and certainly never took personally.
Think of it like the job an umpire has in making the calls. Once you realize and accept that mods have a tough job of keeping the peace and are imperfect, you will find decisions you disagree with much less offensive.

Good post...even if it was more about moderators than PC forums.

The reason I say that is because I am still learning how to be a "good" moderator...and many of your points are "right on"...and it is hard to keep personal views out of it...but thats the way it should be done...the only way it can be done right.

I've been at it (moderating) for about 10 months now over on 1911auto forum (link in signature)...and I've had my moments, both good and bad...but I enjoy the job.

Are forums becoming more PC...yes they are...people are scared to say what they feel for fear of getting on some sort of "watch list" or something...I'm probably on all of the watch lists if there are any...I say what I mean...plain and simple.

Political correctness is not only ruining forums...its ruining the world IMO.

BTW, 1911auto forum is arguably the most laid back forum there is...we have rules, and we enforce them,...but we do it fair...everything gets voted on by mods and admins...its kinda like having a jury if you get in trouble...LOL. Its not a PC forum, but there are limits to how something should be "said"...Its best to come across as intelligent and adult, not mad and unstable...I'm sure most of you know what I mean by that.

This is a pretty neat place too...I enjoy it because there is always something going on here (LOTS of members)

1911auto is not even 1 year old yet, with only 1,600+ members, but they are a good bunch and there's more coming everyday.

 

[Megatron]

Is PC Bad?

I take Political Correctness to mean concise in a polite manner. I think that is the original meaning and I am for it.

But many people associate the word political with thoughts of weak-willed politicians who strive to say things that do not offend anyone and as a result say nothing meaningful about anything. Many people strive to be politically incorrect so that they would not be classified as PC. This equates to finding something to be wrong and doing something more wrong to prove it.

As for gun forums I find that people will post their views in whatever manner they think is appropriate given their background and upbringing. Perhaps THR seems more civil and mature because that's the goal of this particular forum. I do not claim that this forum does not have uncivil or immature members; just read some members' posts and signatures and quotes.

But the moderators do a very good job of keeping threads civil and many members adhere to the family-friendly nature of this forum. I find that refreshing.

 

[Catherine]

That reminds me of some old CCW boards on Yahoo, MSN, etc. from 10 plus years ago!

Holy moly, talk about getting high B/P after reading some of those CCW boards. That is when many states did not have CCW because they had well... I can't say it HERE because it is 'political'! ; . (

I used to write all over the place and told 'them' including the 'special ones' regarding CCW - loaded gun in your vehicle too:

"What makes YOUR life worth anymore than mine? NOTHING! Absolutely nothing!"

Just thinking about some of the special ones versus peons, serfs and slaves makes my blood boil because of the younger ones in some professions or someone who had connections in a decent county in another state just could not understand that ONE person had special GUN rights over the other one. Venting... whew! Then all you heard was move to another state-it was my husband's home state after his Vietnam/around the world USN service, it was Your problem if it was not passed no matter HOW politically active you were, if you had an anti gun Dem or an anti gun, Rino, lying Gov. who said one thing during his election but ONLY went along with the Head of the F.O.P. and the State Highway Patrol who were VERY against the SERFS having the same CIVIL RIGHTS in self defense issues, you name it, it was said. They always seemed to blame the VICTIM or the person who did OBEY the freaking LAW but fought for CCW rights. Like it was OUR fault that the RINO GOV lied to us! Geesh! Like it was OUR fault because we lived in an anti gun state, county or town/city! YOU know how it goes now... we risk our lives in our profession and so we can have the RKBA in CCW issues so why should YOU complain, you mere serf?! You don't have our job, bla and bla. Well, I was NOT comparing MY JOB or my husband's WAR record (Two bronze stars, etc.) with their JOB - but I sure as H thought that MY LIFE WAS AT RISK just as much as ANY other person was in a HIGH risk or middle to low risk job because not being able to defend yourself OUT THERE concerned me just as much as 'them'! But by saying that... that made SOME of us bad guys or gals because we dared to DEMAND and speak up about ALL of these issues. Just like I feel sorry for someone LIVING in IL or NYC or WI or x, y or z who does NOT have the right to CCW or have a loaded gun in the vehicle... I feel badly for THEM! I feel sorry for states with no open carry too! I feel sorry about ALL of that because I don't think that there should be such Unconstitutional and restrictive laws for ANYONE - anywhere unless they are in jail or in an insane asylum. When they get out... another issue and full civil rights should be restored. I know that people do NOT always agree with me there. So be it.

Anyway... those boards are long gone and the ones that may still be there repeat the same old thing - if you speak up on CCW for the ones who don't have it - the victim and/or the NON CCW ALLOWED person is held at fault or scoffed at.

To Jake:
I hear you on your CA CCW situation. Take care.

Catherine

 

[Tyris]

I think that is the original meaning and I am for it.

I'd expect such ignorance from someone in california.

The original meaning of the word stems from policital re-education camps run by chairman Mao. Political correctness is not a good thing and is a vehicle of stifling speech used by the left.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_correctness

It is mostly propagated by "useful idiots".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Useful_idiots

Are you still "for it" ?

-T

 

[TAB]

Actually if anything, I'm finding gun boards to be less "PC" then they were a few years ago. The "lets talk about that" to " I'm right, your wrong" and " my rights are more important then any one elses"

Its not just gun board, I have also noticed it at the range, and etc. If you don't beleave "shall not be infrenged" to mean anything other then " I can carry a nuke in my back pocket any where I damn well please"
Your automaticll a "liberal"( ment as an insult) and a "ememy" Even when your trying to protect others rights... it does not matter " my rights are all that matters" has taken over.

What was mentioned above about some of the CCW sites, is 100% true. Its not just web sites, its other places people with guns like to go.

 

[Catherine]

Tyris, you are correct on the PC words and meaning. I understand it the same way that you do.

It is called SOCIAL engineering among a zillion other words too.

I remember when words used to mean one thing and now they mean another to 'society'. Propaganda!

It reminds me of the book by George Orwell called "1984" along with many other books.

The Left and the Right like to be politically correct in this day and age. NOT everyone in the R or L but quite a few of them.

Catherine

 

[sernv99]

I find this board tends to attract some weird folks who shouldn't be allowed to possess a firearm to begin if they are posting non-sense like "if you were in a riot, what kind of ammo would you use, fmj or hollow point." LMAO. Or people asking what would be a good mall ninja zombie killing shotgun to buy. Or people posting non-sense about what guns they would use to repel a Russian/Chinese/Al-Qaeda invasion of the U.S. Ok, what makes you think that you will repel a Russian invasion with your 20,000 rounds of ammo and your 10 AKs, 15 ARs, and 20 handguns??? Watched Red Dawn too many times huh?


even if some of this is just joking around, it doesn't really belong on a gun forum. It just gives the antis more fuel to add to the fire.

 

[JohnBT]

"Are the gun forums becoming PC"

No, there are as many different types of gun forums as there are people to post on them.

If a person isn't comfortable on one board I'm certain there is another one out there where they will fit right in.

My personal opinion is that what is often referred to as political correctness is really nothing more than a catch phrase for "They won't let me post any more of my nonsense on their board."

John

 

[Gentleman Ranker]

Lacking any specific examples, I am not sure just what "more PC" means. My personal sense of it is that firearms forums may be changing somewhat, but if I'm seeing what I think I am, it's a Good Thing.

I can't prove it, and it may not be true everywhere, but I have the impression that people who shoot and are pro-RKBA generally may be becoming more "diverse". For example, the Pink Pistols group would have been impossible when I was young, and I've seen several posters on another board I read openly identify themselves as non-Christian or even atheist when a religious subject came up.

Now, I express no opinion whatever on sexual preference, religious belief or any other non-firearms-related Pressing Questions of the Day. I do, however, agree with our respected host that RKBA is a basic human right, and would like to see people of any and every other opinion come around to that point of view. Of course, that means that arguments on non-RKBA topics become more likely, and I would prefer to see those avoided when possible.

If, as I suspect, we are becoming "more PC" because a more "diverse" group of people are owning firearms, shooting, carrying, becoming more RKBA-aware, etc., and we need to be more careful about our language because of that, then I am all for it. Make no mistake, I'm all for freedom of speech, and all the rest of the Bill of Rights in addition to the 2nd, but if I need to tread a bit more lightly on some topics in some venues so as to advance the cause of the 2nd, I am happy to do that.

Of course, I could be entirely wrong about things being more (or less) PC, and the above is all MHO in any case.

regards,

GR

 

[Hawk]

It's probably easier to identify examples of stuff that's become "non-PC": words that, when used, will flush out a tiresome stream of "corrections" to what the mainstream holds as the correct terminology.

I believe I may have a small example: try using the term "accidental discharge". The next 6 out of 10 posts will explain, in excrutiating detail, that what you really mean is "negligent discharge".

I'm seeing "zero tolerance" becoming more pervasive but that's not PC - it's zero tolerance which is ugly in its own right. A high school student with an UZI in the lunchbox isn't the same as a student with a plastic knife that Kraft included with the cheese and cracker packaged snack. They shouldn't be treated the same. Bore-sighting your .50BMG on your neighbor's front porch while his kids are playing there isn't the same as sweeping somebody's foot with a broken-open firearm but zero tolerance tells us they are the same.

Zero tolerance might be behind the tendency to play safety monitor and chew people out for staged photos that shred one or more of Cooper's rules, even carrying the crusade off-site. Well, I guess that would be "busybody" more than PC or zero tolerance.

 

[macadore]

Are gun forums becoming PC?

Nope. They are, however, becoming overrun with folks who ask questions that are either insanely stupid, or grossly misleading, or combinations thereof... Or who completely misrepresent who they are.

So... My parents are antis because they won't let me have a gun - who here can sell me one that will fit under a trenchcoat? It has to be one of the ceramic ones, so I can get it into the school...

We're not PC... We're disgusted and bored.

+1

I am tired of intolerant religious fanatics using gun boards to force their religion down everyone’s throats (e.g., What caliber should I carry in church?). Take these questions up with your preacher.

 

[dewage83]

I believe it gives us a better rep. We all talk with "slang" and curse words occasionally, but on the public forums where children and women are, I believe we should refrain.