george burns
Member
Compared to 5 or 10 years ago, it seems like gun forums in general have kind of petered out. The hundreds of posts an guns for sale, have trickled down to a fraction of what they were. Is it a sign of the times?
are gun forums losing their alure?
- Thread starter george burns
- Start date
- Status
A lot of the classic questions have been answered. We used to see:
1. When can I shoot someone? I want to shoot a BG!
2. 9mm vs 45 ACP
3. Glock vs 1911
4. What gun for the GF, wife or both?
5. The UN is coming, get ready
6. Shotgun, best SD gun - 'nuff said!!
Forum readers have seen these and the fire it out of them. Every once in awhile a newbie will ask one of these and it gets a flurry.
So we get a slower pace of technical questions as the sturm und drang is fading.
If Hillary becomes the candidate there will an upsurge in gun rights, OMG - the end is near, what to buy posts.
1. When can I shoot someone? I want to shoot a BG!
2. 9mm vs 45 ACP
3. Glock vs 1911
4. What gun for the GF, wife or both?
5. The UN is coming, get ready
6. Shotgun, best SD gun - 'nuff said!!
Forum readers have seen these and the fire it out of them. Every once in awhile a newbie will ask one of these and it gets a flurry.
So we get a slower pace of technical questions as the sturm und drang is fading.
If Hillary becomes the candidate there will an upsurge in gun rights, OMG - the end is near, what to buy posts.
AStone
Member
I left for a while -- because I was traveling a lot and my guns were in storage --
but I'm back, and will likely not leave again. For whatever that's worth.
but I'm back, and will likely not leave again. For whatever that's worth.
200Apples
Mojave Lever Crew
.
Hear, hear, greenr18.
Other than Andy's Scout Rifle forum, THR is the place for me. I am continually learning something here. This is more than likely the best firearms message board forum in existence. It certainly has not lost it's "allure".
Hear, hear, greenr18.
Other than Andy's Scout Rifle forum, THR is the place for me. I am continually learning something here. This is more than likely the best firearms message board forum in existence. It certainly has not lost it's "allure".
AStone
Member
Greenr makes an excellent point.
I hate social media. Chat rooms. One liners. Person A trying to be cooler than person B, with no real discourse.
Long live threaded forums like this one.
I hate social media. Chat rooms. One liners. Person A trying to be cooler than person B, with no real discourse.
Long live threaded forums like this one.
JTHunter
Member
There are 5 gun forums I frequent and, with the multiple threads I read in each, it takes a while to get through these on a regular basis.
And there is one more that I go to only rarely. It takes time.
And there is one more that I go to only rarely. It takes time.
Sheepdog1968
Member
10 years ago,forums were new. As such lots tried them out. As the newness wore off some stayed on and some moved onto other things. It reminds me of when who wants to be a millionaire was a new TV show. It was on many nights a week. In primetime. And I had a very good following. As time moron people still enjoyed it but not nearly as many tuned in. I think of forums in a similar manner. There still enjoyable it's just people don't spend as much time because it's no longer new.
R.W.Dale
Member
5 or 10 years ago that number was MUCH larger.
As mentioned forums in general are becoming obsolete in favor of Facebook groups and various other forms of social media.
AStone
Member
Hypothesis: It's evolution. The quality people who can think and write beyond one liners will stay.
The rest will migrate to Faceplant and Twigger.
The rest will migrate to Faceplant and Twigger.
200Apples
Mojave Lever Crew
.
faceplant. Hahaha...
faceplant. Hahaha...
Panzerschwein
member
I agree! Much like Facebook, where people try to post the cutest little quips and jokes, and try to make themselves look cool by posting pictures of where they've been, where they're eating at, etc. etc. Just does NOT interest me, and frankly I find it a highly conceited endeavor.
I choose to spend my time on gun forums such as this. Especially on THR. Here, you will find most members have a good head on their shoulders and we can all connect and learn from each other through positive and helpful discussions on all matters related to our fine hobby.
While these forums might not be quite as popular as they used to be, I like to think that maybe there are more wheat berries here than chaff! Those of us that are serious about firearms and learning about them flock to these forums, and I am proud to be in such like minded company.
AStone
Member
^ Like.
Oh, wait ... sorry ..
Oh, wait ... sorry ..
Zaydok Allen
Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2011
- Messages
- 13,274
I always say twit is in the name Twitter for a reason.
Are gun forums dying? I don't think so. There are a lot of us younger folks around who are here for fun, but more so to build our knowledge base. Hmmm. I'm going to have to stop referring to myself as a younger person though because I guess it isn't true anymore.
But I agree that social media has taken a chunk out of what should be new shooters coming here. I imagine THR's code of conduct is off putting to some younger folks. We don't want those folks here though anyway.
Are gun forums dying? I don't think so. There are a lot of us younger folks around who are here for fun, but more so to build our knowledge base. Hmmm. I'm going to have to stop referring to myself as a younger person though because I guess it isn't true anymore.
But I agree that social media has taken a chunk out of what should be new shooters coming here. I imagine THR's code of conduct is off putting to some younger folks. We don't want those folks here though anyway.
Swing
Member
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2012
- Messages
- 1,644
^ This. Many older, established forums are slowly deflating. Others are completely dead. Start up forums in the last 2-4 years have had a hard go, at best, or were completely stillborn, at worst.
Personally, I can't stand "Social Media" of almost any flavor and prefer forums. That doesn't mean the majority of Interwebz people feel the same way though.
The universe of social media has also expanded considerably. With blogs, Twitter, YouTube channels, Facebook and general interest forums like Reddit, the time folks spend on social media gets spread more thinly around multiple venues.
In addition, over the last 5 to 10 years economic circumstances have forced many people to spend more time on things like keeping their jobs or finding new ones, trying to hold on to their house or finding new places to live, and looking for new ways to plan for retirement.
In addition, over the last 5 to 10 years economic circumstances have forced many people to spend more time on things like keeping their jobs or finding new ones, trying to hold on to their house or finding new places to live, and looking for new ways to plan for retirement.
barnbwt
member
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2011
- Messages
- 7,340
Forums are for writing things that deserve to be written, because they archive for later reading that which deserves to be read. No one remembers what they wrote on Twitter or Facetube two days ago, let alone years back when they need to find that one nugget of advice they vaguely recall. Because there's never anything important or interesting posted; just eye-grabby junk.
You also sure as heck can't actually explain something technical in a three line text morsel.
People's attention spans are getting shorter (somehow) and text that doesn't dance around or pop up constantly simply isn't entertaining enough for those wishing to merely consume information (which is fine and dandy, but forums have always been much more rewarding when you bother to get involved)
I personally think that forums with a mission have the best chance at survival, rather than those that are simply 'fora with a focus'. THR quickly became boring for me when I first got into guns, since the discussions here just simply aren't that technical or interesting beyond basic information (nothing wrong with that, as it's more accessible to non-nerds), but now that I am more interested in the legal, political, and philosophical aspects of firearms ownership, there are enough novel opinions on those areas to keep me entertained & sharing what I've managed to learn. I'm glad THR has advocacy as a strong, secondary focus to equipment concerns. When a forum loses its focus, things go all haywire and garden weeds (zombies, conspiracies, prepping, bigotry/flaming, political hackery, dangerous/illegal stuff, general craziness) start popping up all over and the few remaining normal people are scared off. Lot of the old gun building sites went that way, it seems.
There's a life cycle for all things, and something like a forum that's typically maintained by a scant few people is certainly no exception.
TCB
You also sure as heck can't actually explain something technical in a three line text morsel.
People's attention spans are getting shorter (somehow) and text that doesn't dance around or pop up constantly simply isn't entertaining enough for those wishing to merely consume information (which is fine and dandy, but forums have always been much more rewarding when you bother to get involved)
I personally think that forums with a mission have the best chance at survival, rather than those that are simply 'fora with a focus'. THR quickly became boring for me when I first got into guns, since the discussions here just simply aren't that technical or interesting beyond basic information (nothing wrong with that, as it's more accessible to non-nerds), but now that I am more interested in the legal, political, and philosophical aspects of firearms ownership, there are enough novel opinions on those areas to keep me entertained & sharing what I've managed to learn. I'm glad THR has advocacy as a strong, secondary focus to equipment concerns. When a forum loses its focus, things go all haywire and garden weeds (zombies, conspiracies, prepping, bigotry/flaming, political hackery, dangerous/illegal stuff, general craziness) start popping up all over and the few remaining normal people are scared off. Lot of the old gun building sites went that way, it seems.
There's a life cycle for all things, and something like a forum that's typically maintained by a scant few people is certainly no exception.
TCB
shootniron
Member
Might be that forums going away, is a good thing.
Maybe more people will spend time getting experience and learning things for themselves...rather than being internet commando's and regurgitating what they have read "on the internet".
There is a lot of knowledge on gun forums, for sure...but there are far too many on the forums that do nothing to gain firsthand knowledge of guns and shooting.
Maybe more people will spend time getting experience and learning things for themselves...rather than being internet commando's and regurgitating what they have read "on the internet".
There is a lot of knowledge on gun forums, for sure...but there are far too many on the forums that do nothing to gain firsthand knowledge of guns and shooting.
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olafhardtB
Member
- Joined
- May 8, 2011
- Messages
- 393
I am 70 years old. I got my first smart phone about 5 years ago and discovered gun forums and online gun buying. I was as happy as a pig in Hollywood. I read discussions, asked questions, looked at guns and bought guns. Now I have all the guns I want and know as much about them as I want to. Therefore, info sights just ain't what they used to be.
fiddleharp
Member
I belong to several gun forums, and one thing I've noticed is the average age of the posters seems to be about sixty. Not that there's anything wrong with that... just sayin'. 
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
No matter your age.
They all come to THR sooner or later to get definitive answers to hard questions.
Collectively, there are more years of knowledge about any gun subject you can dream up, then anywhere else I can can think of!
Some of these guys can tell you who rifled the barrel on your Colt or Winchester in 1914!
Others can tell you more then you want to know about your dad's old rusty WWII pistol.
Others can help you with Grandpaws old Belgian shotgun proof-marks.
Who else ya gonna call, Ghost Busters?
rc
They all come to THR sooner or later to get definitive answers to hard questions.
Collectively, there are more years of knowledge about any gun subject you can dream up, then anywhere else I can can think of!
Some of these guys can tell you who rifled the barrel on your Colt or Winchester in 1914!
Others can tell you more then you want to know about your dad's old rusty WWII pistol.
Others can help you with Grandpaws old Belgian shotgun proof-marks.
Who else ya gonna call, Ghost Busters?
rc
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Ironicaintit
Member
Maybe the allure is only lost to those without anything much to say, or to those who dont have the attention span that God gave a gnat.
Being merely a concerned amateur hobbyist civilian, I don't have a whole lot of valuable input on a forum like this, but I sure appreciate that you all do! The archives here are a gold mine!
Being merely a concerned amateur hobbyist civilian, I don't have a whole lot of valuable input on a forum like this, but I sure appreciate that you all do! The archives here are a gold mine!
Plan2Live
Member
I have no way of judging the popularity of gun forums but this is the only one I visit on a regular basis. i keep coming here for substance and can usually find it. I do get tired of "Glock 26" being inserted into every thread from "What's the best gun for taking big game?" To "Which hammer fired pistol is best for concealed carry?" But if I can find my way around those posts I can usually find good info here, info that saves me time and money. Long Live THR.
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