Millions of new gun owners/thousands of new THR members

[hso]

I think by now we've all heard about the millions of first time gun owners from 2020. We're seeing more and more folks signing up at THR and there are some things as "old hands" we should keep in mind.

They'll be asking all the same questions or repeating same TV/Movie/Anti/Internet myths that many of us asked/repeated when we were new to this. We don't want to run them off acting like a bunch of grumpy old gun guys swatting at eager "puppies". We need to be patient with them just as the old hands were patient with us. Changing people's attitudes and previously held beliefs is best done with a helping hand instead of the back of the hand.

These folks may be a little vexing to the impatient members at first, but they're really not much different than anyone new to shooting. There's just going to be more of them than usual. Be considerate and patient and help them along because that's what we're all here for in the first place. They represent the future and an opportunity to cultivate supporters of the 2A for the future.

 

[redneck2]

Everyone has to start somewhere. Negativity feeds the other side. I suggest we welcome everyone we can get.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Roger that!

 

[JCooperfan1911]

I’ll stay my tongue.

Like Cooper, I do not suffer fools.

But during these times, this old shootist will try and keep his mouth shut.

 

[Waveski]

That is a good message hso. Human nature is such that many of us would have a tendency to "swat at the eager puppies" as you said , but human nature does not always steer us in the right direction. That's where we are supposed to engage the brain.

I'll try to remember that ...

 

[Steve Milbocker]

Pretty similar to the parable I just read this morning. We planted the seeds now it’s up to us to tend the garden with patience and sound advice. Great post hso.

 

[Waveski]

I do not suffer fools.

Sometimes it is easy to mistake lack of knowledge for foolishness. Ignorance is no sin ; everybody was The New Guy once - every one of us.

An analogy:
In 1970 this Great Lakes surfer made his first trip to California at 18. (drove a '62 Nova through the desert in the summer , no a.c) My first day in the water was quite an experience after looking at pictures in Surfer Magazine for years. Wiped out and lost my board on the second wave. Lots of guys had me pegged for a new guy (geek) and gave me the stink eye as a swam towards shore. Halfway in I was amazed to see a guy paddling out with his leg hooked over my board , bringing it out to meet me. As I got closer I recognized the guy as one of those early surf stars I had been idolizing in Surfer magazine. Starstruck , I blubbered a thank you ; he just smiled.

I never forgot that experience.

 

[BigBore44]

Good advice. You poor mods are going to have your hands full. The problem with the best (IMO) forum on the net, is we have rules that are enforced to keep us that way. Many (not all) younger people aren’t used to rules like we have. They are Twitter, Facebook, and YT users who think they can say anything without repercussions. And when they find out the rules, many I think, will leave for other sites with less “restriction”.

I hope I’m wrong. I truly do. Because there is so much knowledge here for new shooters. Hell there’s so much knowledge here for old shooters.

We all have a roll to play. But we have to keep this “The High Road”.

 

[Robert]

I will suffer ignorance, but to quote Capt. Call, "I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it."

Especially from long time members that ought to know better.

 

[bikerdoc]

Yes sir, I'm in. It is not easy, but it can be done.
All though, I do find the whiners about price and availability the most vexing, amusing, and challanging.
Attitudes of Instant gratification and mini tantrums are the easiest to educate. Conspiracy theorists not so much.

 

[Speedo66]

The thing I get a chuckle out of is that there are so many first (and often last) posts here wanting to know the value and heritage of their old inherited "collector" H&R or Iver Johnson revolver.

Seems they all have one and give what they think is important information about it, generally the patent number and little else. Often no pictures, names, caliber, etc. and want detailed info. When it's not forthcoming, or comes with a request for more details, they are often never heard from again.

 

[hanno]

Yeah, be patient with the newbies and help when possible but also be on the alert for trolls.

 

[bikerdoc]

^ Classic definition of a newbie!
And an experience I had recently. Neighbor dude shows up at the door and asks for help - says 38 super won't fit in his 38 special.
Had to start teaching from ground zero.

 

[bikerdoc]

The thing I get a chuckle out of is that there are so many first (and often last) posts here wanting to know the value and heritage of their old inherited "collector" H&R or Iver Johnson revolver.

Seems they all have one and give what they think is important information about it, generally the patent number and little else. Often no pictures, names, caliber, etc. and want detailed info. When it's not forthcoming, or comes with a request for more details, they are often never heard from again.

Classic newbie!

 

[kcofohio]

Yeah, be patient with the newbies and help when possible but also be on the alert for trolls.

We've had a few trolls around here. And still do at times. But trolls do seem to vanish when they're ignored. That's why they live under bridges.

 

[Bama59]

I remember being berated as new gun owner on a forum. I hung in there and learned a lot about firearms and ignore button.

 

[Rodentman]

When I got back into reloading after a long hiatus, there was a primer shortage. I asked (on another forum) about using magnum primers in 9mm. Some old timer there ripped on me, saying I was an idiot and would blow myself up along with anyone else at the range. Perhaps he was right, but I was so beaten up I almost sold all my stuff and bailed from the hobby. There are ways to be helpful to even the least experienced without bullying. Be helpful not hurtful.

 

[NuShootr]

As a newbie, I really appreciate this post and want to thank everyone for their welcoming nature and their patience. People are people, and hopefully, all the new firearm owners and new members here will join in the fight to preserve our Bill of Rights and 2nd Amendment. I can only speak for myself, but am truly committed to the cause, both legislatively, but perhaps more importantly on the safety and proficiency side of things.
Thanks again all for the warm welcome!

 

[tarosean]

hmmmmmm.. Even if they payed 3-5x whats its truly worth?


Just jokes... We all started somewhere. Luckily I grew up prior to the advent of the internet..

 

[hanno]

When I got back into reloading after a long hiatus, there was a primer shortage. I asked (on another forum) about using magnum primers in 9mm. Some old timer there ripped on me, saying I was an idiot and would blow myself up along with anyone else at the range. Perhaps he was right, but I was so beaten up I almost sold all my stuff and bailed from the hobby. There are ways to be helpful to even the least experienced without bullying. Be helpful not hurtful.

On THR, if someone gives you bad or incomplete info that tends to get corrected pretty quickly. There are just so many experienced folks here. A wealth of info.

 

[kcofohio]

Speaking of millenials... ah, better not, I raised a couple of 'em...

Seriously, I totally get what hso is saying. I personally shall strive to go forth and shed my curmudgeon status. Who knows, maybe more new gun-owner/shooter members will spark some livelier threads?

My wife and I are fortunate. Our 25 yo daughter, though we worried at one time, has enough sense to see through the crap, for the most part. Even from her biology class.

 

[Pat Riot]

We were all “New” once.

In many ways I am still “new”. My interests are mainly with revolvers, Cowboy Action, reloading, Glocks, some rifles. On these subjects I am fairly well versed. In others, not so much. I have been known to ask “dumb” questions about things like long range precision shooting, rifle scopes, black powder guns, tactical firearms that aren’t ARs, sporting shotguns & shotgun sports, NFA firearms, and in some of these subjects I know a little but to a knowledgeable person I would be a novice at best.

My point is, we are all learning. Many of use learned through mentoring. We have all learned by asking questions and having the question answered.
How many of us learned by being berated, chastised or belittled?

I am guilty of coming down on novices, but mostly for strenuously propagating misinformation or acting as if they are knowledgeable when they clearly are not.

Years ago I was reading a gun magazine and complaining that all the articles were rehashed articles from 10 years prior. An older friend of mine said “The articles you’re reading were new to you once, now they’re new to someone else.”

 

[Speedo66]

OK, my one attempt to mitigate.

Yes, we have a search option and there's Google, but somewhat rudely referring newbs to that rather than answering their common question is a put off. Thin skinned ones will not return. I won't go back to the airgun section here because of that, and I'm not particularly thin skinned. What's common to you is new to them.

Patience will reward us with new members who will stick around and maybe get deeper into the hobby. It's not like we can't use greater numbers...

 

[kcofohio]

The thing I get a chuckle out of is that there are so many first (and often last) posts here wanting to know the value and heritage of their old inherited "collector" H&R or Iver Johnson revolver.

Seems they all have one and give what they think is important information about it, generally the patent number and little else. Often no pictures, names, caliber, etc. and want detailed info. When it's not forthcoming, or comes with a request for more details, they are often never heard from again.

When I joined THR, I was only a couple years into reloading. I posted some threads at the time I thought were a "revelation", but looking back, were a bit old info or not quite as accurate as I perceived them to be. Kinda silly, but those that responded with post were patient with my post. I soon realized the knowledge here and my shortages.
I guess my point is, from perception to reality is one wise sage away. And we have many wise ones here.

 

[James Fonteneaux]

@tarosean said: Just jokes... We all started somewhere. Luckily I grew up prior to the advent of the internet..

Amen to this. At 45, I'm part of the what must be the last generation of humans to come of age before the internet. Talk about a different world... Back on topic, this forum has been great for me and I look forward to helping out where I can.