My First and Probably Last Post: An Open Letter
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The Wiry Irishman
Member
Perhaps I can lend a slightly different perspective to this.
I'm young. I haven't been around long enough to accumulate any great wisdom on any particular topic. I'm still learning about life, but if there's one thing that I've learned that I believe is correct is that judging a group of people and forming an opinion about them is a nearly impossible task.
Every group of people has its bad apples, and those bad apples tend also to be the most vocal and most visible of the group. I have an example that might be more meaningful to a more liberal person. I'm an atheist. Growing up, even early in college, I had a very deep dislike, maybe even a hatred, for Christians. It seemed like every time I had any sort of interaction with a Christian, I was being told that everything I believed was wrong, that I would be cursed for what I believed, that I was evil, so on and so forth.
I don't hate Christians now. I came to see that they're decent folk, no better or no worse than anyone else. Why? I got to know some of them. The reason that all I heard from Christians was negative and accusatory was because the majority of Christians felt no need to dictate what is right to everyone that they come across. Only the bad eggs thought that was the proper course of action.
The same applies here. I'm frequently frustrated by the same tone that appears on the board that you are. The speak of sheeple, liberals being stupid just because they're liberal, etc. I almost stopped reading THR because of it. Then I applied the same logic to this board that I did to Christians. Sit back and read for a month. Every time you see one of those close-minded comments, take note of the person that said it. Keep track of the number of individuals that say that sort of thing, then at the end of the month, compare that to the number of active users on THR. I'll bet you anything its only a tiny fraction that are responsible.
I won't reccomend you take a trip to the range. If guns aren't your thing, that's fine. I would, however, recommend that you get to know some gun owners. At the very least, walk about your daily life with the knowledge that anyone you talk to, people that don't exhibit the bad apple qualities that bother you and I both, people you respect, could well be gun owners. There are 80 million of us here in America. 1 in 4 people you know probably own a firearm of some sort, even in California.
I used to be quite anti-gun. More so than you, I suspect. It was meeting real gun owners and not judging the group its popular stereotypes and vocal minority that played the biggest part in changing the way I think about firearms.
I just ask you to do the same. I bet you'll find that gun owners are decent folk, no better or no worse than anybody else.
I'm young. I haven't been around long enough to accumulate any great wisdom on any particular topic. I'm still learning about life, but if there's one thing that I've learned that I believe is correct is that judging a group of people and forming an opinion about them is a nearly impossible task.
Every group of people has its bad apples, and those bad apples tend also to be the most vocal and most visible of the group. I have an example that might be more meaningful to a more liberal person. I'm an atheist. Growing up, even early in college, I had a very deep dislike, maybe even a hatred, for Christians. It seemed like every time I had any sort of interaction with a Christian, I was being told that everything I believed was wrong, that I would be cursed for what I believed, that I was evil, so on and so forth.
I don't hate Christians now. I came to see that they're decent folk, no better or no worse than anyone else. Why? I got to know some of them. The reason that all I heard from Christians was negative and accusatory was because the majority of Christians felt no need to dictate what is right to everyone that they come across. Only the bad eggs thought that was the proper course of action.
The same applies here. I'm frequently frustrated by the same tone that appears on the board that you are. The speak of sheeple, liberals being stupid just because they're liberal, etc. I almost stopped reading THR because of it. Then I applied the same logic to this board that I did to Christians. Sit back and read for a month. Every time you see one of those close-minded comments, take note of the person that said it. Keep track of the number of individuals that say that sort of thing, then at the end of the month, compare that to the number of active users on THR. I'll bet you anything its only a tiny fraction that are responsible.
I won't reccomend you take a trip to the range. If guns aren't your thing, that's fine. I would, however, recommend that you get to know some gun owners. At the very least, walk about your daily life with the knowledge that anyone you talk to, people that don't exhibit the bad apple qualities that bother you and I both, people you respect, could well be gun owners. There are 80 million of us here in America. 1 in 4 people you know probably own a firearm of some sort, even in California.
I used to be quite anti-gun. More so than you, I suspect. It was meeting real gun owners and not judging the group its popular stereotypes and vocal minority that played the biggest part in changing the way I think about firearms.
I just ask you to do the same. I bet you'll find that gun owners are decent folk, no better or no worse than anybody else.
justin 561
Member
Everything in this post has been covered 3 pages ago, now its just the same posts just reworded. She obviously came on here to spout out her anti gun babble and get everyone on here to attack her. In my eyes she has failed, the only thing she succeeded on doing is showing exactly how troubled he or she is. He/She doesn't care what our responses are, she only wants you to be vulgar and give he fuel to feed to her fire. This post I hope was a joke, or atleast I hope it was. Lets be down with this, close her up and let it die. Theres no real value to our responses as she wont interact with us and discuss the pros and cons of gun ownership or the laws concerning it.
Big45
member
chris in va
Member
Sorry, but that line just doesn't set well with me. It wouldn't sound very 'nice' if the words were reversed a bit. But you know what? I won't do that, because I'm sure it will be copy/pasted into some article with, "See?? This is what they REALLY want!".
I'm just a gun owner. I believe in protecting myself and my loved ones, and even strangers that are in dire peril. Including you, believe it or not.
Most have missed the point of this woman's writings. She is actually trying to help us, inspite of her personal experiences with guns.
She is writing from a deep part of herself, a place where a child's unconditional love of a parents resides. It is as if she knows her father was bad, but still wants to be loved by him inspite of his doings. This is her attempt to be simply loved by her father through helping us.
Reread this passage of hers pasted below, a couple of times...granted she theatens us with the on going gun control battle, but what she is trying to say to our community is to quit the name calling and be adults when discussing gun issues with her group of people. That there are many people on the fence with regards to guns that could be of help to us and agree with us, if we would quit making them feel uncomfortable or calling them names.
I agree with her that we need to befriend more people that do not own guns. She is saying that some people that do not own guns, can accept the fact that there are benefits to some members of society owning and carrying guns. That having private citizens carrying a gun is not a bad thing for society in general, but we alienate too many of these people that sit on the fence by name calling and making them think we are better than them.
To have public spokespersons for our cause, that do not own a gun, would be a huge benefit to our cause. Those people are out there, but they need to be motivated to help us convince society in general that guns are an acceptable part of society and a part to finally accept in full. Ending the control battles.
Here are her comments again...
You see, there are many, many of us out here who all of you consider "antis' who are not at all. There are some of us who, were we to give in to the temptation to slip logic in kind at the butt of your own tendencies to do so, would have damn fine reason to be "antis", would be very good at it, and would represent a considerable benefit to the cause of your nemeses.
We are legion. And our words are mightier than bullets. And we don't run out of ammo.
So, the next time you feel like hurling wisdom at us, the next time your own brush feels heavy and wanting for a target, consider that there are a few of us who haven't yet decided which ring to throw our dogs in. And our dogs are big. And our dogs are hungry.
With regards,
A loud, powerful, logical, well-connected, female and liberal California journalist who really doesn't want to take away your guns, but leans further in that direction every time she sees your lack of personal self-control.
She is writing from a deep part of herself, a place where a child's unconditional love of a parents resides. It is as if she knows her father was bad, but still wants to be loved by him inspite of his doings. This is her attempt to be simply loved by her father through helping us.
Reread this passage of hers pasted below, a couple of times...granted she theatens us with the on going gun control battle, but what she is trying to say to our community is to quit the name calling and be adults when discussing gun issues with her group of people. That there are many people on the fence with regards to guns that could be of help to us and agree with us, if we would quit making them feel uncomfortable or calling them names.
I agree with her that we need to befriend more people that do not own guns. She is saying that some people that do not own guns, can accept the fact that there are benefits to some members of society owning and carrying guns. That having private citizens carrying a gun is not a bad thing for society in general, but we alienate too many of these people that sit on the fence by name calling and making them think we are better than them.
To have public spokespersons for our cause, that do not own a gun, would be a huge benefit to our cause. Those people are out there, but they need to be motivated to help us convince society in general that guns are an acceptable part of society and a part to finally accept in full. Ending the control battles.
Here are her comments again...
You see, there are many, many of us out here who all of you consider "antis' who are not at all. There are some of us who, were we to give in to the temptation to slip logic in kind at the butt of your own tendencies to do so, would have damn fine reason to be "antis", would be very good at it, and would represent a considerable benefit to the cause of your nemeses.
We are legion. And our words are mightier than bullets. And we don't run out of ammo.
So, the next time you feel like hurling wisdom at us, the next time your own brush feels heavy and wanting for a target, consider that there are a few of us who haven't yet decided which ring to throw our dogs in. And our dogs are big. And our dogs are hungry.
With regards,
A loud, powerful, logical, well-connected, female and liberal California journalist who really doesn't want to take away your guns, but leans further in that direction every time she sees your lack of personal self-control.
Pigspitter
Member
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- Aug 31, 2007
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- 614
I can understand your concern over the words of some posters at this site. With 80 million Americans legally owning guns, almost every demographic is incorporated into the gun culture and the attitudes of these people varies as greatly as their culture. I choose to be pro-gun not because I hate antis, but because I believe that excercising my 2nd Amendment right is just as important as excercising my right to vote. I am sorry if you have been offended by our comments, and I believe that gun-owners and antis both need to set aside the name calling and bickering in favor of intelligent, factual arguements. I hope that you can learn to accept the gun-culture as a melting pot of American society and a place of understanding and insight.
BammaYankee
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- Mar 18, 2008
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Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't Freud say that a generalized fear of weapons (not just guns) represents a form of sexual and emotional immaturity?
The Wiry Irishman
Member
Freud was also a big fan of cocaine.
Cite him sparily, a lot of his ideas have been debunked by modern psychologists.
siglite
Member
I suspect that if the OP's father had been a mechanic, she would have been over on a car forum railing on wrench-turners. And threatening them with "legion." Clearly, and sadly, her perspective is so warped by whatever terrible childhood she endured, that she believes every gun owner to be the same monster her father apparently was.
Which is a shame. But I imagine that damage is done. Every gun owner to this woman will always be a boogeyman. There is little to nothing we can do about that. She is the only one who can remove this irrational bias. Though, ironically, she is attempting to place this burden on us. It is not fair to any of us for her to do so.
Hell holds a special place for those that hurt children. And hopefully this woman can get help to get through/past/around the damage this man did.
Her retorts to the responses in this thread will certainly be interesting. If she bothers.
Which is a shame. But I imagine that damage is done. Every gun owner to this woman will always be a boogeyman. There is little to nothing we can do about that. She is the only one who can remove this irrational bias. Though, ironically, she is attempting to place this burden on us. It is not fair to any of us for her to do so.
Hell holds a special place for those that hurt children. And hopefully this woman can get help to get through/past/around the damage this man did.
Her retorts to the responses in this thread will certainly be interesting. If she bothers.
Nolo
Member
Freud was about as bright a guy as Carl Marx, and so I really don't cite him that much.
justin 561
Member
That is certainly a understatement, he LOVED cocaine, and it certainly was a factor in his findings in a MAJOR way.
MT GUNNY
Member
JWarren
You are my new best buddy great post!
You are my new best buddy great post!
rickomatic
Member
It is quite obvious, as stated by many already, that the OP harbors some deep seated emotional issues with her deceased father. For that, I have great sympathy. The fact that her father held the same hobby as we do is the very reason she came here to unleash her emotions. I hope it was cathartic for her. However, I do believe she would be better served to deal with these issues with a professional. Maybe her diatribe here was, in fact, something prescribed to her by her mental health care provider. If it was, again, I hope it was helpful to her.
It must be an especially bitter pill to swallow the day after Father's Day. I can only imagine the pain endured by someone who did not have the blessing that I had with my father. He is 86, and still living healthily, and I saw him yesterday. I also saw my father in law yesterday. He is 94. I am blessed to have had both of them in my life. They both are Godly men. Men of stature in the community. Men of devout commitment. I can only imagine the pain she feels this Father's Day. I am sorry for her.
Being a journalist, perhaps the Tim Russert overload the past couple days just got to her. After listening to the stories about Tim and his father, and his son, and seeing my two "dads" this weekend....I can only imagine the emptiness that any of us would feel if we were in her situation.
I hope God can bring her some solace. She cannot find it here.
It must be an especially bitter pill to swallow the day after Father's Day. I can only imagine the pain endured by someone who did not have the blessing that I had with my father. He is 86, and still living healthily, and I saw him yesterday. I also saw my father in law yesterday. He is 94. I am blessed to have had both of them in my life. They both are Godly men. Men of stature in the community. Men of devout commitment. I can only imagine the pain she feels this Father's Day. I am sorry for her.
Being a journalist, perhaps the Tim Russert overload the past couple days just got to her. After listening to the stories about Tim and his father, and his son, and seeing my two "dads" this weekend....I can only imagine the emptiness that any of us would feel if we were in her situation.
I hope God can bring her some solace. She cannot find it here.
WinchesterAA
Member
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2006
- Messages
- 870
I think the issue doesn't have anything to do with firearms..
Has more to do with letting go prolly.
ETA - Wasn't the "We are legion" remark in a movie of some sort? I could have sworn I heard that in a movie or read somewhere beforehand. I remember it being pretty weak as far as threats go..
Has more to do with letting go prolly.
ETA - Wasn't the "We are legion" remark in a movie of some sort? I could have sworn I heard that in a movie or read somewhere beforehand. I remember it being pretty weak as far as threats go..
Superpsy
Member
The OP can be afraid of and dislike whatever she wants.
I'm a little peeved at the tone of the OP's "open letter." Things like:
are semi-threatening...
I don't know about other members but when I hear/see stuff like this it makes me want to say "bring it on." There are many more on the side of freedom.
I'm a little peeved at the tone of the OP's "open letter." Things like:
are semi-threatening...
I don't know about other members but when I hear/see stuff like this it makes me want to say "bring it on." There are many more on the side of freedom.
Geronimo45
Member
V for Vendetta.
M2 Carbine
member
WOW, I'm really impressed.
Does that kind of stuff really impress the California liberals?
I think your post is just so much sheep poop but if there's any truth in it, grow up.
Most everyone has had problems in life, some pretty bad.
You aren't anything special, get over it.
Cosmoline
Member
I can see that, but she only says this AFTER essentially claiming we're all secret child molesters. If you want to make peace, that's not the best way to go about it.
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