Poll: Gun related "Fish Story"

[Fast Frank]

I know you guys have run into this.

You are having a casual conversation with somebody, and for whatever reason they decide to waste your time by telling you a series of lies strung together into a Story about a gun or hunting.

I've heard some Doozeys.

Sometimes, it's a story about a gun that never existed. The "I used to have a plastic Glock that would go through the airport security" is an example.

Sometimes, it's a story about a long shot or incredible accuracy, or both. The "I get half inch groups at 200 yards with my iron sighted .22" is typical of these. Also, there's the "I shot a deer from a half mile away" stories.

Other times, it's a bad guy combat story. The liar will spin a yarn about anything from poachers to hit men, going into great detail about all the guns, tricks, and neato skeeto things he did to win the fight.

These guys make me sick.

I can't claim to be the most informed, or the best shot, or anything like that...

But I know enough about guns to catch on to the lie pretty early in the game.

And I'm insulted when these liars think I'm stupid enough to believe their ignorant childish story.

So here's the poll question.

What do you do when these Bozos try to waste your time by bending your ear with one of these stupid made up stories?

I want to be rude, and tell them to take their stupid story somewhere else, but I usually don't.

The reason why I don't is because it only wastes MORE of my time when they go through a whole other set of lies trying to convince me that the first set of lies was true.

I usually just let them tell their lies, and say "Wow!" and leave as soon as possible.

So, what do you guys do?

 

[chris in va]

Oh these people are fun for sure. Used to work with one, he was the epitome of a 'gun nut'. No training whatsoever, but had this fetish for anything Colt. Usually he'd shoot some gun for a month and sell it.

One time I asked if he had any further training other than the basic safety course required for CC in VA. "Nope. Why would I do that? Someone comes after me, I shoot them.".

Great.

 

[Chipperman]

I try to get out of those conversations as soon as possible. I try to be polite about it, though. I generally don't come right out and tell them they are lying. I just try to walk away.

I don't want to catch their Stupid.

 

[Eric F]

Most of the time and especialy if I do not know the person I will respond with no you dont-did't or what ever and walk away. Some times some one I know like a gun store owner or a person I "need" for something will come up with some nonsense and then I have to play along so as not to ruin my oprotunity whiy what ever I need from that person like a discount or what ever.

 

[Sharps-shooter]

As for myself, I just listen politely. And laugh about it later with friends. But I used to have this friend who, whenever he encountered this type of situation, would listen until the end, and then say, "Yeah, I've done that too." It's funny, because he said the people would believe it. They didn't know how impossible or unlikely their stories were, after all.

 

[NG VI]

I used to try to explain what i knew to be true to them, but sometimes my blood pressure rises too rapidly, so intsead i just let them talk now. and now it's really only a couple friends of mine, usually with little nomenclature errors, like yesterday when my buddy told me about a place selling SP-90s for 1500.

i only wish he'd told me about a place selling SP-89s for 1500. i'd buy them all

 

[Mr White]

I have a very low tolerence for BS. I usually let them set themselves up pretty good for a minute or 2 then make the kill. Peoples reactions to being overtly called on lies vary from embarasment, to shock to outright rage in some cases.

My favorite venue for this game is at gun shows. There is never a shortage of tall tales, wild yarns and outright lies there.

 

[Cannonball888]

Depends on if they are a stranger, a friend, a relative, old, young, etc as to how I would react.

 

[Furncliff]

I had a man that worked for me for a short while that would tell tall tales .... about guns about jet fighters, about EVERYTHING. Didn't matter what. For instance he wanted me to believe he had been a Navy fighter pilot. It didn't take long for the crew to catch on to the bull and they ridiculed him fiercely. At the same time I was amused annoyed and sympathetic. People like this have a real problem, and it probably haunts their every waking moment.

 

[one-shot-one]

depends

it all depends on "who" they are:
1. is it worth it for me to correct them, publicly or privately?
2. are they someone who already knows that i know they are full of it?
3. are they trying to bait me into an argument? do i feel like argueing at the
moment?
4. unless they say something that could get themselves or someone else hurt
i usualy just give them a "you lie to your friends and i"ll lie to mine but hey
lets not lie to each other" simle and ignore them.

 

[bogie]

Well, I've got a few friends who _can_ make some of those shots... But who generally don't...

Depends on who's talking, more or less.

I hates seelses...

 

[hankdatank1362]

from Billy Madison:
CHRIS FARLEY - That Veronica sure is one hot piece of tail... and I know from experience.

ADAM SANDLER - Ha ha ha... no you don't.

CHRIS FARLEY - Well not me personally, but her and a buddy of mine got it on! Wooo!

ADAM SANDLER - Ha ha ha... no, they didn't.

CHRIS FARLEY - Yeah well... you can imagine what it would be like if they did! *wink nudge*

ADAM SANDLER - *shakes head in disbelief, gets onto bus*

 

[CBS220]

I wait to hear a good one, then I shut them down.I can't stand the sort of liars like that, and I would prefer that others hear what a liar they are.

Maybe the liar won't do it next time? I know I've heard the plastic Glock story before, and the "200 yards with a snub nose revolver killing a deer" thing a few times.

 

[Gingerbreadman]

I usually let them set themselves up pretty good for a minute or 2 then make the kill.

I usually act like I believe it, then call them on it if it feel it is worth it. Usually I just walk away.

Listening to stories of .50 caliber M-60's and whatnot can be kind of interesting though.

 

[FourNineFoxtrot]

I don't generally get into such discussions... I'm not the guy you just start up a conversation with. I'm told my natural expression is... unfriendly.

I'll listen politely if it's something small or hard to disprove. If somebody's bragging about how accurate they are with whatever gun, I'll probably smile and nod unless it's really outrageous. I might politely question them if it's something I know isn't right, but generally once the bs starts, I start trying to leave the conversation.

 

[Superlite27]

I didn't see my favorite option on the poll.


#6) Let them finish, then "one up" them in an effort to see how ludicrously outrageous the one-upmanship can possibly get.

I once had a coworker tell me he shot two coyotes at 300 yards with one shot. Yup. They were standing side by side, and the bullet went through the first one's heart and into the second one's heart. There was a game warden there who witnessed it and said that my coworker was the best shot he'd ever seen.

Not completely impossible, but at 300 yards? Highly unlikely, yet not so unplausible that one could throw the "BS flag". Especially the game warden part. I know every time I shoot something, there's always a game warden there to witness it. .....both in the heart????? Yeah. O.K.

So I told him that I went coyote hunting once (never been) and I saw a really pretty one at about 300 yards. I didn't want to mar up the pelt, so I shot a rock that was in front of it, and the rock flew up and hit the coyote in the head and killed it without leaving a mark.

He just stared at me for a minute and said, "Hmmmmm." I put the onus back on him. But, to come up with another "miraculous shot" would be too much of a stretch now wouldn't it? Another one would probably cross over from "probably BS" into "outright lie" territory. However, if he would have, I would have too just to see how miraculous things could get!

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

#6) Let them finish, then "one up" them in an effort to see how ludicrously outrageous the one-upmanship can possibly get.

That's sort of what I do. Ask uninformed-sounding loaded questions to get them to explain further and see how far their warped mind will take it. It's hard to do without laughing or at least smiling but it can have comical results. "Yeah I've heard 50 cals will take down planes but if you missed wouldn't it keep going out of our atmosphere and possibly hit a satellite? I bet you could get into trouble for that, especially if it didn't belong to our country!"

 

[Silvanus]

I let them finish their story. If the person actually believes what he tells me, I try to educate him on the matter. If he's just showing off, I tell him that he lies and argue with him, unless it's a person I really respect for some reason

 

[Win75]

I listen politely, and act like I believe it.

It does no good to argue with this type because they know it all anyway.

 

[308win]

Customer that is in our store every day. Nice guy, dont' know why but always embellishes stories. Latest was yesterday about a sniper he saw on TV shoot a 3 inch group at one mile.

 

[JWarren]

One of my character flaws is that I am adverse to pertetuating a lie. Oh, a person can lie all they want, but my nodding and agreeing makes me feel guilty of it as well.

And I have more respect for myself than to lower myself by playing along.

I have two choices:

If it is a guy I don't really care for, I'll not comment on his story and make an excuse to detach myself from the conversation. This means I've heard enough that I don't really care to pursue knowing this person.

If it IS a person I like, I will challenge the comments and engage them in a discussion. This is a time where I may decide that they are worth the effort to engage them.


-- John

 

[jad0110]

It really depends on the situation. Is it someone I know or a stranger? Is it friendly BS or misinformed anti-gun rhetoric?

Recently I was at my local gunshop and a couple were looking at handguns for the wife for HD. She was doing all the right things by handling each gun to find the best fit. Apparently, her favorite was something chambered in 9mm (don't know what it was). Then I heard the usual BS line from the husband, "you don't want that, if you have to shoot a badguy with 9mm it will only make him angry. Get this 45, it will throw him clear across the room."

I didn't say a word, just looked at the guy behind the counter and shook my head.

 

[Essex County]

My grandfather, a gentleman, man of the cloth and a vetran of WW 1 trenches told me " Never embarass a man...His pride is too important to him". I say let it go.........Essex

 

[ColinthePilot]

I voted "explain." There's too much BS out there about guns for knowledgeable people to just let these yahoos go on spreading misinformation. I do know one of these guys, and I usually call him on it in private. He works at a shop and I don't usually want to show him up in front of his coworkers. A mutual friend and I joke about how "Sam knows everything there is to know about guns...I bet he could take out a buffalo from 10,000yds with his glock and that $3/rd laser guided hollowpoint he tried to sell us." Next time we see him, we're gonna try the one-upmanship and see if he can find me a suppressor for an SA-7. (shoulder launched missile, for those who aren't up on their black market weapons. I'm betting he's not.)

 

[Mac45]

Doesn't cost anything to smile, nod your head and walk away