Question for the Mods and Oleg

[WayneConrad]

I want us to win the PR war for the future of RKBA.

That's the answer. And I ain't saying that because it's the chief who said it. I'm saying that because it's the right answer. I'd be saying that if Oleg was saying, "Our mission here is to discuss what yogurt tastes best."

When someone asks what to do about a neighbor and someone suggests illegal or immoral action, do you wonder why it makes some of us just a wee bit snippy?

Read what Oleg said, again.

This ain't just a place to talk about what caliber is funnest to shoot, or how to glass bed a rifle, or whatever. Those are great, but that's not the ultimate purpose of this place.

Let me tell you something about liberals. You know. Those people some of you like to spit venom at because they are irrational. Because they are Godless. Because of whatever other stereotype you have in your mind.

I'm going to tell you a secret.

(Warning: Crude language ahead)

Some of them are now, or soon will, read this site, for whatever reason. Don't worry about why. You don't need to worry about why. Just know that they will. They are who this web site is for, not us. And the first thread they read where someone says, "Yeah, and 45 cal makes the biggest hole, and I want the bad guy to bleed out so fast he dies right there. The idiot doesn't deserve to live," we just turned white the face of someone who was curious or interested in guns or the second amendment. We have turned away someone who may have been a friend. Reinforced a stereotype. Maybe even created an enemy.

As far as I'm concerned, this site isn't for us. It's for the people we want to be our friends soon. We should have that in the front of our mind every time we post.

Why do I know so much about these non-gun people that might come visiting here, and become our friends?

I was one.

 

[MakAttak]

Calm, concise language is always preferable to rampant emotionalisms. However,I can not imagine Patrick Henry standing with his peers and quietly, like Casper Milquetoast, say, “Give me liberty or give me death” I see it more like an impassioned man standing on a chair, shouting down the noise in the room, and at the top of his voice, yelling “GIVE ME LIBERTY, OR GIVE ME DEATH! There are times when standing toe to toe and declaring, “ENOUGH!” is the only reasonable course of action.

I have to step in here, because I do so love that speech.

Please read more than simply the crescendo and the final touch.

For most of the speech, Patrick Henry IS calm and concise. His speech calmly lays out the risks and dangers from war and from "peace".

The VAST majority of that speech is respectful and calm.

It is not until the end that it becomes impassioned.

I would have to say the moderators do an excellent job of ensuring the vast majority of the speech here is calm- though I would venture to say Patrick Henry has the High Road beat for his cool and concise speech, this forum is by far the most polite, helpful and calm forum I have seen.

For this, I thank the mods for how quickly they shut down "pointless noise" and "chest-thumping" and "conspiracy theories".

 

[BullfrogKen]

Were it that those who posted political verbage had the skill and mastery of English that Patrick Henry posessed, L&P would still be alive and kicking, and we'd all be more enlightened by it.


I enjoy reading the exchanges and public discourse that took place during that time period. They represent the pinnacle of honorable behavior and self-control while expressing righteous indignation.

Unfortunately, the political discussions here were more representative of the "Tar and Feather the b_____d's!" crowd.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

I do enjoy being here. I should think that is obvious by now. Thanks to all of you for not hitting me with what I have read on here in the form of, "This is our place, so if you don't like it here, go play someplace else." I do not like the circumstance where the concept put forth is trashed by some with no serious consideration as to the intent of the poster. It frustrates me that such people even exist, let alone frequent this board. I have PM'd some of the more eloquent members and we have shared our points of view. Such involved exchanges can not take place with the emotional interjections of the few who limit themselves to 3 or 4 syllables per word, or sentence.

I felt compelled to question the validity of enforced neutrality when our rights are being trampled as we speak (type). Unfortunately I have little faith that much of consequence will come out of the current debate before the Supreme Court. I see it more as a public puppet show for the benefit of the media, with not much to show for it. I pray that I am wrong and that our God given, constitutionally affirmed and guaranteed right of self defense, and the right to overturn tyrannical government is acknowledged and affirmed by the Supreme Court.

I guess we will have to wait and see.

 

[rainbowbob]

Why do I know so much about these non-gun people that might come visiting here, and become our friends?

I was one.

Well done Mr Conrad! Bravo! One of the most inspirational posts I have seen on this forum. Many other good posts as well.

I too WAS one.

 

[BullfrogKen]

Grandpa, who says we're enforcing neutrality?


If you want a place to rant over politics, THR isn't it. If the community could discuss and debate their displeasure over their view of a given state of affairs politely, we'd allow it. That's not forced neutrality. That's being mission-focused.

When a fence-sitter does an on-line search, and finds THR, what do you want them to see when the issues are discussed?

Maybe you're OK with the tar and feather speech. Frankly, we weren't. It got so bad it caused rifts among our current membership. I shudder to think how that behavior affected the 25 year old public school teacher who came to the site looking to educate herself. Or the college student looking for reasonable debate and source history on the Heller case.

Call it forced neutrality, if that's how you must view it. And at this point I will say, if this great discussion board still doesn't satisfy you, the on-line world is full of options.

I happen to think of this as an oasis of decency in an on-line desert of depraved conduct.

 

[NGIB]

I agree that this is the most mature firearms forum I've seen and I for one appreciate that. While I feel the need to rant political sometimes (yup, I've had threads closed) I understand why the line was drawn.

Now if the mods would only curtail the endless "Glock vs" and "Glock is best" polls, the place would be even better. Right now the "Glock vs the rest" has 9 pages and 216 posts and is just chock full of nothing. I have personally vowed not to post in any of these ever again - and this may be the answer. If we all quit posting in these silly threads, they may go away so adults can continue viable discussions. Rant over, off soapbox...

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

BullFrogKen

I am afraid this is devolving into a debate in semantics which is not what I would like to see. I, for one, believe one can speak passionately without being vulgar, rude, demeaning or nasty. I do not engage in such behaviour and do not encourage it in others. I have been to some of the other "so called" discussion forums and do not like the level they operate at. I was not suggesting that THR should lower it's standards, rather, that I would like to see a raising of consciousness such that the members and visitors can address the real issues of gun ownership. It is ok to have a favorite firearm, or technique for loading, or have an opinion as to what the best caliber is for zombies or wombats. if that is all that a person really cares about, that's fine with me. I just dislike seeing threads with real potential for intellectual exchange get shut down just because a few low lifes become abusive.

If we are to truly promote responsible gun ownership, then we must first create responsible gun owners. I don't see how we are going to do that without first creating creative and intelligent discourse on vital concerns. It does not seem to me that allowing juvenile behaviour on a gun forum in any way promotes the cause that Oleg has stated he wants to support. If you must (all of you, third person impersonal) slap someone, slap the offenders, not the ones who desire serious dialogue with serious members.

I appreciate all of the answers on this thread. They really have been HIGH ROAD.

 

[sm]

Welcome to The High Road, an online discussion board dedicated to the discussion and advancement of responsible firearms ownership. It is the declared mission of this board to achieve and provide the highest quality of firearms discussion on the Internet, a standard set by the discussion board The Firing Line from 1998-2002.

Everyone is welcome to participate, regardless of political affiliation, gender, religion, nationality, or stance on gun ownership. We aim to respect every point of view, as long as it is presented in a polite and factual manner. You only need to provide a name and a valid email address to participate. We do not sell that information to anyone.

Resident Rebel and I champion the traditional and practical perspective of responsible firearm ownership.

I have nothing against newer technologies as aspects of Firearms, there are too many members here that are more qualified than I to share.

I believe in Attraction as the strategy in getting new folks matriculated to THR Misson Statement.

I am the dumbest member of THR, still I do have my convictions.
I have personal reasons when I share about kids, single ladies, single moms, physically limited and elderly.

Examples:

A kid might be invited to attend a kids event and maybe his home life does not include responsible firearm ownership.
Gun folks were nice, other kids shared BB Guns and maybe even a "real rifle" like a .22. He/She got to eat hot dawgs, chips, lemonade and gets to keep the eyes and ears and other neat stuff - free!

Single mom, raising that kid, and she herself was raised in a restrictive part of the country, or parents were of a political flavor, whatever reason.
She had this kid, so exited when they come home with all this "neat stuff" they come home with...

Next time a co-worker invites the kid, this mom can attend.
Everyone is nice to her and her kid! The guys don't hit on her, and the ladies don't promote or cram "gun" down her throat.
She feels comfortable with the ladies, and maybe does not even shoot, instead share raising kids, where to buy clothes and other things ladies can share about.

She had a great time, and she and the kid gets involved...not just shooting, also voting and RKBA efforts...

Single mom has someone physically limited friend , maybe a lady her age involved in a car wreck.
She has new friends, these responsible firearm owners she and kid were attracted to and she invlites this physically limited friend out to meet other physically limited folks that can perhaps assist .

Those physically limited can assist this younger lady with her special concerns and needs...so this physically limited person is now attracted to new persons, these responsible firearm owners...at first maybe not guns, just other special needs and concerns addressed, guns do become a part, as does RKBA and ...the cycle continues.

Each one - teach one.

It does not matter if the person is a kid with a BB Gun, or .22 rifle, or adult male that shoots 3 gun, or 65 year old couple that shoots Trap, or Wheelchair bound shooting Bulls-Eye, or...

The whole is equal to the sum of the parts.

It is the people that make any gathering of persons effective toward common goals.


Steve

 

[hso]

I don't see how we are going to do that without first creating creative and intelligent discourse on vital concerns.

Loss of focus on the core of any enterprise, in this case firearms, firearms use and RKBA, is usually the death of that enterprise. THR has gone through several generations of trying various ways to allow the broader discussion of "vital concerns" only to find the dilution/pollution of the core over and over again. The practice of closing threads is part of keeping the forum focused.

We found that there was often more heat than light most times that social/civil topics outside of RKBA were discussed. That heat rarely produced anything useful because the discussions became shouting matches for a few and that drove many good and thoughtful members off. The experiment failed. Even though it failed the first time Oleg let the members try again. And again. Until it became obvious that the results were going to be pretty much the same time and time again. Only a madman could expect them to change even if we hoped it would, so the experiment was changed enough to give different results.

To allow for a less focused enterprise where concerns and interests outside of firearms could be discussed by the members of THR Oleg and Derek went to the trouble, and expense, of creating APS (Armed Polite Society). APS is that open forum where politics, civil liberties and barbecue recipes can be discussed with something akin to the civility seen here. Akin, not exactly the same. Sometimes far from what we expect here, but still orders of magnitude better than many other general firearms forums. APS seems to be a successful experiment. Keeping THR more focused on firearms and RKBA issues seems to be a successful experiment.