So i'm at the gun store...
- Thread starter magsnubby
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grampster
Member
I think the joke is this conversation going on for over 50 posts and is starting the 3rd page. 
ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
Omitted Context
magsnubby, I get it now.
Unfortunately, when you reported the event, you distilled only the joke, and left out enough context that one could draw the conclusion that the store owner was callous.
Yeah, the joke was a little crass, but he was attentive and provided the needed service.
Happens to me all the time.
Seriously.
I have a mechanic that's done that to me multiple times.
He does good work and he looks after me -- changed a clutch on New Years Eve last year. Didn't charge me extra. Gave me a royal ribbing, though.
So, today's lesson?
When relating a story, use enough context.
magsnubby, I get it now.
Unfortunately, when you reported the event, you distilled only the joke, and left out enough context that one could draw the conclusion that the store owner was callous.
Yeah, the joke was a little crass, but he was attentive and provided the needed service.
Happens to me all the time.
Seriously.
I have a mechanic that's done that to me multiple times.
He does good work and he looks after me -- changed a clutch on New Years Eve last year. Didn't charge me extra. Gave me a royal ribbing, though.
So, today's lesson?
When relating a story, use enough context.
AStone
Member
This is worth repeating:
Thumper
Member
Lesson two: Be careful of jumping to conclusions when confronted with an obvious lack of context...especially when you might be especially sensitive to the subject.
Probably doesn't apply to anyone here, though.
Probably doesn't apply to anyone here, though.
I think "misjudged his audience" is the right call if indeed she simply did not get the joke. I did not understand her in any way to be the butt or object of the joke. Pepper spray can be the answer to a lot of questions that a firearm just won't answer appropriately, and the "shoot first, spray later" mentality is what is funny about the joke - it is an exageration that is ridiculous and therefore funny. I didn't get the idea that the old gal left the store feeling BAD, just that she didn't get the joke.
I can think of a lot worse things than visiting a gun store where folks have a sense of humor and crack an occasional joke while helping a customer. Such as walking thru the door to find everyone sporting a grim, deadly serious demeanor. I have been to a couple of places like this and they creep me out. I don't go back.
doc2rn
Member
Well call me bubba the redneck and ship me back to Kentucky. Why are people becoming so thin skinned? It was a joke. If it fell flat for her then so be it. Drop it and move on. People are out to take everything so personnally, in this sue happy, protective bubble world.
Exactly doc2rn. It was a joke and only a joke, not a put down. As ArfinGreebly said, it might coulda used a bit more context here, but that's immaterial to what happened realtime in the shop.
I liken that joke to the one everyone has heard when some slicker that goes into a shop looking for pepper spray to ward off brown bears. You know the one; bear scat - contains little bells - smells like pepper. (If you haven't heard it, Google those terms.)
I doubt that those listening to that one would think the shopkeeper was belittling the buyer - he was telling a joke!
I liken that joke to the one everyone has heard when some slicker that goes into a shop looking for pepper spray to ward off brown bears. You know the one; bear scat - contains little bells - smells like pepper. (If you haven't heard it, Google those terms.)
I doubt that those listening to that one would think the shopkeeper was belittling the buyer - he was telling a joke!
AStone
Member
Yeah, maybe it was "only a joke", and - in the more complete context now offered - not intended as condescension. Granted.
But still, in this case, with that customer, I question how responsible it was.
We're dealing with a serious issue here - SD - and the customer in question appears not to have exactly been a SWAT agent with exceptional capability. Is joking around this way really consistent with responsibility, of doing the responsible thing as a gun shop salesperson there to help a customer with SD needs?
Sure, joking around with regulars in the store that you know is one thing, but confounding a person that is not known so well of potentially limited skills seems not to be as responsible.
And even if the salesperson didn't mean the joke in a demeaning way, what's the point of the OP pointing out explicitly that she was the only one that didn't get the joke? That doesn't contribute anything useful, and appears to be condescending. (Yes, we are a public forum.)
Tell the joke and leave it at that. Don't bother us with post-game analysis about who "got" the joke and who didn't that could be construed to convey condescension towards elders and women. Was it supposed to make it funnier that the customer was an older woman? Would it have been as funny if the customer was a 42 year old male farmer or a cop who didn't like the joke?
But still, in this case, with that customer, I question how responsible it was.
We're dealing with a serious issue here - SD - and the customer in question appears not to have exactly been a SWAT agent with exceptional capability. Is joking around this way really consistent with responsibility, of doing the responsible thing as a gun shop salesperson there to help a customer with SD needs?
Sure, joking around with regulars in the store that you know is one thing, but confounding a person that is not known so well of potentially limited skills seems not to be as responsible.
And even if the salesperson didn't mean the joke in a demeaning way, what's the point of the OP pointing out explicitly that she was the only one that didn't get the joke? That doesn't contribute anything useful, and appears to be condescending. (Yes, we are a public forum.)
Tell the joke and leave it at that. Don't bother us with post-game analysis about who "got" the joke and who didn't that could be construed to convey condescension towards elders and women. Was it supposed to make it funnier that the customer was an older woman? Would it have been as funny if the customer was a 42 year old male farmer or a cop who didn't like the joke?
tydephan
Member
Confucious say absolutely no such thing as absolutes.
JohnBT
Member
I wish to offer a rebuttal to the statements that have been made about humor being dead or dying.
"One--women aren't necessarily looking to learn anything."
We have a winner, and it's only January 2nd.
Next, I would like to comment about my cousin's experiences in gun shops. They've generally been good, but all too often she runs into employees who think they've been shooting longer, have bigger computers and ride a nicer bike.
Not likely, given gun shop wages. She's been around guns for 50 years, runs a mainframe (mini? super?) system (I don't know, she won't say, it's one of those agencies) and her new Harley is, well, new. She gets along with everyone. I think her time in the Army smoothed the edges a little. If you're reading this - I'm just kidding.
John
"One--women aren't necessarily looking to learn anything."
We have a winner, and it's only January 2nd.
Next, I would like to comment about my cousin's experiences in gun shops. They've generally been good, but all too often she runs into employees who think they've been shooting longer, have bigger computers and ride a nicer bike.
Not likely, given gun shop wages. She's been around guns for 50 years, runs a mainframe (mini? super?) system (I don't know, she won't say, it's one of those agencies) and her new Harley is, well, new. She gets along with everyone. I think her time in the Army smoothed the edges a little. If you're reading this - I'm just kidding.
John
OAKVILLE SHOOTER
Member
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Lots of comments here about this lady being new to shooting. If she was re-newing her permit, she has at least been around guns for a while. I don't know about California, but here in Virginia permits are good for five years. Maybe she is a some what regular shooter, maybe not, but WE DON'T KNOW.
Could be that she is a regular in this shop, maybe her first time in this shop, but again, WE DON'T KNOW.
I believe in respecting my elders and all that, but quite a few people have passed judgement on the gun shop owner without knowing anything about him. No, we did not get the full story in the first post, but a lot of posts condemed him just the same.
I think that it was just a joke that didn't go over too well. At least not where the lady customer was concerned.
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AStone
Member
Speaking only for myself ...
To the extent possible, I try to judge behaviors, not people. That would change if a particular person continues to exhibit objectionable behavior repeatedly after being called on it. Then, rules change.
But in this case, I know neither the gunshop owner, nor the person relating the story. Therefore, I'm not judging either as people.
But I still question the circumstances of the joke, whether the joke was necessarily appropriate in that particular situation at the store, and why it was necessary to specify that the customer involved was an older woman.
It's the behavior, not the people involved.
I've been working on an SKS and haven't checked back in for awhile. I'm making one last post then i'm letting it die.
First, i refered to her as "elderly" figuring you would all realize she was not a new shooter, but in fact has been a gun owner and shooter for many years. Evidently i was wrong.
While she isn't what you would call a regular customer, she has been in the store many times before over the years.
I would hope as gun owners, you all wouldn't be so quick to pass judgment on someone without knowing all the facts. Seems people are pretty quick to condemn someone just because they own or work in a gun store. Kind of reminds me of another group of people....
First, i refered to her as "elderly" figuring you would all realize she was not a new shooter, but in fact has been a gun owner and shooter for many years. Evidently i was wrong.
While she isn't what you would call a regular customer, she has been in the store many times before over the years.
I would hope as gun owners, you all wouldn't be so quick to pass judgment on someone without knowing all the facts. Seems people are pretty quick to condemn someone just because they own or work in a gun store. Kind of reminds me of another group of people....
czbegenner
Member
Ha,ha,ha(everyone Laugh)
ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
Thread Throb
If I were prone to headaches, I'd have one right about now.
magsnubby, hope you don't mind, but this thread has pretty much gone off into the weeds and I don't see it recovering.
Sorry, man, but sometimes teh intertubes just provides a channel for high-speed misunderstanding.
So I'm gonna make my misery that out of which this thread will I put.
If I were prone to headaches, I'd have one right about now.
magsnubby, hope you don't mind, but this thread has pretty much gone off into the weeds and I don't see it recovering.
Sorry, man, but sometimes teh intertubes just provides a channel for high-speed misunderstanding.
So I'm gonna make my misery that out of which this thread will I put.
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