They're not sheeple...

[springmom]

On the Women and Guns Forum (run by the magazine of the same name), one of the ladies posted something about almost dropping a gun recently and said she managed to catch it in her sweater before the muggles saw it.

I cracked up. Then I thought, you know, that's exactly what the non-gun-owners are like.

If you haven't watched or read Harry Potter books, the "muggles" are the non-magic folk. They don't know there are real wizards and witches unless one gets born into their family. They are kept in the dark for their own comfort, but also for the comfort and privacy of the magical folk, who want to be left alone and not asked for magical solutions to all their woes.

And that is precisely what most non-gun folk are like. Yes, of course, there are the rabid antis...but most people just don't have the idea that "the guy next to me in line is carrying a gun in that fanny pack" ANYWHERE in their consciousness. They're not sheep, they're muggles.

I suspect J.K. Rowling's hair might stand up at the thought, but I'd love to see us come up with a different description (muggles will do just fine) than sheeple for people who really don't know we're here, don't want to know we're here, and whom in truth we're probably just as well off not having know we're here.

Muggles. I kind of like that.

Springmom

 

[Technosavant]

You know, that isn't a bad comparison.

And Harry's aunt and uncle would be Sarah Brady and her ilk.

 

[Manedwolf]

I suspect J.K. Rowling's hair might stand up at the thought

Oh, no, there's a definite libertarian anti-nannystate subtext in her books, I think she'd likely approve!

Remember, in those books, EVERY wizard, young or old, carries a lethal weapon at all times. Takes pointing it at anyone and uttering a word to kill them, instantly...and they're trusted with that. Many times in the books, it's only the fact that the kids are able to draw their wands and fight back against a lethal attack that saves them.

And in fact, in one of the books, when the main character's 'muggle' relative is attacked, he has to pull out his own wand and defend both of them. For doing so, he's hauled in for a court review, pretty much, with the threat of having his wand taken away and destroyed, which is clearly written by the author as being unfair.

In the later books, when there's an outright war going on, the wizarding government first releases absolutely ineffectual sheeplike "call proper authorities" sort of directions for what to do in case of attack, and then, when a number of people are killed, is forced to instead advise that people learn defensive magic and keep their wand ready at all times. If that bit wasn't a snap at the current state of criminal justice (or total lack thereof) in the UK, I don't know what it was.

I don't think she'd mind the comparison at all.

 

[DogBonz]

I like that

that's great. I like the idea, because I would like to think that my fellow Americans who are anti or fence-sitters are just ignorant (unknowing), rather that easily led, unthinking, sheep... *sigh*... If only that were true...

 

[Low-Sci]

That is freakin' hilarious. I'm going to start using that now. I object to the "Sheeple" term, and most people paint you as a lunatic when you use it. But "muggle?" That's something I think most people will understand.

I love it.

 

[Lupinus]

I love the comparision

 

[TrapperReady]

As long as you don't go believing that your gun is some sort of magic wand, then it's probably OK.

BTW, "muggles" is a common expression used amongst geocachers. My kids are big Harry Potter fans, and also like geocaching, so they get a kick out of it.

 

[CNYCacher]

We geocachers have been referring to non-geocachers as muggles for years.
Example: "I think I found where the cache is, but I didn't want to retrieve it because of all the muggles around."

I have to admit though, I've never thought of calling non-gunnies Muggles before, although it fits perfectly in the same way. I love it!

In case it's not immediately obvious, geocaching is a worldwide game played 24/7 but thousands of people whereby an item called a "Cache" is hidden, the GPS coordinates of the hide are shared on the internet, and other players (Cachers) attempt to find the Cache using their own GPS unit. After finding the cache, Cachers sign a log book inside the Cache and then leave it as they found it in the same location for the next Cacher to find. Currently there are over 300,000 active geocaches in the world, you likely live, work, or drive by many of them every day.


EDIT: OOPS! Trapper beat me to it!

 

[Keith Wheeler]

Yep, TrapperReady and CNYCacher beat me to the geochaching info.

Muggles is great, because it works on so many levels, and doesn't carry the insult of "sheeple". I know many intelligent, caring, wonderful people who disagree with my viewpoint of owning and carrying firearms. While I think their viewpoint is not founded in the best thought, I wouldn't insult their intelligence, rather their judgement, or perhaps their ability to see just beyond the horizon.

To further link the muggles/geocaching/firearms connection, I've been known to leave belt-fed links in caches. A link in a chain...I wonder how many "get it"?

 

[SoCalShooter]

muggles

I think you got something there springmom. Perhaps we should refer to them as muggles from now on.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

I like it, that's a good comparison!
Now all I gotta do is come up with some fancy chants to say before I pull the trigger on my boomstick, maybe "buckshotus exodus!" BOOM

 

[Erebus]

I like it. It quite accurately describes most people out there. Unless it's in their face they don't see or even realize it exists.

 

[tellner]

And who are the wizards who go around erasing their memories when they find out, hmm?

 

[Chuck Dye]

One small problem: in Rowlings world, muggles are muggles from birth and forever. Muggles as non-gunnies can be converted.

 

[whatbrick]

And who are the wizards who go around erasing their memories when they find out, hmm?

That would be these guys:






I'm not so sure the analogy is entirely accurate, though. We can't just leave well enough alone and let the non-gunners live in ignorance because we have the anti-gunners who are bleating rather loudly to ban our way of life and make us criminals. We need to get the word out.

"Sheeple" is a far more accurate term to me, though I don't use it.

 

[Zoogster]

It is funny and catchy and manedwolf explains a great comparison, while not being insulting. However muggles are kept ignorant for thier own benefit because they cannot ever be capable of being non muggles. Most people on the otherhand can be taught to be responsible firearm owners able to protect themselves and others.

Do keep in mind the UK still has royalty and queens roaming around adored and admired. So muggles are more like mere working peasants while those with magic are the royal blood who can only be born into it, not learn to wield it.

In America it was declared nobody would ever accept titles of nobility, for our belief in freedom is that all are equal at birth, and someone's experiences and morals shape and determine what they become. Some places still like the notion that some people are just born into an elite class. Of course you can be knighted, which of course just means your trusted to protect the elite, not become them.

But then I guess we have our own forms of royalty now...

 

[mohican]

Huck Phinn One small problem; in Rowlings world, muggles are muggles from birth and forever. Muggles as non-gunnies can be converted.

Hermione is a muggle that was admitted to hogwarts......

 

[AmbulanceDriver]

Now all I gotta do is come up with some fancy chants to say before I pull the trigger on my boomstick, maybe "buckshotus exodus!" BOOM

DANG IT DREW! YOU OWE ME A NEW KEYBOARD!!!!!!!

 

[springmom]

ROTFLMFHO!!!!!!!!!


Springmom

 

[Eleven Mike]

2 reasons why sheeple is better.

1. Sheeple (or sheople) is a clever blend of two words and therefore has a plain meaning and is also rather humorous.

2. Muggle comes from some no-account, flavor-of-the-month novels that real people don't bother reading.

"But sheeple is an insult." Of course it is. No one should live like a sheep, and if they do they should be identified as such. Not because they don't have or don't carry a gun, but because of their cowardice.

 

[Nitrogen]

Hermione is a muggle that was admitted to hogwarts......

Actually no, a muggle is a non-magical folk.
Hermione was born to muggle parents, but is not herself a muggle. (The term used in the books is "mudblood", which was a racial slur)

Back on topic, I love the term as well. The books were part of my transformation from anti-to, err, non-anti

 

[Mannlicher]

Harry Potter? Yawn............

Poorly written books, even for being at a child's level.

 

[Manedwolf]

Gotta love posts like the last one. Posts with so much to contribute to a conversation, the ones that do their earnest best to sound like someone's sour-faced muttering grouch of a toothless great-uncle crouched in the corner.

And it's better to read some works at a "child's level" and to still have some appreciation of wonder than to be a joyless dried-up old crab, thanks.

And Eleven Mike:

flavor-of-the-month novels that real people don't bother reading.

By the very fact that people here were happily discussing the novel, you do realize you just blatantly insulted everyone enjoying this discussion, nearly everyone who posted on this thread, right? You didn't miss that little fact?

 

[Keith Wheeler]

Posts with so much to contribute to a conversation, the ones that do their earnest best to sound like someone's sour-faced muttering grouch of a toothless great-uncle crouched in the corner.

Manedwolf, it sounds like you've been hanging out at gunshops...

 

[Nanook]

A good friend of mine refers to sheeple as Eloi, from "The War of the Worlds" fame.

That always struck me as dead on, as many people sleepwalk through life much like the Eloi did in the movie. And, when faced with tough decisions, simply walk away ignoring the situation instead of confronting it.