What has happened to The High Road?

[macFarlaine]

I am relatively new to the site.I started badly and became very defensive and offended at the anti British stance by some members.I have come to realise that this is the norm and retaliating is just not done,in fact members get more upset.
Saying that I am grateful for such a site,I enjoy the vast majority of threads and find the added touch of humour entertaining.Please just remember the UK is out there fighting terrorism as well.

 

[Matt King]

Ya. . . "General" has its share of wackos. "S&T" can also be frustrating. Sometimes, some of the advice seems irresponsible and reckless.

The "Tools & Technologies" forums are much better, much more informative.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

I'll just mention, I did notify about the rapper thread, and it just kept going.

When you report a thread in GGD, emails are sent to Justin, Matt G. and myself (and maybe to the admins, I don't know). If a thread isn't closed immediately, usually one of two things has happened:

1. All three GGD moderators are offline. I know that sounds extremely unlikely, but it happens all the time. (In this case, your best bet is to PM a mod who is online.)

2. The moderator(s) who read the email either didn't see the transgression as being un-THR material, or saw some redeeming value to the thread and decided to let it run for a while.

Moderator participation at least implies moderator approval.

Here's something to ponder: THR moderators are also THR members. In fact we are told to consider ourselves members first, moderators second. Above all, we are regular folks, who have jobs, spouses, children and grandchildren just like everybody else.

And the mod bashing Thursdays remark was a joke. I think most of the members recognized that.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

I use the same philosophy I would with a troll. I don't feed them, or their ego.

Someone tries to bait me into a heated debate, and I don't think it'll go very high road, and I tell em to take it to PMs. Most won't go there because they need the public attention.

Either way: If you don't feed the trolls, don't feed the doofi. Pretty soon, they'll see that everyone has abandoned their corner of the playground and get a clue. Or it will devolve to the same people over and over saying the same things. Which makes it easier to stay out of threads where these people are.

I don't have time to lead a crusade. The founder and mods are the ones with an ideal to enforce. Let em do it.

Though, KungFuHippie, I see what you mean and feel largely the same. Just keep on keeping on.

 

[Don Lu]

So, because one of the mods makes with a quip early in the thread, someone who's unhappy with the thread's direction should NOT notify the staff?

Now that I think about it..that WAS the reason I did not report it. I was disgusted and though..Did a mod (staff) just say that ?? I would never have thought to report a mod (although I may now knowing what you have shared).. I know better now..but I do remember seeing that post by the mod and saying to myself how crazy it was that he just joined in w/ the same sentiment.

 

[JamisJockey]

Trolls, children and the gamer generation.
That's what's happened around here.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

It all has to do with the size/amount of members.

The smaller sites always have a friendlier attitude in general. I think it is mostly because people get to know each other better on the smaller sites. On larger sites, more folks, more new members, more pissing matches...

Look at AR15.com. It is unmatched in knowledge for AR15's when you compare it to ANY site... with this knowledge also comes a lot of garbage and more jerks to deal with.

You take the good with the bad.

 

[bogie]

Too many folks are also into absolutes (and maybe a little absolut...).

"Wal-Mart is anti, because they don't carry ammo for my new .338 Lapua" or "My parents are anti, because they won't let me have a new paintball gun until I clean my room." Then there are the folks who ask "Do you real think that giving every school child a Saturday night special will cut down on the rising epidemic of gun violence in our schools?"

Sigh.

And then there's the folks who've seen maybe two-dozen black folks outside television, who freak out incredibly when a carload of -tourists- pulls into town and all piles into the local quickeemart in search of the bathroom, road food, and bad coffee... "I was standing next to the beef jerky display when four gangstas walked in - they looked around, and made a beeline for the back of the store, and stood around like they were casing the joint. I was ready to go, but they must have seen me, because they all just ended up making small purchases, and got back in their SUV and drove off."

 

[buck460XVR]

Internet forums are argumentative....just the nature of the beast. Being a member of several forums(this one, other gun and hunting forums, bike forums) I've got to the point of realizing it's unavoidable not to be pulled into a discussion that you feel strongly about.....and sooner or later someone will disagree. The secret is what many have already pointed out is missing.....respect for other members and respect for other opinions.

I too came here originally for info and advice even after 45+ years of hunting and shooting. I also teach firearm safety. I still learn something new every time I visit THR. Guns/shooting/hunting are volatile subjects due to the amount of personal ethics involved. Just 'cause someone doesn't agree with your opinion, doesn't make them wrong. One has to remember that, and use patience and understand that fact when replying to other's posts and questions. Any question from someone new is not foolish or stupid, no matter how basic. Remember, we(well most of us, some were always experts) were all newbies at one time or the other. Trashing someone for asking a question that may have been asked a hundred times before is not necessary....not everyone may know how to use the search function or in many cases it's just easier to ask than wade thru the 100's of results.....and maybe something new or better has come around since the last thread. A polite answer or a link to a specific thread takes no more effort than a smart azz remark. The same is for those that see the need to always correct other members spelling and grammar mistakes. Last I knew, this is a gun forum, not a English Lit Exam.

I know this is all for naught to those that are perfect, those that are always right, and those that just like to stir the pot.......and for those that like to use large ambiguous words along with demeaning and abusive comments to belittle and intimidate those that don't see things exactly as they do. Those folk need to realize this is just the internet and the world is not impressed.

 

[Checkman]

People like to argue and insult. The Internet gives them the comfort of being unidentified. Combine those two things and you've got a witches brew.

I'm a cop. Can't count all the cop bashing that goes on at THR, but it comes and goes. I just move on. It's mostly folks venting.

Personally I like it when I'm told that a victim has been badmouthing me to another officer or non-sworn department employees. And yet when I then go have a face to face with the complainer (to clear up their concerns) 99.8% tell me that they were misquoted or misunderstood. Pretty typical. I've done it myself.

With the Internet multiply that by 1,000,000,000, give or take 100,000,000.

 

[possum]

i know i don't spell well, and i know that my grammer is bad, but i am a solider. an infantryman, and i believe that you don't have to be smart to die for your country! i might make some post that might be harsh at times, but i like to play the devils advocate, if someone is way out in left field then i call them on what they are wrog about. this is a forum and everyone has there opinions. i like hearing others, and i like sharig mine. as far as low roadish, that stuff really dosen't bother me, i have thick skin and i am an infantry man for gosh sakes i hear it all. you can't offend me or hurt my feelings at all. i am a member at getoffthex, and ar15.com and the people here are alot more respectful here and such but that really isn't something that i look for. i like to talk about guns and i like to talk and converse to other gun owners, thats all there is to it.

 

[dm1333]

Glad you brought it up because now I know I'm not the only one thinking these things. If something is not High Roadish call the poster out on their behavior and let the mods know.

 

[Wesson Smith]

With my two cents, I give THR two thumbs up. As others here have suggested, I just scroll over content that either doesn't interest me, or posts I find questionable. The bottom line is that I personally have learned a lot in my short time here as a member. Perusing the threads and asking a few questions here and there, I have been able to make several firearm/ammo/gear purchases that I have not regretted. Plus, every time I visit I learn something new, which to me is priceless. For the most part, I find members respectful and knowledgeable. As for the crass few, my momma used to tell me - never let a jerk spoil your day. Cheers, THR!

 

[rust collector]

We, and by extention the moderators, are perched on the horns of a dilemma. We are believers in the bill of rights, and like to think of ourselves as tolerant of the beliefs of others. This sets us up for those who feel compelled to force their beliefs upon us.

What seems to be in shorter supply these days is respect. The demise of respect in our society is not limited to this board. However, this benevolent dictatorship has the unique ability to insist upon respect for other members, cultures, nations, victims, and even those accused who have not been convicted and may not be guilty. That theme is essential to a free society.

If posters exhibit respect, we have seen that this board can really sing. If not, the name of the board means nothing and the board has little to offer that can't be found elsewhere.

 

[XavierBreath]

Back in post #15, I said "I will allow this off topic thread to remain open as long as it's beneficial."

This thread has ceased being beneficial, and has degenerated into a whining contest. Thus I'm closing it. I challenge every member who has posted here to go forward towards making THR a better place. We all share that as a common goal. You can help improve The High Road by rationally trying to change the direction of low road tendencies yourself, or by notifying a moderator if you feel that is necessary.

If a moderator posted what you feel is not high road material, it does not give you license to follow suit. Arguing that it "must be OK because a moderator did it first" fails to recognize that we should all hold ourselves to the same standard.

A moderator posting in a thread is not an indication that they are still reading the thread. They may not be subscribed to the thread. They may have read the first post, and commented without reading subsequent posts. I, for example, commonly check the forum before I head to work in the morning, and again when I return at night. That can leave a huge gap in my response times. Individual moderators are not here 24 hours a day. They might be on vacation. They might be away from the computer for several days. The

icon will PM every moderator and administrator with one click though. One of us will respond. If you refuse to use it, that is your choice, but ask yourself if you are truely doing everything you can to improve the place.

This thread has gone sour with finger pointing, accusations, whining, wailing and general gnashing of teeth. It is no longer beneficial, so I'm closing it. Go to PM, email, or the appropriate forum for the discussion. This forum is for guns.