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manwithoutahome

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I've been around here for awhile, either lurking or posting.

But I just read a post, in response, to why do you carry.

And others before that. And for the High Road, allot of people believe that they are "better" than others, and make fun.

The thoughts on spelling, who cares, if you get the message, isn't that the dang point?

Grammer. I'm guessing that everyone here is an English Major and has the proof to prove it.

That is my biggest grip with this place. I've noticed that some of the old guard aren't posting any longer, could this be a cause? I know that most of you here are now wanting to believe that you are an "elite", the very thing that we fight against.

All I ask is to let everyone say what they wish, in the words they wish, and using the grammer that they wish to use. What is wrong with that? Are we so afraid of the anti's that we must be English majors and speak with the degree of a Masters?

Sorry to intrude on your parade. But are we all here equal, us rednecks (of which I am), compared to the harvard grads, compared to those who wish to be a wanna be and thus use the Grammer as it was laid out in the olden days?

Yes, I am breaking the laws, of which we should do in real life when it comes to what we believe. Yes, I will be banned. But I still ask those of you that put forward such a "elitist" attitude, who the Hell are you?

Sorry for the rant. And admins, I know that you will email me with the "you are banned" moniker. I just had to say, what I had to say.

M.

*and I know, before I am banned, everyone of the "elite" will point out my misspellings, my improper use of sentence structure, and will therefore show everyone how much of a hick I am. I say... so what, I am just a human being, whom loves the boards, but can't understand why others put this much pressure upon the membership because they think that they are God's gift to the RKBA.
 
I have a Masters and I don't think I'm better than anyone here. Perhaps just poorer!

I tend to think this forum is a lot friendlier than most..........
 
MWaH ..... true, sometimes that impression can be evident . but hey .. as far as I'm concerned .. people are people ... and I do my level best to remain courtious and pleasant .. as this is The High Road.

I only get ''personal'' in a sense, when I am addressing those I feel I ''know'' .. and that usually on a humor level or as a friendly response. It achieves little to try and gain bragging rights .. just opinions - that's all we need to express. Humility is a good thing to excercize sometimes!

Plus too ... perhaps the biggest bonus of this place . sharing experience and knowledge . but when it comes to opinion .. heck ... always gonna be disagreements .. the old ''mine's better than yours''!:D

I am fortunate enough to be quite well educated but .. does that make my opinion count for any more ... hell no ... and I am up to learn from ANYONE .. of whatever background or persuasion. As we all should try and be. Not to mention .. that I can and do at times put my foot - right in it! Learning all to easily that ''edumification'' has little to with experience gained the hard way sometimes.

Now and again ... I guess we need thick skins ... and try and shrug off the odd less pleasing post or ''dig'' .... hang in there dude .... :p :)
 
Elitists are everywhere. In all my pursuits I run into those who carry that attitude because they are (or think they are) more experienced/better/better equipped/etc. Its a fact of life. Of course, to the elitists I say
:neener:
 
Yeah, but...

Grammer. I'm guessing that everyone here is an English Major and has the proof to prove it.
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What if one of your majors in college was English? :cool:
 
manwithoutahome,

I'm puzzled why you think you would get banned for expressing all that. If you'd like to talk about it via PM or email, I'm available.

The board rules are listed at http://www.thehighroad.org/code-of-conduct.html -- and they don't say a thing about bad grammar or poor spelling. At least, not that I ever saw.

This thread really isn't very gun related, and I guess I ought to close it, but maybe some of this stuff needs to be discussed a little. It will be closed if it becomes nasty-natured and folks start insulting each other, or if it seems to be very divisive even if folks are keeping their tempers mostly in check, but I'm inclined to leave it open for now, pending discussion with the other moderators at least.

Y'all be good to each other, please.

pax

Dyslexics of the world, untie!
 
I don't know... I have seen some people get at each other particularly when they think the other has misinformation or they have conflicting views on a topic they feel they know a lot about - but in the end it never seem to amount to much.

I understand what you’re saying, but in all honesty, I don't see that kind of thing here. Or maybe I'm used to it. lol

As far as spelling goes, I run everything I intend to post on here through a spell checker, because (aside from having chronic comma over-use) I am, quite possibly, the single worst speller on here.

Nick
 
The problem with poor grammar and spelling is that it undermines one's point. You could type out the most intellectually stunning post but if the grammar and spelling are of an eighth grade level, it is difficult for people to take seriously. Of course, we're not all writing for the Nobel Prize here so any flaws are completely excusable. I rarely misspell words but I frequently have broken grammar. This is probably due to the fact that I write most of my posts in a rushed manner or when I am already intellectually or physically exhausted. I wouldn't worry about it too much but it is nice to see any person make an honest effort to improve any of their flaws. Also, since we're part of a bigger picture, RKBA, it is important for us to be articulate in expressing our views. In short, I try to make an effort to use proper spelling and grammar, but if I don't, I do not lose sleep over it.
 
Even the most brilliant thought can become garbled if the method used to convey it is bad.

I readily admit that I'm not the most fantastically articulate person on the board, nor am I Conan The Grammarian. However, if a post has spelling or grammar that is so poor that I can't understand the message, I'll end up skipping it.

<Insert cliche about only having one chance to make a first impression here.>

For my own posts, I try to think of grammar and punctuation the same way that I try to think about clothing in real life. On the internet I make a first impression with grammar. Same goes for clothing in the real world. It sucks, it's unfair, but that's how it is. That's why it doesn't hurt to occasionally proof read or spell-check a post that you think is particularly important.

If it's really important, get someone else to proof read it for you.
 
manwithoutahome

Saying, what you truly feel takes guts. Most will reply in a negitave manner, but most here are good people and will reply in a honest manner (you may not like what you see but thats just the way is goes). Good on ya, and to a point I agree with you.
 
manwithoutahome

You're a good man. I don't think you're a "hick" or a "redneck" even if you think yourself one. I hope you don't let the wannabes take your heart down and I hope you keep on posting.

I really don't think those thugs and insurgents we deal with at home and abroad care much about sheepskins and IQs when they victimize good people. If you can pull a trigger on the right sort of target when it really counts, or stand up for what's right even no one else will, that's good enough for me.

That having been said, when I hold someone in contempt, incoherence in speech is just another thing that gives me something more to hate about them. When I respect someone, even great failings get by without so much as a murmer.

Methinks everyone may start off being made equal, but many choose to unmake themselves with very little prompting. The anti-RKBA idiots do that quite well. There's enough idiots of various guises out there to make things difficult as it is without having to peck over diction when discussing RKBA. Stupidity has very little to do with class or education and much to do with bad life choices. I just hope you don't let yourself get too bitter. You have yourself a good day. Peace out.
 
In defense of THR, Harvard, and maybe even English majors...

I find that many of my personal interests and pursuits tend to get culturally stereotyped as belonging to a particular social class. Gun ownership tends to be associated with rednecks, while other interests of mine like rock climbing tend to be associated with the intellectual hippie type folks. As a result, I usually end up feeling a little out of place in groups of either type. However, I have found that THR members are much more accepting of my hippie side than rockclimbing.com members are of my gun-nut side. Furthermore, I find many THR members are well educated and well informed, in stark contrast to the classical gun-owner image of a mouth-breathing knuckle-dragger that hippies so love to promote. Personally, I think we as gun owners have a lot to gain by welcoming people from Harvard and other traditionally anti-gun social circles into our camp. To do otherwise would be, well, elitist. Just my $.02.

- CM

P.S. - Speaking your mind won't get you banned here. ;)
 
I don't think or act like an elitist. I'll converse with anyone on this board. The beauty of this place is that you don't have to interact with anyone you don't like. I hope that is not the case here and that we can all get along. We are all shooters and supporters of RKBA.

There should be no divisions between us. A house divided against itself cannot long stand!
 
I think it's good to air things out occasionally in a friendly manner.

I certainly don't presume to put on airs. I sometimes type in my native East Texas dialect just for emphasis or for that "good ol' boy" effect. I even still speak in that dialect on occasion because it's disarming and occasionally charming. I admit it, I even went to college in Arkansas. In spite of that I came away with an education beter than even I expected, although I could have majored in kayaking with as much time as I spent in (credit!) courses.

One of the great and wondrous things about this forum is the rich diversity of experience we all bring to the table. This, along with the genuine openness of expression is what has kept me here.

Oh, I do sometimes spell-check my posts. It's not uncommon for me to revise and edit them up to three times after I initially post. Sometimes it's better, if not easier for me to say more with fewer words.

I've just not posted much in the last couple of weeks because of my need to handle stuff in real time in the real world and sometimes the only thing I can add is "me too". In that case, it's easier to just let it go.


Regards,
Rabbit.
 
I dunno there is some level of elitism out there but I can expect that. Before I begun posting here at all I really felt the majority of this board was just gonna flame my ass for not packing heat(cant until I'm 21 anyway) or having an extensive collection of rifles. Though I've learned the vast majority of the people here are Nice guys(and gals) it does still hang around. I dont know if there is any 'elitism' really or if its just pure intimidation. It can be alittle overwhelming for me, a 19yr old redneck with only one rifle and no LEO or military experience to try and add to much of anything said. I dont blame anyone for that, frankly I think that if nothing I've learned more from this board Than in all the books I've tried desperately to memorize by heart.

Reguardless of this fact, it seems that whatever information I can offer is well received and thankfully digested. Anecdotal and trivial as it may be, its accepted. So that goes a long way as towards easing my fears. My only real concern is whats said between the lines at times. I've gotten the distinct impression a few times that unless I've been to war or shot it out with the badguys, just isnt worth it. It doesnt seem to matter if it deals with that subject or with something I actually do know. Reguardless, thats rare and I find it hard to attribute that as to anything but me reading too much into whats nothing more than an innocent comment. Body language, inflection and all the such are lost. Those subtle nuances that change the meaning of words so efficiently that one doesnt even notice it in active speech.

I feel I'm in good company though, I genuinely admit to learning a ton here. All the books on my shelf havent taught me as much as this place has, and the level and variety of disscussion is awesome. Its a great feeling to help guys with what I know, to contribute and to try and help the community that helps me. Its alittly scarey at times, because there -are- times which I feel like I should just keep my mouth shut unless its about a Marlin. Even there, there are times where I feel like I'm just gonna end up ignored. Perhaps this is totally illogical and a product of realizing that 90% of the guys I talk to at the gunshops, shooting ranges or in the woods totally write off whatever I say because I'm not even to a drinking age. Dispite the fact I've got 6 bucks to my name already. I know alot've guys my age with more, alot with far less. Its not a huge number, but its -my- number and in my mind. Anyone who can clock off 6 bucks in 7 years must be doing something right.

I'm ranting now I suppose so I'll just shut my trap. Anywho I'm kicking my scanner in the guts so hopefully I can start posting my artwork here for ya'll to gander at.
 
now, before I am banned, everyone of the "elite" will point out my misspellings, my improper use of sentence structure, and will therefore show everyone how much of a hick I am
Click to expand...

I is a public skewl teecher and I thinc yewr speling is just fyne:p

But seriously folks....I know I've posted plenty of things with mistakes that would not be indicative of the quality of work that was expected of me in completing my graduate work. However, I don't have to get this past the faculty review board. Besides, my typing skills are awful and I suspect my mistakes are more likely a result of poor technique than poor intellect.

I think that we are all pretty tolerable of common grammatical and spelling errors....but that being said, I think there is some credibility to Daniel Flory's thesis that if you wish to effectively get your point across it is necessary to communicate it in a manner that exhibits some manner of cohesive thought. I think that this applies to 99.99% of all posts on this forum.

For the other .01%....I'll not flame anyone, but I may choose to skip it. After all, I can read poorly written material all day at school:rolleyes:
 
manwithoutahome

Actually, it's spelled "grammar". :evil: :neener:

And I am an elitist. Not because I am inherently better than someone else, but because I strive to be as good as I can. Do I prefer to be around the best that society can offer? You bet! I learn a lot more that way, and it keeps me on my toes. And I treat everyone here as at least my equal, until it is proven otherwise. If you prove to be a doofus, I won't deal with you at all.


Yes, I am obsessive about my spelling in posts, but I don't nitpick other people's spelling, because the forum isn't about that. It's about firearms-and it is the best firearms board I've ever been to. If it does end up in a flame match, the Moderators step in right away!

I spend way too much time here-because I learn so much. There is a saying that "90% of everything is crap". Actually, 90% is an average. Anything coming out of Diane Feinstein's brain is at least 175% crap; accordingly, the e-doodoo at THR is amazingly low. And a lot of that has to do with my fellow "elitists"-men and women who do not put up with ego-stroking malarkey, who come here to learn, to compare notes, and, yes, exchange thoughts with equals.

As for "spelling flames", you'll notice they usually occur when one side runs out of cogent ideas. The exception is the obsession over terminology-don't you dare call a magazine a clip, or a round a bullet! :p Remember, though, that the Antis are using imprecise, obfuscating terminology to confuse and frighten the sheep, and it is us who must explain that the AK at the gun shop is not a machine gun, and that .30-30 is not an armor-piercing cop killer round. It falls on us to get our terminology correct, because we are in a fight for our most basic human rights, and we cannot afford to make mistakes. I, however, will not pounce upon your spelling errors-unless I can get a pun out of it! :D

And, finally, if you are here because you understand the importance of the RKBA, I'm sad to inform you, YOU ARE AN ELITIST. You, who exercised your First Amendment right to criticize what you saw on THR, who came here to better know your Second Amendment rights. The fact that you even care anymore, that debating your rights has a higher priority to you than debating the judges' choices on "American Idol", puts you in a select, rarified group-maybe the group that saves the sheeple despite themselves.

[off soapbox]
 
I hang around on quite a few different gun-related boards (lurk on many - post on a few) and have truly found The High Road to be just that... one of the best run boards around with the nicest (and best informed) group of people to be found online.

Having met some of these fine folks in person has only served to reinforce that opinion.

I'm blessed to be rather well-educated myself, but at heart I too am a redneck... what you might call a redneck wannabe... and certainly don't feel either my schooling or my station in life puts me above anyone else. We share a common interest, and we come from all walks of life. That's what makes this such a special community.

Good post manwithoutahome... thanks for reminding us that what we have in common is far more important than our differences. As far as I'm concerned, spelling and grammar don't count nearly as much as what's in a man's (or woman's) heart. We need to hang together or surely we will hang separately... along with the rights we so cherish.

In response to your closing comments - in my opinion we are ALL God's gift to the RKBA... and to each other.

Hang in there bro.
 
but can't understand why others put this much pressure upon the membership because they think that they are God's gift to the RKBA.
Click to expand...

The RKBA is God's gift to US. All of us, each and every one.Those who would deprive us of that right as well as the other God-given rights are the Elitists. They are the ones who are saying they are better than we are.

What ol' Abe Lincoln say is true up to a point. All men are created equal. But we all know that it doesn't stay that way. The paths we choose in life either elevate us to a higher level or lower us further from it.

If you wish to elevate yourself, the secret is to not become so disorentated that you can't tell up from down. We must all strive to fight the good fight in our everyday lives.


As for your "...before I am banned, everyone of the "elite..."/poor poor pitiful me rational, it seems to me that while you may have been "around here for awhile, either lurking or posting" you really haven't been paying much attention or you would not be painting all of us with such broad strokes of judgement.

But then again you can't be judging us, since being judgemental smacks of being an Elitist.
 
In the end, a person's character and integrity are the most important things they have. Education, station in life are more marketable and will bring you more "success" but as Polonius said"to thine own self be true"......he died shortly thereafter....oh, well. Still this is an interesting thread.
 
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