YouTube Karens are out in full force...

I did a video earlier this summer regarding the recoil of various carry pistols.

I just got a couple of comments from viewers stating that I violated all sorts of gun safety rules and "are an accident waiting to happen".

I reviewed the video in question and all I see is my fingers briefly going in front of the muzzles while handling the pistols. My fingers may also have gone inside of the trigger guard a couple of times.

I was seriously offended by the accusations. I have served in three branches of the military, been handling firearms since I was 10 years old, have had a CCW for 19 years, and have never once had a negligent discharge.

I consider myself a very safe person in regards to gun handling and am a bit paranoid when it comes to carrying a loaded weapon.

In the video, before filming started, all firearms were cleared. Repeatedly.

I did not point them at myself or anyone else. I was in the middle of nowhere and alone. None of the weapons left my sight from when they were cleared and when I handled them.

Are the comments simply the result of internet trolls doing what they do? Or did I display unsafe gun handling worthy of derision and correction?

 

In my videos, I try to come across as someone who loves guns, has a bit of experience with them, but is not an "expert" and is always willing to learn. I try to be funny, sarcastic, and self-deprecating in my videos as an alternative to the hundreds of "operator" posters who wear tight black T-shirts, Oakley shades, and show themselves ringing steel at 5 yards over and over.

I'm a fat, low income, genuine guy with a history in law enforcement and the military who enjoys firearms and has used them professionally, personally, and safely for over four decades. Hard for me to comprehend that people out there would try and attack me and my methods.

 

Perhaps clear it on camera next time that way it's clear to everyone you have an unloaded gun. Not a huge deal considering you said you checked and double checked, but I think it's good to always practice the basic rules of safety whether loaded or unloaded.

 

I've seen videos in which they will clear the pistol on camera and I always think that it is a bit ridiculous and overkill. Of course it is clear. Who would handle a firearm that wasn't cleared??

And that is my problem... I am so used to safe firearm handling that I take it for granted. It is so ingrained in my DNA, that I fail to realize that others require more obvious evidence.

Just 24 hours ago, I stopped by my folk's house to show my dad the just completed P80. I handed it to him, unloaded, and he grasped it, dropped the empty mag, verified it was empty, then racked the slide to verify the chamber was clear. Then he went on to check the grip angle, trigger pull, and how it pointed. That is how all gun handling is handled in my family. Stepdad is a retired Chief of Police, brother is a Detective, and Dad is a former USMC Sniper and professional big game hunter.

None of us has ever had a negligent discharge and all are professionally trained in safe gun handling. We have decades of professional law enforcement and military training.

So, to have some schmuck on YT question my gun handling is like someone telling Cindy Crawford to smile for the camera; it just comes natural.

 

I personally appreciate this extra precaution. It's a teaching moment.

 

Rule number one when posting on any internet forum:

Don't get bent out of shape by negative postings.

They're gonna happen, especially on posts that may be considered controversial or otherwise strike a chord with some people.

I'd say at most review your own postings and see if there's actually something to take away from them on the subject of the complaints. If so...learn and carry on. If not...ignore and carry on.

Most other people gloss over postings that are obviously BS anyway. And interestingly, some people take up the defense banner by calling those people out.

If it gets carried away...remove/block comments as required. I don't mind seeing negative comments, but it they get "out of hand" I can see them detracting from your post. I don't have a problem with drama postings getting removed.

 

I'm fine with the video as is. During the 1st scenes there were a few moments where you had the pistol pointed at one hand. Having the slide locked back at that point might have been better. But had I just been watching the video would have probably never noticed. But I was looking for an issue. I wouldn't lose any sleep over a few nit picking complaints.

 

You did fine; grow some thicker bark and push on.

 

We're living in a mongrelized society devoid of common courtesy and common sense manners. It's a whole subculture where people are looking for attention and affirmation by finding things that offend. It's a part of the "cancel culture" phenomenon.

Anybody who has the temerity to go public with anything concerning guns, hunting or anything conservative, should expect negative input (from people with few functioning IQ points: products of public education).

 

You post on media and forums for 20 years, all sorts of comments will get posted back.

I was reading a thread where the OP asked "can we stick to the topic presented and not slide or start another almost unrelated discussion in it." I thought, well, you make a good point -

And before I could answer there was a slide post and another poster kicked in with an almost unrelated discussion. It went for a page and finally the OP gave up and left. Basically, there are too many immature adults for some discussions allowed on boards, and I reflected that after 20 years, I was likely as guilty as the next. We even do it in FTF conversations, at work, bible study, etc. Somebody is in a good mood and gets silly.

Sharpshooting happens too. Were fingers in front of an (unloaded) muzzle? OMG never on the internet. In real life? The Anti Muzzle league would have a catatonic fit if they saw a combat patrol with live rounds on patrol. More muzzling that a pack of hungry dogs around a bowl of Ball Park Franks. For the most part nobody gets shot because military weapons have safeties, not trick triggers, and finger discipline, too.

When you read the comments you are hearing folks who have taken some interest in using firearms but have little experience handling a live weapon on patrol. They just gave you their inexperienced credentials. Give them some space to vent, and hope they don't actually have to take the next steps.

But some of us do, and did, and we can see what they are about.

 

YouTube attracts “purists” seeking to find what they consider to be “impure” so they can be critical and thus reinforce their self-inflating opinions that they are perfect.
The OP knew the gun was unloaded and there was no way it would get loaded until he did it. An unloaded gun is nothing more than a clumsy rock until it is loaded. I have no issue with anything I saw in the video because the OP knew the gun(s) were unloaded. When they were finally loaded for the test he did right —he kept the gun pointed down range and there were no people down range. Oh, almost forget. I liked the test.

 

It's easier for people to point out little splinters in other people's eyes than address telephone poles sticking out of their eyes.

It's Youtube ... viewed and commented by "imperfect" human beings ... it's life. "Imperfect" drivers sometimes cut other drivers off because they are distracted. Life happens ... But how we choose to respond "Defines" us.

And if you can't ignore the negative comments to the point where it raises your blood pressure, there's more to life than Youtube and you don't have to post videos on Youtube to enjoy life.

 

1. Treat all guns with the respect due a lethal weapon.
2. Never let the muzzle paint anything you can't fix a hole in.
3. Finger off the trigger until the sights are on an intended target.
4. Never pull the trigger if there is a chance of hitting an unintended target.

 

I'll dive in. Anyone super cranked over a CLEARED pistol (by 2 or more instructors) or weapon pointing anywhere but a predetermined neutral ''safe'' spot needs to take a class or two. Or three.
CCW classes, work recerts & armorers courses/recerts. There's SOMEONE in at LEAST 3 directions of the 6 that's around you.

YES ABSOLUTELY the untrained student SHOULD question why that barrel is point X Y Z direction, but I just simply brought it up 1st at the class intro speech, headed it off at the pass.

Karens though? Well if any want to be ignorant then just let the mystery be I suppose.

 

Internet trolls. Pay no attention to anonymous comments and remember what Mark Twain said -
'Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.'

What I learned in film class 50 years ago -
Watch the completed film/video with the sound off during editing to check for continuity and mistakes.
You have complete control over the finished product.
No matter what you do someone is going to tell you it sucks.

 

It's difficult to appease members of the safety cult. Hell, I need 4 hours of training, a 374 page health & safety plan, and 4 pices of PPE in order to walk around outdoors. (Sometimes being a contractor is absurd.)
I like to remind these folks that NOBODY is more concerned about my safety than I am.
Don't let the commenters get under your skin.

 

it is irritating but just try to ignore it if you can.everybody is an expert on the internet. i did a video on the first time out with my cz97b that had a lot of jamming due to the bullets being too long and all the experts jist chimed in that it was the grip( it certainly could use a lot of improvement). the internet experts diagnosis of jamming is limited to one, limp wristing. All the cz fanboys piled on ( i wonder how many czs the typical cz expert is. i had to call out one and asked him how many he had experience with- 2 pistols vs me having 7 cz pistols).

i posted ff up videos that showed resolution of the problem after adjusting the bullet length and yet same typical comment. i felt compelled to do a short video on completely limp wrsiting the same gun.

the worse that i blocked was not even related to the shooting. me wearing a mask outdoors when it was a requirement. that idiot was supposedly a doctor and kept talking about his take on masks in general and the people wearing them. even with me repeating that it was a requirement to shoot. he never did answer my question regarding his medical training or if he is board certified.

as a phycisian myself treating covid pxs in the hospital, it was extremely upsetting and i blocked him.

 

PAID TROLLS???

 

1st you realize complaining about Karens is a completely Karen thing to do.
2nd not even a minute into the video you sweep your hand with the G19.
You asked

 

You handle them like someone who is very familiar and calm when around a handgun. Holding gun near front, keeping it pointed down range. I do the same thing when I'm looking at one of my handguns.
I know it's not a good idea to fidget with a firearm, but after checking if they're unloaded it's not the biggest deal in the world.

 

I always told me kids, or anyone else I take to the range "There is no such thing as hurt feelings or social hierarchy at the range. Anyone can call out anyone else out on bad range behavior at any time." I think that doubly applies to social media. If we want to handle firearms or we want put ourselves out publicly, we have to expect that at some point, we will get called out. Sometimes it's legitimate and sometimes it's a misunderstanding and sometimes it's just someone with a superiority complex. In any situation, it's a good time to evaluate what we have done and make a determination if we could do it better next time. Even self righteous jerks can help make us better. You definitely didn't do anything grievous, but accidents often happen when we begin to get too comfortable. It's many times us long time gun users that get comfortable and one day when all the wrong factors are in place, something goes wrong. Use it as a teachable moment to clean up your handling a bit.

 

Another way of looking at it:

There are innumerable examples of someone on youtube who post videos to the tune of "Here's why (blank) is the absolute bestest ever, PERIOD!".

Then you waste 20 minutes of your life that you'll never get back because the guy's an obviously biased moron who won't consider the same aspects he claims makes (blank) the bestest of all when applied to anything else.

Do you:

A. Post a comment addressing the weak points in his posting.
or
B. Roll your eyes and never view any of his stuff again.


Far too many people don't know or understand what an "opinion" is and how to assign a realistic evaluation of their own, or other people's, opinions. Nor do many people understand that it's perfectly OK for people to have different opinions on many matters as it either doesn't affect anybody else or that it's entirely possible for people of differing opinions to all be "correct".


If a troll makes an appearance, I say ignore them until they lose interest...and then later go back and remove any truly stupid postings and, if warranted, block/hide the person. This way they aren't likely to take further offense and create sockpuppet accounts and carry on trolling you.

Life's too short, and too full of more important things, to waste on trolls.

UNLESS, of course, you derive great entertainment by poking the trolls back to watch them blow up! (Which I've been known to do...because trolling trolls is fun.)