Do you ever wonder if Gun Control Advocates lurk or even sign up on Gun Forums?

[Buford57]

QUOTE: I've noticed a phenomenon in which certain users automatically presume that others are completely ignorant if not totally lacking in common sense when it comes to self-defense.

Honestly, it seems that in any given discussion, there's always a handful of users who speak to others in the most condescending way possible, treating them as if they're completely irresponsible without anything whatsoever to indicate that they don't know what they're doing. END QUOTE

I've noticed that this occurs frequently with reloading posts. If you ask, for instance, if anyone has used XYZ bullets and their experience with same, dollars to donuts the first response will be a shrill admonition to buy a manual and never use any data you get on the Internet. Never mind that a) the manual will only give an appropriate range of loads for a given bullet weight, not how a specific bullet of that weight performs, or its suitability for any particular purpose, b) Hodgdon, Sierra, Alliant, Wolf Publications and more would be quite surprised to learn that their data is reliable only when printed on dead trees and not when reduced to 0s and 1s and c) the question wasn't a request for loading data.

To a know-it-all anyone who asks a question must be a rank beginner, otherwise they would be too proud to ask about the experience of others.
As someone wiser than me said "A little learning is a dangerous thing".

 

[Biggfoot44]

All Old News . PSA , gun forums aren't private , don't type anything you don't want to be seen on front page of local paper , your employer's desk , or district attorney's desk .

Never mind the typical trash talking trolls . Ignore them , and don't feed them .

Be worried about :

Actual State and Federal LE gathering Intel .

Actual Dem Party Operatives monitering discussions about Bills in play , to use our discussions to tailor the Bills to be Worse for us .

********************

Notwithstanding the above, you really do need to extensively not not only your states Statutes , but a lot of State Case Law also .

 

[Smoke]

I mean, Duh???

 

[Doug M.]

This is an open forum. Any dullard with a search engine can find it, and find anything that was said. Just like the more stereotypical social media, if you are not thinking about the postings you make, you might get a rude shock by the way they are taken/used by others.

It may not be as good a feeding ground for trolls as one forum of which I can think (and the few times I have looked at it I felt stupider within moments), but people who are of one viewpoint will search out those of another in order to take advantage of any error of judgment.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Despite my disagreements with FSW I like his number 16 post.

 

[kbm6893]

Is so, so what?

Its a big tent. If someone says something you don’t like, scroll on past.

We don’t need to engage in groupthink. Someone who disagrees with your viewpoint isn’t a traitor to the cause. Their cause is just different than yours.

I’d welcome a flat-out anti-gunner to join and post here. As long as they stayed within the forum rules, who cares?

Me too. The only issue I have with them is they will never change their way of thinking, even when they are wrong. My sister is anti-gun. She is convinced that AR-15’s “shoot faster than other rifles”. I sent her a video of me doing a 25 round mag dump with a bone stock wood 10/22. Didn’t matter.

Real anti-gun people are so entrenched in their beliefs that there is no way to change them. They’re no different than Flat Earther’s.

 

[D Brown]

Lately, I'm beginning to wonder if certain gun forums have been infiltrated by Gun Control Advocates based on observation of users with strangely pro-Gun Control statements as well as a habitual presumption that their fellow forum-goers aren't responsible with firearms.

I've noticed a phenomenon in which certain users automatically presume that others are completely ignorant if not totally lacking in common sense when it comes to self-defense.

Honestly, it seems that in any given discussion, there's always a handful of users who speak to others in the most condescending way possible, treating them as if they're completely irresponsible without anything whatsoever to indicate that they don't know what they're doing.
They make all manner of statements as if the people they're speaking with aren't aware of their rights, how their firearms work, of basic firearms safety, despite the fact that obviously those who post here are Firearms Enthusiasts who otherwise wouldn't be here at all if they didn't know about these things, especially not posting from accounts which were created years ago.

For example, if someone starts a discussion on the topic of Home Defense, someone will start talking down to them about how they need to be aware of their local laws, be responsible for every shot that they take, to be mindful of the fact that walls don't stop bullets, that guns don't work the way they do in the movies, and every other presumptuous, condescending statement possible.
It would be one thing if the topic creator opened the thread by stating that they're new to self-defense and that they were seeking advice, but that isn't the sort of thread I'm referring to here. It's just users who seem to be under the impression that the majority of other users are negligent or incompetent to the point that they're a danger to themselves as well as everyone around them.

Unsurprisingly, these users also tend to make statements in favor of Gun Control and against the enactment of laws which uphold the Second Amendment such as Constitutional Carry.

So I have to wonder just who these users really are and what side they're on when they think so lowly of their peers that they treat every thread like it's an opportunity to instruct their fellow users on firearms safety, their rights, and everything else that's relevant to self-defense as if they're ignorant, irresponsible, or otherwise completely negligent of these things.
Furthermore, I cannot help but feel as if it's intentionally manipulative, as these presumptions are clearly never put to rest, nor do the users who make them ever appear to be reassured by their fellow users when they attempt to inform them that they know what they're doing, regardless of how informed they clearly are or what their service credentials would indicate to the contrary. They just keep right on responding to threads with their presumptuous, condescending rhetoric.

Regardless of intent, it's a very rude way to address others which isn't conducive towards civil discussion nor maintaining a friendly atmosphere to go full Mrs. Shields by arbitrarily responding every discussion they read on Firearms, Self-Defense, and the Second Amendment with comments which more or less equate to; "You'll shoot your eye out, Kid!"

In addition, I have witnessed the all-the-more suspicious activity which is essentially users attempting to scare other users out of using firearms for self-defense by bombarding them with horror stories of how they had better have a darn-good lawyer or they'll lose their money, their house, their job, and their freedom if they dare to shoot someone in self-defense.
Alternatively, they'll attempt to make others doubt in their ability to safely use a firearm under stress by telling horror stories of folks who forgot to switch off the safety or didn't keep a firm grip on it so it was snatched away by their attacker and used against them, or how someone unintentionally shot someone innocent because they panicked, or any number of other such cautionary tales which end in death or imprisonment.
As if that wasn't enough, there are always the horror stories of accidental death, betrayal and grisly murder by family and friends who were able to get their hands on firearms which either weren't adequately secured or otherwise left openly accessible to a third party.

I don't know about the rest of you, but that doesn't strike me as the sort of way that a Firearms Enthusiast speaks, but rather that of a Gun Control Advocate who is going out of their way to discourage people from exercising their rights by owning, carrying, and using their firearms for self-defense.

I would say the proof of your theory is no further away than the "one star" rating someone has applied to this thread, and I've noticed it happening on similar threads for quite a while now.

 

[pharmer]

Every "passionate" question has supporters that feel appeasement by conceding some ground will satisfy the aggressor. Hasn't ever worked in recorded history but that fact doesn't discourage the sentiment. Joe

 

[tmd17]

Every "passionate" question has supporters that feel appeasement by conceding some ground will satisfy the aggressor. Hasn't ever worked in recorded history....

But heated online discussions will change that, right?

 

[vipermd]

Are they here? Sure. I only wish that they would learn something and deal with facts instead of emotion based on incorrect lies. No crimes where committed with bump - stocks but lies to to keep the truth from coming out they were banned. I dislike laws, rules bring created based on lies, misinformation or political motives. Facts are important for sanity, You would not want your MD treating you for a broken leg when you had Lymphoma, facts matter. Be Safe,

 

[cadmike]

I will openly admit here to lurking over at Democratic Underground. Now THAT makes for some interesting reading, if you can stomach it.

Nothing wrong with trying to understand other peoples viewpoints, even if deep down you’ll never agree.

 

[rosewood]

This is the very reason I don't post personal information on forums. You never know who is watching and gauging what you have. If someone needs to know personal info, we exchange it in PMs.

Rosewood

 

[rosewood]

QUOTE: I've noticed a phenomenon in which certain users automatically presume that others are completely ignorant if not totally lacking in common sense when it comes to self-defense.

Honestly, it seems that in any given discussion, there's always a handful of users who speak to others in the most condescending way possible, treating them as if they're completely irresponsible without anything whatsoever to indicate that they don't know what they're doing. END QUOTE

I've noticed that this occurs frequently with reloading posts. If you ask, for instance, if anyone has used XYZ bullets and their experience with same, dollars to donuts the first response will be a shrill admonition to buy a manual and never use any data you get on the Internet. Never mind that a) the manual will only give an appropriate range of loads for a given bullet weight, not how a specific bullet of that weight performs, or its suitability for any particular purpose, b) Hodgdon, Sierra, Alliant, Wolf Publications and more would be quite surprised to learn that their data is reliable only when printed on dead trees and not when reduced to 0s and 1s and c) the question wasn't a request for loading data.

To a know-it-all anyone who asks a question must be a rank beginner, otherwise they would be too proud to ask about the experience of others.
As someone wiser than me said "A little learning is a dangerous thing".

Amen brother, this is also one of my pet peeves.

Rosewood

 

[Echo40]

I would say the proof of your theory is no further away than the "one star" rating someone has applied to this thread, and I've noticed it happening on similar threads for quite a while now.

You know, that actually might explain why nearly every thread on this subforum gets immediately one-starred.

I've always just assumed that the subforum was filled with people who would impulsively one-star threads based on so much as a single sentence that they don't 100% agree with, but you might actually be onto something there.

It would make an awful lot of sense if threads here were so consistently rated poorly by Gun Control Advocates who simply disapprove of any discussion in regards to self-defense.
In addition, that would explain why every thread on the 2A Subforum which reports some form of victory is consistently rated one-star.

 

[444 Magnum]

Hey Forte, there's a extra star.

I had an FFL friend several years ago who said the BATF contacted him about one of his AR style firearms that he had listed on Gunbroker...something about the legality of one of the features. Point is, the BATF is watching places like GB, so it stands to reason there would be eyes on forums as well.

 

[rosewood]

Guess I have never added a star to a thread before. I will be adding 5 stars to them now.

 

[Ingramite]

I'm going to step right up and admit that I'm a lifelong, serial profiler.
It's a finely honed survival skill that's served me well.

However, I concede it has left me genuinely cynical and suspicious of everything and everyone not proven.

When I read a post that makes the hair on the back of my neck tingle, the first thing that I look at is the JOIN DATE of the poster. Troublesome folks usually hit the ground running and burn out quickly.

Depending on the forum mechanics, I might search ALL POSTS that the person has made. That's like the ultimate "jerk test". It's a prerequisite in earning Ignore Status.

Everybody has a bad day and to be honest here, seems like my bad days are falling closer and closer together now. I've also said some incredibly thoughtless things. All that understood and accepted as the plight of being human.

If an agenda is being pushed it surfaces in the past posts.

Yes, they are among us.

 

[Drm50]

I get aggravated by some of the cults that are front page pro 2nd. They are not gun people, they are people with guns. You Tube is full of these jerks.
The crowd that wants to make an issue of going in a store dressed like a commando, armed to the teeth..because it’s legal. Then when concerned citizens who are scared, call cops the idiots delight in “ educating “ cops on the open carry law.
Then there is the crowd that talks about nothing but shooting people. They can’t wait to confront someone with a gun. Obsessed with special bullets and all manner of EDC stuff. NORAD can pick them up on radar.
Then preppers that talk about ranging around, clearing dwellings to look for food and supplies. Thousands of rounds of ammo, truck load of TP in there forted up house. They will be targets themselves.
You know about a year or so back I was looking to buy an AR. I made the statement that I had no use for one. I don’t, but I have a Fire Extinguisher that I have no use for either. Unless there is a fire. Some idiots took personnel offense over that. Prime example of people I don’t want to represent me in the 2nd issues. If I look at these people as idiots, I’m sure the general public does as well. It’s a shame we have to protect these idiots but we must not split forces on these issues.

 

[Echo40]

I get aggravated by some of the cults that are front page pro 2nd. They are not gun people, they are people with guns. You Tube is full of these jerks.
The crowd that wants to make an issue of going in a store dressed like a commando, armed to the teeth..because it’s legal. Then when concerned citizens who are scared, call cops the idiots delight in “ educating “ cops on the open carry law.
Then there is the crowd that talks about nothing but shooting people. They can’t wait to confront someone with a gun. Obsessed with special bullets and all manner of EDC stuff. NORAD can pick them up on radar.
Then preppers that talk about ranging around, clearing dwellings to look for food and supplies. Thousands of rounds of ammo, truck load of TP in there forted up house. They will be targets themselves.
You know about a year or so back I was looking to buy an AR. I made the statement that I had no use for one. I don’t, but I have a Fire Extinguisher that I have no use for either. Unless there is a fire. Some idiots took personnel offense over that. Prime example of people I don’t want to represent me in the 2nd issues. If I look at these people as idiots, I’m sure the general public does as well. It’s a shame we have to protect these idiots but we must not split forces on these issues.

I don't think that anybody likes those guys, they give otherwise peaceful, law-abiding citizens who choose to exercise their right to bear arms and carry a firearm for self-defense a bad name by creating the illusion that all folks who carry firearms are warmongering wack-jobs with their unnecessarily aggressive, in-your-face attitude towards upholding the Second Amendment.
Meanwhile, the vast majority of folks who carry firearms do so in an otherwise inconspicuous, concealed method, so the average person never even knows just how many folks amongst them are just minding their own business living life like everybody else, and only sees the nutty guy marching around in tactical gear looking like he's got bad intent.

Unfortunately, they're too far gone to realize just how insane they appear to those around them, or otherwise just don't care because they think that they're somehow standing up for the Second Amendment by dressing up like they're about to march into battle and freaking everyone out in the process.

I did something stupid like that during the end of the pandemic. I was all fired up because I had caught COVID-19 in spite of wearing a mask because someone coughed all over me in a checkout line, and I was fed up with having to wear masks everywhere which I already knew from experience didn't actually provide any meaningful protection against the virus, so I wore a gas mask in public a couple times thinking that I was totally going to make a statement that way, but all I really did was make myself look like a lunatic. It's so embarrassing.

 

[wbraswell]

Here's something that might give you a different view of however you think about this. Go to the website or forum of some leftist anti-gun organization. Check them out, read some of their insanity, and if you like, troll them a little. I once looked at the Brady bunch site, I couldn't take 5 minutes of it. Just made my blood pressure go up. Not worth my time. Remember the saying about wrestling a pig.