What Has Happened to the Smith and Wesson Forum?

[Rustyt1953]

Hate to tell you guys, but "the blue" forum isn't very well respected in the online community. I am a member of many gun forums and this one has a reputation. From the time I've spent here, its well earned.

For the sake of us blunt skulls please enlighten us as to what that reputation is.

 

[silicosys4]

For the sake of us blunt skulls please enlighten us as to what that reputation is.

This site has a reputation for being overly censorious, full of people with a very high opinion of themselves not necessarily earned, and for being a blatant cash grab by owners more interested in padding their own pockets than supporting any community.
Why do you think there are two S&W-specific forums

 

[SS336]

I agree with this. The more I use it the better I like it. Almost can’t remember the old one.
Inserting images is very easy, even I can do it.

Appreciating the new format more each day

 

['79 Magnum GT]

Well I enjoy enjoy coming here and once in awhile contributing in my own little way. I'll continue to do so until I don't. I've no interest in peoples politics or their opinion of themselves.


Rick

 

[Tom S.]

This site has a reputation for being overly censorious, full of people with a very high opinion of themselves not necessarily earned, and for being a blatant cash grab by owners more interested in padding their own pockets than supporting any community.

Which is all totally erroneous. The rules are very concise and enforced. If people can't abide by the terms they agreed to when they joined, should we just ignore them and watch the ensuing chaos? Cash grab? LOL, you can list and sell pretty much as many guns as you want for $5 a month. Try that on Gun Broker. I'm not going to speak for Lee, but if you asked him how much money he's made off the forum, I bet he'll laugh at you and ask what planet you came from.

 

[silicosys4]

Which is all totally erroneous. The rules are very concise and enforced. If people can't abide by the terms they agreed to when they joined, should we just ignore them and watch the ensuing chaos? Cash grab? LOL, you can list and sell pretty much as many guns as you want for $5 a month. Try that on Gun Broker. I'm not going to speak for Lee, but if you asked him how much money he's made off the forum, I bet he'll laugh at you and ask what planet you came from.

Cry harder. Stomp your feet and wave your fists in the air. Protest heavily.
I have plenty of grounds for comparison. It is what it is.

There is a reason the "other" S&W forum is growing.

 

[Tom S.]

Cry harder. Stomp your feet and wave your fists in the air. Protest heavily.
I have plenty of grounds for comparison. It is what it is.

There is a reason the "other" S&W forum is growing.

You have confused cry with pointing out facts, but it doesn't surprise me.

 

[silicosys4]

Which is all totally erroneous. The rules are very concise and enforced.

And censorious, much moreso than any other firearm related forum I'm a member of.

If people can't abide by the terms they agreed to when they joined, should we just ignore them and watch the ensuing chaos?

viewpoints that you don't agree with do not constitute "chaos".

Cash grab? LOL, you can list and sell pretty much as many guns as you want for $5 a month. Try that on Gun Broker.

I can use the classifieds of every single other forum i'm a member of for FREE.

I'm not going to speak for Lee, but if you asked him how much money he's made off the forum, I bet he'll laugh at you and ask what planet you came from.

I'll bet you'd be surprised. Those weekly cash grab PM's have to yield some results.

 

[Tom S.]

And censorious, much moreso than any other firearm related forum I'm a member of.
I bet you never read the rules before you joined, did you? Whine on...

viewpoints that you don't agree with do not constitute "chaos".
Viewpoint has ZERO to do with it. There are topics that are forbidden and language that is forbidden.

I can use the classifieds of every single other forum i'm a member of for FREE.
Many forums are changing that, but regardless, you are still allowed to advertise items for sale here for free.

I'll bet you'd be surprised. Those weekly cash grab PM's have to yield some results.
All voluntary, no guns being held to anyone's head.

 

[silicosys4]

"There are topics that are forbidden and language that is forbidden".
Nope. I have made on-topic replies to open and ongoing threads, using completely acceptable language, and have had multiple posts of mine deleted without any notification, warnings, or infractions. The admins here censor based on viewpoints.

"Many forums are changing that"
I have yet to see a single other national (not regional) firearm discussion forum that charges a monthly fee specifically to list firearms in their classifieds. Go ahead and point one out if you know of one.

 

[biku324]

"There are topics that are forbidden and language that is forbidden".
Nope. I have made on-topic replies to open and ongoing threads, using completely acceptable language, and have had multiple posts of mine deleted without any notification, warnings, or infractions. The admins here censor based on viewpoints.

"Many forums are changing that"
I have yet to see a single other national (not regional) firearm discussion forum that charges a monthly fee specifically to list firearms in their classifieds. Go ahead and point one out if you know of one.

You have to have a username and password, then affirmatively log on, correct? So one has to volunteer to be here.

Been on a number of gun forums - no thanks for the vituperative personal attacks, rigidly enforced one-sided political commentary, and email/IP addresses sold to the highest bidder.

 

[Field Station 42]

You are thinking of Vertical Scope. There is another company, also Canadian, called Second Media Corp. that now seems to control all the gun forums along with several hundred forums on other topics.
I suspect the two companies are related but I really don't know.
To answer your question, NO I have NOT sold this forum to either of them.

Out of curiosity, I did some online digging.

Second Media Corp. is owned by a larger company called Carbon Media Group.

Carbon Media Group, in turn, is a subsidiary of VerticalScope, having been acquired in 2018.

Source: https://www.shootersforum.com/about/

Source: https://www.mkcapital.com/portfolio-post/carbon-media-group/

Kinda scary how everything, even niche interest hobby forums, are being absorbed by a small handful of global mega-corporations. I'm pleased to learn that, at least for now, the smith-wesson forum remains independent.

 

[NYlakesider]

--------------------------------------WOW------------------------------

 

[Smoke]

 

[MelvinWalker]

Social media is of the devil.

This is social media

 

[Rule3]

This is social media

Not like the other types

 

[skwchock]

I don't ask this question lightly and I know that I have my faults.

I have been guilty of making comments that obviously upset some, so don't take this as a holier than thou type post, but what is the deal here?

I have been a member of this forum for several years and have seen my share of arguments and disagreements but the current level of what is going on is unacceptable.

The moderators do their thing, and do a pretty good job, but we are all adults here and it is time for a little bit of self restraint folks.

I realize that everyone has an opinion and I find many of those enlightening, even if I don't agree. But just because I don't agree doesn't make it okay for me to be a total jerk to the person who has that different opinion.

This forum was put here for the enjoyment of Smith and Wesson firearms with some pretty strict rules on what is and isn't allowed to be discussed. At least make an effort to act like you know this. And if you don't know, because you are new or have forgotten, take a few seconds to read them.

I realize this isn't my place to say anything but somebody needed too, before we lose this place we come to, where we share a common interest in Smith and Wesson firearms.

I won't be responding to the bashing but I hope you take the time to think about what is written here.

I don't understand the problem? I must be missing a thread to this message.

 

[MelvinWalker]

This site has a reputation for being overly censorious, full of people with a very high opinion of themselves not necessarily earned, and for being a blatant cash grab by owners more interested in padding their own pockets than supporting any community.
Why do you think there are two S&W-specific forums

Well, many years ago, I moderated a forum on Gunboards.com, so I have an understanding of the responsibilities.

You may not have been around long enough, but boards like Buddy Hinton's old "Sturmgewehr" and Tom Bowers "subguns.com" made this forum look like kindergarten as far as daily personal attacks as well as the number of rules.

I wished I had taken screenshots of Buddy's old forum rules, but he would delete a WTB ad because you spelled cat wrong... Then he would post in its place in bold letters of what an idiot you are for not passing spelling in 6th grade.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Biggest changes I have seen is members disappearing-I recall GMC Henry and SGT Preston, others getting called home to the Lord-ancient_one, e.g.
I avoid boards where the Thought Police rule. Biggest dangers with censorship is it drives people away, or they self-censor then you end with boards that are very bland and uninformative. And of course censors have greatly oversized egos-and thin skins.

 

[Muddyboot]

And again it starts......more dog