Once again frustrated from reading forum post on other gun forums. I saw guys presenting their opinion as fact, even defending it, where the information they were using was 15-30 years old and the problem has not existed in over a decade.
My question to you is why do some people post opinions either not verified, based on very old information or simply because they read someone else's post?
Last question, why do people ask complete strangers what to buy and then get replies where most, if not all in some cases, have never owned the gun or even shot one. Most never even saw one in person. It is fine to voice an opinion, we all have them but to present them as fact is, sometimes defend them strongly, is something I cannot understand.
Why would anyone ask complete strangers what to buy for highly personal items? It is like asking what shoes should I get or what kind of pants are best for me.
I do not know about what others do but I never ask which gun or holster to buy because all I am going to get is subjective opinion, most of which will have no basis in fact or experience with the gun.
Just got through a 3 page thread/argument about a particular bullet where a third of the replies were quoting information from 15-30 years ago and is no longer relevant. It seems that the expression, "If it is on the internet, it must be true", is accepted by many. Also shows that if you repeat something enough times, it becomes fact.
What is your view on this? I am not talking about a simple expression of opinion but rather those that defend their uninformed opinions or present them as fact.
When I pick a gun I want to own I research it to death and ask folks for opinions on a specific piece.There's another site where you kids play games with said guns and they think they know about brands and like this poster has said many have never fired a pistol.The real give away is if they start cussing at you then you know you are dealing with a bunch of 10 year olds.
This is me. A lot of times when I'm thinking about a gun I will research the crap out. I've been known to research something a year before buying it.I do like to get people's opinion that have experience with a particular item. But I also take everything with a grain of salt. If some one tells me brand A is crap but cant give me a reason why I usually disregard their opinion. Or if someone thinks that only one company makes decent guns and anyone that buys anything else is foolish I wont value their opinion either.
For me places like this is to gather information from people that have more knowledge than me and use it to make an informed decision.
This article is based on what schools should teach kids to prepare them for the real world. IMHO; I don't believe that schools can teach some of these skills. Parents should be responsible for the majority of these skills. The list is very basic. For someone to compile an article, such as this, leads me to believe there is a problem. Anyway, notice the skills and you will get the picture.
#2 on the above list, should be on top of the priority list when raising kids. When "Enabling" parents do things, that the child should do, the parent is doing nothing more than telling the child what to do. Why, is just as important. When the child enters the real world, without the ability to "Think for themselves" they have no where to go for answers except to other "Enabled" peers and the internet. Most 20 an 30 somethings, don't want to know why. They just want an answer. Then again, another "enabled" skill can come out. If the answer is incorrect, then the skill of "Blaming" comes out.
When it comes to research or gathering information people are generally very lazy. I say lazy because in the information age it is so easy to research anything! Four decades ago I would've said they don't have the skill and knowledge to find information as it was much harder before the information age.
Then there are the folks that want to be thought of as knowing everything. When someone asks a question they can't resist. They see the expert or trained professional as an enviable person, someone they want to be. The internet makes it easier for them to step into the role because of the anonymity it provides. Since all we can do when reading a forum post is use our imagination to picture the person offering information it becomes easy to pretend to be an expert with a few well placed words.
The problem, IMHO, is when we begin to accept the 'internet' as gospel. I had very high hopes when the internet came into being. I saw it as a great tool for the human race to finally communicate without walls or the need to wear our outside mask. Instead it became a greater mask of concealment and allows for people to present their darker side without fear of reprisal.
The internet is a great source of information. However, it is like trying to catch one particular fish in an ocean of fish. There are some really good fishing reefs out there such as the DC forum. It's very difficult to fake experience. When it comes to guns there is no substitute for experience. I learn a lot here. More importantly I find the people on this forum to be 'honest'. The picture I get from most members is who they really are (I think).
I am not an expert. No persons or animals were harmed in the writing of this post. These are my opinions and do not represent...well, anything really.
I take a different approach then you on a couple points , i say go ahead and ask what type of holsters would you recommend because maybe I/We have never heard of the brand and may need to look it up and reveiw it .
Guns may be a little different , because we all know the names of the makers . But with so many models againg this may help to point in a direction or may help with a choice .
And not all people are where you are at in gun knowledge or others here , i have collected guns all my life but really never was shootin/hunting with them once in a while i would go to the range . Until maybe 3 years or so never carried , i have alot of catching up to do .
And the last point is sometimes people get the facts wrongs or misunderstand them , try to explain and educate the people you are speaking about .
I was at another site and gave some information i got here and got cut down by 10 older seasoned members (post count) told me in no certain terms i was wrong . Turns out 6 to 10 months later i was right . So we all make mistakes and should be given a bit of lea-way
I would never recommend anything especially firearms, that I didn't personally own at one time or another if not right now.
I also don't ask for opinions on firearms, nor do I need validation that I bought the right firearm for me. I know what I like, I know what I want, and I know all about the firearm I'm thinking of purchasing.
I love forums but gun forums? I have a great time yakkin' it up and trading stories and opinions but I'll have to say I have "learned" very little except that rarely has anyone ever changed anyone's opinion. I try to share information that I have experienced first hand and my opinion is worth exactly what anyone is paying for it....I assume information I get from others to be worth exactly the same. It would be nice to be able to depend on some of this stuff but the truth is that I constantly waver on the brink of shunning gun discussion forums permanently.
I am constantly amazed that some folks really think that because they love an XYZ pistol in "whatever" caliber that this choice is perfect and the best for everyone else, all the time, everywhere, and if someone disagrees it is simply because they are stupid or respectful. Folks hate certain guns and feel that others should be institutionalized for finding this particular firearm to be their Soul Mate.
The biggest thing that floors me about gun forums is that many of the forumites sincerely feel that we gun discussion folks have our "finger on the pulse" of gun owners in America and that our opinions and cumulative findings are probably representative of American gun range aficionados and gun owners. Most of the folks I have met at the range and in shooting sports that *really* have impressed me have *never* participated in a gun forum and laugh out loud at some of the notions and opinions commonly touted as fact on many forums.
Forums in the gun world are pretty much for fun and for show. I learn a lot more stuff on the range with folks who never, *EvEr!* have set foot in a gun forum.
VooDoo too bad you feel this way, I for one have learned a lot, I also honor many of our forumites as they are Military and Law enforcement many have years of experience. I also love this format, because it has lots of forums off topic. Maybe rather than looking for info, you could help some of us newbies.
It gives you direct access to nearly every odd ball on this planet. Many just say stuff to build their own alter egos.
Just a bunch of weirdos out there except for you and me, and I ain't sure about you.
For me, I like interacting and conversing with Gun People.
I get ideas and perspectives from others, and as pointed out already, some of these "others" are VERY experienced and knowledgeable folks.
Now, I may not change my opinion or methodology because of what others say on this forum, or the other one I frequent, but like I said, I like interacting and conversing with Gun People.
As for guns or holsters, I have limited info on what I have used. As how I would react or handle a self defense or combat situation, I have no experiance and hope I never do. If I recommend specific ammo it's because I read a Police Department has used it with satisfying results. I feel I have learned good and bad on this forum and hope any info I have given wasn't considered horse poop. I only try to help fellow gun owners.
What puzzles me is that they ask this kind of question but give no information about themselves (I'm a big guy/small female), no info about use (HD/EDC/Range), and no info about their skill level (I'm a noob/instructor/hobbyist), or their household info (I live alone/apt/house/kids-no kids) or even age (I'm 80/18).
You don't need to give personal information, but just asking 'what kind of bicycle/sidearm/long gun should I buy myself/my wife' is a forehead slapper.
I have to say that I do learn alot by trying to give coherent information which is 'delivery system' or system's management-based because I have to organize my ideas to do so.
The best info I got here was on how to best frame the idea of EDC of a handgun and that is it is a way to reduce the perception of risk, plain and simple. It's empowering and it does not, ultimately, have to be effective or all-inclusive. I feel the same way about carrying a cell-phone or a flashlight, or even a spare set of car keys. I may never use it or need it (which is good) but it gives me that perception that I've mitigated risk.
The other thing is that a lot of folks feel as I do that carrying a sidearm EDC helped me to be more polite, more responsible, less aggressive or entitled, because I feel the responsibility and of course, I want to keep my permit and right to carry.
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