The reality I have lived is much more distorted than most things I may have read about on a gun forum.
Do gun forums distort reality?
I read a lot. Mostly long books and articles. I know that reading more than a few abbreviated words is old fashioned but I enjoy it nonetheless. :smile: Heck, I even write stuff with a pen sometimes just for old times sake. I am fairly new to gun forums but been shooting and buying guns well before Glocks and AR's were invented. Even before the 9mm was no longer considered a caliber best suited for those who pee sitting down. :biggrin2:
One of the things I notice about gun forums is that they tend to distort reality. By its very nature, gun forums attract those who are into guns much more than most and who enjoy taking about them and their defensive use. However, some fail to recognize that gun forum members are a very small part of gun owners and sometimes tend to think things are as they read in their forums. Let's just look at one example.
People in gun forums seem to like to discuss (argue?) about the merits of a 9mm vs .40 vs .45. Anything below may be considered barely adequate for defense or not adequate at all. This gives us all the impression that we are all carrying guns in these calibers and yet I hear more people ask for a .22 than any other gun in the gun store where I hang out. Granted I live in a retirement community but I am also the seeing the same thing among new shooters who are concerned about recoil having never had to endure any part of their body being hit with anything. :wink:. I read a blurb the other day from a year or two ago where the BATF said that the .380 was the most popular caliber at the time and with the success of the LCP and .380 ammo shortage a few years ago, I can believe it. My LEO friends tell me that they encounter .22's and other small caliber guns more often if for no other reason that most crime takes place in low income areas and the people there can only afford cheap guns that shoot small calibers. It also seems to be written in many places that the .22 is the most popular caliber in the USA and responsible for more gun related deaths than any other caliber because of the shear number of .22 guns owned.
Just looking at gun owners in my own family I see .22's and .380's the most. In talking to several gun store owners most say that they sell more .22's than any other caliber gun. Once again demographics and geography will affect that. I live surrounded by farms and ranches so a .22 is a good varmint control round and very popular. When I lived in big cities, most had 9mm and above with 9mm being the most popular. So it seems that while we talk about big calibers and such, the majority of gun owners are not mirroring what we are reading and saying in gun forums. That is the impression I am getting as a newbie to gun forums. The same can apply to how we perceive the need to carry all the time, number of guns and rounds carried, etc.. I think that sometimes we may forget that we are not the same as the rest of the gun owners and I see that all too often when I talk to other gun owners who do not read gun magazines, books or browse gun forums.
I do not know whether this is good or not as it does provide us with more info than others but on the other hand one has to be careful about figuring out which of that info is good and accurate and which is not and sometimes people have a tendency to accept as fact those things that fit into their own belief system and reject all else. I have read topics that focus on things that are about as likely to happen to most of us as marrying Angelina Jolie and honeymooning in Monte Carlo on our yachts. Sure it is possible but not very likely.
So do you think that gun forum members get a distorted view of gun related things due to focusing on them and if so, is that good or bad? Feel free to mention other areas where that get a lot of attention but really do not amount to a hill of beans.
One of the things I notice about gun forums is that they tend to distort reality. By its very nature, gun forums attract those who are into guns much more than most and who enjoy taking about them and their defensive use. However, some fail to recognize that gun forum members are a very small part of gun owners and sometimes tend to think things are as they read in their forums. Let's just look at one example.
People in gun forums seem to like to discuss (argue?) about the merits of a 9mm vs .40 vs .45. Anything below may be considered barely adequate for defense or not adequate at all. This gives us all the impression that we are all carrying guns in these calibers and yet I hear more people ask for a .22 than any other gun in the gun store where I hang out. Granted I live in a retirement community but I am also the seeing the same thing among new shooters who are concerned about recoil having never had to endure any part of their body being hit with anything. :wink:. I read a blurb the other day from a year or two ago where the BATF said that the .380 was the most popular caliber at the time and with the success of the LCP and .380 ammo shortage a few years ago, I can believe it. My LEO friends tell me that they encounter .22's and other small caliber guns more often if for no other reason that most crime takes place in low income areas and the people there can only afford cheap guns that shoot small calibers. It also seems to be written in many places that the .22 is the most popular caliber in the USA and responsible for more gun related deaths than any other caliber because of the shear number of .22 guns owned.
Just looking at gun owners in my own family I see .22's and .380's the most. In talking to several gun store owners most say that they sell more .22's than any other caliber gun. Once again demographics and geography will affect that. I live surrounded by farms and ranches so a .22 is a good varmint control round and very popular. When I lived in big cities, most had 9mm and above with 9mm being the most popular. So it seems that while we talk about big calibers and such, the majority of gun owners are not mirroring what we are reading and saying in gun forums. That is the impression I am getting as a newbie to gun forums. The same can apply to how we perceive the need to carry all the time, number of guns and rounds carried, etc.. I think that sometimes we may forget that we are not the same as the rest of the gun owners and I see that all too often when I talk to other gun owners who do not read gun magazines, books or browse gun forums.
I do not know whether this is good or not as it does provide us with more info than others but on the other hand one has to be careful about figuring out which of that info is good and accurate and which is not and sometimes people have a tendency to accept as fact those things that fit into their own belief system and reject all else. I have read topics that focus on things that are about as likely to happen to most of us as marrying Angelina Jolie and honeymooning in Monte Carlo on our yachts. Sure it is possible but not very likely.
So do you think that gun forum members get a distorted view of gun related things due to focusing on them and if so, is that good or bad? Feel free to mention other areas where that get a lot of attention but really do not amount to a hill of beans.
1 - 20 of 62 Posts
Great point. This is one of the things that puzzle me too. Do these people ask others which underwear to buy too?
I think some people seek the approval of others or are unable to logically determine what is best for them. Some may just be too dang lazy! I can say that about the place I live. It is often called Disney World for adults. 100,000 retired people spread out over 3 counties with its own radio station and newspaper. Completely self contained with stores, all the popular restaurant chains and government offices on site. We call it the Bubble where you only read or hear the good news and every hour is happy hour. Sometimes I forget how the world outside the Bubble is. However, I made the choice to retire from the real world. Been there and done that and prefer my fake world. It is a much happier place.
Maybe they are just researching something they are interested. Sure you can get information from other sources, but nothing guarantees the accuracy of any source. I would bet that many members of this forum became members because of information they got while conducting research. How did you find this forum?Great point. This is one of the things that puzzle me too. Do these people ask others which underwear to buy too?
1 - 20 of 62 Posts
