We Are Living in a Bizarre World

Miscellaneous
82

This is not a forum to bash anyone - no matter what the topic. The USCCA Online Community is here to help everyone best protect themselves and their loved ones. If you want to bash someone, please take it elsewhere.

I agree with you, @Michael358 - we as firearm owners and people who want to protect ourselves and our loved ones should be one. However, a lot of people point fingers and are negative and downright nasty toward some portion of the group because of their beliefs on other points. That type of attitude does nothing to improve the firearms community.

You’ve read those posts here in the USCCA Online Community? Please flag them! There are times when we miss comments or do not seem them for a couple of days/weeks due to the sheer volume of comments coming in. Thanks to @45IPAC for tagging me in this conversation so I saw it quickly.

We have a set of Community Guidelines that does not allow for bashing others. Everyone is welcome to express their opinion here - even if it’s completely anti-firearm - as long as they express it respectfully. We can all learn from each other.

I will disagree with you on that. I don’t group people based on their political beliefs. Everyone is welcome here as long as they’re adding to the conversation in a respectful manner. Just because someone votes left on a lot of issues does not mean they do not support the Second Amendment, aren’t a responsible gun owner, or should be attacked because of their other political views. This is not the place for that.

If you ever see a post that is outside of our Community Guidelines, please flag it (see below for details how to flag). We (the USCCA moderating team) do our best to let productive - even somewhat heated discussions - go as we know everyone is here for the same reason, no matter what our background is. We have seen very heated discussions talked through and people grow through those discussions. It doesn’t mean they’ve changed their view, but they come to understand others - which is a huge portion of being able to protect ourselves.

Unfortunately, some with opposing views would call gun owners a little group of whiners who are pushing our agenda on others - even though it is in the Constitution. Just because we don’t agree with another group or a subsection of a group or even an individual, it doesn’t mean that they don’t have a legitimate concern.

If you don’t agree with someone’s respectfully stated view here, I encourage you to have a respectful conversation with them. I don’t expect either viewpoint to change, but we may learn something about another person and be able to see that person as who they are - a fellow human who is trying to do the best they can for their loved ones.

If you agree with a viewpoint, but it’s expressed poorly/rudely somewhere here please flag it so we can address the tone and ask for a better discussion. That way this Community stays welcoming to all who wish to help protect their loved ones in the best manner possible.

The self-defense discussion has many facets - and we could talk about all of them for the rest of our lives and never agree on much. But I continue to believe that everyone agrees with one thing here - we want to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

PS to flag a comment click on the three dots:
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then click on the flag:
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83

Dawn, you really are something.

A dear friend once said that you can put a priest and a rabbi in a room for as long as you want. At no point will either of them stand and shout “I convert!”

84

The only thing out of line was insulting the drunken sailors… how dare you​:rofl::rofl::rofl:

85

Is that a good something? :thinking:

86

@Dawn… any doubts about it? :upside_down_face: :slightly_smiling_face: :upside_down_face:

87

Dawn I get what you’re saying. However before my posts got reported, “Flagged” I had explained to, “@45IPAC”, that I understand people DO HAVE different viewpoints, he must have MISSED THAT PART, and I wouldnt feel better if posts like this were DOA. Yes i have seen posts that were inflammatory and i do realize that you can’t see them all since there are so many topics and posts. This topic received many, even to the point of the originator calling somebody out to a face to face confrontation. So true I’d rather NOT see posts where the community starts attacking each other as that’s not what I’m here for, I’m here for the Good stuff. Maybe posts like this Should’ve Been Headed Off And Ended Before it got that bad which was far before my comments,. I noted you did have to step in a couple times to cool things down and at one point told everybody to step away for that short period cause was getting out of control. Dont know why @45IPAC goes running to you right away to save the day, wonder if he also reported all others on that topic? Because as I CLEARLY stated to Him, this is why I dont like getting involved with topics like this because there Are so many that will get upset and heated co.ments get thrown back and forth in the mix. But he OBVIOUSLY MISSED where I said I’ll just spend my time in the many other Non confrontational areas in the dashboard of which theres a lot.

88

This is my 2nd post to this particular thread. I did not know the original statements were meant as a joke. I didn’t see anything to alert me that it was a joke. But, I don’t think the gentleman who posted it should leave. There are a diverse group of people on this forum who are united by our support of the 2ND Amendment. Beyond that, there may be a few things we see eye to eye on but thankfully we’re not all the same. I don’t respond to every to every post/ topic. I’m sure I have read & walked away from more than I have responded to. @ES16 one of the best posts I remember from my 1st days on this forum was “Do you have to support the Republican Party to be in the USCCA” or something like that. The responses varied but it was respectful. Even though I was skeptical about this (I don’t do social media), that particular thread gave me hope that this forum was alright. Any topic that cannot be addressed is a missed opportunity. I don’t know anybody here personally. You could be a neighbor, a coworker, or you could live on the other side of the country. Doesn’t matter. I believe WE THE PEOPLE have a common enemy. We can put the petty stuff aside & deal with that or everyone can retreat to their respective corners with their respective groups.
Finally, I may not (& I don’t have to) agree with all you say BUT I know you have the RIGHT to say it. Rights >Feelings :100: :v:t5::muscle:t5:

89

All good something!

90

Seems like things went down a personal road for some folks. It’s very hard not to get defensive when it gets personal. This is a huge draw back of having only text to read. We miss out on all the other body language queues.

No matter our intentions we can’t control how something is received and at the end of the day this is just an online forum. Take what you want away from it and leave what you don’t.

91

Sometimes “let it go” is the best option…

92

I didn’t flag it. I tagged Dawn. That’s what happens when you type @ and someone’s name on here. It shows up. Why did I tag her? SHE’S THE MODERATOR! And here’s a little tidbit for you, I agree with many of the statements made in ES16’s initial post, and my initial comment in the topic reflects that. If one were to ask me privately my personal opinions, I’d be happy to discuss them. But I choose not to demonize someone because I disagree with their lifestyle choices. We’ve got a good thing going on this website, and I don’t want to see it become another Facebook, or “Brand X is superior to all else” forum. That’s not helpful. We have sections to discuss politics, and religions even. Respectfully.

93

^^^THIS^^^ 100%

I want this forum to stay productive and help people build a better self. There’s plenty of places to go for a beat down.

94

Yea ok. However you obviously didnt read my posts clearly, and in turn neither did Beth. I commented on how I NEVER HAD ANY PRJUDISES AGAINST ANY RACE OR INDIVIDUALS DIFFERENCES. All I Did say was I’m tired of all those who feel the country hates them or is against because of religion, color or being in the multi letter community (sorry I never get that one right and dont want to be labeled anti anybody by leaving a letter out). I say live and let live, always have! But I get chastised for voicing my opinion of those particular people who ARE in these posts, and Have commented on how people ate against them, hate groups, etc. When all I said is they should stop worrying about other people hating them because mostly they are wrong. Those who hate are NOT representative of the majority of us! And finally, if this isn’t supposed to be a post or area where heated discussions are going back and forth, why then were these posts where physical violence was posted and people getting into heavy arguments ALLOWED to continue as long as they did?That’s all, I’m done discussing this! I’m staying off these, will only check out non aggressive or argumentative posts,

95

Well, I have been here for several months. This thread is the only one I have seen that got that way. That is not the norm at all in this Community.
This is also not a place where partisan politics drive anything at all. It is hardly a bastion of liberal thought either. It is the only such community where 99% of folks get along very well.
I really like it here. No need to get all spun up over things. None of us are here for that. Really, hardly at all. This coming from a die-hard right wing conservative, gun toting, Bible thumping retired Soldier.

96

Wow.

After reading this entire thread, I am convinced that an old Vietnam Veteran, Army Drill Sergeant, and Police Officer (Motorcycle Officer) like myself, probably needs to refrain from commenting.

My old fashioned way of thinking might offend the over sensitive.

Y’all have fun.

97

One tiny but important point of order. We do NOT have infinite time to live. That fact makes life all the more precious.

98

In the last few weeks, I have come to believe that there is an ambiance around us that has caused me to feel a constant sense of helplessness and frustration. That would be not such as issue if we had a target for which to take aim and respond. We don’t. That is the problem.

That being said, to where do we fire our shots?

I reckon it is against anyone who makes themselves available for targeting. I think this thread is where we have seen this firing for effect occur.

There is much occurring in our country to create angst. Whether you are an old conservative dog like me or a liberal member, there is something anger everyone.

Personally, I find that it is important to see the poster behind the posts. I fear we lose sight of the fact that someone sits behind that keyboard, and that someone lives, breathes, loves, laughs, and thinks. When we see only the text; we fail to consider the life experiences and thoughts behind it.

I’d probably see the world differently if I had not spent a career in the military or had not been born 70 years ago. I might feel differently about things had I grown up in a big city instead out where my favorite toys were trees and wagon wheels.

I can read and respect each person’s posts and try to see them for their intended message. I might miss it, but I’ll try. If I don’t “get it” and it is important enough; I’ll ask.
Fair enough?

99

Well said, @Stephen22.

We are all individuals who are going through a stressful time. We may need to take a step back and find a way to let off some steam so we can remember we’re all in this together.

After this very tumultuous thread, there is still one thing I know we all agree on:

We want to protect ourselves and our loved ones the best we possibly can.

So let’s get back to the conversations that help us achieve that goal and give us all common ground.