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That's because you're not new to the AR platform or the site, so it may be difficult for you to see it from that perspective. Those new to the platform will likely find the answers to most of their questions in the stickies. If for some reason they can't find it there and post a question that seems elementary for those who know the answer, they will typically get the "use the search" or "read the stickies" response, which to a new member can be quite off-putting, enough even to send the person on their way. If all they have are those types of questions, then they will feel (I speak from experience here) that they have nothing to contribute to the tech forums. If they can't post in GD, say as a reply to one of Irishluck's self-defense threads or something similar, they they will feel that they have nothing to contribute to the site and will move on.
But if they can post in GD and build relationships with other members, they will be more comfortable posting on the site and will realize that some members are more than happy to help point them in the right direction to find the answers to their elementary tech questions. Eventually those questions will get answered and as they learn more, they will be able to share and contribute more—personal experience if nothing else—to the tech forums.
“All falsehood is a mask, and however well made the mask may be, with a little attention we may always distinguish it from the true face.”
State of Franklin Training Group
I think you and I see forums as something completely different. I am not the owner, or even staff, here, but I'm not looking for community and relationships. If that's what people are here for then IMHO you're right, they are better served elsewhere. I've belonged to those kinds of sites and frankly find the entire "we're an online community" thing really ****ing freaky.
In fact, I proposed the post count limit exactly to limit this kind of nonsense. I am of the opinion that M4C wants to be an information resource, not a social network. There are other sites out there that, claims to the contrary, as exactly the inverse. If folks need that kind of validation, community, ego stroking, and "relationship" building then perhaps they are better suited to those other sites. What site sponsors want is irrelevant to me as a user of the site. If a new poster doesn't have anything to contribute then maybe they, you know, shouldn't contribute?
I am here for information first, "relationship building" second. I hope that this is the end-goal of all that come here and choose to stay, and for those that want the inverse there's ar15.com.
I get all the psychobable, marketing strategy, dr. phil stuff you're pushing, but as a user of this site I just don't care, and I hope that new members are mature and adult enough to see past that and appreciate the value of the volume of information here as well as appreciate how much easier it is to find said information without having to wade through a sea of relationships.
I personally think that "+1" posts should be allowed only to those proven to be four weapons Combat Masters. I'm just using that as an example to show how some members here can be intimidating, as opposed to accommodating, to new members, especially when the new member commits an unwritten board faux pas.
Maybe the slogan should read: "M4Carbine.net: Where '+1' Don't Fly." Might help folks coming over from TOS.
“All falsehood is a mask, and however well made the mask may be, with a little attention we may always distinguish it from the true face.”
State of Franklin Training Group
So why not pay? You get GD and all the great firearms info.
Elite is good. My goal in life is to be elite at everything I do.
I don't know who the "club" is, but no member here has ever made me feel unwelcome. Perhaps it is operator error?![]()
I didn't build this post. Somebody else made that happen.
"+1" shouldn't fly anywhere, on any forum. Just because it's become acceptable practice and behavior on various forums doesn't make it any less obnoxious and stupid.
And the forum has a minimum number of characters per post, which astute folks would take as a clue.Perhaps if the site doesn't allow two-character posts maybe that's because they don't want "+1"?
A lot of people do not realize what this forum is about and who it is really for. Too many "tactical" forums are full of air softers, mall ninja's and safe queens. They run off the more knowledgeable members and replace them with people that know next to nothing.
M4C is not about the GD forum. It is about technical discussions involving gear, firearms, mindset, fieldcraft, and training. If you cannot add anything of value to the above discussions, that is fine with us. Sit back, read and enjoy. If you believe that new members not being able to post in the GD some how detracts from what the forum is about, then you do not understand what we are about.
We are interested in attracting the "20%" crowd. These are the people that either carry a gun for a living, have extensive training (or are interested in training) and understand why you buy quality gear and guns. So if we offend the 80% of shooters out there because we enforce our rules and don't let them use the GD forum until they have posted 200 times in the technical forums, we are just fine with that.
M4C is an "Elite" forum. We want members to use the technical forums more than the GD forum. This is not the norm with 95% of all other gun forums. So yes, we are different and it has worked for us since day one.
I was under the impression that it's a discussion board, and that most of the information here came about as a result of discussion between its members. Good discussion tends to come from good relationships. I'm not talking about "walking down a tree-lined street holding hands and feeling good" kind of relationships, I'm talking about getting to know folks—as much as you can through typing, anyway—enough to be comfortable in a discussion. I think you would agree that there is a tendency toward more in-depth discussion among friends than among strangers.
I know where you're coming from here, and I appreciate your contributions to the board and to my own personal knowledge. But you're a bit rigid in this regard, and it's the exact type of thing that I'm referring to when I mention intimidation of new members. And you may not see it as a community, but it is by nearly every definition of the word.
Maybe it would be best if they disallowed discussion altogether and made it a site where they just posted essays and technical documents written and vetted by those who have proven their worth and knowledge.
Now, where's that group hug smiley?
“All falsehood is a mask, and however well made the mask may be, with a little attention we may always distinguish it from the true face.”
State of Franklin Training Group
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