Some thoughts on M4C.net

[kwelz]

Not sure how this post is going to turn out guys so bear with me!

It seems that there is a lot going on with the site lately. New members who don't read the mission statement, some arguments in GD leading to a number of locked threads, and a general shortening of tempers.

The thing that really got me thinking about this is the religion thread from last week. A person I respect more than just about anyone else I know and look up to as a mentor made the statement that he had been reading my posts on there and wondered if I thought I was smarter then him because I didn't share his faith.

This of course took me aback because I never meant to imply that at all. I wasn't able to respond on there and make myself more clear because the thread was locked first. But it did get me thinking a lot about the board and how I and other act here. The goals, general attitudes here, and people involved are all a bit different than most other boards.

Here is my take on things:

We are not TOS, The High Road, The Firing Line, Glocktalk, or any number of other general boards. This is a board for anyone with the mindset that good enough, isn't. Not just with firearms but with many points in our life. I know that if I ask a question here I will get a no BS answer that will point me in the right direction.

The more experienced members are not going to hand you the information usually. They are going to help you figure it out for yourself, essentially they are going to make you learn if you are willing to. And if you are not willing to learn then you probably wont' last long. We have all seen the "What is best" and "Should I buy X or Y" threads. I like that the answer here isn't always "You should buy Z" It tends to be more along the lines of "X, and Y are great. So is Z so check them out and see what works best for you".

It has fostered a sense of community that I don't often see on forums. I touched on this in a thread a moth or so ago about how little I know and how M4C has helped me start down the path to learning. However I feel it bears mentioning again.

We seem to be a diverse group. Christians and Atheists, Strong conservatives and moderates with a liberal or two mixed in. And we all seem to share a type A personality. In addition I know that all of us are either Wolves or Sheepdogs. So anytime you get a group like this together you are going to have some conflict. People are going to disagree on some topic or another. And sometimes the fights get downright ugly.

The real difference here though is that I think people seem to leave that all behind very quickly. Maybe it is for the good of the board, but I feel that it is more than that.

The type of people that this board tends to attract(and that stay here) are a cut above the rest. They are men that will argue with you till blue in the face over a topic but then have your back 5 minutes later.

For instance, I am pretty sure that BKB and myself will never agree on a religious topic. EVER. However I respect that man greatly for all he believes in and would support him in just about anything because he is a man of Character and honor. (Sorry man you were the best example given the religion thread from last week.)

I don't think this is an isolated case on this board. It is a direct result of the culture the people have run this board have tried to foster. And I am proud to be a member here because of it.

I feel that lately we have had a lot of things going on here on the board. But I ask every member new and old to show your fellow members the respect they deserve. Keep M4C.net the site that it is. Make it better. Continue to build the community here so that we never become just another random firearms board.

Sorry to ramble/rant on. I just wanted to say my bit.

Oh and use the damn search function!

[TOrrock]

A surefire way to set men who'd normally be best shooting buds against one another and turn them into bitter adversaries is to discuss politics and religion.

[lethal dose]

Solid post, brah.

[montanadave]

A surefire way to set men who'd normally be best shooting buds against one another and turn them into bitter adversaries is to discuss politics and religion.

Tru dat.

But on a more positive note, discussions of a political or religious nature tend to adopt a more tolerant and restrained tone when the participants are equally (and heavily) armed.

[kwelz]

A surefire way to set men who'd normally be best shooting buds against one another and turn them into bitter adversaries is to discuss politics and religion.

Normally I would agree with you my friend. And I guess that was kind of my point. It seems like here the politics and religion blow up, and then are quickly forgotten. Maybe I am over-thinking it or wearing too rosy of glasses. But it seems like the respect this board cultivates overshadows the disagreements.

[jaxman7]

Kwelz,

Extremely well said, good post. There are definitely top notch guys and Americans on here. There are guys with differing political and religious views. I compare this to my time in the Army. There were soldiers that were in my unit that I did not get along with or rarely agreed with what one of them said or believed. But if someone screwed with me that person's life at that point and time was over. Those same soldiers had my back and I did the same for them. Like you said Kwelz alot of guys on here are of the same mindset and this comes from mutual respect.
Some of the newer members just don't have that respect for others on here and it really concerns me how often this is happening as of late. There was a guy who started a thread and one of the staff members made a funny comment and received a very sarcastic reply about his post. The staff member took it very lightly but I was just furious. This site IS unique and special. Have respect for others on here, especially the staff members, SME's, IP's and the vast majority of senior members. This is their house and you are invited to come in. If you weren't taught respect or don't reciprocate it to others you will not last long here.

-Jax

[Littlelebowski]

A surefire way to set men who'd normally be best shooting buds against one another and turn them into bitter adversaries is to discuss politics and religion.

And law enforcement

[Mac5.56]

A surefire way to set men who'd normally be best shooting buds against one another and turn them into bitter adversaries is to discuss politics and religion.

I completely agree, and that's why I'm avoiding any political an religious conversation on this forum form now on.

[Littlelebowski]

This would be a better, more focused forum without General Discussion. I know for a fact that the mods would have a lot less bullshit to put up with.

[chadbag]

I personally am a guilty one wrt GD forum but I think the place would be a lot less interesting without it. I like the technical forums etc and those are the meat. However, you tend to get to know folks better with the GD and that is part of the experience and part of what helps you to relate to people. On a non-technical level.

While I have disagreements over politics or religion with people, I don't respect those people any less because they disagree with me. Lots of folks in here I would consider "friends"[1] including those who share a different faith or none at all. But the GD helps me to get to know people better and helps foster the sense of brotherhood (or sisterhood for the females here).

Not only do you get to have debates on various topics, but you get to share your births, illnesses and injuries, and other events in your life. People need to share stuff and be cared about and this is a "safe" way for guys to do that

And it also helps as a conduit for political information -- ie, if a bad bill is introduced, I can get a heads-up here. (Separate from political discussion).

M4C is the only forum I regularly hang out on.

[1] as best as you can make friends you've never met face to face