Ron MilesWebsite Owner  Commander In Chief Posts:864  
| 4/19/2009 5:08 PM |
|
|
So, there is some commentary on another thread about a topic that has been "beat to death". But here's the thing: when was it beat to death? Ten years ago? The simple truth is, there is by definition a dwindling supply of people who have been around for ten years. We ain't gettin' any more of those, unless we grow some new ones and wait ten years. Knocking someone because they discovered this forum in 2009 instead of 1999 is no different then some old coot sitting on the front porch complaining about kids these days.
You're not interested in talking about guns and ammo, or changes of clothes, or whatever? I have two suggestions for you:
1) Talk about the things you *are* interested in. You are a vital member of this community. Yes, you, lurking there anonymously. Yes, you, old coot sitting on the porch who remembers when the internet was powered by gophers on wheels. If the topics at hand are not interesting to you, don't complain about those topics, start something new. Odds are, someone else is interested as well. Make the site interesting for yourself, and you will make it interesting for everybody else.
2) Don't piss on a thread just because you find the topic boring. Other people don't. I would wager that the deep philosophical discussions in college dorm rooms today are no different than the ones ten years ago, and what would seem like tired old concepts to old timers like me still seem like startling epiphanies to those discussing them anew. You may worry that the board will therefore devolve into nothing more than an endless discussion of guns and boots. Don't be. See point #1 for why you don't need to worry. Let the folks who actually are interested have the discussion that interests them. Nobody is forcing you to read the thread, so remember what your momma told you way back when - If you can't say somethin' nice, don't say nuthin' at all.
"Sadly then I knew the answer. All her life she was a dancer, but no one ever played the song she knew." - The Residents
|
|
|
|
)3az )3aziahBritish Bloke  Veteran Member Posts:1060 
| 4/19/2009 5:39 PM |
|
|
Ron,
Yes I know the thread in question you refer to and I do understand that maybe people are not as old as me BUT this same topic has been covered on THIS version of the board at least twice before and each time got cut to pieces by the to be expected anti Troll replies.
I mentioned that it was an age old Troll topic and what could be expected then answered his questions in an intelligent and rational way. No vitriol, no anger, just answers, and look what I get back?
Exactly what I expected -still I tried!
Jim
=============================== Billy Fish: He wants to know if we are gods.
Peachy Carnehan: Not gods - Englishmen. The next best thing.
Please check out my FLICKR photos
|
|
|
|
)3az )3aziahBritish Bloke Veteran Member Posts:1060
| 4/19/2009 5:41 PM |
|
|
BUMP...
=============================== Billy Fish: He wants to know if we are gods.
Peachy Carnehan: Not gods - Englishmen. The next best thing.
Please check out my FLICKR photos
|
|
|
|
Ron MilesWebsite Owner Commander In Chief Posts:864
| 4/19/2009 9:19 PM |
|
|
But, see, here's the thing -- it wasn't a troll. A troll, by definition, is someone who comes in with the explicit purpose of stirring things up for their own amusement. You want to know why I think there were so many "one post wonders" in the past? Because someone would come in, make their first post, get torn to pieces, and never come back again. Why would they want to? They got beat up for posting an innocent question or comment about one of the primary elements of the series.
As for "this same topic has been covered on THIS version of the board at least twice before", well, so what? To steal wholesale from a recent very popular science fiction television show, "all of this has happened before and all of this will happen again". The Axler books are Men's Fiction. Everything that Gold Eagle prints is paramilitary in nature to some degree, and weaponry is a significant element of the genre. It stands to reason that many people who read the books are also going to be into firearms. They are going to be annoyed by the incongruities in the same way that I am annoyed at how most tv shows and movies deal with computers.
If someone is reading an Axler book and really enjoys it, but is annoyed that the writer used some impossible round of ammunition in a nonexistent rifle, and that motivates them enough to go searching on the internet for someplace to grouse about it, then I say "WELCOME ABOARD!". I don't care what brought them here, I'm just happy they actually took the time to come to my little corner of the web to say hello. It validates a decade of effort I have put into this place, and hopefully they will find enough to keep them engaged here once they too get tired of talking about guns. Or maybe they'll even stay engaged here because they find someone else they can talk with here about guns. Heck, I'd be happy to make a big, happy NRA forum where they can discuss ammunition and silencers and whatnot to their heart's content.
Sound good?
"Sadly then I knew the answer. All her life she was a dancer, but no one ever played the song she knew." - The Residents
|
|
|
|
JettaManDan Basic Member Posts:252 
| 4/20/2009 8:11 AM |
|
|
true fans of the books and series will come in here and discuss things they like and things they don't like..when new readers enter they may not know the history of what has been covered a million times...so it is natural for that to happen...one can hope we can all be civil and enjoy the fact that this site even exists and we can express our viewpoints! thank you for having this website up and giving people like me a place to chat about it!
|
|
|
|
mikeclrBasic Member Posts:197 
| 4/20/2009 11:35 AM |
|
|
Well put Ron!
"Courage is not a man with a gun in his hand. It's knowing you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what." - Atticus Finch
|
|
|
|
)3az )3aziahBritish Bloke Veteran Member Posts:1060
| 4/20/2009 2:32 PM |
|
|
Ron
Sounds good to me to have a general "chew the cud" forum, just as long as people (or you when you can) make sure that things dont drift into the other forums.
Why not set up a vote ?
=============================== Billy Fish: He wants to know if we are gods.
Peachy Carnehan: Not gods - Englishmen. The next best thing.
Please check out my FLICKR photos
|
|
|
|
Another One Eyed Chiller New Member Posts:76 
| 5/18/2009 7:23 PM |
|
|
Thank you Mr.Miles
I am the author of that post that got my head chewed off,mostly by this next gentleman,a "British Bloke" who did not agree with me and tore me a new arse for daring to suggest better blasters for the characters.
Like you say,Just because it was a beaten to death topic to an older member does not mean it is not interesting to other,newer members.
I nearly deleted this site.But instead changed my name and put up a less controversial post.
|
|
|
|