Are we losing it?

hercster

hercster

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When I first joined GOC, I found it refreshing in that it is was a Canadian forum that was better disciplined than others and the focus was on firearms, shooting and hunting.

My habit is to log on and then click "What's new". It seems to me when I do that these days the bulk of the listing is of political and other news stories. Even the political entries are less likely to be on firearms politics and I have to sift through a long list before I see items of interest that have to do with guns and shooting.

Am I missing something?
 
Well - just looking over the 'whats new' button right now, the largest number of posts actually seems to be new members, so that's not bad (not terribly exciting thread wise i'll grant you but still :) )

there's a few threads by shalimar that are kind of 'off topic' so to speak and one about a car and one about a bug out vehicle, the rest are all pretty much gun related. It does kind of feel a little like there's less 'pure gun' stuff. I used to post gun news stories but i stopped because it felt like it was taking away from things a little. I still post to the firearms related posts.

I dunno - i guess it's kind of inevitable in a way - news and politics happens every day, but there's only so much new to talk about with regards to guns themselves. Maybe we do need to really encourage more gear reviews, more 'associated' stuff like the bow and knife discussions, that sort of thing.

Any suggestions on how to improve the posts?
 
Well - just looking over the 'whats new' button right now, the largest number of posts actually seems to be new members, so that's not bad (not terribly exciting thread wise i'll grant you but still :) )

there's a few threads by shalimar that are kind of 'off topic' so to speak and one about a car and one about a bug out vehicle, the rest are all pretty much gun related. It does kind of feel a little like there's less 'pure gun' stuff. I used to post gun news stories but i stopped because it felt like it was taking away from things a little. I still post to the firearms related posts.

I dunno - i guess it's kind of inevitable in a way - news and politics happens every day, but there's only so much new to talk about with regards to guns themselves. Maybe we do need to really encourage more gear reviews, more 'associated' stuff like the bow and knife discussions, that sort of thing.

Any suggestions on how to improve the posts?
 
I really don't know what can or should be done Mr. Foxer but I find my fingers are doing the walking more and more. GOC used to be the first forum I opened from the large number where I have a membership. Since you named names, it's clear that just one or two posters can stack the deck of new entries. I find it getting tedious and can just as easily join a forum where 95% of the chatter is about firearms. I'm a bit concerned that others will find similarly and GOC will dwindle which would be unfortunate.
 
Yeah- I am feeling kind of the same way. The very positive nature of this forum seems to be shifting as well.
 
well i guess we could make a rule that only firearms related discussions be started and no politics.
 
I've always wanted (on many forums, not just here) a way to personalize the what's new button so only the sub-forums I'm interested show. Don't know if vbulletin has that ability.
 
I've lost a lot of interest here as all threads seem to dissolve into a rant about one particular person's view of how unfair life is.

I too use the what's new button (on all forums I visit) and just open threads that look like they would appeal to me - and many USED to.
 
For my two cents worth , I think any post is a good post as it can generate interest . If GOC start to heavily restrict posts and threads , then there will be no posts to browse through.......and the lack of posts and topics will kill any site . For me personally , when I sign on to GOC , I hit the whats new button , and scan down through the threads . Any that interest me , I open and read , and maybe comment.....others I do not even bother to open if the topic is not an interest to me......if anything , we need more members putting up threads and posts to generate interest , not fewer....
 
Yes. But we need a lot fewer of them hijacked into one common rant.

Or at least that's how it feels to me.

Off to the range. Hopefully I will feel better about the site later.
 
Gaidheal said:
Yes. But we need a lot fewer of them hijacked into one common rant.

Or at least that's how it feels to me.

Off to the range. Hopefully I will feel better about the site later.
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While I agree with you I don't see it as a problem only with this forum. It seems that on any forum (admittedly I am on very few) a lot of posts end up being hijacked to a rant, becoming a spraying contest (should start with a P) or worse and get locked down. Sort of defeats the purpose of Gun owners, outdoorsmen or nutz getting together to share fun stories and ideas about all that is great about our chosen sport - doesn't it? Or is that just the way society is going these days? Keyboard commandos?
 
Personally I never use the ' what's new button' so I guess I haven't noticed if there's more or less off topic stuff than usual. I'll take a peek in Black Powder, Archery, or Prepping every blue moon but I tend to stick with what my interests are.

Summer has been a bit quiet it seems. I accept a level of personal blame for this. I've been buying more tools than guns lately and didn't want to bore anyone with my less than thrilling drill bit reviews. I promise to try harder.

On the other hand, while I haven't noticed much in terms of off topic or spam I have remarked that we seem to be more of a beer crowd than whine. Compared to certain forums there seems to be ALOT less diaper dumping/look at me look at me/I want a pony type bs here, and I'm quite very happy about that.

Wish me luck at next weeks gun show. I'll post pics if I find anything sweet. Or if you're really bored I'll review my drill bits.
 
As the election looms closer, we're going to get more political threads, I would think. Since the CSFLA was floated we're also getting an agitated minority demanding large changes at every turn which is getting very tiresome. Having said that, and not to turn this thread into one of the ones the OP is worried about, I appreciate what Mr. hercster is saying.
I'm going to the range today, I will remember my camera:). I'll try my hand at some form of review maybe.
 
mtlgun said:
Personally I never use the ' what's new button' so I guess I haven't noticed if there's more or less off topic stuff than usual. I'll take a peek in Black Powder, Archery, or Prepping every blue moon but I tend to stick with what my interests are.

Summer has been a bit quiet it seems. I accept a level of personal blame for this. I've been buying more tools than guns lately and didn't want to bore anyone with my less than thrilling drill bit reviews. I promise to try harder.

On the other hand, while I haven't noticed much in terms of off topic or spam I have remarked that we seem to be more of a beer crowd than whine. Compared to certain forums there seems to be ALOT less diaper dumping/look at me look at me/I want a pony type bs here, and I'm quite very happy about that.

Wish me luck at next weeks gun show. I'll post pics if I find anything sweet. Or if you're really bored I'll review my drill bits.
Click to expand...

lol. Bore, drill bits. tee-hee!
 
The only thing I can suggest if you don't see the kinds of threads you like is to create them yourself.

I see this place as a place to discuss guns (which we do) but also it's a place where people with the same political values come together. We are all gun owners politically just as much as we are physically owners of guns.
 
Please don't get me wrong, I'm all for discussing just about anything that affects us as gun owners. We need all the help we can get from people who understand strategy and how we can use our power effectively. That's why the "Action Headquarters" is so important. However, if I want to know about the latest threat from the green, purple or blue people I can get a punishing amount of that stuff from the news feeds. The same goes for economics and world politics.

My interests are mostly in the competition area and the equipment used to compete but I'll happily read anything that involves hunting even if guns aren't the focus as I was an archer long before I got involved in firearms. I read the precision shooting stuff even if it's dangerous in terms of more expense if I were to get hooked. I don't see that much interest in the competition games here but that's OK as I know where to go for that material. The same goes for my latest obsession with Tanfoglio pistols as I just bought two of them. I freely admit to being sub normal when it comes to bacon. But I really like the light hearted and fun exchanges on food.

The internet is remarkably fickle. Other venues are just a click away and often when people move if only for a day, they don't come back. So I don't want to be a wet blanket in any way shape or form. But GOC is young and I would hope it can remain relevant and vibrant for a long time. I've seen other forums deteriorate and eventually die because they lost focus on their principles. I just don't want to see that happen to us. We are called Gunowners Of Canada for a reason.
 
Along these lines, I think it's funny that I posted a series of pictures of my .22lr project in the Rimfire Picture Thread, even updated with an additional photo a few days later...

Not 1 comment...

I'm not looking for praise or back-patting, just speaking to the topic at hand here... If I had made a thread titled ".22 lr mistakenly reported by media as machine gun" I would have a hundred comments...

Hey, that gives me an idea...

:pot:
 
bettercallsaul said:
The only thing I can suggest if you don't see the kinds of threads you like is to create them yourself.

I see this place as a place to discuss guns (which we do) but also it's a place where people with the same political values come together. We are all gun owners politically just as much as we are physically owners of guns.
Click to expand...

OK, I'll bite. See "Games People Play"
 
Mikthaniel said:
Along these lines, I think it's funny that I posted a series of pictures of my .22lr project in the Rimfire Picture Thread, even updated with an additional photo a few days later...

Not 1 comment...

I'm not looking for praise or back-patting, just speaking to the topic at hand here... If I had made a thread titled ".22 lr mistakenly reported by media as machine gun" I would have a hundred comments...

Hey, that gives me an idea...

:pot:
Click to expand...

I hear you Mik and you're right. I'm guilty of not contributing anything after all the effort you put into the post. Another member complained in a PM to me about exactly the same thing. Mea culpa and I'll try to do better as I really look forward to the feed back when I put effort into a post like yours.
 
hercster said:
When I first joined GOC, I found it refreshing in that it is was a Canadian forum that was better disciplined than others and the focus was on firearms, shooting and hunting.

My habit is to log on and then click "What's new". It seems to me when I do that these days the bulk of the listing is of political and other news stories. Even the political entries are less likely to be on firearms politics and I have to sift through a long list before I see items of interest that have to do with guns and shooting.

Am I missing something?
Click to expand...

No, you're not missing anything. I feel the same way and, yes, I'm guilty of posting news and 'fluff' threads as well.
 
Mikthaniel said:
Along these lines, I think it's funny that I posted a series of pictures of my .22lr project in the Rimfire Picture Thread, even updated with an additional photo a few days later...

Not 1 comment...

I'm not looking for praise or back-patting, just speaking to the topic at hand here... If I had made a thread titled ".22 lr mistakenly reported by media as machine gun" I would have a hundred comments...

Hey, that gives me an idea...
Click to expand...

This is actually a point that has bugged me:), and the following is not a critisism on you, Mr. Mikthaniel. The mass pic posting threads aren't really for comments or discussion, even though I try to; we've got quite a few builds and neat firearms that are lost in the "noise" of picture threads...I often don't click on them because they take a while to load when I'm not on my decent computer. I think you would get quite a few responses/suggestions/etc if you created your own thread on your 597. I like the individual threads more than the big picture threads, and we don't get enough of them on here. For me, the mass pic threads are more for gazing over to look at ideas and options.
 
Guilty as charged. I am one of those guys who posts a lot of stuff about the Middle East and terrorist attacks, etc. I find it fascinating to follow. In my defense: yes, you could read about those events elsewhere on news sites (and I do) however I find it very interesting to hear from GOC members who are CF vets or presently enlisted because they give a lot of perspective to these events I wouldn't get in a newspaper. Even that Strangeday guy seems to know something of these things. Where else would I get that feedback? LOL, I noticed Awndray just posted about Canadian forces being sent to Iraq as "advisers". So there is interest here- along with shooting and hunting. But it is important to remember our roots, so to speak. I first became aware of it recently through a comment by a new member, Berger I think it was, who commented that most of the posts on GOC were political in nature. That got me thinking. Now Hercster. And, as Prairie Dog has pointed out, there's some silly bacon stuff that goes on. But that's ok to me. (Still, better than some of the nonsense that goes on other sites.)

I have tried to balance that by posting reviews on guns, reloading, and gun related accessories from time to time. I guess I will have to finish off the review I have been working on about my new XCR 7.62 x 39 rifle. Probably a good thing this was pointed out.

Hopefully, with hunting season just starting we'll get some good field reports. But I still want to know what happens in Parliament this fall!!!!! Right Foxer? Range Bob? Shalimar? Et Al?
 
Foxer said:
well i guess we could make a rule that only firearms related discussions be started and no politics.
Click to expand...

I belong to a couple of forums like that. it's great if you want technical info and just want to discuss guns...

But it's boring as hell and little of what happens in those forums does anything to fight anti-gun legislation.

Rather like the F-class shooters I know- great people, talk all day about the techie details, but absolutely ZERO interest in talking about the politics of firearms.
 
stevebc said:
I belong to a couple of forums like that. it's great if you want technical info and just want to discuss guns...

But it's boring as hell and little of what happens in those forums does anything to fight anti-gun legislation.

Rather like the F-class shooters I know- great people, talk all day about the techie details, but absolutely ZERO interest in talking about the politics of firearms.
Click to expand...

Sounds risky for the F-class shooters.....without being aware , and involved with the politics of firearms ; they may find themselves without any firearms . There are lots of anti-gun folks out there who would love nothing better than to have a totally gun free Canada.......there are lots of Alan Rocks out there to watch for , and to be aware of.....
 
No, it's not just you, hercster.
Prairie Dog said:
No, you're not missing anything. I feel the same way and, yes, I'm guilty of posting news and 'fluff' threads as well.
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The "fluff" here, up until recently, was always a welcome little sideshow. Like minded people tend to like much the same stuff. It's nice to be exposed to stuff that would otherwise go unnoticed. It's nice to know some of what your internet friends are up to, Den's machine shop build and minor catastrophe, Strewth's playing around on little boats, Drache's car events, all good stuff even if we don't comment on it.

This summer, this place has changed. We've had people that didn't play well with others before, and they've either toned it down or left/been banned. It would be nice if the attitude that caused most of us to leave elsewhere didn't carry over here.
 
You can't change people. When a public forum grows all types show up. What differentiates GOC from other sites is not the posters, its the moderators. GOC moderates differently than from cgn. While GOCs growth will attract all types, its moderation will be the determining factor in who stays and who goes elsewhere. Personally, I enjoy posts about guns and politics equally. When I hit the What's New button I simply skip what doesn't interest me.
 
Ya know I would prefer it if additional "rules" were not required. Self restraint may be all that's required. I thought about raising the issue for quite a while before I posted. I was up late because I couldn't sleep and my tolerance was weakened. I "belong" to several excellent forums and so could easily have just moved on. I raised the problem in the interest of all of us and am glad I did. Maybe the problem is already fixed? Even the finest machines need to be rebalanced at times. :shoot::shoot::shoot:
 
While we try not to overdo it on the moderation and depend on y'all a fair bit to self moderate, sometimes things come up that take us a bit to figure out how to handle without being to heavy handed. Ok I am the heavy handed one lol.
That being said, there is a lot going on politically lately, with the Ontario provincial election, out upcoming federal election, the upcoming changes to the FA, the swiss and cz debacle etc, so there is going to be a rise in political threads. It was the same with the lgr scrapping, and Redfraud being elected. All I can say is skip the threads that dont interest you, and if there is something else you want to see/read about, start a thread.

Like any new place it will take some time to get everything smoothed out, but I think we are off to a good start.
 
I have been saying the same thing for some time. I try and leave the politics at work...but do get drawn in sometimes, mainly after I melt into the couch and after a couple beers. :cool:

I do appreciate the updated firearms news posts, but perhaps the 100's of derailed comments could be culled.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
 
Is there a way to block posts from a specific user? A way to flag threads that that user has posted in?

That would enhance my experience here
 
I enjoy getting a lot of my news from the perspective of gun owners rather than the MSM........a lot more facts and much less personal agenda.

Cheers!
 
Haywire1 said:
While we try not to overdo it on the moderation and depend on y'all a fair bit to self moderate, sometimes things come up that take us a bit to figure out how to handle without being to heavy handed. Ok I am the heavy handed one lol.
That being said, there is a lot going on politically lately, with the Ontario provincial election, out upcoming federal election, the upcoming changes to the FA, the swiss and cz debacle etc, so there is going to be a rise in political threads. It was the same with the lgr scrapping, and Redfraud being elected. All I can say is skip the threads that dont interest you, and if there is something else you want to see/read about, start a thread.

Like any new place it will take some time to get everything smoothed out, but I think we are off to a good start.
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I would agree as I do not see any real problems with the site , different folks have different views when it comes to firearms and politics ; and firearms and politics are closely connected in Canada . As with any new site , it takes a while to get the word out about the existence of the site.....but it will happen in time......
 
Bahahahah I have lots of fluff and novice-style gun stuff to post. I'm showing some restraint so people get words in edgewise bahahahahah. Plus, the ego can only take so much laughter from strangers...I don't know these new faces yet :D

We currently have a WAR AGAINST THE RACCOONS going on at my house. It's raccoon hunting season here and I have a vested interest in their disappearance. Cameras, hose at the front door, motion sprinkler, motion lights...now the live traps are coming. I discovered some nasty city bylaws too, which I have researched the snot out of, spoke with counsel, and have sent the info to BCWF for them to fight that battle. Life is far from boring.
 
Looking at this thread as a whole, perhaps there are two possibilities going forward that could be done to help Hercster:

1 - Is there any way to to customize the site so someone may customize their "What's new" button? For example, if I am never going to own a red rifle in my life, I can de-select that from my "feed" of new threads. Just like someone else who doesn't care about bows, or a third guy who doesn't care about anything but Cowboy Action Shooting?

2 - If there is no personalization possible, is there at least a way to add a "What's new" button to each sub-forum? So if someone wants to just go into the marketplace they can see those new posts, or into the chat forum, etc?
 
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