KDUB, it seems to me that any zero tolerance weapons issues would definitely belong on a site like this. (especially in the general discussions area) You closed it so I can't reply at the particular string. Issues like the ones raised by the string starter are a major problem. The school systems should be worried about kids learning to spell words like "tonerance, differnt, pentration" (chronograph was spelled correctly by the way) and not worrying about piddly crap like rubber bands and paper clips being weapons that should not be tolerated. If a rubber band releases a paper clip towards a person, then the paper clip shooter needs a paddling. He/she should not be labeled a weapon carrier. These idiots that are in charge of schools have too much power to pollute young minds with this stuff. They have made schools a place to mold a generation of anti-gun, anti-liberty, anti-all the things that made this nation a great place stuff. They need to be reminded schools are for molding thinkers and future leaders. Please don't interpret this as negagive or a slam. I was not typing this as an insult. Thanks for your consideration.

wannablast,

kdub was a man of his word, and after the initial action, did query the other moderators for their opinion. The consensus was to leave it locked. The primary concern expressed was the strong potential that it would become a non-productive rant, accomplishing nothing other than to give a forum for folks to call school board members idiots, etc.. These issues are serious, as you mention, but need to be addressed directly to the participants for correction rather than venting in a format that will not change anything.

But I can assure you the moderator discussion was serious and many expressed the feeling that the original poster has made a number of good posts and certainly remained a very welcome guest.

Dan

My two cents here, I agree that these concerns are highly mentally motivating and have left my girlfriend at times squeezing my arm reminding me of blood pressure, neighbors from bording state looking for source of loud noise, etc. And I also believe that a unity of power is a good thing as the anti's use that as a tool all the time against us. However, I tend to agree that on a gun forum it may incite feelings that are not conducive to the overall well being of this site. Laughs.....that sounded like a lot of 'left' mush didn't it? This is the best forum I have been to with a lot of solid minded people and I would like to preserve that staple.

It was definitely a tough call for the moderators. Mainly we wanted to prevent an unhelpful rant.

I encourage you to be active in your local education system. As an education major with only my internship to complete before certification, I can assure you that not everyone in the education system is a left-wing liberal. However, issues are not simple and clear cut. Many teachers, if not most, believe that stricter discipline would be helpful, but a teacher simply cannot do that today. The reason is not the bleeding heart education system, but the fact that parents have sued the pants off of schools for swatting their kids. Teachers can be (and are) sued as individuals for things you would not believe, so most join the union to get the insurance that can help them keep their homes for the priviledge of teaching other peoples' unruly kids. They do this out of self-preservation, even though they may disagree with many of the NEA's positions.

OK, I'm the one ranting now. The point is, all this talk doesn't change anything. Change will only occur if you are active at the local level.

Let's just keep the forum focused on shooting. That's why I started posting here years ago, and I think it's why most of our members enjoy it here. The moderators aren't a bunch of control-freak hard-cases, but we want to keep this a pleasant place to be. Thanks for posting!

I was personally looking for an answer on what everyone thought and what they thought i should do, i want to be able to contribute to my own environment in school and i really believe that it was wrong, i brought it up here because of the wisdom of adults that are not involved in my over liberal community, not to mention everyone here has ALWAYS given useful insite. I am sorry to have caused this much of a problem.

44SandW-

No cause to get your dobber down over the issue. As stated, it's a hard call sometimes to determine if a thread should be left or shut down because of the tendency for such postings to start drifting off the firearms topic and develop into a full bloom political rant.

This board was established for firearms related issues and discussions. We have mulled over establishing a political and general comment forum, but after much consideration decided it wasn't in the board's best interest.

Thanks for everyone's understanding of our policy for board postings.

I was dissapointed that the thread was locked. Maybe you ought to remove the words "Anything and everything" that are posted under the title of General Discussion? if you were concerned it would develop into a general rant with no positive value, then wait until it does so and then lock it, or erase it or whatever. You are using the same reasoning as people that want to ban guns because "they could be used to do harm".

I think you erred.

I was dissapointed that the thread was locked. Maybe you ought to remove the words "Anything and everything" that are posted under the title of General Discussion? if you were concerned it would develop into a general rant with no positive value, then wait until it does so and then lock it, or erase it or whatever. You are using the same reasoning as people that want to ban guns because "they could be used to do harm".

I think you erred.

Will agree to a point...should change that description from "anything and everything" as there are topics that aren't appropriate. Will make the suggestion.

if you were concerned it would develop into a general rant with no positive value, then wait until it does so and then lock it, or erase it or whatever. You are using the same reasoning as people that want to ban guns because "they could be used to do harm". I think you erred.

"I think you erred"

You may well be correct, but please read on.

"wait until it does so"

Our actions are based on the experience gained from reading thousands of posts as well as observing many other web sites....and observing the cause and effect for the problems that occur. That combined with the time and effort it requires for the volunteer moderators to read every post and maintain the appropriate level of civility, creates the need for an occasional preventative aciton.

"same reasoning as people that want to ban guns"

Don't agree. How you apply "moderating" to a privately funded web site forum and how you apply "moderating" to a constitutional right is not a correct correlation. Besides, locking (banning) a singlular post is not quite the equivalent of banning all guns.

But with all that said, appreciate the thoughts and hope you feel free to continue keeping an eye on us.

Dan

The moderaters on this forum do an excellent job. I have in the past been "corrected" by them. I had to agree that they were right and I continue to support their efforts. This is a well run forum that I enjoy.

DOK, the reasoning is STILL the same. The end result of applying it in a privately funded web site is the web owner's prerogative. And that is fine with me.
I'll keep an eye to keep everybody on their toes and exercising their brains!

The moderaters on this forum do an excellent job. I have in the past been "corrected" by them. I had to agree that they were right and I continue to support their efforts. This is a well run forum that I enjoy.

Ditto-

I can get very political when I want to, but that is not why I joined this forum. I joined to learn, share, and sometimes put my 2 Cents worth in.

You can bleep me whenever you want too. I can unplug this forum whenever I want to. Keep up the good work!!!

I'll stick
Tom

I believe that the "general discussion" and the "weapon" in question was a silly rubber band do kind of fit in the 2nd amendment stuff. To throw the big blanket of zero tolerance for weapons on the rubber band deal is out of bounds in my opinion. I was only a bit miffed about 44SandW's question being "shut off." I certainly didn't want to raise any ire here. I'm new to the site and do enjoy politics and such. I just wanted to put in my 2 cents, that's all. I would probably understand you moderators shutting down a string if I had been looking at the site for any length of time.

44SandW's string brought back memories of way back when I was a spit-ball shooting, gem clip shooting student myself.

We pretty much all agree the school administration overreacted. Just didn't want it to get too deep, if you know what I mean!

Zero tolerance is great if you are a weak mined person who can't make desissions. :mad:

First off I wanted to say, since I'm new to this forum, that I have been communicating through forums for years, I think the moderators do an excellent job! My hats off to you fine people with a mostly thankless job! I do "hang out" on some ranting/flamming forums, and I'm glad this is not one of them.

To be honest when I first joined this forum I kind of thought of the moderators as RSO's the way they nip everything in the bud before it becomes a problem. I am very thankful that they are here to ensure that this site remains a productive venue for the promotion of all things firearm and hunting related. I myself sometimes border on the line of good taste and anti-productivity and I will gladly tolerate a few removed posts or edited posts for the good of all.

Thanks, we appreciate your support!

Pfffffffft!

Pfffffffft!

Wannablast, if you have a problem with the way the forums are run, then I suggest you go start your own. If you didn't see the great flame wars that ended MarlinTalk, or plagued shooters.com or still go on over at AccurateReloading, step on over there and decide if that's more the style for you.

Feel free to appeal any moderator decisions to Marshall.

I've got broad shoulders (among other things! :D) so the heat doesn't bother too much. When a topic turns from civil and respectful discussions on firearms related issues and become personal rants or political drivel, they get shut down or given warnings.

Again, if these things are your forte, please patronize the boards that allow such. We don't need nor will allow flame wars. Most all members here seem to appreciate a forum to discuss firearms related topics and to get/give advice on them without someone jerking their chain.

We stand ready with sharpened keyboards to squelch the smoking tendrils - Marshall Stanton always lets us know how he feels on the board operations.

Well, I'm glad to see Wannablast raise the level of discourse! :D :D That's usually the tone I use in dealing with government beaurocrats. Must be why the wife doesn't let me deal with them at all! :D

Lighten up guys! :D It's warm, the sun is shining, life is good! :D Ooops, maybe thats only where I live? ;)

Hey, we're on our way down there!!! Fire up the BBQ!

The sun is shining here too, not a cloud in the sky, could use some rain though to plant some winter crop on.

Let me know when you're coming, I'll pick you up at the airport!

I appreciate the back up luisyamaha. These guys are taking this stuff way more serious than I am. I wasn't wanting to offend anyone, broad shouldered or anything else. Just good natured ribbing. I did, however think the general discussion was just that though. Forum on dudes.

I appreciate the back up luisyamaha. These guys are taking this stuff way more serious than I am. I wasn't wanting to offend anyone, broad shouldered or anything else. Just good natured ribbing. I did, however think the general discussion was just that though. Forum on dudes.

Wannablast,

Appreciate your response and hope you enjoy many more discussions on the forum. And since you indicated, "good natured ribbing", I'll offer this "good natured ribbing" picture:



Dan

good pic doc. "they'll get my donuts when they pry 'em from my cold dead fingers." :D

monty