Is It Good For The Gun Cause To Bash Suppliers On The Open Internet?

[Ingomike]

If it were "Already My Favorite " gun store , Someone elses negative experience would not make me go find another shop .

You don’t think a thread about how your favorite gun store sucks might hurt them? If a store mostly sells to a local known friends it may not hurt it.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

To me the difference is there is a plethora of retailers but precious few places to shoot, particularly in the city. And everybody usually loves their gun store, visitors not as much…

I have no beef with SPB. Never been there. But from what reviews I've read on INGO, I really have no desire to go there. Maybe they're fine. I've heard good reviews too. I'm not a fan of indoor ranges in general and the club I belong to is at least a 30 minute drive for me. They seem to me to be the "big box store" of shooting ranges though. Think their presence has had any effects on the smaller shops?

 

[ditcherman]

The bottom line is that you (the universal you) are not in control of what other people do.

I just had this conversation with my 10 year old literally five minutes ago. She was whining and complaining that her brother "promised" her he would go outside and play with her. Then he didn't. She told me I had to "make him" come outside and play with her.

But that's not how life works. Only tyrants think they can forcibly make people do things they don't want to do on their own.

Put another way, "those convinced against their will are of the same opinion still."

You're spitting into the wind my friend. Save your energy.

I think I was told “keep your promises”, and if you don’t like it don’t make the promise next time.

 

[marvin02]

Who decides is the poster. We should not bash 2A suppliers for petty things.

You write that it is the poster's decision then state what should be done. Doesn't reconcile.

You use words like bash and complain repeatedly to describe the opinions of others hoping that by using hot button words you gain support for your opinion.

If someone posts a review and you have had a different experience you are free to post that.

Just because a vendor or company deals in guns, ammo or related items should not exempt them from criticism. You don't need to police the internet for them.

And stating that "most people are too stupid" to provide a review gives me the impression that you want to be big brother and tell all the stupid folk what's good for them. I really don't think that works well here.

 

[Ingomike]

Unless someone asks for your opinion, you don't get a vote.

I'm not trying to be argumentative here, but this seems to be the core element you're overlooking.

Isn’t posting on a forum inviting others to opine? And I really do hope folks think twice before posting about 2A suppliers to determine if the situation really warrants it…

 

[ditcherman]

You don’t think a thread about how your favorite gun store sucks might hurt them? If a store mostly sells to a local known friends it may not hurt it.

No.
r.e. CTD

 

[marvin02]

You don’t think a thread about how your favorite gun store sucks might hurt them? If a store mostly sells to a local known friends it may not hurt it.

Post a competing response with information. Start a thread about how great your favorite gun store is. I'm not seeing a productive outcome in calling people stupid.

 

[Trapper Jim]

Life is full of choices. Those choices are character defining. If one speaks of his experience then what better place than on this forum?.

Rather than label all gun related businesses as 2A supporters, I personally am cautious about that. A Vendor marketing to 2A buyers may not be a true believer in 2A. One must follow the money. Before some fly by night Vendor that markets a cheesy AR look a like that blows up in Danny Darwin’s face, we have to ask is that Vendor doing more harm for the 2A than Danny himself complaining?

I have been adamant to a fault on pics, videos, owners manuals and trainers and casual gun owners being careful on how to handle and present the media Of firearm ownership. Not a censorship but rather an education on how to professionally put our best foot forward.

For instance, the NRA has failed us more than once on many accounts. They followed the money so to speak to create members and exploit us in a way that was not the best foot forward for strengthening the 2A. True but should we bash them? Well, they are still the best we got but by no means the only thing we got.

Over my lifespan many of well known gun writers have been fired over speaking some real truths about the industry. Words were twisted as Vendors demanded a termination or they would pull their ads and support. I have been warned a few times for speaking my mind but they can’t fire me. One has to ask, do they support and believe in the 2A and not the 1A? Or do they just really support any Rodney Redneck TShirt that helps them sell more blasters. Give it some thought but before you say anything, there is evidence of which I speak from several actions, mistakes or on purpose, by past and present Vendors, regarding the 2A.

Yes we need to stick together on our cause but at the same time hold accountable the vendors that take our money.

 

[stocknup]

You don’t think a thread about how your favorite gun store sucks might hurt them? If a store mostly sells to a local known friends it may not hurt it.

If I own a business that it`s success is based on an Internet website`s review threads ,
Than I have a problem how I conduct my business and it is on me .

 

[ditcherman]

We could argue the merits of negative posting hurting all day long (not literally all day of course!) but at least we won’t be tearing down each other in the process!

Which is more important?

Is this some kind of false flag operation?

 

[Ingomike]

You write that it is the poster's decision then state what should be done. Doesn't reconcile.

You use words like bash and complain repeatedly to describe the opinions of others hoping that by using hot button words you gain support for your opinion.

If someone posts a review and you have had a different experience you are free to post that.

Just because a vendor or company deals in guns, ammo or related items should not exempt them from criticism. You don't need to police the internet for them.

And stating that "most people are too stupid" to provide a review gives me the impression that you want to be big brother and tell all the stupid folk what's good for them. I really don't think that works well here.

Suggesting that it is the posters decision, then stating my opinion it should not be done for petty things seems fine to me. As does my right to have the opinion it is petty and say so.

What is it when a member posts a thread about an they are not happy with?

I am simply saying that we 2A enthusiasts should not lightly post in open forums our perceived negative experiences without thinking about the bigger picture.

Why does saying that people are not capable of understanding enough to do many types of reviews and also pointing out that many reviews are incentivized and therefore not as reliable as one would hope make the leap to big brother and socialism, as someone stated? LOL

BTW, no one has ever been put in a drawing to do a review for their car dealers service dept.? Free food to do reviews? Discounts on future stays to review the hotel?

 

[Ingomike]

I'm not seeing a productive outcome in calling people stupid.

That was a poor choice of words about Yelp reviews, not about threads posted.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Isn’t posting on a forum inviting others to opine?

The irony is strong with this one...

 

[Ingomike]

Thanks for all who participated! We have beat this to death. I am out…

 

[Ingomike]

We have had several venting threads bashing even local purveyors of ranges, supplies, and training. Do theses help the overall cause of promoting gun rights, and broadening the options available to us or do they hurt the cause? I do not think we should ever create a thread specifically to bash any 2A supplier on the forum, especially those supporting the site, and limit the negative we do in general threads to facts. This is the open internet and the supplier you hurt may be one that many other members rely on.

Now, to what I did not say that I will be accused of. You can tell your buddies anything you want, I did not suggest any restrictions on speech, but rather that we protect those we have supplying us by not creating a full rant on the open internet because you don’t like their policies…

Kind of funny what I have been accused of saying that I predicted in the first post. LOL

 

[BugI02]

Trainers that are sub standard is a different issue but I agree that we should appreciate 2A friendly business and try not to dog them on an open forum.. If you don't want to patronize someone that's your business but there is a world out there that wants to disarm us so recognizing our friends is vitally important.

If a business wants to make a permanent electronic record of your identification, for no good reason, what makes you think they are your friend?

 

[DoggyDaddy]

I am simply saying that we 2A enthusiasts should not lightly post in open forums our perceived negative experiences without thinking about the bigger picture.

Where is an appropriate forum to post about negative experiences then?

BTW, no one has ever been put in a drawing to do a review for their car dealers service dept.? Free food to do reviews? Discounts on future stays to review the hotel?

I haven't. Maybe you're dealing with shady businesses?

 

[ditcherman]

shady businesses?

You can’t say that!!!!!

 

[DoggyDaddy]

You can’t say that!!!!!

 

[gregr]

We have had several venting threads bashing even local purveyors of ranges, supplies, and training. Do theses help the overall cause of promoting gun rights, and broadening the options available to us or do they hurt the cause? I do not think we should ever create a thread specifically to bash any 2A supplier on the forum, especially those supporting the site, and limit the negative we do in general threads to facts. This is the open internet and the supplier you hurt may be one that many other members rely on.

Now, to what I did not say that I will be accused of. You can tell your buddies anything you want, I did not suggest any restrictions on speech, but rather that we protect those we have supplying us by not creating a full rant on the open internet because you don’t like their policies…

Everyone needs to manage their business in such a way as to be free from such criticism. I think it`s asinine to suggest refraining from posting negative reviews so that other gun owners don`t have a warning before dealing with a business who has been a problem for some before them.