Conclusion reached lately

[Swampman]

I think the whole basis of the hobby we love is firearms. So many seem to have lost sight of where this hobby started and that's really sad. Now it's full of Liberal Arts grads that don't know which end goes down range. Many have never fired a live round. Really sad....

 

[user 2647]

I couldn't agree more. It's a shame we can't get them out to a range to enjoy a day of shooting.

 

[David Teague]

You must be talking reenactment...

That's why my group has live fire days at the range.

 

[biliff]

Don't be blaming it all on Liberal Arts grads. I am one, though I admit most of my classmates considered me just to the right of Attila the Hun on the political spectrum.

I remember an anthropology class in which the professor was trying to make a point about tool use and man's hunter/gatherer origins. He asked if anyone had ever skinned an animal. I was the only one to raise my hand. Then he tried to get me to agree that you had to have a knife of some type to clean and skin a rabbit. Having popped the innards out of many a rabbit with out benefit of a knife or any tool at all I disagreed with him. He got somewhat flustered and said it couldn't be done. I offered to show him how, but he didn't want to be bothered with any empirical evidence that might mess up his point of view.

Yeah Liberals can be somewhat close minded at times. Then again I've run into many a right wing conservative who didn't know their arse from their elbow when it comes to anything firearm related either and were just as close minded about it.

It's just a general reflection of the urban/suburban society in which most of the population now lives.

 

[ryoung14]

If the Rubes but knew their place they wouldn't keep annoying the sophisticated city folk with facts. Sad what the urban environment does to a human.

Glad you were there. I probably would've agreed with him as I didn't know you could do it without a knife.
Bob

 

[aragorn]

There's mutual enrichment from those who have come into the hobby throught a fascination with firearms, and those who have come into it as historians. Every day this forum shows how both angles have led to an extraordinary understanding of firearms and their place in history. I'm not entirely sure what 'Liberal Arts' means (not being American), but if it includes history and literature then this hobby would be much poorer without them.
Good joke Swampman

 

[Swampman]

I wasn't joking...

 

[Swampman]

I don't see any need for personal attacks, and foul language.

 

[David Teague]

Hello Swampman,

Ah... er... you attacked everybody who dosen't do live fire ( and is a Liberal Arts grad).... :hmm: and I guess I must be rather jaded in life as I had to reread the pior post 3 times to find the word "hell" which is what I guess you mean by foul langage.

Even in a well run forum such as this you really can't expect to make such a sweeping statement with out rasing a few hackles... that's just the nature of the beast.

Cheers,

DT

 

[CrackStock]

"I didn't know you could do it without a knife."

I assume that we would be allowed to use a broken piece of flint to start.

I can yank the hide from a rabbit or squirrel without a knife and start the dressing with a stick, but I would at least want a flint shard to work a deer.

CS

 

[AZ-Robert]

I think the whole basis of the hobby we love is firearms. So many seem to have lost sight of where this hobby started and that's really sad. Now it's full of Liberal Arts grads that don't know which end goes down range. Many have never fired a live round. Really sad....

Assuming you earnestly meant to engender discussion and not just throw out some bait, how about describing what it is that you saw / heard / read that led you to this conclusion?

And, not that it is terribly relevant, but one of my degrees is in the liberal arts. Don't know if that will disqualify me from the discussion... can I make up for it by being a Republican?

 

I don't see any need for personal attacks, and foul language.

I apologize for using the word "hell". I will remember to use "heck" when conversing with you.

My comments were defensive, based on you attacking everyone who doesn't meet your criteria for how they chose to live their lives.

If you didn't start a thread by saying how "sad" it is about what others are doing, you'd be received quite differently.

You don't even leave any room for doubt in your statements. You could have said, "Some probably never fired a live round". But no, you make it absolute... "Many have never fired a live round." How the HECK do you know what "many" are doing?

See, it's not so much what you say, as much as your "know-it-all" attitude. You rarely offer advise as to how you do things and suggest that it might work for others, you tend to say, "Here is how you should do it!".

Here's a good example of your demeanor. If others choose to use a patch knife, let them. Tell them why you don't, and let it go. But don't tell them they shouldn't use one at all. It's none of your business what they choose. Get over trying to choose for them.

It can be perceived as very arrogant when you to treat others this way. Perhaps offering a suggestion and letting the readers decide for themselves would be better than insisting that everyone do things your way?

 

[CrackStock]

Swampman,



I agree with you to some degree. Firearms were an important part of life, but there are other areas of interest as well. When I visited Colonial Williamsburg, I saw the raising of animals; building of buildings; playing of fine music; the making of clothing; the forging of iron; the discussion of politics; the raising of plants as food and medicine... Some done by liberal arts majors; some by engineers and some by common people without sheepskins. All interested me and have a place in our hobby in my eyes.

 

[J.D.]

Mark,
Not only am I a liberal arts grad, but I'm working on a Masters in Psychology, and have fired fewer than 50 rounds in reenactments. I have, however, fired more live rounds than I care to count at more types of targets, including live game than I can count.

I have also spent more than a few nights in the woods with little more than the clothes on my back, firelock and what little can be carried in a haversack, and a blanket.

Don't paint everyone with such a large brush, hoss.
J.D.

 

[RedFeather]

You guys are too easy! No one has to respond to a generalized post here. Sometimes these seem to be a casting of bread upon the waters to see what fish will come up for it. As to how it all started, well, I always subscribe to the old "Things ain't like they used to be and, in fact, they never was!" :grin:

 

[Swampman]

My conclusion wasn't meant as an attack (it wasn't a personal attack in the way that I was personally attacked). I've been involved with living history for years. We started the hobby as a group of shooters who saw the accessories as props that went with our firelocks. Now, I mostly see people who like to dress up, and consider their firelock an accessory. This is bad for hunting and firearms rights in general. You have every right to do as you wish, this is a free county. I only said it's very sad. Shoot a live round sometime. It's fun. :grin:

 

[jtmattison]

All,
This topic is going in the wrong direction.

I am locking it.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions. Let's respect one another and leave the shoving matches in the schoolyard.

HD