An online community for Bersa owners, enthusiasts, and non-owners alike -without fear of termination due to one's opinion. |
| | Respectful political discussions... | |
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jc57
Posts : 21 Join date : 2011-02-11
| Subject: Respectful political discussions... Sat Feb 12, 2011 1:12 am | |
| I'm going to make one try at this - and I'm not intending to offend anyone so if I use phrases that someone finds insulting it's not intentional, and please let me know so I can change the wording.
I assume that the initial growth of this forum is going to be from participants from other similar forums at least until there's a critical mass and you start to attract new Bersa users who didn't come from somewhere else.
I know that for some reason, gun forums tend to have a lot of people who are traditionally labeled as "right-wing" (this is one of those not-intended-to-offend phrases). However, there are plenty of people who are gun enthusiasts or at least gun owners who are NOT right-wing conservatives.
If you want this place to grow and thrive, I would suggest that the some of the harsher anti-liberal hate speech, thinly veiled racial and religious undertones, and general lack of respect for others political views that are common on some other gun forums be avoided here, or at least not become the official supported views of management.
I know of a number of members of a similar forum who were rather brutally made to feel unwelcome due to stating a political view contrary to the majority, and essentially stopped participating. I try to reach out to them in PMs when I see them get ganged up on, to let them know they are not alone, but usually they drift away and stop posting there. I myself have learned to stay out of the political chat section and have put some of the more offensive ones on my ignore list.
I've noticed that a little of that has already started here, so maybe it's a losing battle to hope for tolerance or at least politeness towards people with different views.
So here's my plea / suggestion: perhaps keep the liberal-bashing and hate-speech down to a moderate level so as not to alienate the same people who have already been alienated elsewhere. If this is going to be an alternate destination for Bersa owners, then perhaps we should make sure to make a place for alternate political views as well. | |
| | | Calvin Admin
Posts : 150 Join date : 2011-02-09 Age : 38 Location : Atlanta, GA
| Subject: Re: Respectful political discussions... Sat Feb 12, 2011 1:42 am | |
| - jc57 wrote:
- I'm going to make one try at this - and I'm not intending to offend anyone so if I use phrases that someone finds insulting it's not intentional, and please let me know so I can change the wording.
I assume that the initial growth of this forum is going to be from participants from other similar forums at least until there's a critical mass and you start to attract new Bersa users who didn't come from somewhere else.
I know that for some reason, gun forums tend to have a lot of people who are traditionally labeled as "right-wing" (this is one of those not-intended-to-offend phrases). However, there are plenty of people who are gun enthusiasts or at least gun owners who are NOT right-wing conservatives.
If you want this place to grow and thrive, I would suggest that the some of the harsher anti-liberal hate speech, thinly veiled racial and religious undertones, and general lack of respect for others political views that are common on some other gun forums be avoided here, or at least not become the official supported views of management.
I know of a number of members of a similar forum who were rather brutally made to feel unwelcome due to stating a political view contrary to the majority, and essentially stopped participating. I try to reach out to them in PMs when I see them get ganged up on, to let them know they are not alone, but usually they drift away and stop posting there. I myself have learned to stay out of the political chat section and have put some of the more offensive ones on my ignore list.
I've noticed that a little of that has already started here, so maybe it's a losing battle to hope for tolerance or at least politeness towards people with different views.
So here's my plea / suggestion: perhaps keep the liberal-bashing and hate-speech down to a moderate level so as not to alienate the same people who have already been alienated elsewhere. If this is going to be an alternate destination for Bersa owners, then perhaps we should make sure to make a place for alternate political views as well. I have already edited one joke on here that some could find offensive, I thought it was funny but could easily offend some viewers. I just took "Muslims" out and inserted "terrorists" as that is who the joke was directed at anyway. I also called "mason" out on his anti-Muslim joke on the other forum before my grand departure lol. It was trashy, ignorant, and offensive. I get sick of hearing it all the time, as I have many Muslim friends who are like family to me, that survived the genocide of the Muslims in Bosna i Hercegovina. Their family has treated me like one of their own as well. In regards to the anti-political group, anti-ethnic groups, etc.. if you see something that is offensive. PLEASE, I URGE YOU to let me know at once. It's kind of a catch-22 running this forum, as I don't want people to feel afraid that they can't voice their opinions, but I also don't want other members offended when someone goes over the line. At the same time I don't want to edit and censor everything. You can't please everyone, but I will try my best. I'm trying to be the opposite admin of the "other place" but sometimes it can be a PITA. I'm about to lay out some rules. No one is getting banned for things as simple as "other places", however if someone continues to be a jackass and other members want them gone, then they're gone. I'm new to this, so be understanding of that as well. PS- I'm not religious, a conservative, or a liberal | |
| | | jc57
Posts : 21 Join date : 2011-02-11
| Subject: Re: Respectful political discussions... Sat Feb 12, 2011 2:18 am | |
| I've got a friend at work who is a Muslim. Successful business professional and family man, devoted father, great guy, recently naturalized US Citizen.
Just like not every Catholic school girl is Joan of Arc, not every Muslim male is a terrorist or even a minor risk of it.
Prior to 9/11 the greatest act of terrorism committed on American soil was done by two Caucasian army veterans. So maybe we shouldn't trust those guys either. | |
| | | Calvin Admin
Posts : 150 Join date : 2011-02-09 Age : 38 Location : Atlanta, GA
| Subject: Re: Respectful political discussions... Sat Feb 12, 2011 2:22 am | |
| - jc57 wrote:
- I've got a friend at work who is a Muslim. Successful business professional and family man, devoted father, great guy, recently naturalized US Citizen.
Just like not every Catholic school girl is Joan of Arc, not every Muslim male is a terrorist or even a minor risk of it.
Prior to 9/11 the greatest act of terrorism committed on American soil was done by two Caucasian army veterans. So maybe we shouldn't trust those guys either. well said. my rules are going to be very specific and blunt to be honest. it's just hard to keep everyone happy, but my main objective is the group as a whole. | |
| | | duke51
Posts : 110 Join date : 2011-02-10 Age : 73 Location : NORTH EAST PENNSYVANIA
| Subject: Re: Respectful political discussions... Sat Feb 12, 2011 6:33 am | |
| I have a muslim friend who had his wife and child killed in bosnia. The man is here legally and just wants to try and live his life and raise his little girl. Every time I see him, I could just cry. He is a broken man with a young child and missing his wife and other daughter so much it breaks my heart. | |
| | | Calvin Admin
Posts : 150 Join date : 2011-02-09 Age : 38 Location : Atlanta, GA
| Subject: Re: Respectful political discussions... Sat Feb 12, 2011 2:13 pm | |
| - duke51 wrote:
- I have a muslim friend who had his wife and child killed in bosnia. The man is here legally and just wants to try and live his life and raise his little girl. Every time I see him, I could just cry. He is a broken man with a young child and missing his wife and other daughter so much it breaks my heart.
What happened over there in the 90's was plain awful. Bosnia now has a kickass military, without having to worry about anything like that happening again. Beautiful place from what I gather too. | |
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