[neothespian]

That the idea of keeping "Political" topics and images to the "Dark Rooms" has pretty much gone out the window.

With taglines, avatars and statements relating Socialist and Democrats (two totally different ideologies btw) as psycopathic killers, mentally ill people or terrorists being thrown about and attached everywhere, it's pretty clear that the average concensus has become that only Conservative Republicans are welcomed here.

Pretty harsh words I know, but speaking as someone who spent YEARS on here helping make this place what it is, and stepping down when I knew I would be more harm than good, I'm simply ashamed that in order to be a gun owner, I have to be treated like a second class citizen and worse on a forum I helped resurrect after "The Great Crash".

I've come back simply because I've been leveling out a bit health wise, and was hoping to focus my attention towards the hobby I used to enjoy. But, it seems that in order to enjoy the sport I have to endure being called just about everything in the book and that if I'm a gun owner, I better damned well be a Republican or get out.

Just open any thread or topic and you can see why I feel this way. Then again, many I'm sure think things are just fine.

They aren't... and I wonder where the community we had built years ago went. This is no longer a place where all are welcomed. I'm sure as hell not

 

[Silicon Wolverine]

in our quest to increase numbers and grow we gave up the "hometown" feeling. sadly HPFF has started go the way of every other gun forum on teh net. ill still be here, but i agree this isnt the same forum we helped bring back from the dead.

SW

 

[Strangerous]

When I came back after my hiatus, I sent a staff member a pm requesting an opinion on a blatant infraction of keeping the dark rooms separate from the rest of the board. I got no answer back, and I understand 100% how you feel Neo. (I've been fighting by your side for a long time, even if we didn't agree on it)

 

[47_MasoN_47]

SW put it well, as forums get larger they generally become more unmoderateable. There was a "great exodus" a month or so ago when most of the liberals left the forum. I think leadslinger is still around, and maybe one or two more that post with any regularity. IMO I thought the "hometown" feeling of HPFF died in late 2008-early 2009 with the new election. Tons of people joined up during that time and naturally with a higher population you lose that close communication that the 20 or so regular posters prior to that had. I don't think it's a bad thing that we're changing, just different.

 

[Silicon Wolverine]

i do consider it a bad thing to change in the way we have. it used to be this was the ONE PLACE i could go and not have to be assualted with politics, religion and every other distraction. i could come here and talk guns without having to worry about anything else. that is what this forum had above all others. we lost that uniqueness and i feel the majority of the old timers like myself got lost along with it.

SW

 

[9mmXfactor]

anybody thinking about switching to HPT??? just curious. i dont notice all the change. i think you are all reading way to much into it .

 

[bomber101581]

i do consider it a bad thing to change in the way we have. it used to be this was the ONE PLACE i could go and not have to be assualted with politics, religion and every other distraction. i could come here and talk guns without having to worry about anything else. that is what this forum had above all others. we lost that uniqueness and i feel the majority of the old timers like myself got lost along with it.

SW

you can't leave, you answer all my ammo questions! :yes:

 

[AngieLn439]

I'm glad to see you back Neo, I didn't and don't always agree with your posts but usually enjoyed reading them. Just getting back on regularly myself after some months mostly away dealing with some stuff.

 

[Silicon Wolverine]

i do consider it a bad thing to change in the way we have. it used to be this was the ONE PLACE i could go and not have to be assualted with politics, religion and every other distraction. i could come here and talk guns without having to worry about anything else. that is what this forum had above all others. we lost that uniqueness and i feel the majority of the old timers like myself got lost along with it.

SW

you can't leave, you answer all my ammo questions! :yes:

i dont intend on leaving. even though this place has changed, its still "home" to me. i still feel myself at least partially responsible for helping run/moderate this place even though im not formally part of teh staff anymore as ive been here longer than just about everybody but the admins. just because something isnt exactly what you want doesnt mean you throw it away or leave it for the dogs.

SW

 

[roadkill46]

i enjoy the forum, change is good otherwise it woudl be quite boring. gosh and if you don't like my sticker.....

 

[godlessdustin]

I love this place and as a libral I feel more welcome here than I do at work. I think alot of it is in the way you look at things around here. There has been a meshing of the dark rooms with the regular forums though. with the sig lines and stuff. Nothing im going to get my boxers in a bunch about though.

 

[roadkill46]

Sig lines are that...sig lines, they are supposed to be an expression of you. i understand dirty/sexual/racial...et al, not being appropriate for a sig line, but keeping a political/religious or whatever comment out of a sig line is ridiculous..first amendment i suppose does not apply to sig lines. and i understand rules so don't flame me on that. if someone gets pissed over a friggin statement that's something they need to look at themselves and deal with. i change mine every couple of weeks just so I don't get bored with it. just like people who quote the bible in their sig lines, i'm agnostic, does that bother me....NO. does your avatar bother me...NO..

 

[godlessdustin]

Actualy the city of ada owes me $100 for my water deposite.

 

[roadkill46]

HA!

 

[HiPoint45]

Ok I opened this thread just because it was at top of new since last, and you said open any topic or thread:

http://www.hipointfirearmsforums.com/Forum/index.php/topic,21385.msg233331.html#msg233331

No Neo I can't see what you're talking about..seems like a standard discussion with no political bias or hatred.

People do argue and debate in the dark rooms I was certainly not here in the apparent "golden age" you're talking about but aside from occasional personal attacks from some (in the dark rooms mind you) I've found it pretty level headed and the mods good at moving things to the appropriate area. As far as what people put in their avatars I could infer from yours that you want to start a rumble with the rockers...but that would be just silly wouln't it? If people can't express themselves in personal avatars and sig lines I don't see how that makes this a better place. I don't have a problem with liberals even though I don't identify as one. Yes I will always give my side of the debate but liberals are welcome too. At least by me. Survialist and I got into a p***ing contest but I don't think either of us or anyone who read our posts was emotionally scarred.

BTW glad to hear you're feeling better, not coming here won't improve things you think are wrong though, Stay and wade in.

 

[saiyandide]

At least by me. Survialist and I got into a p***ing contest but I don't think either of us or anyone who read our posts was emotionally scarred.

I myself rather enjoyed it! lol

 

[RDFabsRep]

I've been a member of venomous/hostile forums before and this is just not one of them. People are friendly and the worst I've ever really encountered was some spirited "bickering." The mods do a great job and I enjoy the site very much so. All in all, I think you're blowing this way out of proportion and merely crying because the board has changed slightly from the way it was a year or so ago.

If you truly feel the website is now a far-too-evil place for you to spend your time, best of luck elsewhere.

 

[9mmXfactor]

I've been a member of venomous/hostile forums before and this is just not one of them. People are friendly and the worst I've ever really encountered was some spirited "bickering." The mods do a great job and I enjoy the site very much so. All in all, I think you're blowing this way out of proportion and merely crying because the board has changed slightly from the way it was a year or so ago.

If you truly feel the website is now a far-too-evil place for you to spend your time, best of luck elsewhere.

thats what i wanted to say, but now that you said it, i dont have to . in other words, +1

 

[roadkill46]

pitty-party

 

[Silicon Wolverine]

after talking with a co-worker about this he said its likely a consequence of the turbulent political times we live in. everyone is looking for somewhere thats "safe" to vent/express/chatter about it. the hightened state of all this has driven the wedge in deeper than ever between the two sides and people are polarized like never before. we are more apt to lash out at someone who disagrees with us than attmept to have a adult conversation. here not as much as elsewhere but it does happen.

case in point - i was BANNED from posting on GD at arfcom because i called into question the motive sof the NRA in not supporting the open carry people. the exact same topic here has been a fruitful if not exactly peaceful topic. same story when i posted it a gunsnet. it wasnt pretty but it was civill at least. what i have noticed is there is no one in the middle ground anymore. you are either on one sid eor the other in an arguement. its becomeing more black and white every day. in some cases a good thing, in some, not.

SW