I've been on forums of some form or another since 1984 during the days of Fidonet, often in a staff position. What always happens, and I mean, every single time is that there will be a small group that churns along until it grows past a certain point. There will then be a rift that forms and grows over time. Eventually Some folks will run off, start a new forum and take a chunk of the people with them. Some will people disappear forever, others will "ride it out" and the process starts over. It's always about control and direction the forum is going. It will happen at every forum you post to and eventually if the forum gets big enough, it shrugs off the fleas fairly regularly. If the forum gets big enough the folks that post there eventually realize that no matter how privileged they feel, they don't get to control the rudder.

 

These events are very disruptive and one thing I've learned is not to "talk people out of it". There may be a short term gain in peace, but it just means that the final explosion is going to be worse. It's just best to ban some bad apples and strike their name from the record. Yes, seriously. heh.

 

One of my other forums(I helped form it) is just such an offshoot. The reason we started the new forum was that the owner of the other place outed himself as LIHOP that hinted at MIHOP. Quite a few of us took issue with that.

 

It's just a dynamic that is always there. If you are aware of it, you can mitigate the damage before it becomes fatal. I believe that Maks did such a thing here. The cancer wasn't malignant yet.

 

+1

This forum is a bit of an anomaly for me. I'm a member of at least a dozen forums.. but I rarely post more than a handful of times per year. For whatever reason, when I first found this place I felt right at home... and once I started shooting somewhat regularly with some of the forum members that feeling was solidified.

 

That said, most of my posts are rambling gibberish... I get bored easily, and this place is largely an attempt to help pass the time while it's slow at work.

 

+1, it seems like you have a "home" forum for a long time, then move on.. I just hope that doesn't happen here, but I think with the close personal (face to face) relationships that are developed/developing here, it will become more cohesive.

+1, it seems like you have a "home" forum for a long time, then move on.. I just hope that doesn't happen here, but I think with the close personal (face to face) relationships that are developed/developing here, it will become more cohesive.

 

 

That is the key Eddie. Could not have said it better myself.

 

By being largely NJ focused, and being that we are all within a reasonable driving distance, the forum is just an outlet for relationships, it is not the sole place.

 

I cannot even begin to count how many wonderful folks I have met in the past year and a half, and how many life long friendships that were formed.

 

Not too long ago, Wolfy and I were having this discussion about how different it would be to go shoot if it was not for the forum. Take any Tuesday night at BA. Before the forum, it was any other night. Folks would just come in, go to their port, and be lucky to say hello to someone else. Mostly it was about getting in, and focusing on yourself.

 

With the forum, you are not just going to shoot, you are going to catch up with friends. Personally, I primarily go down on Tuesdays to say hello to folks, see what new toys people brought, and most of all, to kill 3 hours or so with friends. I can guarantee, that if for some reason the forum was not around... many many friendships that were formed on here, would still keep on going, and that... I am most proud of.

 

As any board, we do have some cancers... and they were cut. The common factor between all of these people is that they still have a "me first" mentality, and think that this is some kind of a large national board where the odds of you meeting someone face to face are slim to none. For that reason, they think it gives them a reason to act like douchebags.

 

Because we are local, and because most of us come out and shoot, have parties, hang out together, etc... it is not some anonymous board. For that reason, you cant play internet cowboy for too long and expect people to take you seriously if they never met you. For that reason, acting like a douchebag is not going to fly here, and if you are a cancer, you are not owed anything, .... and you will be cut, before you cause more damage and alienate other great people.

+1 Maks! the main reason I'm on here is because it's local. and I have already made friends through this forum. If not for the forum, I wouldn't have been having beers with Glenn this past Saturday and we'd never discover that you can use a Mosin tool as a bottle opener!

This forum is the best. I have made many friends and the board is making NJ a true shooting community. We don't have to feel so outcast. Maks you are doing an outstanding job of keeping this site civil. I miss Tue at BA when you get tired come over to SS.

Some folks lurk just for entertainment purposes and seldom post!

I only post when I have something useful to add.

I post sometimes when I have something constructive to add, when I am at home. When I am at work, it is hard because our internet makes dial up look screaming fast.

I participate once in a while, but do not own a handgun, so most topics I do not get involved in. But I am looking to purchase a Moisin sometime soon. Money is tight but will make the plunge soon