A Few Rants: Pet Peeves Unleashed

General General Discussion
1

A rifle isn’t a platform. It’s made for shooting, not for standing on. Of course, some people, like third world tin pot tyrants and self polishing gun gurus think rifles are platforms to elevate them to a higher status. That is the platform I stand on!

An AR is not a gun. Guns are smoothbores or great honking pieces of artillery lobbing huge shells downrange. An AR is a rifle, nothing quite so clumsy and indiscriminate as a gun.

There is a difference between “then” and “than”. Rather then use either word incorrectly, look them up in the dictionary, than post.

…wait, strike that!

Semantics- I don’t think that word means what you think it means.
More arguments have started because one word can mean different things to two people, especially when they agree. Sometimes it’s better to zero in on the meaning of the first point of intersection (clever pun intended) than argue about whether it’s semantics. Is it important to know if it’s a clip or a magazine? If it’s a rifle or gun? Actually, yes it is. Just as important to know an Old Model Single Action Ruger or Colt Single Action Army isn’t a “Saturday Night Special” and a S&W 500 Magnum revolver isn’t an “Assault Weapon” equipped with a “stock thingy that folds up in the back”.

A firearm is not now, nor will it ever be, a range toy. I do not care how ridiculous the configuration or how many disco balls, lasers, latte machines and margarita mixers you hang from the octo-rails a firearm is NOT A TOY. Firearms can kill no matter how ludicrous it looks.

“I am not going to war with it, just to the range.”
Don’t bother, then. Seriously, just don’t bother. Folks act like the level of reliability needed to withstand exposure to the elements and tough field conditions is exceptional. It’s not. That kind of reliability is the standard. Trying to save money by buying anything less is like buying only half of a rifle. Even if all you do is plink at the range, do you want to spend your time and money shooting or clearing malfunctions? Get it out of your head that a low quality arm can ever be justified. That path leads to a collection of junk.

Ranting just be ranting. Er, let me ponder this one some more…

So, you want to post. Well, you came to the right place. Then go ahead and post. So, you don’t know how to start? Well, let me give you a suggestion. Then, from this you can see it’s DON’T START THREADS, POSTS OR SENTENCES WITH “SO”, “WELL” OR “THEN”. “All right” is out too. All right. Well then, I’m so glad to get that off my chest.

Any questions, comments, snide remarks? Pet peeves you want to let off the leash? Tough! Suck it up! :jester:

2

It’s hard enough to convey tone in text. Sometimes those “starters” are just that… starters.

Want to tell a joke?

“So, a Mexican, American and a Russian walk into a bar…”

Same thing. Probably shouldn’t start conversations with “Hey” either, but it happens every day. “Hey, how ya doing?” Is it proper English? Decidedly not. Is it a means of grabbing attention? Sure. People often, at least in my experience, type how they talk. Unfortunately, that can be an ugly mess for someone who doesn’t speak well. That being said, some people try to actually convey tone in text. It’s harder than it sounds (yes, pun intended) and sometimes does exactly the opposite of what it was intended to do.

Personally, I’ve been on a long quest to try and get the “meat and potatoes” out of what is written rather than get so hung up on how it was written. Aside of course from the complete slaughterization (yes I know it’s not a word) of a paragraph, or even a proper sentence structure throughout a post. Given that, I’ve really tried to stay outside of the Grammar Cop pajamas more and more. (Try marrying an English major rolls eyes) * (<–actual asterisk, see below) Life is too short to get stressed enough to post that long of a post about it. If you can’t tell by now, I’m poking fun because I used to be very much the same way. This post is getting really long, but I digress.

Disclaimer: I often start posts with “So/Well/Ok”. Mea maxima culpa

*I love my wife, but she literally corrects/corrected everything I’ve ever said since day one. See also, the rolls eyes, it conveys tone without a person being able to see your face. Welcome to the internetz.

3

Okay, I forgot about that one. Starting a thread, post or sentence with “Okay” is banned!

4

So, you’re a quote stealer, eh? Well than, I’m going to go shoot my gun. Ok, it’s just a range toy, but I still believe it’s the best platform.

Anyway, it’s better then reading these semantics.

:jester:

5

8.5/10. Needs a little more cowbell.

6

Well, than, I just got back from the range with my favorite range toy. An M4 platform. Had some trouble with my clips, but, its just for the range so I’m not worried.

Honestly dude, you sound like you should be on the corner waving your fist at cars as they drive by, yelling “slow down, this is a neighborhood!”

Wanna know my pet peeve? people getting wound around the axle over little shit & using derogatory remarks about latte machines “hanging off my weapon”, it right up there with “do-dad, gee gaw, tactikewl, gizmo, bells & whistles” etc.

Bob

7

I tried that. After the second day, they started throwing eggs as they drove by. Damn whippersnappers have no respect! Doctor told me I have to watch my cholesterol!

8

Some firearms qualify as range toys, not because they are unreliable but simply because they are not practical for anything else. I can think of dozens and dozens of firearms that are completely reliable but have no place in combat.

They are for collecting or recreational shooting. But your basic premise about justifying junk rifles is accepted.

9

That some firearms are suitable only for the range, I agree with. What I disagree with is that they are ever “toys”

10

It’s an expression, kinda like calling breast implants “bolt ons” even thought there are no actual bolts. I sometimes call my SMGs squirt guns but there is no water in them. Take a deep breath and relax.

11

You mean like Frankentits??

Take a deep breath and relax.

You sir, do not realize the seriousness of the situation! People could start thinking this class of firearms to be less deadly. When some Range Commando starts waving one around, he’ll simply say “Relax, it’s just a range toy. Since it’s less reliable, it’s less likely to go off accidentally let alone on purpose.” Steyr, you must think of the children!

12

I’m averse to overblown language and “platform” used for “rifle” is overblown. Using the phrase “squirt gun” for sub machine gun is the opposite of overblown, it is self depreciating. Of course you are not going to persuade folks to stop using the word “platform” for rifle, at best you hope they will not fall into “weapon platform”, “weapon system” or worst, “weapon system platform” which I did not make up. A “platform” is an aircraft, tank chassis or ship upon which weapons are mounted. An AR is a rifle or carbine not a platform.

One phrase that annoys me is “range work”.

13

If anyone is actually that stupid the only important consideration is to confine them all at the same range. All the people I know who use the term “range toy” are responsible shooters. YMMV.

14

‘Platform’ is like ‘Tactical’ - it’s a decent enough word as long as it isn’t overused. I was reading a post here the other day and a guy used the word ‘Platform’ four times… IN ONE SENTENCE! People get caught in a rut… it’s like another poster here that ends every sentence with an exclamation point.

What’s your policy on the use of the term ‘M4’, as relates to a semiauto weapon?

15

…

16

Hence the following…

I’ve run an internet forum for about 8 years. My propensity to correct the English language aside, I’ve learned that half of what you hear is outright lies, the other quarter of what’s left is fantasy, etc, etc, etc, until you get down to about the 1%.

Overall, I’d say that this site does significantly well in regards to that 1%. Whether you shoot a bunch or shoot for fun (toys), just don’t make the rest of us look stupid! hehe

“I don’t always shoot the M4 platform, but when I do, I load my clips to 31”. (Top that internetz memes)

17

And…Game.

So much of the internet is losers basement dwellers trying to feel better about themselves by flipping random shit to other people around the internet.

18

Ain’t that the truth!

Steyr, I hope you realize that while I do find what I was griping annoying and I am venting, I am doing so in a humorous fashion. I don’t expect anyone to take my gripes seriously.

If anyone wants to sling a few in kind, feel free. I can take it! :smiley:

19

I caught on after your reply. But it wasn’t obvious in the OP, some people really do worry about this kind of silly shit.

20

The obsessive overuse of the word “platform” is without question the gayest current trend on dramanet gun boards.

But everyone calls all guns platforms now, so I guess they’re platforms. :haha:

Remember - the right to keep and bear platforms shall not be infringed! :happy: