Create a single thread called “The Thunderdome” or something similar. Other than threats of violence and illegal activity, anything would go. Members who choose to participate could argue and be hostile to each other until their hearts are content. When people start to go at it in any given regular thread, they would simply bow out and take it to the Thunderdome. This would keep other threads clean, and people would have a place to bicker with each other – a forum phenomenon that is clearly inevitable at this point. Why fight it in every thread when you could throw it all in one place? And since participation in the Thunderdome is voluntary, nobody has a reason to get butthurt by any real or perceived insults. It’s easier to bow out of a single thread than stop oneself from getting hostile in every thread. This would keep the majority of GD threads clean. I really think so.
PS. This is not intended to be condescending or patronizing. I realize I am sometimes part of the problem and would likely go a few rounds in the Thunderdome myself.
Personally I want to nuke the GD Area from orbit and focus on the true intent of M4C. The only non-firearms threads would be for legislation or similar info.
Not that my input matters, but I’m trending that way too. But if GD is to continue existing, I think this is a practical solution that will solve most of the problems.
Great idea, shouldn’t be needed here but great idea. In some ways I almost think that getting rid of GD is a better idea for this forum.
This forum used to be about top tier firearms, training, various TTP’s and shooters. Unfortunately it’s not anymore and in some cases it is worse than TOS in that regard.
I had to laugh and walk away from a thread not long ago when the new Armalite AR10 was “as good” as the KAC SR25, LMT MWS, Noveske, SCAR17, Larue OBR. Even an SME chimed in that it “killed shit”. I try not to argue with idiots on the internet so I just bowed out even though I could have buried the Armalite based on my own personal experience and the experiences of others who have ran them. Though I’ve shot close to 12k rounds of .308 in the last 18 months on a lot of current production .308 gas guns, it just wasn’t worth my time to teach a kid with 20 posts and 30 days on the board what he didn’t know, or that his sample size of one was meaningless.
In the past the idiot posters would have been told to hit the road, currently they are left to run wild. Add to the above the conspiracy crowd, hard left libertarian crowd and its gotten out of hand.
At least with your idea it could be isolated to one thread (sub forum) and not disrupt the rest of the site. I also think that link dumping should be banned and GD should be run like LF in that regard.
I really hope you win that battle. It is not needed here. Its easy to go to TOS for that, not to mention you get to laugh your ass off while you are over there.
I would love to see this site shift back to the days of old and regain our focus on quality firearms, training and TTP’s.
So make a single thread where anything* goes and is unmoderated?
Sounds like fun and a good idea.
Could also call it… “Outside” for “let’s take it outside” or “the ring” referencing boxing/wrestling/other types of fighting, and also LoTR because there is only one ring.
In principle, I think GD is good for community building. There are tons of great GD threads. My favorite so far was about Star Wars (lol) a couple months ago. On the other hand, any thread about religion or that relates to religion in any way quickly becomes a mud fight. I should know, I’ve been in most of them. I try to stay clean, I’m not always successful. Maybe we should ban religious discussion except in the one thread?
I agree. It’s too much work for mods who I’m pretty sure would rather focus on matters related to, oh I don’t know… firearms?
Maybe turn GD into something where people can post links to arguments occurring elsewhere, but that’s it. Just a thought, but I can imagine that the mods here have better things to do than preside over petty feuds all day.
No thanks, I’m done. When another Christian with power on this forum censures me, it’s time to move on. Hopefully the posts I’ve made on the other forums of this board have helped someone. if I have something relevant to contribute to them I’ll post.
I think IG may be right… considering some of the nastiness that’s been seen in GD in the last few years, Maybe, it’s time to shut it down,move on, and get back to what this board is supposed to be about. Keeping a slot open for legislative notices concerning our rights, and possible contact info isn’t a bad idea, as long as it for that purpose only. It would probably need to be heavily monitored, so that off topic comments leading up to the usual pissing contests, would be deleted, before they got started…
The idea of a thread devoted to fighting will only establish that it’s part of the game here and would also even encourage conflict. My suggestion is to either set a painful example by permanently banning those that have to push the envelope and ruin it for the rest of us or at the very least restrict them from this part of the forum. If one day that should be me, especially after this embarrassing day, then kick my ass out for good too.
Bottom line is that almost every other firearm forum has a GD so it is certainly not either inappropriate or unusual. And if we allow the lowest common denominator to set the rules then we have been ruled by the lowest common denominator.
I think I miss most of the drama we’re speaking of, I just don’t read much of it. I’m on a lot of other forums and chats, so possibly that’s the reason. I like having a GD section and in general I don’t see a problem with them. It’s true that it’s typically the same people that get nasty and It might be easier to just sideline them. However I do appreciate the moderator workload. It’s easy to get sucked into a “confrontation”, but the best answer is to always treat a forum like the ex-wife. When it get’s nasty… Just say your piece and move on; never looking back. People won’t argue with themselves very long. JMO… Ron
I’m for nuking GD. However, if that is not an option, then I like the “Thunderdome” idea. If that is to work then I should be able to call someone a sorry mother fucker and if they don’t like they are welcome to meet me at my dojo, we sign wavers, and then one of us gets fucked up. I mean this as an illustration that it should be no holds barred.
I’m sure all of us would love to call it like we really want to once in a while.
Do away with GD. At the very least, suspend it long enough to air the place out, refocus the collective purpose, and let members trickle in or out as they find places that suit them.
Thunderdome style threads ALWAYS end poorly. Either the thread itself gets beyond what is legal or pissing matches spawn there that destroy other threads.
I’d be happy if GD simply didn’t show up in the view new posts link. That way if someone specifically wanted to go to GD they can but the spam stuff stays off quick links.
I always have found it odd that some of the largest voices to “nuke” GD are the ones who post a considerable amount in GD. (Not talking about anyone in particular).
I’ll admit 75% of my posts are in GD because I really like to browse the technical threads unless there is the rare occasion that I am knowledgeable enough about something to actually chime in. And if there is a thread that doesn’t require much knowledge and is mainly drivel (such as a thread about if xyz is better than abc or “look at the new lmopqrs”) then I refrain altogether.
If you don’t like GD then refrain from reading, much less posting, in it. That’s one of the best solutions. GD is only ONE of nearly fifty different sub forums. If you added up ALL the POSTS in the entire M4C forum, less than 17% are from the GD section.
