Maybe I’m ignorant. Maybe I’m blind. But I see this “1*” thing everywhere online and I have no idea what it is. Will someone please scratch my itch?
1* = one ass to risk
“+1”, is internet speak for when a subsequent poster agrees with the statement or sentiment expressed by a prior poster, but does not want to write out a whole post saying that. M.h.O.
LMFAO! An asterisk as a chocolate starfish!
Agreed.
Believe me, I wondered about that for quite some time, too.
1* started showing up all over the place as a de facto SWAT team symbol, and it made no sense to me. I’m still not entirely sure why it’s caught on quite the way it has, but at least its clever, and somewhat decipherable with just a bit of help. 
Chief
Here’s an explanation of its origins.
Very clever. Thanks all.
1 asterisk = 1* = 1 ass to risk
That’s interesting! I wonder if Yost- Bonitz will post here as well?
My girlfriend is slooowly climbing the learning curve of military and police and gun stuff. We were in General Jackson’s in Fayetteville and she came up to me with a 1* pendant and said “is this another religion?” 
I’m like, no, not really, but what made you think that? She led me over to a little counter display where the 1* pendants were in with Christian cross pendants. Aha. You need somebody around to ask questions like this. I explained, not it’s not very Christian, stands for “one as-to-risk,” and is the unofficial universal SWAT symbol. One, as, to, risk, get it? hee hee. I don’t think she believed me.
I guess I hang with a different crowd – none of them are sporting 1* paraphernalia.
Some of them do, however, wear 1%.
hmmm, I know what kind of crowd you are around. Do we have a patch?
No, Abraxas, “we” don’t have a patch…but we do have “safe passage” in certain places. 
Fortunately for those who have the credentials to wear 1*, most who wear 1% these days are poseurs. :rolleyes:
Ahh, like all they guys who wear “Calico Jack” and “Jolly Roger” patches :rolleyes:
HolyRoller, 1* doesn’t conflict with my Christian faith.
I am far from perfect nand don’t care for a lot of Christians, but I do work hard to do the right thing and I cannot continue to serve if some dirtbag kills me.
BTW, while I have never met Gary Paul Johnston, I have been reading his stuff for years and I believe he is the genuine article.
Mine either, Thirdwatcher! I was just lamely being funny that “one as to risk” is not what you would say in church, generally. It’s not at all Christian to allow dirtbags to kill you or those under your protection. Our church has probably more SF team guys and Airborne troopers than any other in the world. Around here, turn the other cheek is only done when transitioning your rifle to your weak side.
I realise this is not a 1% thread but I have notice a lot of so called hardcore guys have started wearing the 1% these days. It seems to me if you feel like you need to wear it your probably not. Just my opinion
Great line!
Okay . . . now that we outsiders know what “1*” means and implies, can someone further educate us on “1%” since it has been introduced into the conversation? In addition to defining the symbol, who uses it?
Does it refer to the quote attributed to Heraclitus re: only one in 100 soldiers is a “warrior”?
Does it refer to the upper level of the MENSA society?
Does it refer to people who want lower fat content in their milk, but don’t like skim?
Tell us!
(please)
In my experience, 1%ers are POS criminal scum.
I’ve seen their handiwork and quite frankly, I CCW because of people like them.
They stay the fuck out of my way and I’ll do the same. Good ol boys they aint.
This easy rider fantasy stuff is for the H.O.G. guys out on weekends…the 1% is the enemy IMO and will remain that way.