Yeah, yeah, I know that’s dangerous in my case…
Anyhoo… The VC Friday night got me thinking about blogs, bloggers, and the ‘evolution’ of our little corner of the intrawebz…
Being an old fart, I can go back to the ‘early’ days of the BBS and 300 baud dial-up and remember the things that went on then, and the alt.(what ever you want) world that came next, then the forums, then live (which I missed), and now blogging.
At EVERY step we have seen the bottom feeders come out at some point, the pseudo experts (remember there is NO face to face callout with most of these turkeys) and no real way to call them to account; those simply in it for the $$ they think they will make, and among that bunch are those who will and do steal from others to increase their hit count.
Look at most of the forums now, all the good folks have dropped off/moved on/given up… Tired of fighting a losing battle with 12 year olds (mentally at least) who think they know everything.
We discussed some of the more egregious examples (Breda’s situation being one), and others who ‘portray’ themselves as gun experts, but are simply in it for the money. We also talked about the aggregators, both good (Cornered Cat and Say Uncle), and bad (no links, I refuse to give them ANY publicity)…
Weerd has a good post up HERE, talking about this issue too…
Another thing we talked about was how folks came to guns and shooting. Jennifer’s post HERE has generated a huge response, and prompted a number of others to post their own stories. I frankly am amazed at some of them. I never realized how ‘lucky’ I was growing up around guns and being taught from an early age… Falnfenix put her story up HERE, and was on VC with us and her story just blew my mind!
On another tack, I got ‘confronted’ by someone that I didn’t even know ‘knew’ about my blog yesterday at the gun store- I was wearing a Wounded Warrior logo shirt and he called me on the fact that I didn’t have any links to them (or most of the other organizations I support). That got me thinking (again dangerous)…
So I’ve reorganized my blog somewhat to show the organizations I believe in and support- There are literally thousands of good causes out there, and I’m not trying to put down/ignore any of them, but this blog IS pretty much gun related…
I truly believe our ‘world’ is under siege, not just here in the US, but world-wide with the regulations being proposed at various levels. The anti-2A folks are bound and determined to get rid of us (or at least our guns) any way they can, and honesty be damned… They cannot get facts that actually back up their arguments; so they use innuendo, manipulated statistics, PSH, and anything they think will resonate with the liberals and MSM out there…
They ‘talk’ a good line (reasoned discourse), but as soon as you actually DO that, your comments always disappear (Joan Peterson and others).
Cal Guns (Gene Hoffman), SAF, NRA and others (like VDCL in Virginia) are doing what they can at both local and national levels. Alan Gura has stepped up and is probably the lead lawyer nationwide in our fight for our rights…
We, by our own actions and words, can be ambassadors for our rights every day. It is up to us, as individuals, to do what we can and NOT GIVE UP. If we do, I’m truly afraid for our children and grandchildren and the world they will inherit.
Thanks for reading, and any comments/recommendations are appreciated…
Oh yeah, this was the reason I went to the gun store 🙂
Making me think about my own blogging, you are.
Oh, and about that FN….. GROWL.
Envy.
Sweet…
Nice!
Maybe I need to post pictures of my JP-LR07 (with Schmit and Bender Police Marksman2 scope) on my blog to keep up with the brown shoe navy… Nah, I can’t compete with the brown shoes.
Anyway, I enjoy your blog and your FN. We’ll fight the good fight, keep the weasels away and let works define who is worth a damn and who isn’t.
I just want to take this moment to say thanks for exchanging links with me quite a while back. I’m honored that ‘North’ shows up on your blog roll, and I’m tickled when you come by to read my humble blog.
We have to keep up the good fight. We are a great community and I’ll have your back.
Carteach0- Sorry bout that!
JB- It’ll be even better after I get it cleaned and actually get to SHOOT it!
SS- Thanks!
LL- Damn, that JP is NICE! I wanted away from the AR ‘system’ and direct impingement, that’s why I went with the FNH. Thanks for the compliment too!
North- Thanks!
Ok, I’m jealous. I really, really wish I could afford that SCAR.
Very good post.
I am a blogger for me and what works for me in my life. I do not not attend blogger events or meet and greets. I read what I want and post what I want in my own opinion. I think that is what you do also.
Not looking to have anyone ever link to me, it ain’t about that, at least for me. I don’t need or want advertising but I am fine if it works for you. Freedom is just that in my mind.
BTW, I too remember 300 Baud and the dial phone cradle.
Robert- It’s ONLY money… When you’re as old and broke down as I am, you can afford toys, because you can’t do anything else. sigh…
Danny- Concur, and it’s not about money for me either. I’m not an expert in anything, don’t try to be, and it’s an outlet, not a way to make a living. I do enjoy the blog meets, and have met some outstanding individuals, but to each his/her own. Ah…300 baud, those were the days, no pictures, simply WORDS 🙂
You just keep on provoking thought and introspection along with information and entertainment. Don’t know why I keep reading your blog.
This whole Internet thing just might keep us somewhat free. Gives us a sky high soapbox. We more easily find like minded people and find we aren’t the only “kooks” with contrarian ideas.
Why do you navy guys get all the neat toys? It’s going to take years to convince the wife I should have one of those!
I do my blog to give the voices an outlet, and so far so good. If someone wants to pay me for my brain droppings, it won’t be because I sought them out.
My one worry with using our blogs and such as a soapbox is that we run the risk of becoming an echo chamber. If we could somehow get a few of our better writers to get gigs with mainstream outlets (I know, good luck) we could start to normalize our pro-rights arguments.
Add me to the jealous list on the SCAR. Have you had any problems finding additional mags for it? I hear that’s the biggest issue for this platform.
WSF- Thanks, I think 🙂
DB- Concur, we DO have a few folks out there (Frank James for one), and we could use others. I just heard David Codrea is getting a radio gig in prime drive time in Phoenix!
Joe- I don’t have wife/kids to support, and yeah, mags are an issue…
Thanks for holding my feet to the fire NFO! Nice acquisition!
In March of this year, I re-organized “An Ordinary American,” and to be honest, it undergoes a change here and a change there now and then as I see fit.
A month into the “new” AOA, I added thumbnail picture links to the organizations that I and my wife support. Wounded Warrior and Airborne Angel Cadets are right up there, as is Doberman Rescue of North Texas and Grace Flight (Angel Flight South Central squadron).
Have no idea how much–if any–donations have been made via my blog, but I do know, via e-mails to me, that awareness has been raised.
And I’ll take that.
I spent two decades writing ads and commercials and marketing and communications plans for Madison Avenue. My wife is a former television news reporter who retired from the public relations profession.
It’s FUN now to write about whatever the hell we want to.
But. . . I see blogs as a big part of the New Age Media. Linking and cross-linking is what strengthens our foundation and positions in the ever and ongoing battle to defend our basic freedoms.
One voice can be stifled. Hundreds of voices is more difficult. Thousands of voices cannot be stifled.
The example you give with Breda is a good one–a great illustration also how quickly the “good guys” can expose a “bad guy” and in such a way that the mainstream media would have an aneurysm even considering.
Good stuff, NFO. Good stuff.
–AOA
Right on on the comments, and nice new tool. Now you just need to bring it out here to break it in proper.
I would assume that you would bring that new toy to GBR6 so that we can all play with it.
wv- diffult
It is diffult to type with one finger and a glass of whisky.
Right on, right on!
Thanks for the Kind Words.
And I WANT your SCAR.
I got the cheaper yesterday Technology with my FAL which I love deeply…but your SCAR is PRETTY!
Also the rifle and the magazines are both 100% illegal in Massachusetts…Grrrr
Keads- Thanks 🙂
AOA- Understood and thanks!
Murph- I would have, but ‘somebody’ wasn’t home 🙂
Skip- If my schedule lets me…
Proud- Thanks!
Weerd- Credit where credit is due 🙂 WHY are they illegal???
OOOOOOHHHH SWEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTT
…and that was the sound of Jigsaw having a “moment.” 😉
I’m glad my story at least sheds a little light on the “other side.” MikeW grew up in a similar household, though I think he was permitted toy guns…then again, he wasn’t a bubble child. As an only kid my parents did everything they could to make sure I was as safe as humanly possible. I can’t fault them for it – they did the best they could, after all – but dang, I wish they were a little more open about such things when I was younger. I really do.
Ah well, at least we can talk about it now without fights.
Well done!
Gerry
Julie- Sadly you’ll have to come here to ever shoot one…
Laura- True, and thanks for sharing that! I’m still amazed…
Gerry- Thanks!
The most beautiful comments I’ve ever made and they just vanished because Google wants me to create a blog instead of merely sign in to comment.
Can we (i.e. y’all) fix this???
Skip@1:59AM 13JUN For god’s sake, man, stop typing before you spill any whisky!
Old NFO: I remember typing RYRY to test the TTY circuit while at sea. Bravo Zulu on your blogging.