Gun control debate in AskMe

December 27, 2003 5:42 PM

Why are people debating gun control in this thread? It seems as if it was a simple request. It did not seem like there was an invitation or even suggestion for a gun control debate.
posted by SpecialK to Etiquette/Policy at 5:42 PM (23 comments total)

The concept mus be too simple for some people. :-P
posted by SpecialK at 5:43 PM on December 27, 2003

I soooo wanted to say something that was not an answer to that question (which it must be said made my little non-American head ring like a gong with amazement) but I bit my proverbial tongue, repeatedly.

So, yeah, I'm with you on that one even though I had some real zingers in mind, by golly.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:06 PM on December 27, 2003

it's my fault--I only know them from movies where they're used to kill people, so I asked.
posted by amberglow at 6:18 PM on December 27, 2003

I blame the original poster. Specifically after linking to that troll of a website attempting to discredit Bowling for Columbine.
posted by Space Coyote at 6:20 PM on December 27, 2003

my wife once surprised me with a Glock, but fortunately i got off the first round.
posted by quonsar at 6:27 PM on December 27, 2003

You know, Space Coyote, a month ago I commented in a thread and was called a troll by you, although, by all definitions, I simply had a disagreeable opinion. Seems to me that you have an itchy trigger finger on the term 'troll'.

More on topic, I got the impression that mrbill was simply responding to the mention of Moore and he didn't appear to purposefully start a debate. Of course, conversations like these just happen. I think it's fair to moderate your thread on AskMeFi, to an extent, because you're trying to get specific information, and want to let contributors understand your whole situation.
posted by BlueTrain at 6:32 PM on December 27, 2003

It's heartwarming to hear you remember it so well. ;)
posted by Space Coyote at 6:36 PM on December 27, 2003

Comments seem to be sort of like Glocks -- No safety on them.
posted by SpecialK at 7:56 PM on December 27, 2003

Why are people debating gun control in this thread?

Poor judgement on the part of a couple of individuals.
posted by rushmc at 8:02 PM on December 27, 2003

Of course, conversations like these just happen.

Yeah, they do, after topics such as this are intentionally raised. Imagine that.
posted by soyjoy at 9:20 PM on December 27, 2003

Jesus.
posted by Keyser Soze at 9:28 PM on December 27, 2003

I think gun threads are pretty much like weight threads - guaranteed to turn into a trainwreck. I was happy and excited about my Christmas gift. If I'd thought about it more, and realized that it would have started not only a minor debate but also a MetaTalk thread, I wouldn't have fucking bothered. 8-(
posted by mrbill at 9:36 PM on December 27, 2003

Mrbilll asked a question and got an answer, maybe a few more than he anticipated, but an answer nonetheless. He seems happy with the result, so what's the problem? It's a little thread, he's the only one checking it so why the hell does anyone else care? It's all well and good to talk about community and expertise in the green, but what's the point of dragging every petty little beef into MetaTalk? Thousands of members, each one with an opinion, and a few that expect people to actually care what they think.

Give it a rest, if you care this much you must be part of the cabal. You do know what we're going to do to the A-list once we get our Glocks, don't you? Your either for us or against us and this, my friend, is not a battle you want to wind up on the unguilded part of the lily, so to speak; unless you were a zebra, in which case you would want to be on the other, non- black side. Or something like that.

Move on. It's a question. It'll be gone in a day or two and we can all get back to the backstabbing snarkfest that makes it all worthwhile.
posted by cedar at 10:30 PM on December 27, 2003

Quonsar's comment was a lovely way to start the morning. Hehe.
posted by nthdegx at 10:47 PM on December 27, 2003

I did a gun post once, It was nice - all the gun owners came out and talked about their guns, and no one made any messes at all.
posted by troutfishing at 4:18 AM on December 28, 2003

thirteen cited the correct reference for most of the comments in the thread: "Please limit comments
to answers or help in finding an answer."

As far as I am concerned, AskMe is not fair game as a political venue. This was really a straightforward question and did not invite anybody's views on gun control; anyone jumping on opportunities like this to express (once again) their personal political views are just willfully pooping on a good thing because they don't feel like extending even the smallest effort toward self-restraint.
posted by taz at 4:28 AM on December 28, 2003

"Why are people debating gun control in this thread? It seems as if it was a simple request. It did not seem like there was an invitation or even suggestion for a gun control debate."

Someone enters a contentious opinion. Someone else counters, before you know it... anarchy!

I'm at a loss to know how you can regulate such things on a messageboard. You certainly can't do it in a room full of friends, unless you say, something like "can we not turn this into an x debate, can we come back to the question I asked?"

Maybe that would work? A hands-on, gentle, good-natured request to steer the matter back on course (as you see it.)
posted by Blue Stone at 10:52 AM on December 28, 2003

AskMe runs the same risk of degenerating into the pee-pee-poo-poo-ca-ca debates as MeFi itself if we're not more careful. So far, AskMe has been an interesting and enlightening forum, I for one would really hate to see it sidetracked.

(Not for nothin', but it is holiday time here in the US, perhaps Matt's attention is elsewhere? The linked thread is such an egregious thwarting of AskMe's stated intent that I find it very difficult to see how Matt justifies keeping it...)
posted by JollyWanker at 11:08 AM on December 28, 2003

*fires long burst of roaring gunfire from new machine pistol*
posted by hama7 at 11:25 AM on December 28, 2003

JollyWanker: I started the thread with an honest question, wanting recommendations from other Glock or 9mm handgun owners. Was not my intention for it to deviate into a gun-control thread.
posted by mrbill at 12:31 PM on December 28, 2003

Like stavros, I saw the thread, thought "Damn gun-totin yankees", and moved on. It was a simple enough question, and as much as I hate guns, i reckon there was no need for the thread to be politicized really. Basically, posts that some members find morally repugnant should not be turned into bitch fights. If you don't like the topic, leave it well alone. Lets see what happens when someone asks "So, does anyone know where I can get an abortion?'
posted by Jimbob at 2:39 PM on December 28, 2003

Agreed with Jimbob. I'm planning on purchasing a handgun in the next while, as soon as I've had a chance to join the local firing range and try a few more of the pistols they keep in their armory, and I'm hoping that I can come here when/if I have a question... without getting LiberalFilter-ed.
posted by SpecialK at 5:26 PM on December 28, 2003

mrbill, I think you misunderstood me. You had every right to post a question about the gun; my objection is to posting anything to that thread other than answers to your question, or other sources of information - that is to say, twisting your original question into yet another stupid, unwinnable debate about gun control.
posted by JollyWanker at 9:08 PM on December 28, 2003