Is it my imagination, or has member participation in these forums really dwindled?

V

VaniB

New member
Geees....! ........ I thought I noticed less then usual number of threads being started on a daily basis on the forums. What's going on? :confused: In spite of the new smaller print, I don't find the new format really THAT objectionable. (I simply grab my reading glasses)

I just peeked over at the "Benchrest" forum a couple of minutes ago to check the stats on the bottom of the page "Users Browsing This Forum" . It said: "7 users in this forum. 1 member and 6 guests" Yikes, I was the only member in there! And the whole day yesterday had just 4 posts.

Are some of you "guests" actually former members? Come on guys. It's not that difficult to sign back onto this place again (or for the first time), and become a full fledged participant. To help support this websight and keep it vibrant, you need to take 3 steenkin minutes to sign up. If I can do it, then so too can a caveman. And if you won't do it.....then you know what I think?; I think a lot of you "guests" are just users and lazy asses!! :mad:

Come on guys...we need you!!

Randall
(PS My fellow members; Maybe if I'm brash about it, I'll get them to sign up just so they can tell me off. ;) :D )
 
My New PC doesn't like cookies, and my login fails after a few minutes. When I do post I usually have to copy the post then login in again to paste it quickly before login fails again. So most of the time my visits would show up as guest even though I login automatically every time I visit.

PS
I find the new format much easier on the eyes.
 
goodgrouper said:
I find it easier on the new format to just not log in (unless I'm going to post) and I think that just shows me as a guest? I would assume that is what others are doing too.

All along though, it's been pretty much the same 20 guys or so that do the majority of contributions. I know for a fact that there are MANY others who can and could contribute but have fears of being ridiculed to no end so they simply don't post. Let's face it, if you have a view that's not among the popular beliefs of BR, you are shunned by the grumpier fellas on the site right from the get go. It's too bad too because having an open mind is a key ingredient of success in this game.
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Can you be more specific by naming one new concept that has been laughed at? The only one I can think of is the use of formica for target backer....

IMO it's the grumpier guys who do the most innovation.

I'm just askin'

al
 
Good grouper, I remember your avatar, and recognize you as one of the good guys here.

You're right about much of what you say. But I handle or go about it differently. I find it much easier in the long-run to be permanently signed-in here so I need not type anything into the "log-in" once I've opened this websight.

As far as being "ridiculed" or having fear of contributing on these forums for fear of it; I've experienced that too, took a couple of small lumps, and then fixed the problem.

You know grouper, we all have our own likes and dislikes for what we buy and/or the way we go about doing things, whether it be the rifle and equipment we use, or the methods we choose for hand loading. Most of us are capable of sharing with others those preferences and the information we have gained in a civil and friendly manner. So I really don't mind folks correcting me or disagreeing with me in an instructional manner, or in the form of a debate. I have been known to humble myself and say "Thank You", or, "You are right" , or, "Ooops my bad" on many instances in these forums. But, what I do have trouble overcoming is an arrogant or condescending attitude, or a hurtful remark made directly against me or what I have to say. Frankly, in the 5 years I've been here, I have only had 2 jack-asses cause me a severe reoccurring pain in my a**. I let it get buy once or twice, but I don't wait for the 3rd strike. They are now on my ignore list. Problem solved.

These forums are full of all kinds of knowlegable and friendly guys who's input is too valuable NOT to participate with. Have you considerd weeding out the one or two irritants with the "ignore list" ? But like I said, we are all differen't, and I can understand and respect if using the ignore list is not what you consider a solution for you.

Randall
 
Wow !!! What a list . . sure you didn't miss something ? :)

I check this Forum - just about daily . . sometimes I have something to add to the subjects, sometimes I don't. I have my favorite things to watch, I am not a Benchrest shooter - per-sey, but, but I do get a lot of information just by reading the different subjects - and quite often I don't sign in, but that is only because I have a dozen or so that I go to and check and don't want to be signing in on every one . . . I did take the comment above to heart and punched the remember me on it, so maybe next time I am looking - it will count me as "on board" !!

I do have a couple of pieces of equipment that I enjoy shooting out to 600+ ranges, but it is not a discipline that I do on a regular basis. That said, I do get a lot of information about how and what to do in the times that I do get to do it. The post has a lot of Match information that I am not interested in, but I do enjoy the load and different caliber information that is available . . it is unbelievable the amount of info that is to be had from the different authors of some of these Forums, hats off to all of you.

I didn't find anything about the different look to the Forum objectionable. . . in fact - it looks pretty nice to me ! JMHO - I do miss not being able to Preview the reply before I post it though . . I get to do some of my "English Review" then . . :)
 
I see this forum as a reflection on the way people act in real life.
You will always have:
My way is the only way to do something.
I'm not going to contribute but go off on a tangent championing my vast knowledge.
Your idea is stupid so therefore my idea is easier, faster, and much more intelligent.
I read very little of your question but I will give you the best solution.

It reminds me of any place I have worked over the last 45 years.

But if you have the patience, there are a lot of very intelligent and knowledgeable people contributing to the various forums.
 
You think maybe I haven't been posting enough pictures?

Actually the summer has always been slower for br.com.
 
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alinwa said:
Can you be more specific by naming one new concept that has been laughed at? The only one I can think of is the use of formica for target backer....

IMO it's the grumpier guys who do the most innovation.

I'm just askin'



Yeah, I remember one ....the infamous "headspace expansion" concept .......by some guy who used to be a regular here............ummmm let me seeee.........very short name.....had a "D" in it.....retired teacher....that feller just loved to chit-chat.

:)
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I see this forum as a reflection on the way people act in real life.
You will always have:
My way is the only way to do something.
I'm not going to contribute but go off on a tangent championing my vast knowledge.
Your idea is stupid so therefore my idea is easier, faster, and much more intelligent.
I read very little of your question but I will give you the best solution.

It reminds me of any place I have worked over the last 45 years.

But if you have the patience, there are a lot of very intelligent and knowledgeable people contributing to the various forums.
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x2 as an experience for me as well, but on other sites. I am hoping to find a more civilized group here. So far I enjoy visiting this forum and when I catch up in knowledge with you guys, I'll speak up. For the moment I feel some of the stuff getting dicussed is over my head.

Something to consider for this site which I think could help those of us new to precision shooting, would be an info section where everyone can submit experiences on certain components (create a pool of info), say various propellants, which would put together similar to the book Propellant Profiles. Primers,bullets and brass have their own section ect. We now have a data base from members to work from. Loads of coarse will not be posted. I have been loading with Varget alot recently. It has been my experience that it does not like to be compressed in the 308. If this is experienced by all shooters, then, if this info is in the data base I won't bother making and testing compressed loads, saving time and money.
 
Jay Cutright said:
Maybe everyones out shooting, check again this winter.
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I have to agree with Jay ,I think MOST competitors are too busy going/prepareing for matches to be too concerned with what's on the internet at this point in time (as I would be in their stead). Now come Fall when things slow down abit we'll all gather the tales of Trials and Errors/Victories of said dedicated shooters and Learn.
 
1000mstudent said:
......... Something to consider for this site which I think could help those of us new to precision shooting, would be an info section where everyone can submit experiences on certain components (create a pool of info), say various propellants, which would put together similar to the book Propellant Profiles.Primers,bullets and brass have their own section ect.
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With all due respect 1000mstudent, (as I'm not trying to be smart a*s) we already have such a thing or "info section". It's called the search. Combined, there is just too broad a spectrum of interests and questions that any one of the members here might have about anything. I don't think it would be possible to have a "sticky" for each topic.

Depending on what you need to know, using the search on this websight (and other websights too), can often provide the answer(s) you're looking for. If one still can't find what they're looking for, then that's when they need to ask the question in one of the forums.

I think the problem with a lot of guys out there, is that they are just so timid and affraid to be heard from. Maybe it's like like our buddy goodgrouper says, that this is because they don't want to subject themselves to the few pompous butts who frequent these boards. I've already suggested how I take care of that so it's not a problem any longer.
 
The guys are right it is usually slower in the summer but it does come in spurts. Many are shooting and some are taking vacations, or out for the weekend, doing the endless yard tasks.
It really gets a good work out in the spring as everyone is just getting back into the matches.

As to the login every time you come here just check the remember me box.
I log in one time and it is a very very long time before I have to log in again.
 
Goodgrouper
Bill Calfee has his own website and his forums are full of the posters from here.Even "The Funny People" have followed him if you can imagine that.He has pictures posted galore and naturally everything posted is spot on correct except for using two terms incorrectly.
To add to your list for Alinwa you forgot to mention the thread on the horsepower of a rifle.
I also never read any controversy over tuners or Bill Calfee.I must have missed that post?
I do recall him talking about 90 degree sears but I think everybody was in agreement over that?
Waterboy
 
I come about once every day or so and read a lot of stuff. I shoot F-class but never win because I just don't give a rats ass about winning on paper. I like to read German Salazars posts because he gives data most of the time and you can take it or leave it - he doesn't really seem to care what you do with what he says and I like that.

There are people I personally know like Goodgrouper and Eddie Harren and I follow how they are shooting each year- kind of a spectator sport for me.

I seldom post because I seldom have anything intelligent to say.
 
Goodgrouper,

I'm with you......exactly where is all this good weather. It rains almost everyday, in the mid 90's and so humid that you can't hardly see a 200yd target. Heck, the panama jungle would be a break compared to this.

Hovis
 
HovisKM said:
Goodgrouper,

I'm with you......exactly where is all this good weather. It rains almost everyday, in the mid 90's and so humid that you can't hardly see a 200yd target. Heck, the panama jungle would be a break compared to this.

Hovis
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Yes but the snow is gone !
 
GoodGrouper
I was being a little bit sarcasstic as I almost fell out of my chair when I read Al's post.
Bill Calfee got burned at the stake on here for every single post he ever posted.I guess Al forgot about the Water In The Bore Post as well?
Maybe somebody could ask Dick Wright what Tony Boyer said about posting?
I guess "The Funny People" was a comedy team?
Waterboy
 
From my experience, way to many people are way too thin skinned. Heck this isn't a place for everyone has to argree or to form a concensus. I have learned, over time, to be able to change my mind about my beliefs if someone could give me information to probve me wrong. I also admit when I am wrong about things I have believed to be true. That is the hard part.

What we have had is a number of opinionated people, many of whom have tried to dominate the band width. If we all could be just a bit more humble and listen to the other guy, in spite of the numbers stating otherwise, this would be a much more friendly place. I think "the Unwashed" might be willing to listen more if they were treated a bit more kindly.

Regarding Tony Boyer; I think everyone here would love to interact with him and I doubt that anyone would ever FLAME him. ALL of us couuld learn a lot from him and some of the other people who have dominated the sport. It's the arrogance of those who have not dominated that is often the problem. IMHO
 
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