Thread locked incorrectly.
 

This thread was locked with this comment:

No one in that thread was posting where to purchase or sell guns, drugs,* or ammunition.

* Serial comma added for the enjoyment of wendersfan

At first reading, at least a part of the the original post looks like a request for purchase-related information.

I would assume that the thread was closed because it asks for information that members already have been told they are not allowed to provide.

If I saw a post that read "I have no idea how to obtain a bootleg DVD/CD.... I need advice" I would close the thread.

Funny that this thread which actually gives information where to purchase a gun was allowed to go unlocked.

it also got no replies which means many people probably didn't read it...including mods (at least I don't recall reading it but it was 2 years ago).

Would it make you feel better if I locked it now?

I think the big difference between the two-year-old thread and the current one (other than the number of replies) is that a gun "owned by Hitler" has value beyond its function as a firearm, while in the current thread the guy just wanted a weapon.

One's a collector's item, the other's a gun.

And if one was stupid enough to try, the collector's item could fire a bullet just as effectively.

Just out of curiosity, why can't we post information about where to buy/sell guns and ammunition? Drugs are obviously illegal so I understand that but there are very strict federal guidelines on purchasing guns and ammo.

I would imagine it's because of the shitstorm that would erupt in the discussion thread.

IIRC, it's actually an editorial decision from gkleinman himself, who is anti-gun. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I don't quite understand that reasoning. It's not like everyone on this board doesn't know which retailers sell firearms. We're not talking about someone recommending some sketchy person selling handguns from his trunk in some back alley. And I would deem any "shitstorm" that would result to be off topic which is already against forum rules anyways. It's not like anyone is going to start up a buy/sell classifieds thread on here. Being able to protect ones family is a vital element of life and is something our founders outlined as an essential liberty. I don't see why someone shouldn't be able to start a thread to seek advice about wanting to know what would be the best weapon for home defense, or what their specific state laws would be to legally purchase a firearm,

We can talk about two girls shitting in a cup and eating it. We can talk about rape, incest, molestation while making fun of the victims and the act itself. DVDTalk has a whole forum dedicated for porn. An industry that has no doubt cased harm to people and ruined lives. (even though I watch it myself yes I know that's hypocritical.) But we can't discuss guns or ammo both are legal in this nation to own and use and are even mentioned in the constitution. But I guess DVDTalk can't make money from that. Unless there are gun ads or something.

That's my understanding.

I missed the original thread this came from and can't even view it now but this person is trying to be a responsible gun owner and locking/deleting that thread is actually being irresponsible. Sure, there are other places he can go and people he can ask about it but he came here seeking advice (which is no different than any of the other advice threads in otter) and there are plenty on here that could have helped him out, myself included. I really more or less just want to know where the exact line is drawn on this as I have posted in several otter threads where guns were being discussed. I mean, if someone wants to know what size shot to shoot dove with can I advise them just as long as I don't mention where they can go to get that size shells? What if someone wants to learn how to get their CCP and the reciprocity laws involved in there state? Could I advise them on that just as long as I don't mention where to buy a gun?

^^If that's truly the case then that's his decision and I have to respect that since this is his board but I truly hope he is never in a situation where he has to defend himself or his family and is unable to do so.

What is this all about?

E

Read posts 1 through 14.

:lol: No shit.

Skimmed through them and still don't see the point of this thread, or even know what all this whining is all about.

But hey, maybe you need to be from the U.S. South to comprehend this type of "guns = freedom" beliefs, even on private communities like dvdtalk, where the owners can moderate in any way they wish.

But by all means, carry on.

E

Here's a link for the first result on a google search for "gun talk forum": http://www.jouster.com/cgi-bin/guntalk/config.pl?

Enjoy!

Because obviously there is only one region of the country where people own/use guns. :rolleyes:

^I'm sure I can google and find a forum for 90% of the topics that come up in the other forum.

There is a difference between owning/possessing a firearm and believing "guns=freedom", exclusively. Maybe you don't know the difference because you clearly are a believer in the latter.

E

Guns don't equal freedom but are a tool that can be used to defend it (and is useful for many other activities such as recreation or hunting). This belief goes further than just the Deep South.

Are you suggesting that because this is a "DVD Talk Forum", we should only discuss DVDs? I'm fairly sure if I scanned your post history, I'd find posts on topics other than DVD related issues. It somewhat negates the point of even having an "other" forum if you believe that.

Gun threads have been inconsistently moderated for several years here. It's Geoff's board (or it was... I'm not sure how the buyout affects things in that regard) and he can do what he wants with it. Nobody denies that. It just seems like if you make a rule that says "Subtopics A and B pertaining to guns aren't allowed", it's an odd construction of that rule to close threads about "Subtopics C and D pertaining to guns." If he wanted the rule to be "No gun discussion whatsoever", he could have (and still can) make the rule as such.

Nope, far from it. I'm just pointing out there are other places for such info. If this site has rules, adhere to them, whether you agree or not. It isn't a democracy, it doesn't have to be fair or balanced. There's a whole lot of internets for that sort of thing. I don't see this as an issue at all.

Case in point.

I don't see anyone "whining." The point of this thread was to ask why a thread was closed. Then the reason was given that it was about gun discussion.

After seeing that that was the reason given and seeing that there have been several "gun" discussions recently, I simply asked what the rationale was for that particular rule and where the lines were drawn (See posts 7 & 10). I'm pretty sure that's what the feedback forum is for.

So far X has been the only mod that has posted any reasoning behind this particular rule and he still wasn't sure. Other posters felt the need to reply and start a whole nother discussion on the topic of guns instead of the forum's rules on them.

The whole Guns=freedom issue was covered in another post as was the whole private forum argument.

Does that cover everything?

No John, I was referring to the condescending, self-righteous tone of that post, which is what I theorized would the problem in any thread of that type.

My apologies, but it is no different than any thread in the politics forum.

And I don't mean to keep dragging this thread out, I'm still just waiting on an answer from a mod about my questions.

And from the link posted on the first page:
Well DVDTalks membership just shrank to triple digits.

Let me help you out. The point of this thread is to see why another thread re: guns was closed.

Thanks for your blessing.

Great. We should adhere to rules. I'm in agreement. Then I'll refer you to post #1, which stated the "rule" and then asked how the original thread did in fact violate the rules.

I'd love to see an answer to the question as well, since reading the original thread, I wouldn't have thought the content was against the stated rule either. If the stated rule is in fact more expansive than it's worded, it would be a good idea to revamp the rule so everybody knows what the real rule is, don't you think? It would also seem like the feedback forum is an appropriate place to give and receive feedback on such a topic, so I'm not sure why you'd attempt to direct people elsewhere.

Here's the original thread with GKleinman's comments:

Closing a firearms-related thread

Did you read the original thread titled "I want to Buy a Gun - Advise" or are you just going by the first post of this thread?

I have had correspondence with the OP who is willing to revise the thread to be less about how to buy a gun and more about how to learn about handling them. And in that correspondence he indicated that the entire matter is much less of a deal than apparently everyone in this thread is making it out to be.

Currently I'm waiting for Geoff to comment on the propriety of the thread in its proposed modified form.

I did read the thread when it was posted, although I can't access it anymore, so I can't go back and re-read it.

The particular thread is really not a big deal to me in any case. Geoff has been candid about his bias, and the forums are his, so :shrug: . I certainly don't start gun threads. The only reason I really even responded in this thread was because one or two members came in here with a "like it or leave it" stance with regard to gun threads, and I feel that's inappropriate, given the forum's limited prohibition in the user rules, as compared to the broader prohibition stated by Geoff in this thread. If you'll notice, in that thread too I said it would be nice if the official policy was clarified. If the forum's official policy is no gun threads period, as that thread would indicate, you would think it would be explicitly in the rules rather than buried in a thread from 2004.

Like I said, the rules on this have been applied in a fairly scattershot manner over the years. For example, I remember a thread by ukwyldcat about his trips to the Front Sight shooting school that remained open for weeks (and is apparently still open), the content of which is seemingly in contravention of Geoff's statement (although not in contravention of the official forum rules), while threads like this one got shut down right away.

Actually, DVD Talk has not had a "whole forum dedicated for porn" for months, so your reasoning is faulty. The industry itself has not harmed anyone that was not on the road to ruin from what I've been told too.

On the topic of guns, perhaps it should be made clearer than it has been of late but here's the rule as posted: "Posting links or information about where to purchase or sell drugs, guns or ammunition." For the record, advertisers pay a lot to promote their goods in this area, punctuating G!'s personal beliefs about the topic. If IB feels differently, I'm sure they'll be able to find someone less qualified to run the website though... ;)

Geoff, any way you can be bribed to loosen up the policy? I have a whole batch of deer jerky baking in the oven ;)

OK, seriously, after reading that other thread I think I have a better understanding of what is and isn't allowed. Is it safe to say that as long as we don't talk specifics about where to buy/sell guns and ammo or as someone mentioned in the other thread "threads designed merely to drool over guns" we will be ok? If a topic comes up where certain issues arise where the discussion turns to types of guns/laws about them/etc we will be fine to have that discussion? For example you can look at the current mall shooting thread in other where they are discussing CCPs.

I know that there are plenty of other forums that are actually dedicated to guns but we have a small e-community here where we get to know a lot about other posters such as their personalities, characteristics, hobbies, personal life, etc; it would be nice to discuss one of my hobbies with those same people and know what their feelings are about it. I just don't want to cross a line in doing so.