Why does an interest in firearms trigger a reflexive ostracism from most people?

KeffirLime · 2018-06-04T18:07:45+00:00

Yeah, with the amount of mass shootings going on coupled with global mainstream media anyone with an interest in guns is seen as a terrorist or psycopath

900_year_old_vampire · 2018-06-04T18:33:22+00:00

in the same way that i am sure your father raised you to not fear firearms but to also treat them with respect and use them responsibly, so it just feels like common sense to you.. plenty of people's parents raised them the exact opposite. the fear and ignorance is ingrained in them just as deeply, and it seems like common sense to them. this is not a new issue. its been a political divide since before any of us were even alive. its just more prevalent now because everyone over 5 years old has a fucking ipad and the internet. propaganda spreads quicker than ever before.

Whisper · 2018-06-04T19:58:33+00:00

The formula for ruling a large number of people, using a small number of people, without their consent, is very simple:

You must disarm the peasants. There is no way to stop an angry mob except with superior firepower.
If the peasants are already armed, you must trick them into disarming themselves.
To do this, you must make them afraid, and promise you will protect them.
- Create conflict and distrust within your society. Black vs. White. Poor vs. Rich. Urban vs. Rural. Whatever.
- When violence erupts, paint it all over the news. Focus on the gun, not the perpetrator. Ignore any incidents where a gun is used for defense, or that otherwise do not fit the narrative.
- Use this to pass "common sense restrictions" on guns. Don't go for a ban all at once, because you haven't fooled everyone. Tighten the noose slowly.
- Create a special class of praetorian who are specifically exempt from your gun laws, and from many other laws as well. These are the guys who will enforce your gun laws, and they will do so enthusiastically because they themselves are not effected.
- Create fictional entertainments that support your narrative. Show guns constantly, but only in the hands of perpetrators of violence, and praetorian-class "special people" stopping them. If you must occasionally show a regular person using a gun, have them pick up a dropped one. Never show them buying one, and especially never show them already owning one.
- Now that you have created the impression that only praetorians and the violently antisocial have guns, treat anyone who has one as suspect. Loudly and publicly "investigate" people who are doing entirely legal things with their guns (such as carrying them in a holster) to "make sure nothing is wrong and everyone is safe". Announce that they "technically weren't doing anything against current law" (nudge nudge wink wink).
- Use the growing fear to create more gun laws. Make them as complex, irrational, and difficult to understand and follow as possible. Publicly arrest some people who get it wrong, and publish scary news stories with pictures of their collection, and quotes about how they had "hundreds" of rounds of ammunition, and about how you "don't know at this time if they were planning anything".
Once you have them afraid, slowly use a combination of legal and social pressure to reduce gun ownership.

Eventually, you will be able to enact whatever policies you want. You no longer need to avoid outraging the population. You can keep them down through fear, rather than having to court their good opinion.

You only need to keep the favour of your praetorians. And this is a much easier task, because the praetorians like their special status, prestige, and legal immunities. Also, they are completely aware that many of the peasants now hate and fear them, and suspect that it would go very badly with them if the peasants were allowed to "throw the bastards out".

wilkins_micawber · 2018-06-04T18:58:14+00:00

Find new friends that aren’t hoplophobes.

_A_L_3_X_ · 2018-06-04T18:28:08+00:00

the girl im dating knows that i have weapons as a hobby, but it doesnt seem to bother her too much. at least shes not like, if you want to date me youll have to leave that hobby alone. the answer would be obvious.

[deleted] · 2018-06-04T19:09:29+00:00

Yeah well welcome to 2018 where MSM tells blatant lies and demonizes anyone who thinks firearms are a good thing.

We live in a weak society, full of people who don't think, but rather just consume media and hear how they should feel rather than think about how they feel.

chazthundergut · 2018-06-04T20:25:26+00:00

It's a frame test, just like everything else. I have an open interest in firearms, and it's never alienated me from anyone I didn't already want out of my life.

If you act apologetic about it or as if you're seeking permission, or course you're gonna get chewed up. But all boys like guns; even at four years old we are drawn to them.

So treat your interest in firearms the same as your interest in pussy. It is 100% natural, normal, and your prerogative as a man. Never apologize for it or try to explain it.

Herdsengineers · 2018-06-04T19:18:07+00:00

Just another aspect of BP'ing and making men at large giant pussies. It's all about control.

Metalgear222 · 2018-06-04T20:48:57+00:00

"There are no good guns, there are no bad guns. A gun in the hands of a bad man is a bad thing. A gun in the hands of a good man is no threat to anyone, except a bad man."

Black_m0ngoose · 2018-06-04T22:15:12+00:00

It shatters the widely held misconception that an individual's safety can be ensured through the promise of all the participants in society agree to play by the rules.

Safety is an illusion.

Thisisaghosttown · 2018-06-04T20:31:25+00:00

Cause the narrative in America now is that firearms are the root of all evil. I’ve been shooting and building guns since I was 10, I keep this to myself IRL.

One of my professors at my university who I was very close with found out that I own a few guns and take them to the range on the regular. In his own words to my face:

“I cannot believe that a bright young man like you can even bring himself to own a firearm.”

When I studied abroad I spent a day with a bunch of Australians who I met partying. They were asking me about current political issues in the USA, and I had mentioned to them that I own firearms back home.

If you would of saw the Aussie’s reaction to that, you would of thought I told them that I was a pedophile. Actually I would of gotten a better reaction from them if I told them I was a pedo or a serial rapist instead of telling them I own guns.

Turn on the news and browse your social media and you’ll see why this is.

Toussant · 2018-06-04T20:00:57+00:00

Academia is heavily skewed left wing because it's a socialist environment with unions and tenures and virtually no entrepreneurship.

Do what you need to do to graduate, then get back to reality.

falecf4 · 2018-06-04T20:15:43+00:00

Must be where you live, in part. I grew up with gun but most people did not and it is even worse today. If you are taught how to use and respect guns and other weapons they are useful like any other tool but most people only know what they see in tv, movies, video games and the news.

You could try to educate some people by offering to take them shooting but I suspect 99.9% of the time you would be wasting you breath.

BurnieSlander · 2018-06-04T20:37:03+00:00

Law 4: Always say less than is necessary.

Being interested in firearms is fine. I own quite a few guns and hunt every year, but I would never broadcast anything related to firearms on social media. It’s simply not a topic I care to debate and/or have people judging me for.

Zanford · 2018-06-04T21:36:43+00:00

Crab bucket mentality. Many men (esp in Europe) have been thoroughly, thoroughly neutered (there is literally a big drop T levels over the past 50 years, like 30-40% adjusted for age IIRC).

Masculinity thus makes them bitter and angry, in a similar fashion to fat chicks hating on hotties. People love to tear other people down (especially those who are more successful/attrative), so these guys are able to manipulate their university's cultural marxist bureaucracy into punishing the gun-loving Chad they envy.

They'll hate on lifting in the same way; they just don't yet have the political tools to expel guys just for getting jacked. But no doubt they are working on that too.

Also media brainwashing that guns are mysterious and scary and randomly shoot everyone around them. A gun is probably statistically safer than a car or a bottle of liquor, but most people have a very poor perception of statistical risk, and their fears are driven more by media and peers.

kick6 · 2018-06-04T23:06:58+00:00

Most people have zero exposure to firearms. They only know what they see in the news. The news says guns are bad, and nobody has the integrity to actually confirm it.

Well, except the one lying ass “”””journalist””” who claimed he wanted to cry after one round through an ar15.

123undeuxtrois123 · 2018-06-04T19:18:36+00:00

According to Freud the reason behind the fear of firearms is sexual immaturity.

Ricklogical · 2018-06-04T23:03:52+00:00

How much do you know about the propaganda machine being used to remove guns and weaponry from private citizens? They almost have the whole world locked down.

The only people in most of the world that have guns are criminals or government officials.

SasquatchMcKraken · 2018-06-04T21:40:08+00:00

That strongly depends on where you live and who you hang with. The majority of people in my country (the U.S.) either like guns or are ambivalent about them. As long as you're not an actual "gun nut" wherein that's all you do or think about, it's been my experience that most people couldn't care less.

Throwaway-242424 · 2018-06-04T23:48:07+00:00

Unfortunately guns are implicitly political in today's climate, and if you're a minor and/or live in a country without a US-style gun culture, the political climate you're surrounded by is going to be heavily biased against them.

Pyromolt · 2018-06-05T00:44:35+00:00

because "muh mass shooters"

Radioactivebuny · 2018-06-05T03:57:02+00:00

Because it means you’re not a subject to the government they want to put you under their boot.

You’re not harmless, you have power, and they don’t like that.

The attitude you describe is that of a beta. Enjoy your guns.

DayGameChirality · 2018-06-04T21:03:55+00:00

I dont have anything against interest in firearms, but interest in military is IMO just fucking dumb. Way to waste your life fighting in someone else's war killing other people who are just as dumb as you.

DoubleTimeRLTW · 2018-06-04T19:12:49+00:00

Any man that is afraid of firearms, or who’s dick doesn’t just slightly twitch at watching things blow up, should probably get their T checked.

Original_Dankster · 2018-06-04T21:11:00+00:00

I'm older, so my experience might be different. I'm in a VERY liberal city in Canada, and do not hide my firearms hobby. I am very open about it. I own semi autos that most Canadians assume (wrongly) would be illegal, but I have the license and it's all legit.

People who whine about guns, I just ignore them. It hasn't impacted my status whatsoever, and women I date here in this very liberal town actually love going to the shooting range with me (usually after I've been seeing them for a while).

My Tinder and Bumble profiles mention shooting as a hobby. Who knows how many women swipe left because of that, but if you have abundance, look good, and display alpha traits, there's still lots that swipe right. And those who swipe right don't freak because my hobby is out in the open and they know right up front.

Other context: I'm a military vet, and I have a lot of non-gun hobbies including music, athletics, etc - so it's tough to characterize me as a "gun nut".

xtpattx · 2018-06-04T21:31:02+00:00

What state are you from? In Utah its almost alien if you don't have at least one firearm. My Mormon ass cousin has like 8 guns in total lol.

chim_city · 2018-06-04T21:57:56+00:00

Posting to social media is like one of those political bumper stickers you see during election years. You are asking for a brick through your car window. So be smart. You post something on a touchy subject what do you expect.

Your next post should be about killing babies

[deleted] · 2018-06-05T00:49:10+00:00

post on my social media.

Why the hell would you do that?

Wrath_of_Trump · 2018-06-05T02:17:41+00:00

Because women are afraid that one of their flock of beta orbiters might be the next to snap.

W_O_M_B_A_T · 2018-06-05T05:18:47+00:00

Most people have neither the incentive nor the training to think beyond guilt-by-association.

Moreover their fears are informed by what is recent and what is sensational, not by statistical data.

actualimprovement · 2018-06-05T12:38:46+00:00

As a German I have never seen a gun in my entire life being 24 years old except on police. There are barely any guns in Germany. What do you expect? It's a different culture. In Germany guns exist to kill people. There is no "gun culture" or whatever you want to call it. Police has guns..that's about it. And no, I do not count the 0.1% hunters.

abh985 · 2018-06-05T16:26:01+00:00

Owning firearms is literally american culture. It’s considered extremley abnormal and weird to own guns in other countries

vandaalen · 2018-06-04T17:50:38+00:00

Are you living in a cave?

Zahlix · 2018-06-04T21:21:02+00:00

I am from Germany and guns aren't very much part of our day to day life or culture. We only have sport shooting and hunters in Germany, both of which are quite regulated and somewhat distrusted by the public.

You also can't blame many Europeans for thinking that way. In 2015, the US police killed 1140 civilians compared to 2 civilians in Germany. Any kind of gun violence is unimaginable for people around here, many have never even seen a gun up close except when carried on police officers holster.

Thisisaghosttown · 2018-06-04T21:45:12+00:00

Lol that’s good but I pulled a Kyrie Irving on him.

https://youtu.be/GtahJP42gjY

SexySmexxy · 2018-06-04T22:06:25+00:00

As with everything in life. The devil is in the details, and you havent really gone into detail.

what even is "most people"?

Title	Why does an interest in firearms trigger a reflexive ostracism from most people?
Author	TheKickinJumpmaster
Upvotes	46
Comments	106
Date	June 4, 2018 5:44 PM UTC (8 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/askTRP
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/asktrp/comments/8oj9m1/why_does_an_interest_in_firearms_trigger_a/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/askTRP/why-does-an-interest-in-firearms-trigger-a.99165 https://theredarchive.com/post/99165

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