I just came back over after a couple hour break for my much needed dose of reality. I’m like the boy in the bubble, I NEED this glorious place. I don’t post a lot because frankly, I don’t feel like I’m smart or witty enough most of the time, but I feel as much at home here as I do in my own. You people are my family, and Para, I am thankful as hell for this little piece of heaven, and you and the mods do an amazing job. Thank you Para, and thank you Sigforum!

I must say Sig Forum is a very special place for me for a number of reasons. The breadth of topics and knowledge shared by all the people here. The overall conservative, mature, and respectful nature of those who post is quite refreshing. We all really get a lot from this forum from current news, humor, advice, and when anyone is in ill health or just down and out, sympathy. It's well moderated. This is why it's my main page that pops up first whenever I start my computer. My thanks and appreciation go out to Para, as well as well as all of you!

Happy New Year!

Fargin icehole!

The reason I keep hanging around is that I appreciate the way this place is operated...and I'll also recognize it can't be easy. I don't post a lot but I do read most threads and posts. I've learned an awful lot and and observed a lot. My concern and head shakes have nothing to do with the operation of the forum but rather with some of the nutty posts by members. If by chance I do do step out of line( hopefully infrequently) I have no problem with someone putting my head back on straight. bottom line say well done

I stumbled upon this Forum 13 years ago and glad I did. Enjoy the company and knowledge imparted by all.

Keep up the good work Para and all of us here.

P.S., Feel free to divulge the names of the miscreants you refer to here;________________________and here______________________and, well, you get it

The value of this forum, or any “Discussion Forum” for that matter – is the quantity and quality of the posts. The information shared and ideas exchanged among the members.

Sigforum has “quality” – because of the many members who contribute. If nobody posted anything – it wouldn’t really matter who owned it or how it was moderated would it?

Of course, rules and moderation are necessary to keep the off-topic, ad hominem, and idiotic posts from cluttering up the content.

I am a long-time member of Sigforum. I rarely post. The reason is simple. It was very apparent to me early on that Parabellum is not really interested in an open discussion forum, but in maintaining an echo-chamber of sycophantic regulars who will heartily agree with whatever position he espouses.

Many times, I agreed with his positions, but saw no reason to respond as there would already be multiple pages of “Yeah Para – that’s right!” type responses.

And if I did *not* agree with his positions, well that doesn’t go over so well, does it?

I’ll offer two examples. When Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his cell, someone started a thread about it. Para was quite clear that it was a suicide and that was all there was to it and anything else was just speculative nonsense.

I tried to make a post with a different take on the subject and it would post momentarily and then disappear from the forum. I naively thought it was a technical issue – then he responded to me and said:

“How many times am I going to have to delete that shit? This will make number three.”

My post and his reply were both deleted by him, so no one else had a clue what was going on.
That is his prerogative of course. I had angered the almighty Para because I had a different opinion on what was going on with Jeffery Epstein. Can’t have that on HIS forum can we? What I posted was nothing profane, aimed at any person, or would be considered offensive by anyone, it was just something Para did not like.

I started reading the recent “MGTOW” post and I was really enjoying the content and the different points of view being put forth.

The OP of that thread eloquently stated a position that I took to be an uplifting message – “Hey, it is OK to be a single man and do your own thing” – Para didn’t like that one either and took the opposite view. There was some entertaining back and forth, but now, it appears *THAT* entire thread has been deep-sixed down the digital memory hole…….

And that brings me to my point – We live in interesting times. Our lives are increasingly being dominated by tech giants like Apple, Google and Facebook. We KNOW the tech giants are actively censoring conservatives, pro 2nd Amendment news and ANYTHING that does not agree with their agenda.

Have a gun channel on YouTube? They will de-monetize it, if not outright banned. Support President Trump? Shadow banned. Etc. On and On.

Parabellum runs this forum EXACTLY like big tech and actively censors posts or members that do not agree with him. Some people deserve his ban hammer, but many do not.

In the end, a gun forum with 86,000 members of which *maybe* 5% regularly post, is nothing significant or worth getting riled up over, compared to the billions on Facebook, Google, Apple, etc.

It is just disheartening to see that someone who is supposedly a champion of the 2nd Amendment, and I would assume (or hope) a supporter of all the others – frequently displays vindictive, arbitrary and unhelpful censorship on his own forum.

Instead of encouraging on-topic discussion and dialogue, it is not so-subtlety discouraged.

We all have hobbies. Parabellum spends a lot of time here and pays the bills, so I assume this is his primary hobby and passion. He can of course run it as he sees fit.

Para, you asked for feedback, so that is my honest take on it.

Happy New Year to you, and to all the denizens of Sigforum!

Cheers,
-i8mtm

Para, I know you are not looking for compliments, but...

One thing I always try to keep in mind when you weigh in on something is that I figure there's a lot going on behind the scenes that we aren't even aware of before you go public. Assuming that's the case simply places you even higher in my esteem.

Best wishes to you and yours for the New Year

I am over whelmed with the amount of knowledge, information, generosity and kindness of this forum.

I consider it a privilege to be a member of your forum, and will abide by your wishes. I have no complaints. Please boss carry on and Happy New Year.

Well, Para (not that you were wondering, but...) there is a reason it took me 15+ years to sign up. And it is: I knew from day one that it was a tightly-ran ship, and I needed to get myself used to the house rules. No regrets here: I did not have - and still don’t have - too much to contribute, but I’m glad to have access to so many knowledgeable guys and girls.

Thanks everyone for making this place what it is. Thanks, specially, to the boss down in Georgia.

I like it here.
I don't have a problem with the way things are run.

This place is what I consider my "adult place" on the web. Can't say I like some members posts but I enjoy this place.

I've certainly been remiss in expressing my gratitude for this place that Para allows us to hang out. It's just not a place for anyone to turn into a BookFace rant or owner slam. Not only no, but GTFO if the boss's rules are too much for ya. Thanks so much Para!

i8mtm, we had an Epstein thread, and that thread got locked. Do you know what happens to restarted threads in this forum? That's right, they get deleted. Maybe you didn't know this, but now you do. Might be useful for you in the future. Also, just a tech tip for you- if you see your post- if you see the words you posted actually appear in this forum, and that post disappears, that's not a glitch. Posts, threads- these things don't disappear on their own. That simply does not happen. No, for such a thing to happen, someone has to delete them. I just thought that this information might be of some use to you in the future.

Secondly, do you know why the MGTOW thread was deleted? Tell me why that thread was deleted. If you don't know, just ask me, and I'll tell you.

Also, thank you for pointing out to me that my reserving of the right to control the content of this forum clearly indicates that I am anti-Second Amendment. I was entirely unaware of that. Oblivious to it. Thanks for letting me know. Frankly, I am shocked to find this out.

Having walked in your shoes (as a moderator, not as the boss) for a couple of years, I can appreciate the work that goes behind running a site such as this in an orderly fashion. Not everyone knows what goes on behind the scenes, and some of the stuff that posters NEVER see. I congratulate you for having an even hand, and sometimes, the patience of a saint.

I once -- inadvertently -- crossed paths with you. You called me out and asked me to respond. Being a man, I did so, and we quickly had things settled out and went on our merry ways. In my opinion, that's the way to respond when a moderator takes you to task.

No one is required to pay to be a member here. For that, we should all be thankful that we are guests in another's "house." Running a BBS, a forum, a web site, etc. is not free. Nor is it easy. I, for one, try to be careful to not break the house rules. And if I do, it's on me -- not Parabellum -- to accept responsibility. If I can't do that, why should I even bother to come here? This is kind of like A.A.: If I don't like the meeting we have here, I'm free to go start a meeting somewhere else.

Thank you for all you do, Para.

I enjoy the forum - there are certainly topics which are the managements way or the highway - you can tell when everyone else stops responding to the thread or it simply disappears aka deleted - but I don't think that's unreasonable, as I see this as a business (regardless of if it generates income for the owner or not) and its the owners right to run it how they deem appropriate. I have certainly garnered attention at times and always complied with the direction given.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
i8mtm, we had an Epstein thread, and that thread got locked. Do you know what happens to restarted threads in this forum? Thta's right, they get deleted. Also, just a tech tip for you- if you see your post- if you see the words you posted actually appear in this forum, and that post disappears, that's not a glitch. Posts, threads- these things don't disappear on their own. That simply does not happen. I just thought that this information ight be of some use to you in the future.

Secondly, do you know why the MGTOW thread was deleted? Tell me why that thread was deleted. If you don't know, just ask me, and I'll tell you.

I was NOT re-starting the Epstein thread. I specifically avoided even mentioning what I posted. I was just using it as an example to illustrate my point.

I have no idea why the MGTOW thread was deleted.

And now I do realize that when posts are instantly deleted it is not a technical glitch.

Regards,

-i8mtm

I was/am a member on a muzzleloading forum, yet I haven’t been there for years...this place is the place I go to get info, ask questions, and occasionally see if I can help someone out.

Thank you Para for what you do. I know I could not run a lemonade stand much less a place like SigForum.

Keep doing what you’re doing.

quote:

Originally posted by i8mtm:
I was NOT re-starting the Epstein thread. I specifically avoided even mentioning what I posted. I was just using it as an example to illustrate my point.

I have no idea why the MGTOW thread was deleted.

And now I do realize that when posts are instantly deleted it is not a technical glitch.

I'm glad that got cleared up. Now, about me being anti-Second Amendment, man, I did not know that controlling the content of this forum made me anti-2A. Imagine my surprise! Thanks for letting me know. I mean, I'm all aligned with big tech, Google and the like. Damn! This is news to me. Wait 'til I tell the wife.

One question, though- and I'll ask you, because you seem to know- If I refrain from locking, editing or deleting any content in this forum- if I let whomever post whatever any way they wish, am I back in good with the Second? 'Cause, man, I surely didn't mean for that to happen. So, if I play like I'm a doormat and everything is acceptable to be posted here, am I cool with the Constitution? I mean, I don't see the connection, but you do, so, you know, I'm just asking.

Here I was thinking that a place such as this fostered new shooters, encouraged gun sales, provided a portal where germane, informative political content could be gleaned- Hell, I figured I was on the right side of things, maybe even doing a bit of good, and here I find out all of a sudden like, that I am anti-gun! Help me, man!

I owe this forum much. more than I can put in an essay.

I had a thread disappear today. I know why, I got excited and I posted a topic that was a repost of a closed thread AND broke a rule I/we had just been reminded of.

I am thankful to still be a member of the forum. I hold my membership and reputation dearly.

I was part of the /. meltdown a long time ago, and watched as it was re-built on a moderator, post ranking system. We do not have the problem, in large part because para is close and involved and clearly loves this place. The moderators do an amazing job.

Be Blessed, for you are a Blessing.

Best forum anywhere. Thank you