I don't want to hear any criticism of other forums; I am just curious, after seeing yet another member karma off a firearm in this forum.

In the past, I frequented other forums, but no more, so I don't know how widespread is this practice. And it's not just guns worth several hundred dollars I see being given away. I see the entire gamut, from some small part a member does not need but feels someone else here might use, to very good watches and other useful and not inexpensive items, and all the way up to by God genuine firepower.

Do you know what I'd like to hear in response to my question? I'd like to hear that we are in this respect, unique, but I don't believe that's the case.

I do want to say that I am proud of all those who've gone through the trouble of offering up karmas. Even the little gun part you'll never use can make for a trying karma, because sometimes, those who enter and win fail to respond (which creates a minor ethical dilemma for the giver), and sometimes, shipping out things can be a pain. None of you have to do these things, and you have my gratitude.

So, tell me, gents- how generous do you find other boards to be? Again, no criticism of any other forum, please.

I've seen it on other boards but the % for lack of a better term is unmatched elsewhere.

The amount of karmas/members is off the charts here.

The impromptu Karmas by themselves outnumber what I've seen on other forums.

"I'm looking for an X item"
"I've got one laying around, send me your address"

ETA: I think it comes mostly from the relationship members have with this board, I frequent a half dozen or so, the others I am guilty of just looking for deals and specific information. I come here for an actual feeling of comraderie, and for me personally that tight knit group feeling makes it way easier to give and share.

Of the ones I'm aware of, none even comes close to SIGforum in terms of Karma-ing. Just Dave Truong's monthly Karma tops it all, imo.

Membership has its privileges.

I belong to one that gives away a firearm and sundry other items every July 4th and Christmas. There are also occasional giveaways by members.

In the complete and utter faithfulness to the word karma itself, the way it's practiced here I've never seen it anywhere else.

Ever.

And here it's a regular thing, done by grateful, humble people with a simple desire to give back.

Nowhere else.

I actually owe one to someone lol, need the time off to go shopping for him after he graciously sent me free magazines!

It isn’t just the karmas. The kindness I have witnessed first hand and myself received from this forum’s membership is unrivaled.

Para, as the recent winner of one of the karma drawings I say thank you to all who give this way.

Sigforum is the only forum I visit which does this. Occasionally on one of the other forums someone will donate something usually to the first to respond. This does not happen in near the extent it happens here.

Thanks Para for such a fine forum to learn and occasionally participate in.

Greg

I've seen and have participated in some exchanges on foodie forums. Whereas someone will agree to send me some spice or other food item only available to them locally and I will send them some Minnesota wild rice or some locally grown honey etc. But as far as free giveaways I've never really seen that anywhere but here.

I have honestly not seen it on other boards.

IIRC, this practice (and its name) was introduced to us many years ago by a member- Replacement Tommel. I see he's still around from time to time, last logged into the forum in March.

I believe he said he was a member of a collector's forum for GI Joe, and the members there engaged in this practice.

A bit of confusion about karmas can arise for new members, since, unfortunately, the board software refers to your post count as "karma points." Each post is one "karma point." It's just a coincidence.

I was thinking it was agony that started it, but I certainly remember Replacement Tommel.

I have memberships on, literally, dozens of forums, covering a wide range of special interests. I see occasional gives-aways on one or two of them, but I've never seen anything like the karma'ing I see by the generous membership here on SF.

It may have been agony, but I could swear it was RT. It was a long time ago.

Not sure, it was a long time ago!

I have not seen karmas, the way they are done here, on any other forum anywhere. There is a culture here that promotes the cycle of giving freely that I have never seen anywhere else.

Didn't member Chance pull the plug on his karma selector software? How are we even conducting karma's now?

I concur with others - I’ve seen karmas / giveaways on other forums, but nothing to the degree I’ve seen here.

I have done it a few times on the Toyota 4Runner forum and seen a few others do it there but not often.

I have also done a karma on the Corvette Forum I frequent and got several posts of total disbelief that one would give away a Corvette part or accessory. They were willing to put their name in but were incredulous that anyone would do this. The parts were from a car I no longer owned so had absolutely no use for them.