Image we project as a gun community...

[DarkRose]

Not sure where else to put this, but I thought I should post it for all to see, so if it needs moved to somewhere more appropriate, feel free (Political? Site Suggestions? unsure...) Cross post if neccessary...

I recently remarked to an online acquaintance that is VERY pro-gun, that she should check out this site and community, because it was a good place for info with a lot of good people and while no one agrees 100% on everything, there's a good vibe here, and a place I'm glad to be a part of.

Here's the reply I received from her:

"I looked them up ..no thanks ..their the reason anti-gun people view us the way they do ..mostly red necks and hill billys ..sorry your associated with them .good luck with that. "

She didn't cite any specific examples, but maybe we should all stop and think about how we project ourselves to the public in general. Especially considering this came from someone who claims to be on "our" side.

 

[jblomenberg16]

I think the Redneck / Hillbilly monicker probably describes most hoosiers, not just INGOers.

I think what may add to the stereotype is that typically when we're out at the range, we're not dressed to impress anyone...but rather to be comfortable. Hence, range pics probably show a little more of our less than desirable features, like our excessive sweating, our love handles, and maybe even a 2 or 3 day beard from not shaving.


I've wondered the same thing in general when I've been at the range (with and without INGOers) and have come to the conclusion that there isn't anything wrong, different, or unusual about gun owners, and that we just really don't care too much for what we look like at the range. Ok, so maybe a few of us tend to go a little overboard on the "Tacticool" look occasionally.


It may help your friend to go to the Barth Co. fair this week and check out what will be a good cross section of Indiana, ranging from the more prim and propper, to the stereotypical redneck. At that point your friend will probably find that INGO is a pretty good sampling of that larger population.

I've only met a small # of the site's members in person, but of those I have met, I think it is safe to say that we truly come from all walks of life.

 

[Kitty]

I don't know what she looked up, and I'll admit I stumbled into this group but I don't think I would be comfortable here if the redneck/hillbilly thing were 100% true. Granted, that is the stereo-type most people put on a group like this and yes those types are here. But we have people from all walks and talks of life. Personally, I'd like to know the information she used to form that opinion.

 

[jsheets1]

Yeah I am not sure were that came from. Most INGO members seem pretty respectable to me. We have many business owners and other " respectable" people that are part of the forums. The only thing I see occasionally is the people that tend to be smart alecks and bash everyones opinion no matter what it is about. But with a group this big that is to be expected. This is another reason why I think we should make our group more visible to cut through the stereotypes.

 

[ReSSurrected]

"I looked them up ..no thanks ..their the reason anti-gun people view us the way they do ..mostly red necks and hill billys ..sorry your associated with them .good luck with that. "

Gotta disagree with that. I definitely feel that INGO is the "grownup's table" out of the current choices of Indiana gun forums.

Are you sure she visited this site and not another one? You know, the one where "people say whatever they want?"

 

[Jake46184]

Any online gun forum attracts, mostly, blue-collar, redneck "hillbilly's." It is what it is. There are a lot of professional, white-collar gun owners as well who carry every day. They're just less-likely to frequent online gun forums.

So, to your friend's assertion, I would mostly agree. It is always the "Bubbas" of those of us who own firearms who the media portrays as being the totality. Of course, it is not.

 

[crispy]

Did she write that and you cut and pasted it or were you paraphrasing?

Nothing worse than "superior" people that can't spell...

 

[miguel]

I'd rather be friends with rednecks and hillbillies than socialists and ignoramuses.

 

[sgreen3]

I agree^^^^.... Thats crazy, offley funny no specific things were pointed out

 

[LockStocksAndBarrel]

My guess is she went a little ways into awfulwaffles thread about carrying in Ohio...he could make her feel that way and quickly, too.

 

[hooky]

That opinion is worth the paper it's printed on.

 

[IndianaResident]

By and large, I'd say that false, but sometimes I see things on here that make me cringe. Not necessarily because they are "redneck" or "hillbilly", but just irresponsible.

To INGO's credit, that type of comment is usually followed by scorn and/or correction, but we all know people focus on whatever negative they can find and portray it as the baseline for the rest of us.

 

[Dtruck260]

I'm fine with the image I see here,

"sorry your associated with them .good luck with that"

Is the image I would worry about being associated with.

 

[DragonGunner]

I'd rather be friends with rednecks and hillbillies than socialists and ignoramuses.

Whats wrong with rednecks an hillbillys excercising their 2nd ammendment rights....?.....You need to find a new friend, she sounds way too sophisticated for my liking with that statement....is she a racist too?

 

[UncleMike]

Gotta disagree with that. I definitely feel that INGO is the "grownup's table" out of the current choices of Indiana gun forums.

Are you sure she visited this site and not another one? You know, the one where "people say whatever they want?"

That would have been my guess too.

 

[oneshotonekill]

Hi, my name is oneshotonekill, I am a REDNECK! Oh, oops, this isn't a support group for HILLBILLY'S?

For reals though, a lot of us on here either hunt, farm, fish, are blue collar workers, you name it and it is in this group of forum users. It is too bad she is holier than though art.

 

[lovemachine]

Gotta disagree with that. I definitely feel that INGO is the "grownup's table" out of the current choices of Indiana gun forums.

Are you sure she visited this site and not another one? You know, the one where "people say whatever they want?"

I agree that INGO is far from being a hick/redneck society. The majority of us are mature, and there are lots of members here that I am proud to say they represent me/us as gunowners.

But, no matter WHAT you think of the other gun forums, lets not bash them.
After all, they too are gunowners.

 

[The Bubba Effect]

Here's the reply I received from her:

"I looked them up ..no thanks ..their the reason anti-gun people view us the way they do ..mostly red necks and hill billys ..sorry your associated with them .good luck with that. "

Sounds like your online acquaintance is classist/racist.

I'm white, rural, working class. What's more, my neck is sun burned from laboring in the sun and I'm of Scott origin. I'm from the rolling hills of Southern Indiana and my father's name is William, his grandfather's name is William, his grandfather's name is William and so on.

So, Redneck being a term for white, rural working class people and Hill Billy being a term originating from Scotts living in the hills of Eastern KY/Western VA who had a proclivity for naming their Sons William, I guess I am a redneck hillbilly.

I'm glad your acquaintance is not going to be joining us. I do not care for the company of such people.

 

[jsharmon7]

I'm fine with the image I see here,

"sorry your associated with them .good luck with that"

Is the image I would worry about being associated with.

Agreed. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but those two sentences scream "snobby and childish." Oh well, it's more her loss than ours.

 

[snowrs]

If a person wants to judge then who really needs them. It's that type of attitude that you need to keep away from, she probably hates dirty hippies, and stupid football jocks. She knows no one on these forums, and I would bet she would be very suprised at some of the people who frequent here.