Firearms Knowledge Ego Contests

[TGO David]

Is it just me or do any of you also get the almost uncontrollable urge to punch people at gun shops, firing ranges, gun shows, forums, etc when they start in on the firearms knowledge "dick measuring" contests or otherwise talking complete and utter bullsqueeze about something they clearly know very little about?

It used to entertain me. Now it just annoys the hell out of me. But it seems almost inevitable at any one of the venues listed above, I will be subjected to listening to some clown tell everything he knows about whatever firearm is being discussed. And usually everything he knows is whatever he read in a magazine or heard from a friend's sister's room mate's cousin's hair dresser's boyfriend who is a COP... because all cops are the ultimate authority on firearms and invoking a cop as your source of information instantly adds 10,0000pts of credibility to your stupid story.

Sorry. I'm just on a bit of a rant this morning after butting heads with some Gun Magazine Ninja who swears to Jesus that his friend (a cop) already has a particular firearm that isn't due to be released for another few months. This guy got it because he's a cop. Just walked into a gun shop and said "I want XYZ gun and here are my cop credentials" and the store owner winked, nudged a stock boy and they coyly produced one of them from behind the counter where it had been secretly stored away.

Riiiiiiight.

I hate people sometimes. Well, no... most of the times.

So, what are your funny stories like this? Joe, I bet you've got some real winners from working in the retail firearms industry. Too bad you probably can't tell them.

[Guest GT_Rat]

I don't hate people. I just hate stupid. Unfortunately a lot of people are infected with it.

[TGO David]

I don't hate people. I just hate stupid. Unfortunately a lot of people are infected with it.

I have such a hard time separating the two.

[Guest Fuel]

I don't hate people. I just hate stupid. Unfortunately a lot of people are infected with it.

"Been around the world and found that only stupid people are breeding."

I have a low tolerance for stupid.

[Fallguy]

I can't say I've felt like this over other's perceived knowledge of firearms, because in all honesty I don't have a very wide range of knowledge myself. But I do know where you are coming from in general when some just KNOW something is right although there is no way it can be.

What is real frustrating is when show these people something in black-and-white and the still will not accept that there position even has the faintest possibility of being remotely somewhat incorrect.

[saintsfanbrian]

You can't fix stupid.

[Guest GT_Rat]

It is hard to separate the two. Like a bad virus stupid fights to stay alive in the host. In particularly bad cases the host even starts to like being infected with stupid and resists treatment.

[TGO David]

You really don't have to possess a wealth of knowledge yourself. A lot of times BS can be ferreted out by using common sense or just gauging a person's demeanor. I think there is a law of inverse proportions at work in most gun shops. The people who are quiet or just making small talk are the ones who probably know the most. It's the guys who can't hold a gun without announcing to anyone within ear shot every minute specification about it per Handgun Digest that subconsciously make me start clenching my fists.

I can't stand a lot of I.T. people for the same reason, which really sucks given the industry I'm in. We (myself excluded, I hope) often have diarrhea of the mouth when it comes to technical trivia. When people ask me what I do for work anymore, I just tell them I'm in the porn industry or deal crack. It's less embarrassing.

[Guest Mugster]

Its possibly worse in motorcycles, and don't get me started on civilian scuba diving. I pull up to places all the time, and the conversation goes like this (usually with some young guy driving an economy car):

Them: Hey, nice machine, what is it?

Me: Suzuki bandit 1200s.

Them: How fast does it go?

Me: I've done around 12..3-12.5 in the quarter. Top is 130 the way its geared.

Them: I've got a kawasaki super ninja 1450X that does 188.

Me: Thats Great.

Me: You know, I've never heard of a kawasaki 1450X.

Them: You have to know somebody at kawasaki to get one.

Me: Really? I know several guys on team green's offroad team. I'll give them a call.

Them: Later.

The random idiocy is amazing. LMHP (Low Mileage Harley People) crack me up worse. They have to have a harley and then ride it 500 miles a year. Sigh.

[TGO David]

Its possibly worse in motorcycles, and don't get me started on civilian scuba diving. I pull up to places all the time, and the conversation goes like this (usually with some young guy driving an economy car):

You are absolutely right. I hadn't even thought about it, but these people are everywhere and inside every social circle. I used to deal with it all the time when I had an '03 Mach 1. I couldn't go to a parts store without some assclown telling me all about my car, and most of it was wrong.

So, tell me about this civilian scuba diving. I read about it in a magazine once...

[Guest darkstar]

Yeah. I see a lot of that. If someone asks me about something I know I just give a basic run down of what I do know. If I don't know something I say so..."sorry, don't know much about this...maybe I can find out for you". You always see the one guy going on and on with every bit of detail they can muster. The ones that kill me are the guys going on and on about military weapons and you take one look at them and just know the closest they ever got was playing call of duty.

The other type is the (not ragging on the older folks) old guy who belittles your choice of firearm and rails against you because you are too stupid to know that the M-1 and the 1911, and the .38 revolver are the pinnacle of firearm design and what the hell are you even doing in my store you little punk?

I don't know how places like that stay in business.

[Mark@Sea]

The other type is the (not ragging on the older folks) old guy who belittles your choice of firearm and rails against you because you are too stupid to know that the M-1 and the 1911, and the .38 revolver are the pinnacle of firearm design

Who are you callin' old, sparky?

[Guest darkstar]

Who are you callin' old, sparky?

Hey, I'm gettin' old myself!

[Punisher84]

The thing that bothers me most is when a guy brings his wife into the range and comes up and says "Hey my wife needs a gun..." and then when you start trying to help HER he imparts his knowledge that he picked up from Arnold Schwarzenegger movies. Excuse me sir, no offense, but you asked for my help, if you know so much macho man why did you bring her to me?

I honestly believe more women are turned off by shooting sports and carry because of idiot macho boyfriends and husbands.

[Guest Grout]

Every time Jeff Styles the Chattanooga talk radio morning host opens his mouth about guns he comes off sounding like an idiot.

[Garufa]

There's nothing wrong with keeping you're mouth shut when you don't know what the hell you're talking about. If you don't know something, admit it, then go look it up.

Gun shops sometimes do seem to be at the pinnacle of "expertise". Funny thing is when you ask a direct question that you know the answer to, you get B.S in return. I especially enjoy when someone's looking to but their "first" and are immediately directed to the most tac-ed out, 1000K+ handgun with lasers, lights, grenade launchers, etc. I just shake my head and keep walking before I'm forced to say something, something uncouth.

[Guest db99wj]

Just go to Bass Pro and listen...Wow.

[clipslinger]

I dont like the bullsh*ters, but sometimes ive learned a lot from bystanders who speak up about this or that. I try not to do the same thing but im sure theirs a little of that in me too. When i went to the range the other day a guy and his kid were shooting an sks paratroop. I went down for a closer look and commented that it was a good looking rifle.the guy says its not and cant hit crap with it. I asked to take a look and guy has the rear sight on battle sight so i show him and then adjust the front sight for him and show him. The guy next to us is looking at me like im a know it all but we got the thing to group on paper.When I was a nube I almost bought a llama .45, guy walks up and says you dont want that. He explained it all and im so damned glad i didnt buy it.

[strickj]

When first saw my Sub2k in the shop,I ask to look at it and the kid behind the counter(owners grandson) who's maybe 14 came a runnin.I said oh,man,this dumb kid is gonna cost me more time then this is worth:rolleyes: but I was patient because he was the only one available and I reaaalllllyyy wanted to play with it! So I'm playing with it and he ask what my carry gun was,because KT made them to take different mags,and started telling me which ones are available!Well this was not only news to me but also surprised me that he knew so much about them!

Well after sleeping on it I decided to go back the next day to get it.When I got there the kid was no where to be found,and had to deal with the guy who's usually working.

Anyhoo I told him I wanted to order one that took different mags then the one he had.He looked at me like I was an idiot!Said that they only come in Glock mags

I should also add that this is the same shop that when I ask(I have ask at least 4-5 times)if they have any of the new XD M's in stock yet,and I;ll get the answer "You mean the ones with the thumb safety" :rolleyes"

Edited June 3, 2008 by strickj

[Guest grimel]

The random idiocy is amazing. LMHP (Low Mileage Harley People) crack me up worse. They have to have a harley and then ride it 500 miles a year. Sigh.

Don't get me started on those bozos. I was admiring a 7yr old Herritage Softtail in a man's garage. He was telling me how he had taken it to Daytona twice, Sturgis (SD) three times, Laughlin once, and some other place. It had less than 5000 miles total.

I swear if I ever goto Daytona I'm wearing a t-shirt that says I rode my bike to trailer week.

[Mark@Sea]

I swear if I ever goto Daytona I'm wearing a t-shirt that says I rode my bike to trailer week.

[Guest Centennial]

Every time Jeff Styles the Chattanooga talk radio morning host opens his mouth about guns he comes off sounding like an idiot.

That is very likely because he is an idiot!

[Guest slothful1]

Every time Jeff Styles the Chattanooga talk radio morning host opens his mouth about guns he comes off sounding like an idiot.

You could remove the words "about guns" from this sentence without affecting its truth value.

[Guest canynracer]

[ame]

[/ame]

starts at 50

[et45]

When first saw my Sub2k in the shop,I ask to look at it and the kid behind the counter(owners grandson) who's maybe 14 came a runnin.I said oh,man,this dumb kid is gonna cost me more time then this is worth:rolleyes: but I was patient because he was the only one available and I reaaalllllyyy wanted to play with it! So I'm playing with it and he ask what my carry gun was,because KT made them to take different mags,and started telling me which ones are available!Well this was not only news to me but also surprised me that he knew so much about them!

Well after sleeping on it I decided to go back the next day to get it.When I got there the kid was no where to be found,and had to deal with the guy who's usually working.

Anyhoo I told him I wanted to order one that took different mags then the one he had.He looked at me like I was an idiot!Said that they only come in Glock mags

I should also add that this is the same shop that when I ask(I have ask at least 4-5 times)if they have any of the new XD M's in stock yet,and I;ll get the answer "You mean the ones with the thumb safety" :rolleyes"

Been hanging out at Carter's huh?.Kevin is a very smart young man when it comes to guns,he has grown up in that store.