One thing six-plus decades in this life has taught me is that people are overly-optimistic with our culture’s custom of New Year’s Resolutions. Therefore, I figured I should wait until a couple of weeks in to put my own in perspective.

New Year’s Resolutions often revolve around personal vices. Quit smoking, quit drinking, make your sex life less dangerous. They key here is reasonable expectations. My resolutions in this regard were to make love to only the cleanest and sweetest woman, drink only the finest adult beverages, and smoke only choice tobacco. It’s working so far, which obviously proves that I’m right. J

Another resolution was to put up with less BS, and it’s relevant here because I’ve applied it to the blog you are now reading. In the years I’ve been doing the Backwoods Home firearms blog, the record will show that of 6,417 comments posted here by readers at the time I write this, I approved an even 6400.  (This doesn’t count deletion of spam that made it through the spam filter.)

Of the 17 that were not approved for posting over these years, some came from the posters’ own requests: “Mas, can you delete that, I posted to soon,” or something like that. There were a few for rabid racist ranting, and one or two messages were deleted because they viciously attacked others who had posted comments. (I’m the guy who writes the blog, and if you want to attack me, well, I’m fair game. Ad hominem attacks on others who post here? NO!)

One post deletion was for a filthy-mouthed dude who threatened me and others, and babbled about scenarios he claimed to have experienced that were only one step away from alien abduction anal probe stories in credibility. He was also the only person I’ve ever banned from commenting on this blog.

Until now.

The first full weekend of 2012, I was on the road shooting a couple of pistol matches. I fired up the laptop in the car with the air card, and found a spate of posts by someone who has been haunting this blog since the infestation of cop-haters that occurred here in April of 2011, after I posted about positive feelings toward armed citizens by the master police officers who were teaching at the annual conference of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association. This kid – he seems to be in early adolescence, and hasn’t contradicted me on that in his many postings – has for several months regurgitated cop-hating propaganda, often without a sense of time or place since he would introduce it into discussion threads such as memorial times for American servicemen who have given their lives for this country. I tried to explain things to him, and tell him where he could learn the reality. So did others. It fell on deaf ears.

His latest diatribes were the worst yet, comparing American police to assorted genocidal death camp executioners, and implying that anyone who had a permit to carry a pistol was a collaborator in un-Constitutional activities. Reading that crap, on the anniversary of the Tucson shooting, I decided that this blog was no longer going to allow the rantings of someone so out of touch with reality that he made me wonder…”Next Jared Laughner?”

So…so long, “sofa.”  I hope you find the help and the understanding you need. It was offered to you here, but you didn’t accept it.  I can’t inflict your out-of-touch-with-reality BS on those who read this blog any longer.

The record will show that anti-gunners and others are welcome to speak here. I trust the other readers, and myself, to handle anything they can bring up. Less than one ban a year? I can live with that. It shows that the vast majority who post comments here are thinking, rational human beings.

1 COMMENT

  1. Bravo, Mas. One more Internet troll out to pasture. Best of luck with your resolutions, and don’t forget to post next year how they worked out for ya.
    Jeff

  2. Mas,

    Over the years, moderating many different websites & forums, I can say with absolute honesty that removing the trash is important and, dare I say it, somewhat enjoyable.

    It not only keeps said trash from irritating the well-behaved and welcome guests, but it also is the best virtual slap you can give to a nasty idiot. The worthwhile guests see it as the bouncer finally tossing out that loudmouth, annoying punk.

    So, Happy New Year, keep up with sticking to those resolutions and hopefully the rest of your readers will follow suit and toss out an unwanted, irritating and foul sofa.

  3. Mas – Good luck with your New Year Resolutions, and at the risk of coming across like a puritan, I would recommend giving up on the weed (tobacco.) This would, probably, give you more time to keep up with the first of your resolutions. 🙂

    As to the other matter . . . you explained why you pulled the plug on Sofa, and while banning someone is never nice, I can’t really blame you.

    Good luck with reducing the total level of BS in your life – that’s something we can all do with less of.

  4. My only comment is ” what took you so long !!!!”
    I do believe your right in the accessment that that person needs professional help .

  5. Mas, read your post and don’t begrudge you a bit for turning the key on nut jobs. BUT….jeeze why did you have to go and say…”that were only one step away from alien abduction anal probe stories in credibility. ”

    Serious. The mass media for the last 60 or so years has done a really great job in destroying the credibility of anyone who even thinks of talking about UFOs. I won’t hijack your thread, but I will politely request that you reconsider using that analogy as a pejorative. I will recommend two books for your 2012 reading list. Pack them away on your travel schedule and I’m sure you can have these finished by the summer. 🙂 I also believe you will come away with a totally different perspective.

    UFOs: Generals, Pilots, and Government Officials Go on the Record by Leslie Kean

    Wonders in the Sky: Unexplained Aerial Objects from Antiquity to Modern Times by Jacques Vallee

  8. I totally agree Mas on your decision to get rid of the nut jobs. Don’t even give it another moments thought. Needed to be done.

  11. Good piece, Mas. I agree with you that the vast majority of cops are on the side of the Angels, the leos honest folks fear seem to treat the badge as a hunting licence. (the Danziger Bridge incident in New Orleans, for example) And when a citizen gets pulled over, he has _NO_ clue what the luck of the draw is walking up to his window. This leads to fear, and rash acts on both sides. Human nature being what it is, what’s the answer?

  13. Yes, there are some people out there that need all the attention they can get, even if it’s negative. They will say whatever they can to get reactions, then sit back and laugh while others on a blog gnash their teeth back and forth, usually going way off the original topic.
    This is the same mentality of people that invent computer viruses. Troubled, and troublesome. Keep up the good work Mas, we need more like you out there.

  14. I am a handgun owner, a ccw holder and a conservative. Yet I have, on occassion, disagreed with you on some of your opinion pieces. At those times, I have never felt uneasy about posting my opinion. The other posters have been excellent in discussing the issues. I have learned from you and from them.

    Because of my experience here, I applaud your decision to remove the “gentleman” previously named. I hope others will be able to use your blog as a forum for learning and expression without unnecessary and uncultured distractors ruining the conversation.

  15. Sofa obviously need some adjustment in attitude. My sincere hope is that they get it before it’s too late for them (or someone else). Good luck with the resolutions. Stopped making them, myself, years ago, as I’m always disappointed with myself. Good list tho and I heartily approve of all of them. We all need some vices to enjoy this passage.

  17. Hello, Mas-

    I am new to this site as well as to others pertaining to self-reliance and/or self defense.
    After spending several hours reading various articles you’ve written and their responses, I understand why you kicked this person out, and I wish you the best for this coming year.

    One of my New Years’ resolutions was to get up and actually start learning and doing more to ensure my own safety and well-being, rather than relying on others (electric company, local police, etc…) to help out when needed. This mental kick in the rear came in full force when we had the snowstorm in October that knocked out all the power in my area for a week, and a few days extra in some neighboring towns. No lights, or water- we were lucky that my landlord had installed a backup wood stove for heat a few weeks previously, so he could try to save some money.

    Before this happened, I had resolved to buy a gun and receive the proper training both mentally and physically to defend myself. I received various comments that were the expected good, bad, and stupid from friends, family, and co-workers, but they only convinced me even further that I am doing the right thing. I have the handgun license in my state, am looking into all the other requirements for concealed carry, and also finding out where the ranges and clubs are in my area. I hope I never have to fire it except in range practice or (when I get good enough) competitions. Any referals to good books, sites, and experts would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks, and happy New Year.

  18. You done good. Don’t let it bother you. Most of us would have slapped the idiot upside the head if we could have found him.

  19. Thanks Mas, it will be more enjoyable here and my blood pressure thanks you too. Life is much nicer without all the BS. I try to eliminate as much as I can.

  20. Mas, a wonderful choice of resolutions. Those are resolutions I could keep. Now why didn’t I think of them. Oh well. As far as the young(banned) poster is concerned perhaps a visit from LE would be in order. One never knows what possible future event may be nipped in the bud by doing so. Truely a shame it is and Mas with your permission I would most certainly would like to give your chosen resolutions a whirl. For all those who read and post here a hopeful better year than the past one.

  21. I never read more than a handful of comments, so this “sofa” character doesn’t ring a bell. But I clearly understand the need to ban someone like that. If he does go full on Jared Laughner at some point, the mass media will be sifting through the Internet to find oddball posts. Why sully yourself or BWH by providing him a forum for his hateful rants?

  22. Way to go Mas!

    Who wants to read crazy nut jobs posting of hateful things. Keep up the great stories, they are very informative in tactical skills even though I spent 25 years on the police force in the streets, shooting often on my own, department range instructor, studying tactical encounters I still learn a lot from your stories and share them with my family. God Bless you and the family and best wishes for good health in the New Year.

    Jack

  23. Mas,
    You are one of the most knowledgeable and respected in the industry. Don’t get sidetracked by some “couch spud”. We get a kick out of your antics, and appreciate your insight. Keep up the good work, and looking forward to your resolutions for 2013!

  24. Thanks for all your hard work and common sense. I really enjoy reading your posts that logically lay out various topics. I don’t blame you for banning this person especially if you have given him a chance to mend his ways. There is only so much that you can allow plus it creates unnecessary stress on the rest of us. Bravo! I hope that your resolutions are kept to, let us know how well it worked for ya next year. 🙂

  26. Good move Mas. After watching many good UTube vids and reading the associated comments I’m convinced that there are many sub-adolescent (maybe even sub-human) individuals who just cruise the internet to get their jollies by trying to piss people off. The less we see of them on your comments list the better. Good intelligent discussion is a plus but trolls are like a wart needing removal.
    May God bless all that you do in the coming year.

  27. He’ll probably return in another form sooner or later ,but until then lets enjoy the fresh air. Good move.

  28. Mas,

    You seem somewhat disturbed at having to ban someone or perhaps extremely concerned that “sofa” may actually be a dangerous individual that is need of help and some form of intervention. If he is a kid that is potentially the next “Jared Loughner” lets all hope and pray that those around him do a better job than those who were aware of Loughners early warning signs & spiraling mental condition & break with reality. I also wonder why he fixated on you specifically.

    Best to you & yours in 2012!
    Respectfully,
    Dan

  30. Deborah:

    Obviously you have already let the cat out of the bag but your decision to buy and train with a firearm should have been kept on the QT instead of telling every Tom, Dick and Jane what your are going to be doing. Because you don’t know who THEY are going to tell is part of the reason for not doing it.

    One of the worst things that could happen to you would be to be out with friends/family and one of them sees a situation and yells at you to “shoot him shoot him” when the best thing to have been done is to observe and be a good witness when the police arrive to take statements.

    Someone with you thinking you might have the gun with you can change the dynamics of the situation to a place you really didn’t want to go to.

    The general public doesn’t understand that just because you have a firearm with you doesn’t mean it would be appropriate to use it.

  31. I follow the others above in saying “enough is enough,” it was time for that person’s presence to be removed. The comments sofa made clearly failed pretty much all aspects of the ethos, pathos, and logos- key elements I was always taught were critical for a well-founded, productive discussion (or argument, as appropriate).

    While I don’t like what he wrote, I find it pre-mature (for lack of a better word) to allude to him being another Jared Loughner.

    …and I find it particularly heavy-handed to suggest that “a visit from an LE may be in order.” We still have First Amendment rights- you know, the kind where you can say whatever you want, no matter how controversial or vile, without the authorities knocking on your door, like in Communist China or the former Soviet block. I don’t recall “so-fa” any case where he directly threatened violence against anyone such that would warrant an LE case being built against him.

    So, let’s cut this “pre-crime” discussion in favor of celebrating and exercising our God-given rights, even for those we don’t enjoy having (however temporarily) in our company.

    (None of the above is to suggest that a blog owner isn’t within his right to ban anyone- of course you are, it’s your blog and you’re not the government! => )

  32. Deborah:
    Hanza’s post makes very good sense. One of the most difficult things about carrying a concealed weapon is knowing when NOT to draw it. Friends or loved ones can “blow your cover” and thereby force your hand ay an inopportune time.
    I’m going to recommend Mr Ayoob’s classic book of the responsible use of firearms for personal protection, “In the Gravest Extreme”. I make it a point to read it from cover to cover at least once a year and have done so for all the years I have carried a concealed handgun. Congratulations on your decision to take more responsibility for your own well-being and your desire to become trained in the responsible use of firearms.

  33. Mas, you never need to apologize for doing what needs to be done . . . particularly in your own blog. We understand and support you completely.

    Happy new year,
    K