Still mulling a bit about this one:
I never made claim to be an extensive or even good writer. In fact from day one I have called myself a pamphleteer, nothing else. But I also have an enormous amount of respect for my readers because if there is something I have learned through the years and specially since I got into guns, is that people do not need to be treated like idiots when I write something. Do I need to go into a 5,000 word essay about the AK v AR? Nope, that would be trying to compare a 1938 VW Beetle with a 1965 Ford Mustang GT 350 and then tout the superiority of the AR as if they were equals and that was not the point I was trying to make.
Most of the readers understood (without having to pull out the crayon caddy like Evan wanted) that not 10 years ago, you could not get an AR15 for less than $700 but AKs could be found for around $350. Many people could not afford to shed a lot of money and went with AKs for SHTF weapons, including myself. Nobody back then would have believed that we would be in a time where an AR became affordable enough to have by most people. Hell, you can buy 30 round magazines for 7 bucks rather than the $50 and more if you survived the AWB decade.
And here is the kick: the young readers that might no be aware of the shift, are smart enough to either ask or find out on their own. Again, they don’t need a keyboard snob trying to impart his Gun Forum wisdom to the uncouth masses.
Again, I don’t write to make you feel good, I don’t write to get hits (I know, I took a hit on visits with my electoral positions) or to massage your fragile egos. I write because I want to, on the subjects I want to and the length I want to. I use memes, screen caps and stories of short length. If you want a cascade of gun-related words, you can always visit TTAG.
Oh dear, I am about to lose more readers.
You are all right in my book, Miggy! I fool around with other blogs, but if I only have time to check ONE blog, it’s Gun Free Zone! You have always been more like the guy I hang out with at the range, rather than an ivory tower Mr. Firearm know-it-all. On top of that, your insight in to Venezuela, and your anecdotes about on-the-ground encounters with totalitarian socialism, your back story about the Spanish Civil War, (and even pix of Mama and her Real Tortilla!) — all of these things make your blog more personal, and more interesting.
Word of advice to anyone who is listening: Don’t just cruise by a blog and read one article and think that you know what’s what. Take the time to sample at least 20 posts before you earn the right to pontificate. And do so in General Terms. Don’t kill the messenger!
Keep up the good work, Miguel. And a hat tip to JKB, also!
Couldn’t have put it better myself.
On a related note, TTAG ain’t what it used to be since it got sold, anyway. If anything I go there less than I used to, and post far less.
Rule 1: It’s Miguel’s and JKB’s blog.
Rule 2: When in doubt see Rule 1.
NRW, THIS! THIS! THIS!
Your house, JKb and Miguel, your rules. If they are disliked, well, that door opens OUT, as well!
If he wants to read that article (or for others to read it), he should write it. Or see one of the thousands of articles about AK vs AR quality online. You could’ve made an article about how to convince hot women to drop their clothes and feed me barbeque more frequently, but that’s not what the post was about. Though, I’d have appreciated that a lot more than yet another article about why AK’s suck. Hell, tell him if he’ll send one of each to your FFL, you’ll write a very thorough review. And as someone whose job is about effective use of language, writing about ONE thing at a time is being a good writer.
One could also go to yootoob, and watch Gun Jesus* put all sorts of guns through all sorts of challenges.
*aka Ian at Forgotten Weapons and Inrange TV. Ever want to see someone shoot a shotgun match with a Martini-Henry single shot, a WWI themed match with a Chauchaut LMG or a FG-42? Go there.
Any readers you lose will be like that guy- oxygen thieves. Fuk em. If you have a room tempature IQ you get the point of this post. Back in 2000 I missed out on a Maadi AK with a forged reciever and folding stock for $175 bucks cause I was broke . 2004 I bought a Romainian, not a century arms version, with 5 mags and 1000 rounds for $450 . Sold it a few years later and snagged an ar.
Hey, even I was able to get the simple point you were going for with that post in question. Yours is one of the few blogs I still follow. Fight the good fight guy! You guys are doing just fine. Eff ‘em. 🙂
These children don’t know their history. After Sandy Hookhow much were Ar’s going for and mags for sixty bucks at CTD. Kid that is a PSA and you should say thank you Miguel
GFZ is one of my favorite firearms blogs to visit because of the combination of longer, thoughtful articles and the occasional short ‘n’ snarky post. If you’re inclined to keep writing, I’ll keep reading 🙂
I don’t write to get hits (I know, I took a hit on visits with my electoral positions) or to massage your fragile egos. I write because I want to, on the subjects I want to and the length I want to.
THAT is all people need to know. I have all of maybe a dozen readers, but I don’t care. i do it for me. I consider it therapy. I come here and enjoy what I read, appreciate the effort and respond when I can. Thanks for writing.