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  • Axxe55

    Retiretgtshit stirrer
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Dec 15, 2019
    47,021
    96
    Lost in East Texas Elhart Texas
    I thought long and hard over the last couple of days about how to approach this. Brought up by the passing of a member of the forum, who was absent for several weeks since his last appearance. That was sad, and a dose of reality. Many people think of the internet, and forums as being faceless and anonymous, and in many places it is. But TGT has shown, time and time again, it's in some ways like a family, and at least a community of like-minded people, who actually get together in person, if nothing more than just a FTF buying and selling items they have here for sale.

    Maybe what we need is a TGT Network. Where we get to know a few members even if just by PM, and trade a phone number, an email, or maybe even an address is case something were to happen to someone and they were absent for a length of time from the forum.

    Good idea, or bad idea? lets open this up for discussion!
    Target Sports
     

    candcallen

    Crotchety, Snarky, Truthful. You'll get over it.
    Emeritus - "Texas Proud"
    Rating - 100%
    2   0   0
    Jul 23, 2011
    21,358
    96
    Little Elm
    Some forums have call trees, especially in/among the preppers. Some forums have basically the same kinda thing where a couple folks collect info. I know one forum had the mods collect the info into a secure section but if the forum goes down and there is no back up.

    Also identity issues.

    Interesting thoughts. Maybe a couple regional folks who keep info for the region. And the gate keepers all know each other's contact info, again call tree like.

    Texas ain't no baby state where if you live in the middle its it's only a couple hours to anyplace else.
     

    Shady

    The One And Only
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Aug 24, 2013
    4,648
    96
    Some forums have call trees, especially in/among the preppers. Some forums have basically the same kinda thing where a couple folks collect info. I know one forum had the mods collect the info into a secure section but if the forum goes down and there is no back up.

    Also identity issues.

    Interesting thoughts. Maybe a couple regional folks who keep info for the region. And the gate keepers all know each other's contact info, again call tree like.

    Texas ain't no baby state where if you live in the middle its it's only a couple hours to anyplace else.

    yes it is large.

    from central tx when you hit the edge of the state you are 1/2 way to the left coast.
     

    Rhino

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    Jan 22, 2009
    2,985
    96
    DFW Area
    Here's an interesting thing:

     

    popsgarland

    MEMBER
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    1   0   0
    Aug 24, 2011
    24,395
    96
    DFW area
    This is a great idea and since Texas is a large state, it would be great if we could have a Spring and/or Fall reunion in several places across Texas instead of just the one place. It's a very long drive for some of us. I went to our last Spring reunion and had to do the, all most, 8 hour,round trip, drive in the same day because I can't leave my wife alone over night. Her health isn't great. Doesn't even have to be a reunion, just a member get together.
     

    Fishkiller

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Jul 22, 2019
    4,625
    96
    Frederickburg
    This is a great idea and since Texas is a large state, it would be great if we could have a Spring and/or Fall reunion in several places across Texas instead of just the one place. It's a very long drive for some of us. I went to our last Spring reunion and had to do the, all most, 8 hour,round trip, drive in the same day because I can't leave my wife alone over night. Her health isn't great. Doesn't even have to be a reunion, just a member get together.
    Start a lunch meet for the DFW area. We have one in SA and they have one over in Austin
     

    toddnjoyce

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    Sep 27, 2017
    19,285
    96
    Boerne
    …Maybe what we need is a TGT Network.

    Good idea, or bad idea? lets open this up for discussion!
    I’ll counter this with we already do, to a degree. There are numerous members here who maintain IRL relationships and connectivity outside the forum. Orbitup’s recent health problem comes to mind and fell into a similar pattern of disappearing for a few days before folks started reaching out and information started to flow.

    The contrary view is that not everyone wants to opt-in for something like that for various reasons and, in the event of a member passing, we may have no idea of the arrangements, estrangements, grief, and privacy desires of the next of kin.

    Every death is both a tragedy and a statistic.

    This is a great idea and since Texas is a large state, it would be great if we could have a Spring and/or Fall reunion in several places across Texas instead of just the one place. It's a very long drive for some of us.
    Valid points, nothing stops anyone from putting together a range day/get together at any point. A few years ago this month, I did just that here in San Antonio. The Austin area folks have an active lunch bunch with some member names I’ve only seem active in that thread. Houston has had active ftf meets for a long time.

    Another instance that comes to mind is when a noob came here and asked a question about whether a .22LR could be lethal. It was obvious by the post that heightened concern was needed and a couple of members reported the post immediately. @benenglish reached out to authorities who were able to do a welfare check to discover the backstory which, while innocent enough, did not obviate the need for the action taken that day.

    ————————

    What all this shakes out to is that we the members have a lot of control over how active we are IRL. If you can write a post, you can organize a meetup or range day. Having/sharing alternate contact info with members to check up one one another during trying times of any sort isn’t a bad idea, when it’s opt-in.

    Each of us contribute to making this place what we want it to be. Decide what you want it to be for you and make that happen.
     

    Sam7sf

    TGT Addict
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    10   0   0
    Apr 13, 2018
    12,464
    96
    Texas
    I’ll counter this with we already do, to a degree. There are numerous members here who maintain IRL relationships and connectivity outside the forum. Orbitup’s recent health problem comes to mind and fell into a similar pattern of disappearing for a few days before folks started reaching out and information started to flow.

    The contrary view is that not everyone wants to opt-in for something like that for various reasons and, in the event of a member passing, we may have no idea of the arrangements, estrangements, grief, and privacy desires of the next of kin.

    Every death is both a tragedy and a statistic.


    Valid points, nothing stops anyone from putting together a range day/get together at any point. A few years ago this month, I did just that here in San Antonio. The Austin area folks have an active lunch bunch with some member names I’ve only seem active in that thread. Houston has had active ftf meets for a long time.

    Another instance that comes to mind is when a noob came here and asked a question about whether a .22LR could be lethal. It was obvious by the post that heightened concern was needed and a couple of members reported the post immediately. @benenglish reached out to authorities who were able to do a welfare check to discover the backstory which, while innocent enough, did not obviate the need for the action taken that day.

    ————————

    What all this shakes out to is that we the members have a lot of control over how active we are IRL. If you can write a post, you can organize a meetup or range day. Having/sharing alternate contact info with members to check up one one another during trying times of any sort isn’t a bad idea, when it’s opt-in.

    Each of us contribute to making this place what we want it to be. Decide what you want it to be for you and make that happen.
    You took the words right out of my mouth.

    The intentions of this thread are pure hearted but I must remind everyone each of us has our own struggles in life and as much as I value my friendship with members I’m not gonna play nanny for em. Especially Incase something turns out to be a nothing burger. Again the intentions are good but sometimes as was the case of our recently lost member: they live to a ripe age and suddenly god decides it’s time.

    Yeah if someone is thinking about hurting themselves I’ll do my part but life is colorful and all we can really do for each other is what we have been: Make friends and enjoy life.

    I put it in the ear of two mods it would be cool to see a section for long time members who passed where friends can uploads images and share stories. Have a member who is sent those and only he can post so a “memory thread” doesn’t turn into our typical thread.
     

    Texas45

    Well-Known
    BANNED!!!
    Rating - 100%
    1   0   0
    Dec 10, 2020
    1,496
    96
    Not where you are
    Maybe just maybe some stay away cuz they want to.

    Public forums IMO are not a place where we should all “keep track of everyone” some may not want to get that chummy with the board and its membership.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     

    TxStetson

    Opinionated and Irritable
    TGT Supporter
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    May 9, 2013
    10,056
    96
    The Big Country
    Maybe just maybe some stay away cuz they want to.

    Public forums IMO are not a place where we should all “keep track of everyone” some may not want to get that chummy with the board and its membership.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    You post too much to be that withdrawn from society.
     

    baboon

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    May 6, 2008
    22,447
    96
    Out here by the lake!
    You took the words right out of my mouth.

    The intentions of this thread are pure hearted but I must remind everyone each of us has our own struggles in life and as much as I value my friendship with members I’m not gonna play nanny for em. Especially Incase something turns out to be a nothing burger. Again the intentions are good but sometimes as was the case of our recently lost member: they live to a ripe age and suddenly god decides it’s time.

    Yeah if someone is thinking about hurting themselves I’ll do my part but life is colorful and all we can really do for each other is what we have been: Make friends and enjoy life.

    I put it in the ear of two mods it would be cool to see a section for long time members who passed where friends can uploads images and share stories. Have a member who is sent those and only he can post so a “memory thread” doesn’t turn into our typical thread.
    Forum obituaries could be a big money maker! Forummembersobituaries.com
    Shit I get all depressed over when when member loss their pets! The smell of death is all around us, we just need to recognize it’s smell!
     

    gdr_11

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Aug 1, 2014
    2,895
    96
    In the other forums I have belonged to, notices of importance about members illness, passing, etc. usually came from family members, mostly spouses. My thought is that, if you value the personal relationships you have developed here, you should tell your spouse or kids and ask them to log on and pass such info to the mods in the event you are unable.

    That way the folks here are informed as needed and at the wishes of the member, and the privacy of members is retained. Some of us are good ol boys who meet other members personally on a regular basis but others are more reserved and private and we should be respectful of that.

    I know from the past that when meeting at an event for the first time, some folks are flat out floored when they meet the in the flesh version of the online persona...sometimes positively and sometimes negatively.

    It is, after all, the internet
     

    Sasquatch

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 100%
    3   0   0
    Apr 20, 2020
    6,590
    96
    Magnolia
    Seen this happen a few times on different forums, to some very prolific, well known members. Usually they were close enough with other members that word was spread pretty quick, or a post was made about their passing. On a regional fishing forum in the PNW, they actually have a subsection called "The Chapel" to discuss religious topics, and part of that is their memorium section to honor members who've passed.

    On a regional firearms forum, there've been a handful of pretty prolific, well known members who passed. Sadly one very well liked, popular member took his own life, after loosing a life long battle with depression.

    Like @baboon said, death is all around us, and even the semi-anonymous internet forums aren't immune to it.

    I just got notice in my email the other day, that a fellow instructor with the outfit I'm working for died about a week ago - 29 year old man from the DFW area. Young or old, death awaits us all.
     

    Axxe55

    Retiretgtshit stirrer
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Dec 15, 2019
    47,021
    96
    Lost in East Texas Elhart Texas
    In the other forums I have belonged to, notices of importance about members illness, passing, etc. usually came from family members, mostly spouses. My thought is that, if you value the personal relationships you have developed here, you should tell your spouse or kids and ask them to log on and pass such info to the mods in the event you are unable.

    That way the folks here are informed as needed and at the wishes of the member, and the privacy of members is retained. Some of us are good ol boys who meet other members personally on a regular basis but others are more reserved and private and we should be respectful of that.

    I know from the past that when meeting at an event for the first time, some folks are flat out floored when they meet the in the flesh version of the online persona...sometimes positively and sometimes negatively.

    It is, after all, the internet

    I thought about the family member approach, but looked at my own situation. My wife knows I participate a few forums, and have cultivated relationships with other members, and some of them in person as she has met a few of them as well in person. I have a book with my usernames and passwords that I have showed her, but other than Facebook, social media of forums is lost on her. So IF something were to happen to me, I doubt that news would be coming from her to let anyone here know about it.

    And yes, some people are very guarded with their privacy, and would probably rather others didn't intrude upon that privacy. I can understand that, and respect that.

    In no way am I suggesting we intrude upon another member's privacy, but just a build a network through perhaps Private Messaging of sharing some sort of contact information. It could be just two members or quite a few members. Example: I call and talk to about six or seven members here on a semi-regular basis, and one member I talk to at least once a week if not more.

    I'm just spitballing an idea and wanting to have a discussion and maybe we can come up with some ideas. Some might be wanting to participate, and some won't.
     
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