Apology accepted, and back to ya
Jon,
Actually, you're right. I love that gun (sniff)!
Seriously, thanks for the apology, the new tone, and the clarification. I can accept that your post may have been taken wrong. But when you started out, the comments were directed to what appeared to be gun owners in general, then you moved on to a particular individual. So yes, I took it as a personal attack. Maybe I should have asked for clarification before I had at you, so I too must apologise.
As for the comment that was edited from your post, I can only guess that it was seen as possibly offensive to women.
I'd also like to clear up one point, even though no one has yet accused me of this. I don't dislike Australians. In fact, I liked both of the Crocodile Dundee movies. He's my hero! Did you see that shot he took- at least 300 yds downhill, a quick snapshot, under fire, and he creased his partners head and saved his life! If you guys can shoot like that, it seems a shame to disarm you.
I've never been to Australia, so I don't know what it's like there. And your laws are your business. I have read comments from a lot of you which decry the loss of freedom and the injustices of gun control. So I know it is a contentios issue there, just as it is here. And it tends to get peoples hackles up quick. I can argue politely with those who have opposing views (read some of my discussions with others). But your comments raised my hackles, and I bared my fangs and went for the jugular. You have a good point- that is not the best way to change someones mind.
I'm sorry you had such a rough time here ( I'm not being mean spirited this time). I do think you have to take some responsibility for that, though. You have to admit, some of your comments were pretty rude as stated, regardless of how they were meant. Of course, so were my replies, so I'm willing to call it even for my part in this mess.
One last thing- the bad issue. Of course I have no idea how bad you are, or whether you are a coward. That was a "Yeah, so are you" reply, which I admit is not really a higher standard. And I don't mean to come off as bad either. I have been in a few fights, but I'd be ashamed to tell you how many I lost. Attitude sometimes counts for more than training when things get really nasty ( sorry guys, but if you think different, you are in for a rude awakening ). And I've had the misfortune to meet some who went to the MA school of hard knocks who would eat anything you throw at them and still come on hard. They were bad, I was had. Trust me, I would have loved to have had a gun a few times, even one on one. And truth be known, there are times I've backed off from a fight. It was a bitter pill to swallow. But when the deck is stacked against you, it's like they say, "Discretion is the better part of valor." It just doesn't feel that way at the time. So I guess this is a case of the pot calling the kettle black ( or in your case, the billie ). And my guess is that most of us, or at least those of us who didn't have the sense to stay out of the bad areas, have had similar experiences. It doesn't make any of us cowards.
So Godspeed, and keep up the training. And I hope you reconsider about leaving the forum.