A.K.A flying off into a pedantic rage.
Words mean something.
Using the wrong word changes the whole meaning.
When someone corrects you, don't double down and declare victory because "lots of other people are wrong too!" The whole herd being wrong doesn't make it right; it makes it tragic and sad.
Shelley Rae is simply wrong, but like Charlie Sheen; she thinks she's right and she's winning. Sad.
Update: One sure sign you've lost the debate is to send your post down the memory hole; however, the internet is forever.
Assault rifles are select fire. That means there's a lever or switch that allows the user to choose between semi-automatic and some form of automatic fire (full auto or bursts). It's part of the very definition! Select-fire, detachable box magazine, intermediate cartridge.
Assault weapon is a term that the anti-gun people latched onto in order to scare people about semi-auto guns that look like select-fire guns.
Caleb's "defense" that, "'Assault rifle' is the term for these guns with the mainstream public," doesn't work.
By gently correcting and explaining the difference in the terms people are starting to understand that an M16 is not the same thing as an AR-15. EDIT: The explanation also shows them how dishonest the anti-gunners are about this. To give in to their terminology eliminates the opportunity to inform.
The response from Gun Nuts Media has been a petulant, "we know we're wrong but we don't care." It makes me wonder what else they've been wrong about. Can I trust their recommendations? Is what they're saying actually true or is it just their uninformed bias? When they say 9x19 do they mean 9x18? When they say .380 ACP did they really mean .38 ACP? Surely those are the same thing; right? Or is getting that right being pedantic?
Pedantic is how people get when they talk to people who respond like children. They use small words because they don't think you can understand big ones after making such an elementary error.
You got caught being wrong and insulted the people trying to let you know.
Respect and contempt are earned, plus you can trade one for another.
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I still get bent out of shape when the media calls anything that isn't full-auto and belt-fed a machine gun.
ReplyDeleteBren gun's mag-fed. It's an MG.
ReplyDeleteOddly, the BAR is widely considered to be merely a rifle. Even though it was issued and employed like an LMG.
Sometimes the rules are not hard and fast. At one time I thought that the distinction was the quick change barrel; but the Lewis and DP don't have that feature (pan magazine not belts).
Also note the SAW configurations for the FAL and M14, they threw heavier barrel, on the M14 added a pistol-grip stock, and tossed on a bigger mag and a bi-pod and suddenly you had a "Light Machine Gun"....kinda
DeleteThe M15 was never issued. The M14A1 had the same stock as the M15 but the same barrel and magazine as the standard M14. The muzzle brake and bipod were clamp-on deals.
DeleteUtterly pathetic attempts, really.
Of course the same can be said for the "LMG" versions of the FAL.
Here's the problem: language changes. The French (and French Canadians) are trying desperately to stop it, but - predictably - failing. If language didn't change, we'd all be speaking Olde English and there wouldn't have been a Middle English. (Try reading The Canterbury Tales in the original, much less Beowulf.)
ReplyDeleteMagazines are now "clips." Revolvers are now "pistols." The entire cartridge is a "bullet." Ask anyone in Hollywood. Or politics.
By all means, rant, rail, try to educate - but bear in mind it's a losing proposition in the end.
Kevin,
ReplyDeleteI understand your point about language evolution. I also clearly understand the value of diminishing the opponent's word choices. However, I take exception to allowing antis the privilege of defining the terms and vocabulary of the debate. Constraining the debate to their limits and terminology is how we lost for years.
I don't think an incorrect reference to an "Assault Rifle" is an unforgivable sin, but it isn't helping either.
As an aside, referring to competition firearms as tools for assaulting anything other than a clean room is silly. Close tolerances don't mix well with dirt, sand, and mud.
Whore now means all woman. Most people think that already, so we should just start using it that way.
ReplyDeleteI like the new malleable rules!
Except whore isn't a synonym for woman, is it?
Language is for communication and it will evolve, this is true. Deliberate obfuscation by use of incorrect terms is not evolution of language, but corruption. Allowing the corruption gives power over the language of the argument and once you can define the terms at will you own the debate. Thus, we should not use any perversion of terminology that was thought up by anti-gunners.
The reason I draw my line in the sand over assault rifle and assault weapon is because it was used just like whore in the example above.
This is turning into language 101 isn't it. Tolerance is the allowable range a part may be manufactured in. Fit is the interaction between two parts. People mean fit when they're talking about tolerance in precision machines. This is a hot-button to a draftsman.
"This is a hot-button to a draftsman."
DeleteThat helps explain why draftsman are so angry after design reviews.
Kevin, you're right about some of those terms though. Pistol coming to mean handgun is evolution.
ReplyDeleteClip and magazine mean the same thing, but from different places. There's been a lot of language exchange between them. The problem arises when you try to explain needing a charger.
But none of those examples are from someone trying to make a political point at our expense.
Oh, I concur, but the fact of the matter is, they're winning this battle because they have the media behind them. All EBRs are AK-47s. All handguns are Glocks. Haven't you seen the poster?
DeleteShould we help them win then?
ReplyDeleteI mean, they were winning in 1994 too. Should we have helped?
Aw, dammit! Look what I did here. I hate when that gets done to me.
DeleteI'll go stand in the corner until I've learned my lesson.