Switching the forum to be international - Your thoughts

[kurl]

I don't know about running websites but I think it could add too much irrelevant talk with how different shooting is in the countries.

[KWhorenet]

I'm pretty sure if there were relevant topic breakdowns that separated the 'tell them they're dreaming' vs 'bolt action' rifles for example, that discussions wouldn't be too mixed up with home defence bug-out prepper fantasies.

There is allot of experience based knowledge floating about in the US for things like Lever & Bolt Actions too. I've spent considerable time on the US sites gathering reference material and facts.

Another thing to consider is if you don't have friends or family OS; getting to know contacts can help both ways with regards to having toys sourced and shipped around stupid brand export agreements if the AUD recovers to make it worthwhile again

So personally I don't see problems with going global.

What you may find is expats, or people who are interested in Hunting here, or our old service firearms i.e. Halfdime? would be the types to join.

AR fan boys will go to AR fan boy sites surely.

[Bills Shed]

I have no dramas with the idea. I am a member of a couple of forums in the USA. They have specialist sites for my interests ( projectile swaging and small calibres), but that is all. There is a lot of junk on their sites and some members are just nasty.
I think the mods will have to be on the ball to keep it civil.
As long as this forum is kept professional and on topic I say go for it. I do not like logging on to read about a bitch fight. Good solid facts and real experience will win members

Bill

[ChicagoTed]

my vote is to keep it aussie, its interesting to see things from another perspective
and makes me grateful for all the crap i dont have to put up with over here

[bunnybuster]

I'm in two minds on this [or is that 3 ?] I've missed my meds again, there is obviously a huge amount of knowledge out there,and I have subscribed to

overseas mags in the past,but although interesting most content is irrelevent to our environment,eg many powders are not available here making that

reloading data void.Pistol/SLR advertising and test articles just make me hate our restrictions more,[where's my meds]

Be Safe BB

[trekin]

lol im here oldbloke but i can see your point i am not a fan of many of the forums here in the states.
i like to come here and i have found things out by comeing here and just reading posts.
it does seem lots of guys go to the forums just to argue and call each other names.

That is a very valid point.

I am a member of Beechtalk, this is a Beechcraft focussed (not exclusive) aviation forum and EVERYONE must use their real name. The discussion even when robust is still relatively civil and very rarely is anyone ejected. However ejected they are if they cross the line. My suggestion is using your real name helps with this.

And before anyone has any wise cracks…..yep this is my real name. Besides how many David Browns can there be?

As for international, the Aussie focus is what attracted me just because we have to live in a different legislative world here.

Knew two David Brown's (three if you count the old tractor on the grandfathers place), one in the CQ region, he'd be in his 80's now if he's still alive, and one down in the SE corner, a Chinaman, I kid you not.
OT, in my opinion, for what it is worth, if you go international, you will need a dedicated mod team to keep the atmosphere here as it is now.

[Bourt]

Niche is good but I understand mods can't run this thing at an unreasonable expense to themselves.

[Aster]

Thanks for all the feedback guys.

I'll mull it over for a while before making a decision.

[Josh Smith]

Hi Folks,

I'm a Yankee.

I rather enjoy being here on an Australian forum. You see, I do gun stuff for a living and come here to relax. Though I've had a couple/few orders from Australia and NZ, I mostly feel free here to be myself rather than representing my company as I must when I'm on United States gun fora.

I also like the Aussie flavor here. You all have an awesome culture that I enjoy. Granted, it's not first hand experience and I disagree with the gun laws you all have to suffer. You have more unique history than most other former British colonies. (I'm in the middle of a long documentary about Australia).

When I think of "badasses arisen from the former British Empire", I think of the US and of Australia. Of those two, I don't think of Australia when I think of the word "assholes". The US oversteps our bounds a lot and we need to knock it off.

I really like the laid back atmosphere you Aussies provide. I thought of becoming an Australian once, before finding out about the laws and restrictions on guns, just because of the laid-back attitudes you all seem to have.

No, I don't think I'd like it if this forum went international. It just wouldn't be the same.

Regards,

Josh

[Aster]

Thanks Josh.

Appreciate the feedback from the other side.

[Die Judicii]

There seems to be quite a few posts here that indicate to keep the forum Aussie,,,,
While at the same time, quite a few say it would be good ( to gain knowledge and info etc ) from overseas.

I guess that is why there are other forums based overseas.
If one wants overseas contacts, info etc, just join up to an overseas forum.

Simple (as the meercat says in the TV ad)

[anthillinside]

Definitely a double sided blade.
Pros and cons both ways.
They say travel broadens the mind, contact with others is informative and/or entertaining in most cases.
Might it be possible to increase international membership without going the whole hog and alone by local Mods contacting OS Mods and doing a bit of cross pollination by inviting each others members to join.

[Aster]

maybe implement a tiered membership system with various levels available for a small fee. This has worked on other forums I'm on and also helps with member behaviour issues.

Brett can you tell me the name of a few of the other forums you're referring to?

[sally-bee]

I'm sure I could locate a few members here easy enough if they used their real names just by piecing together little bits of information in their posts over time.

Don't post it if it would compromise anything but I'd be curious to know how you think you'd go about that. For my own security and others.

The most I think I've read from people is a first name and maybe a range they shoot at?

Some thief could follow someone home from a range anyway without a name.

[Josh Smith]

Hello Sally,

Here's an example:

Joe mentions that he hunts rabbits in Fing Field, BFE, Australia.

In another post, he mentions that he fishes at Y Knot Pier in Bassage.

You draw a line between Fing Field and Bassage.

In yet another post, he says he at at the Captain Kangaroo Bar and Grill near Little Rogerstown.

Connect that one to the other two.

Continue with every location he mentions.

You'll start to see a pattern resembling a circle. Eventually that circle will close tightly enough to make a really good guess at the feller's location.

Regards,

Josh

[stefo]

Sounds like a good idea as far as gaining members from like minded shooting communities like NZ, Sth Africa, Nth America and Sth East Asia but how much increase would we see from scamers and bots?

Another forum had a huge problem with bots posting advertising

Is is possible to start expansion to a small market like NZ first and assess how it goes?

Chronos

I don't think its a great idea..

I enjoy fellow Australian's point of view on all things firearms

[Rocker]

Aussie aussie aussie!

[1290]

This is an Aussie forum.... it appeals to Aussie shooters, there are a number of overseas posters, a few of our seppo brothers post regularly which is great.....they add to the discussion and provide the their overseas or US experience and insight.

If we want a majority overseas shooting perspective we go to an overseas forum. Simple.

Sure, you might increase the membership pool, but then be swimming with the big fishies so to speak.

Keep it local, keep tacticool-gecko crew out, remove the trolls when they appear.... and it will grow.

My 2c

[trekin]

This is an Aussie forum.... it appeals to Aussie shooters, there are a number of overseas posters, a few of our seppo brothers post regularly which is great.....they add to the discussion and provide the their overseas or US experience and insight.

If we want a majority overseas shooting perspective we go to an overseas forum. Simple.

Sure, you might increase the membership pool, but then be swimming with the big fishies so to speak.

Keep it local, keep tacticool-gecko crew out, remove the trolls when they appear.... and it will grow.

My 2c

Yeah gecko 45 while a good read really has no relevance locally. Now, if someone knows the where about's of colt commando, and can get him drop in from time to time (when not out saving the world), should make membership number start to move.

[1290]

Not relevant?? extra duct-taped plates to protect against 338LapuaMag toting urban snipers are ALWAYS relevant

[Hercl]

Personally I'd find it less appealing if I had to sift through international chatter.

You guys pay the bills though so do what you've gotta do.

[trekin]

Not relevant?? extra duct-taped plates to protect against 338LapuaMag toting urban snipers are ALWAYS relevant

No mate, us bronzed Aussies don't need duct-taped plates, we born bullet proof, ask anyone under the age of 30, they'll tell yer .... ten foot tall and bullet proof.

[FuzzyM]

I'm 23, 6 foot tall and bullet susceptible

[jake84]

Hello Sally,

Here's an example:

Joe mentions that he hunts rabbits in Fing Field, BFE, Australia.

In another post, he mentions that he fishes at Y Knot Pier in Bassage.

You draw a line between Fing Field and Bassage.



In yet another post, he says he at at the Captain Kangaroo Bar and Grill near Little Rogerstown.

Connect that one to the other two.

Continue with every location he mentions.

You'll start to see a pattern resembling a circle. Eventually that circle will close tightly enough to make a really good guess at the feller's location.

Regards,

Josh

i must say your spot on there .

[AusC]

If possible keep it Aussie I say

[kram]

Gotta change with the times or the times will change without us. The net makes the world a small place. Go for it I say!

[bluerob]

Every time I get a Brownells specials email, I cry.