Hello from BC!

[Stan-O]

Hey folks, long(-ish) time reader first time poster.

I'm from BC, Canada, been to one IPSC match in Canada and one USPSA match. The only reason I'm posting this is the requirement to get to 50 posts before I can do the posts in Classifieds. No secret you need (well, want) a lot of gear starting out and I wouldn't mind getting some used off the older forum members, but getting to 50 posts isn't easy. Even when I do have a question that could be addressed here, there's usually all the information I need if I use the search.

I understand there should be a deterrent from spammers, but being a new shooter there's very little I can contribute to the forum, outside of hanging out in Misc section.

[Sarge]

Where there's a will there's a way. Welcome to the forums.

What kind of gear do you need? What gun do you shoot?

[Csiedmond1]

Welcome to the party!!!

[Stan-O]

Thank you guys! The great thing about this forum is that the general tone is very welcoming -- I felt at home even before I first posted.

I shoot production minor -- the first match I've shot the SIG P226 but I kept pushing the slide release with my thumb so following advise of many shooters I've met locally I've got myself a Shadow. Funnily enough, that Shadow failed me at the last stage of my first USPSA match -- the rear sight problem.

[edit]

Edited March 15, 2012 by Flexmoney

[38supPat]

Welcome to the forums. It is usually considered bad form to announce that you are posting just to bump your post count so that you can use the classified...it puts you on the mods watch list and can earn a time out or make it a lot harder to get into the classifieds down the road. You should be able to read the classifieds if you want to buy anything, you just can't post anything for sale until you hit 50 posts of substance.....you'll also notice that posting here and a few other select forums does not actually increase your post count, anything posted here doesn't count towards your total.

[Stan-O]

Hey Pat, nice to see that my post got noticed by the moderators!

Maybe you can tell me then, being a new shooter and with the ample information available to those who search what can I possibly contribute to the forum to get to 50 posts?

[38supPat]

Lots of places, ask questions in forums like the handgun technique, training technique, tips for improvements or gear forums, start a range diary in the training forum, post some videos for critique in the tips forum. Being new I would assume you will have lots of questions. But if your sole purpose for being here is to use the classifieds you may want to read this:

Classifieds rules

[Stan-O]

Have read the rules. Thanks for the tip, I will see about the diary.

Being new I can't really contribute to the content. It's true I can ask questions, but my point is that pretty much *all* the questions I've had I could find answers to *as long as I've used search*. If I do come by a problem that no other new shooter has had before I will sure post a question, but so far it hasn't happened much. Frankly, I doubt I will face a problem nobody else has faced before (so it hasn't been discussed here yet).

I am here to learn, I do *not* need to post for that tho. But my preference to search instead of to post sure does limit my access to the important section of the forum (and if it wasn't important to other members it wouldn't have been used that much).

If you want to limit the access to parts of the forum that's your call, it's not helping newbies much tho. It's actually punishing those who search.

Edited March 15, 2012 by Stan-O

[38supPat]

Ok so let me try again, read this section

The Classified Forum was originally created to serve as an outlet to allow contributing members to buy, sell, or trade their equipment and supplies. This Forum, in general, was not intended to be free place to buy or sell firearms, shooting gear, or unrelated items. Meaning, if you're only here to sell your goods, you are not welcome.

In addition to the minimum post-count criteria, you are not welcome to post in the Classifieds Forum until you are considered, by the Moderator Group using their subjective criteria, an active participant in the Forums in general. If the Moderator Group suspects you of bumping your post count or making an end run around the classifieds rules by posting something for sale somewhere else on the forum, you will have your classified privileges suspended, and your post count reset to zero (0). Following the contribution of 100 meaningful posts, you may appeal for restoration of your classifieds privileges by sending a pm to any moderator or administrator. Repeated violations may result in being banned from the Forum completely.

What it is saying is this place is not meant for people who just want to buy and sell stuff, if that's your sole purpose for being here you've missed the point of these forums.

So sit back, read for awhile and post up your questions, eventually you will have access to the classifieds.

[Flexmoney]

Have read the rules. Thanks for the tip, I will see about the diary.

Being new I can't really contribute to the content. It's true I can ask questions, but my point is that pretty much *all* the questions I've had I could find answers to *as long as I've used search*. If I do come by a problem that no other new shooter has had before I will sure post a question, but so far it hasn't happened much. Frankly, I doubt I will face a problem nobody else has faced before (so it hasn't been discussed here yet).

I am here to learn, I do *not* need to post for that tho. But my preference to search instead of to post sure does limit my access to the important section of the forum (and if it wasn't important to other members it wouldn't have been used that much).

If you want to limit the access to parts of the forum that's your call, it's not helping newbies much tho. It's actually punishing those who search.

You can search, then add in your experience to the topic that you found. Sharing that experience is what helps us all get the data that matters. If you don't share, then you haven't contributed, and you don't get to start threads in the classifieds. That is the buy in.

[Stan-O]

Ok so let me try again, read this section

As I said before, I've read it.

[You can search, then add in your experience to the topic that you found. Sharing that experience is what helps us all get the data that matters. If you don't share, then you haven't contributed, and you don't get to start threads in the classifieds. That is the buy in.

Thanks, I'll try that.

[spideysteve]

Hey Stan ...really 50 posts happens pretty quick. Like Flex said, post your experiences, say for example what happened with your rear sight failure. My wife shoots shadow and has never had a problem with it. The way you mentioned the failure was like it was something everyone knew about. I have no idea what you mean ...

Things like that will get you involved and will get you some answers. Or maybe ask about something you saw at one of your matches. Or if you reload, or have questionsabout starting reloading, check those forums out too. Post some pics, ask questions, read the training sections and participate there ...The possibilities are nearly endless.

HTH