Quote of the Day

This blog has detailed wacky hiring practices for over a decade. Most of the wacky behavior has stemmed from people in HR. In that vein, found this golden nugget of a comment on Reddit:

"It's HR - they think of employees as a resource and are convinced they can find a diamond if they just ghost enough candidates. They are certain they can and WILL employ that one rockstar, for minimum wage, of course. Their profit chart demands it, they have to obey."

- Lukas11112000

Cue Yoda: "The Padawan is right!"

Gun Community Misinformation

 From a reader: 

"Geez where are these people coming from how do you attract so many winners?"

Specifically, he references the yahoos I get on this blog, my training page, and other outlets. Lots of the yahoos comment on FB ads, and there are a handful of comments in other areas, as well. Generally speaking, the yahoo comments can be divided up into several broad categories, based on what motivates the yahoo to comment. Also, there are one-offs that do not seem to fall into these broad categories. 

The internet expert examples:

"So you have to have this class to get a carry permit?" (on a handgun carry permit ad)

"Yes"

"Well, I'm going to have to check that out, not sure I believe that."

"Google the legal stuff. Shoot with an experienced friend. Costs a lot less."

"... therefore, all others honor both is specifically implied." Said one who felt we were wrong about which states honor the Enhanced and the Concealed Permits in Tennessee. 

Tinfoil Hat Types

A number of these - mostly Boomers - over the years. Most suggest that taking a class will get your name put on some sort of list. Some suggest that the classes are full of federal plants. It is my theory that these folks wish they could take the class, but either finances or age prevents that from happening. 

Military Elitists

Fully 20% of the yahoo comments we get are military elitists that are taking offense to civilians learning military-ish tactics. Others get really picky about seeing something or not seeing something in a picture or a video clip - without any context of a drill or anything.  Putting the INFANT  in INFANTry since 1776. 

Triggered leftists

As part of an effective advertising strategy, we target folks who follow Donald Trump and similar on FB. A number of these are leftists... because he is, of course, their daddy. Fully 20% of the yahoo comments we get, come from this category. Tying it with the Military elitist INFANTry snowflakes for largest single source of yahoo comments. 

Boomers Being Boomers or Trying to Counter-Advertise

Sometimes, they own or work at another training company. Sometimes, they simply took their carry permit class there. Sometimes, there is no rhyme or reason... they are Boomers, after all. Over 10% of yahoo comments come from this category. 

General Stupidity

From NRA hate, to simply foolish comments, all sorts of general stupidity make up the bulk of the rest. As it cannot be narrowed down, the is the big catch-all pot for yahoo comments. Because they do not follow a specific format, I'm not willing to call it the largest category. Nevertheless, the gun community has a wealth of misinformation. 

Asymmetric Warfare

Let's make everyone mad today. Why? Because they probably need it. Especially if the content of this post makes them mad. 

Seen on social media:

First:

That tank is going to need a driver / crew. That's where my rifle comes into play. Don't think that's the case - how did Vietnam and Afghanistan tie up the powerful American military for so long?

Liberals mad now - check. 

Second:

If you think that "most of the American military would never attack the civilians," then I have some oceanfront property here in Tennessee to sell you. Most of the military will follow orders rather than lose their jobs. Don't believe me? 96% of the Air Force took the jab. 

Conservatives mad now - check. 

Third:

To those civilians who open carry- this person is right and you are wrong!

Fudds mad now - check. 

Other observations?

Interjecting Themselves

My son's football team - the Green Hill Hawks - have made the playoffs and are a number 1 seed. They play later this evening at home. All of their games will be at home until the championship level games - which will be held in Chattanooga. This is their second year in existence, and their first year in Division 5 - 5A. They went 9-1 and defeated every other team in their division. Particularly sweet for the team were victories over Wilson Central (my son and about 10 teammates played for them in 9th grade) and Mt. Juliet (a number of players played there before Green Hill opened up). Anyone familiar with high school football rivalries understands how sweet it is to beat your rival. 

A week ago today was the Green Hill - Mt Juliet game, held at the Mt Juliet field. For those not from the area, the two high schools are about a 10 minute drive apart, and both within Mt Juliet city limits. Of course, the hype was big. For the most part, the Green Hill Hawks players, students, parents, and coaching staff kept an air of quiet professionalism. The Golden Bears students worked themselves into a frenzy over the course of the week. 

Signs created by students, and social media posts, contained phrases such as,

"This is OUR town!"

"Rejects!"

Etc.

Of course, there has been an air of being "stuck up" about and around MJ since I've moved to town. In fact, when Green Hill was slated to open, my son was scheduled to be re-zoned to MJ. In conversations with MJ parents, he was told he and his re-zoned teammates would never take the field, regardless of how well they performed. It was if playing for Wilson Central had somehow "tainted" them. 

The atmosphere was electric - nearly 1000 Golden Bear fans, and easily twice that many Green Hill fans packed the stadium. As was to be expected, the referees were VERY HEAVILY slanted in favor of Mt Juliet. This is actually a running joke in the area, and has been for the 20 years I've lived here. 

Normally, high school refs try their best. In games where they begin displaying favoritism, a few well timed chastisements from the fans usually puts them back in place (more on this later). 

Normally.

Of course, this was not the case for the GH vs. MJ game. 

Despite the heavy interference, Green Hill, down 21-7 with 5:00 left to go in the game, scored three touchdowns and won. Despite outstanding play from MJ, and despite the clearly bought and paid for referees. 

In a similar story, my favorite professional baseball team, the Atlanta Braves, won the World Series on Tuesday night. The score of the game was 7-0 vs the Astros, and the series was won 4 games to 2. Twitter account "@UmpireAuditor" does a recap of games, grading the umpire's performance. In 16 playoff games, Umpire Auditor noted that umpire calls favored the opponent 13 times, favored the Braves twice, and once was even. In the World Series, in only one game did the calls favor the Braves, one game was even, the other four favored the Astros. 

Further, in the World Series, overall missed calls favored the Astros 42 times out of 68 - that's 61%. In the four games where calls favored the Astros, 32 of 44 calls favored Houston - 73%. This is not "happenstance." I have said for years that major league sports fix many of their games - particularly playoffs. The movement is growing as many online have access to more technology that helps the casual fan see the "errors" that consistently keep piling up. 

Some might say that both of these instances are examples of referee / umpire crews interjecting themselves into the game. I would agree - to the purpose of changing the outcome to favor the side they were paid extra to favor. 

Ending Military Elitism

After reading this post, a reader asked if I felt anti-military for some reason, or if it was a genuine evaluation. Let me be clear:

THANK YOU!

To all vets who have served, and to all active and reserve service members. 

That out of the way, let's make sure we look at this from an unbiased point of view- for or against the military. Let's make sure this is not psychological projection. This author believes that there is not an anti-military sentiment in most of the US Society at this time. Perhaps a little by the most extreme of the rabid left, but largely the US is pro-military, or at least neutral. If anything, our society may lean a bit too much toward "military worship" in many circles. 

If we were to take a drink of water and swallow the red pill (the movie version - aka "reality"), we might just realize that the problem is the reverse. There is a real problem with an entitlement mentality in various military factions, and a class warfare against the class that did not actively participate in combat. Because the military has been placed on the proverbial pedestal, many of its current and former members exhibit a degree of military elitist mentality - and that needs to end and we as people need to reconnect. 

Furthermore, the author's observations from in and around the firearms community are worse than the above paragraph. Most "gun yahoos" are former military. Some of the worst firearms handling the author has seen has been by Vets. Some of the most anti-gun statements made have been made by military Vets: Tim Kennedy is anti-gun. Dakota Meyer (and many like him) doesn't think you should train. Dan Crenshaw has yet to meet a red flag law he doesn't like. 

If it were anecdotal, we could dismiss it out of hand. However, the problem is endemic. We esteem members of the military as the best and brightest, and there is simply no evidence that this is the case. Sure, there is an occasional exception to that - and, as always, the exception proves the rule. And the problem is this: Reversing these dangerous and self-reinforcing trends will require active efforts from the U.S. military, the nation’s political leadership, and the population as a whole. 

The problem, put into a meme (or Tweet):

But simply "calling out" a problem without offering a solution is the definition of bitching. 

So here is the solution: Treat every service member- past and present - with respect. And treat them as you would anyone else. Treat them well, but do not tolerate their BS. Reward the behavior you want, and punish the behavior you do not want. Help them when they are in need due to no fault of their own, and allow them to suffer from poor decisions like the rest of us. Do not shelter them, make excuses for them, or offer special treatment. Require that they behave civilized in our society. 

Let the hateful comments spring forth... 

Skill Comparison

A reader read this post and asks,

"Since you are a firearms instructor, and have likely seen a lot of people on the line, where would you rank the typical infantryman?"

Outstanding question!

First, let's set up the scale. If firearms skill was like martial arts, and used a belt system:

White Belt

Yellow Belt

Orange Belt

Green Belt

Blue Belt

Purple Belt

Brown Belt 

Black Belt

Master Belt

Grandmaster Belt

Second, let's establish criteria. Otherwise, it is just an arbitrary opinion with no real applicability other than to start an argument. 

Primary priority - pistol efficacy. This because civilians need pistols much more often than rifles. Marksmanship, gun handling, presentation, and tactics are the four sub-criteria. Pistol efficacy is weighted at 75%. 

Secondary priority - rifle efficacy. Same reason as above. Marksmanship, gun handling, presentation, and tactics are the four sub-criteria here. Rifle efficacy is weighted at 25%. 

Third, let's make some of the infantrymen I've met mad - just because we can, and because they need the wake-up call. 

- Marines have a slight edge over Army in marksmanship. 

- Army Soldiers have a slight edge over Marines in tactics. 

- Both of those are the difference between Yellow and Orange belts. 

- No branch has a good pistol training record with standard infantry. 

- I have been flagged by more former infantry than all others combined. BEWARE!

- Related combat MOS troops I've met (13F, 19D, 0317, MP of both, 68W, etc.) have generally been better than standard infantry... and more open to new tactics, mindsets, and ideas. 

And the fourth and final caveat comes from a friend whom has been to several training classes with me and others, and shares this opinion:

"I believe they teach these guys (standard infantry) the bare-bones basics needed to survive, pump them full of rah-rah motivation, then send them out and typically overwhelm the enemy by sheer numbers and not skills."

There is a certain element of truth to this. 

So, what is my opinion of typical infantry:

I've not met one that would be Black Belt level. 

Most are Yellow or Orange Belt level. 

Most think they are Black Belt level... until about halfway through confirmation of zeroes. 

Pistol classes are real eye-openers to most. 

And your typical competition shooter is a purple or brown belt. And that's very humbling to most military. Of course, in competitions, many fresh out of the military sign up, thinking they are going to teach the competitors a thing or two... only to see their name at the bottom of the performance sheet at the end of the day. 

To be fair, if we re-weighted in favor of rifle, then the typical infantryman would bump up a belt or two. Maybe an orange or green belt on a warm day. 

Future Plans

 A reader of this blog, who has his own excellent blog, recently wrote:

Whatcha Gonna Do in ACW2?

When the shooting starts, where will you be?
Hiding with the lights off... or taking aim from behind a tree?
On the phone to 911 in a panicked call?
Or armed behind the cover of a stone wall?
Under the bed covers just trying to get some rest?
Or in the deep concealment of a wet, miserable sniper nest?
Will you be praying to God to save you from danger?
Or praying to God for help to win in your righteous anger.
Be that brave person to go deep behind enemy lines
To disrupt, destroy, burn, steal, and kill all you can find
When there is nothing left to lose, there is everything to give
Your life as a free citizen remains yours to live
Do what you must. Offer "No Mercy" and "No Quarter"
Kill all of those that are "just following an order"
Take out their families, burn their homes to the ground
Leave their bodies hanging to rot, gagged and bound
When the count of the dead on both sides become too high to bear
There will be plenty of blame for all combatants to share
When the tyrants are dead and us Citizens can be left alone
Only then will we lay down our arms and return home

My readers can make wagers in the comments below as to what I will be up to. Probably something along the lines of "No Quarter" and the rhyming next line. 

Read more like this at 75 Million Pissed Off Patriots.

Child Support Is Theft

Social media is a great source of entertainment. Take this one for example, in a Reddit "AITA" (Am I The Asshole?) question, the post is summed up: "AITA for going after my ex for child support?"

Someone decided to accurately troll the community. Reply: "YTA. All Child support is theft." 

Ironically - this mirrors my opinion 100%.

You should have seen the replies!

Triggered #1 - "Tell me you don't pay your child support without telling me you don't pay your child support."

Triggered #2 - "Please explain how paying for your own children is theft."

Triggered #3 - "Well then, don't breed!" (this was the only one that made any sense!)

Masterful troll job here. And right on the money.