I had a member send me a PM because they noticed some of the brass he was packing to send me had a non-standard head stamp. He just wanted to be sure I was OK with getting military brass that did not have caliber on it. Greek stuff HXP and date stamped. Nice brass from what I have seen so no problem but here is the thing I started reflecting on.
We hear (and possibly say) how institutions and people, and the younger generation are just not up to the standards they once were. I'm not sure that is true. Think about this community, people go out of their way to help each other out, offer encouragement, in reloading, casting and shooting sure but in life's trials and tribulations too.
Guy gets his fishing equipment stolen, another guy just posts asking you right handed or left handed? I have some stuff I can set you up with. The scale on my bench for weighing powder was a gift back when all I had was Lee scoops. Life events be they death of family, illness, or even passing of a beloved pet folks let you know that your not dealing with it alone. Are there still thieves? Are politicians still lying if their lips are moving? Are there scams and disagreeable people? Yes, yes, and yes. But there have always been. My dad and uncles would talk and from what they said all of this stuff was around during their life time, heck Moses did not have "Thou Shalt Not Steal" or "Not Bear False Witness" on those tablets as advance preparation for when the current generation would invent stealing and lying.
And while this community is special so are others. I run dog agility, those folks while the can be competitive they are also warm, caring, and willing to go out of their way to help. They are more than happy to cheer your good run that just bumped them out of first place. I know good honest mechanics, I see people put their hand over their heart when the flag goes by in a parade. I know plenty of liberals and conservatives that are hard working decent people. I know my neighbors don't ask about politics or what church do you attend before they decide to help you out with clearing snow or maybe mowing the lawn because they know someone in the house is sick and the grass needs cutting.
It is not like where I live is some mystical perfect place. We had two guys show up on our porch at 2:30 in the morning, ring the doorbell then hide on both sides of the door. We found their knives where they were dropped when our generally honest and professional police arrived promptly. See I called 911 but also explained that I could see them, was not going to let them in but not to worry about whoever was chasing them because I could guarantee my porch was a crime free zone. Not gun free, but certainly crime free so no one was going to hurt them there. We once found money blowing around our yard from a wad of bills stuck under a tree. Speculation was it came from some guys that pulled one or two armed robberies and fled in our direction on foot from one of them. Not everyone I work with is top drawer, but the vast majority are. Not every client or customer is gracious but most are.
See what I mean, not perfect but maybe not all that bad either. And probably not a lot worse than it has generally been, and just maybe a bit better in at least some ways.
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Originally Posted by Clay M
