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Creeker, SASS #43022

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Everything posted by Creeker, SASS #43022

  1. Did I order something PHYSICAL? Pretty sure we were discussing differing forms of written communication. Touting pen and paper applications, filling out a physical check (one easily lost, mutilated, altered or forged), or paying a fee for a money order, stuffing it into an envelope (which has yet another cost), paying still another fee (stamp) for transport and then waiting days for the package to arrive at its destination. Or use electronic email and payment methods - instant, verifiable and secure. Yes, we should definitely be insulting and dismissive of folks desiring to use the method of communication that is superior in every measurable metric.
  2. When you arrive by horseback without your eyeglasses, granola bars and heart meds - we can all acknowledge your dedication to the era. But since you used the paved road to get there, GPS navigation to find the range and the internet to debate the topic - I don't see any moral conflict to using modern technology regarding registration or payment. We are just PRETENDING to be old west cowboys - the Pony Express is long since deceased.
  3. What does "lazy" have to do with using archaic and outdated methods? Is a auto mechanic "lazy" because they no longer work on the boiler tank of your 1904 Stanley Steamer ? Is the Dr. "lazy" because he no longer subscribes to the ritual sacrifice of a goat for your head cold? Is your local movie theatre "lazy" because they don't have a piano player to entertain during the title cards of your black and white silent film? Writing a paper check, stuffing it in an envelope, paying somebody to physically transport it across the country (hoping that it is not lost, mutilated or stolen) is an antiquated and ridiculous operation and will soon seem as out of date as blood letting.
  4. First - Facebook sucks. Second - your club needs an actual navigable WEBSITE. Your site ABSOLUTELY HAS to have: Location; including address, GPS, range name - any specifics as to location on the range, is there a range office sign in - in addition to the match sign in? (directions {and DISTANCES} from various landmarks are appreciated as well). This is very important in large metro areas where the shooters choice of lodging with the same city name can be next door or an hour+ away. Any range specific rules: prohibited shooting styles, plant and poke, parking, RV's, dogs, spectators, etc. Calendar: Date (and TIME, for setup, registration, safety meeting, first rounds downrange) of your next shoot. Cost of said shoot. Any match extras: Side matches, lunch, discounts at local eateries, retailers or attractions. Date of your next annual (if applicable) Sign up form, schedule of events. Local lodging and accomodations info. Past Scores List of Officers and their contacts At LEAST ONE phone number to a club official for questions or visiting shooter inquiries (this has to be someone willing to actually answer a call or at minimum RETURN a call in a timely manner) Nice things to have: A place to print/ electronically sign waivers. A place to join the clubs mailing list. Photo album/ videos - link to your youtube page. Stages for the upcoming match. Club/ Match philosophy as to match design, target arrays and sizes. I spent nearly 20 years running a VERY successful club - The above items were mandatory for my club to ensure anyone/ everyone that had any interest in joining us was provided with the most opportunity possible. Now that I am traveling more and visiting more distant clubs and annuals; it amazes me the lack of effort put forward to entice attendance at various clubs. Painted Lady and I enjoy traveling and road trips - so "when" I find a club in proximity to our destination on the same weekend; I am excited to explore their website to ascertain if I want to attend. If I cannot easily/ conveniently find the above information - and cannot make contact with a club official; then I simply pass on by. I'm sure I have missed out on some good, fun shoots - but CAS is not a driving force in my life any longer and my time is too dear to spend it at an event that chooses to not communicate basic information. Or does so thru a format that is not conducive to ease of finding specific information (Facebook).
  5. Im sorry - one of the most iconic rock songs of all time neutered into grocery store background noise.
  6. Different shooters have differing desires. I go to shoots to compete - and to do under as equal of conditions as possible. I personally don't go to shoots to bs, socialize or visit. I have a very simple policy; if I don't enjoy the shoot - I don't return. If the match is poorly written, the expectations poorly communicated and the match lacks consistent (shooter to shooter, posse to possee) standards because of poorly communicated instructions - then we are not competing in a like manner. And I'm insulted that my time was wasted by folks that expect me to pay for, suffer thru and then be positive about their lack of effort. I am very open about only attending shoots that I believe I will enjoy - stylistically and operationally. I would rather stay home than shoot a match that is disagreeable - and since I am not there for the people; I can appraise the event based solely on the event. I firmly believe that repeatedly patronizing shoots that don't satisfy your desires only leads to being served more of the same.
  7. With all due respect - this is not aimed at you specifically; but this mindset is the ROOT cause of almost all the issues. Laziness in stage writing led to the creation of "Stage Conventions". Lazy stage writing has led to the trend toward trying to overly shorten directions and omitting pertinent information. The stage writers "job" is to convey the information, "ALL THE INFORMATION", necessary to allow multiple shooters to perform the same actions in a safe and consistent manner. There is no prize for brevity. Ink is cheap and electrons are free. There is no cost penalty for a few extra letters (or even forbid; extra sentences). And I fully contend - those extra letters or sentences MORE than pay for themselves by the elimination of questions at stage read and shooters errors/ frustration on the firing line. Less is more... No, no it is not. If you want people to do things in a consistent manner - to do those things thoroughly and completely. You have to provide clear, thorough instructions that define your expectations. The rules of clear communication have not changed - who, what, where, when and how (and to what extent). What has changed is lazy stage writers have decided that "the shooter should already know this" so I don't have to write it. (kinda glad heart surgeon teachers and jet pilot instructors don't subscribe to this theory) I loved writing stages - and I wrote good stages. I took great pride in my stages/ matches because I took great effort in making those stages/ matches the very best I could. I analyzed EVERY single stage I have ever written from the viewpoint of a lefty AND from a righty. From the viewpoint of a BP shooter AND from smokeless. From the viewpoint of a Duelist, a Gunfighter AND a supported shooter. And after the steel was set; looked at everything AGAIN from the viewpoint of a tall shooter AND a short one to ensure every variable was considered and addressed - and changes noted, made and communicated as needed. I do not understand the mindset of someone that wants to write stages and then whines that "It's too many letters" and too much work, so they cannot be bothered to write them completely.
  8. With all due respect - until the convention is rewritten. The RULEBOOK that every shooter receives reflects something different. Yet another example of short sighted situational rules - people create bad rules and then double down by creating caveats to bad rules. Then triple down by pretending that by creating caveats and conditions; they are doing anything beyond perpetuating the problem they themselves created. And these minutes are from 2016 - it's now 2024 and the rulebook still reads as I read it.
  9. The stage convention says "If NO starting position then blah blah blah" I contend that NO direction or instruction means exactly that; no - none - nada - zip - zilch. And so by contrast if ANY direction or instruction is provided (no matter how vague or lacking) it is no longer NONE - and by the very WORDS in the convention makes the convention moot. The stage convention says if NO starting position; it does not say IF the starting position is somewhat incomplete or IF the details are vague - then use the convention to fill out the details. As Tyrel said so eloquently; Standby... BEEP.
  10. Shhhh - they didn't know I considered them friends.
  11. Bull, I have found you're almost always in agreement. With the wrong side of the argument. And before anyone takes offense - I am friends with Bull and Tennesee Williams. And as such - I reserve the rights in perpetuity to mercilessly argue with them the most minuscule and unimportant points.
  12. And there are a fair contingent - even among the RO committee that agree with you. I just happen to be one that doesn't. The conventions were written to "fill in the blanks" when stage writers failed to do so. They were NOT written to create additional /supplemental required instruction that must be absorbed into the existing written instruction. Ill provide yet another analogy. Stage convention: Your breakfast will consist of cereal served in a bowl with milk, a glass of orange juice and a sliced banana. Written instruction: Your breakfast will consist of eggs and bacon, coffee and an apple. My interpretation: I'm getting eggs, bacon on a plate, coffee in a steaming mug and (hopefully) a green Granny Smith apple to bite into per written instruction. The stage convention is no longer applicable because of written deviation from convention. IF we insist anything not SPECIFICALLY exempted by written instruction is still required per convention: Your eggs and bacon MUST be served in a BOWL - as a plate (even tho thats expected for eggs and bacon) was not over ridden and MUST have milk poured upon it. Your coffee MUST be served in a GLASS - a mug was not over ridden. And no biting into the skin and tearing it part with your teeth because your apple MUST be sliced - because sliced was not over ridden. Anyone besides me see the silliness here? At some point - someone in SASS decided they were better stage writers than us and that (like a lot of the rules) "that just doesn't look right" - so they over stepped. And many lazy stage writers - who seem to think that each letter on the stage instruction costs them money; grabbed hold of the concept to make defaults their standard default. And then others conflate and intermingle the instructions so every staging, body placement and hand positioning must be lawyered to determine what was said - what may have been left out and what terms from the conventions they feel needed to be added. The game is supposed to be easy. And the conventions to create consistency when the stage writer failed. Attempting to intermingle, parse and insert every word of the stage conventions into over riding writen stage instructions is not making it easier and is not making it more consistent.
  13. IMO - Stage conventions only exist in the ABSENCE of an instruction. That is 100% why stage conventions were created - that in the absence of a specific instruction or allowance; stage writers / shooters would be subjected to a default. Stage conventions were not created to intermingle with the written stage instruction. It is not required to parse and implement every word of the stage convention that the stage writer does not specifically exempt. Written instruction OR stage convention; it is an either/ or situation. This intermingling of written instruction AND stage convention is exactly why you see inconsistent application/ outcomes. Attempting to combine written instruction AND stage conventions to extrapolate what exactly they are allowed to do. Even to address your example; shotgun/ rifle safely staged vertically at window. IF that is what the stage writer provides - how do you reconcile that with the assertion that stage convention defines "safe" as lying flat and requires such to be safe? You cannot. As soon as ANY specific instruction is given; the written instruction over rides the stage convention that is applicable to that situation.
  14. Have to disagree with you, my friend. The stage conventions exist to provide direction in the ABSENCE of a given instruction. The moment an instruction is given that offers ANY specified or POSSIBLE deviation from the stage conventions - the convention is then over ridden and the written stage instruction or allowance takes precedence in that instance. Example - shotgun begins staged on left table; there is no specified or possible deviation from the stage convention - so lying flat is the default. BUT - staged ANYWHERE safely offers that deviation from the stage convention. This opens up the possibility for vertical staging, staging on a fence post or hanging over a horse rail or two by four. If you allow me to borrow your car and upon return - I know standard practice is your car is parked backed into your garage - and you don't say anything differently; I know that is where I am expected to place it. (that is stage convention). If I borrow your car and YOU specifically add the caveat "Park it anywhere safely" - I no longer am expected to back it into your garage (I may still do so - but am no longer required to). By inserting an instruction that POTENTIALLY or specifically deviates from the norm - you have released me from adhering to the norm. (that is a stage specific over riding instruction or allowance).
  15. All games "change" - conditions, equipment, circumstances - some change in ways that allow records to be broken easier i.e. older NFL passing records get surpassed regularly because the game has changed to be more pass happy/ added games, etc. Other games change in way that won't allow certain records to ever be broken i.e. Nascar cup wins - Pettys record of 200 career wins will never be broken; not because of his skill - but the number of races in a season in so dramatically less than in his era - not enough opportunities in a career anymore. And do we diminish records for achievement because todays competitor is bigger, stronger, faster, better nourished and better trained? Maybe all of Babe Ruth and Ty Cobbs records should still stand because todays players dare to exercise and are not smoking in the dugout? The competitor can only compete under the rules and conditions that exist during their efforts. We won't say that the Winners at EoT 2028 don't count or require an asterisk because the match was different in 2025 - "The targets were further out, there were 4 SIX shotgun stages AND it was raining - so obviously the 2028 match doesn't count for as much" Recognize the achievement - don't denigrate the competitor because their accomplishments didn't occur under conditions they were not subject to.
  16. He aint that big - and I know for a fact he can't run. And he's ugly. And... And... And... But the costume is legal.
  17. If I may... I was not there; but I do know a thing or two about writing matches and handling posse walk throughs. Two points: IF a change/ clarification is required to the shooters book; this information is (should be) provided to the posse marshals via a written list (I never expected my posse marshals to take notes). The posse marshal should be referring to this list every stage and ensuring information is covered (sounds like most did their job well and those who did not should be quietly noted so they are not placed into this position again - that's the best you can do after the fact). A simple sign or even colored paper posted at a stage is helpful to jog the posse marshal that a change is present and to refer to their notes. A like note can be placed in the scorebook at that stages scoresheet for further reminder. 2nd point: "Sometimes" we worry about and attempt to fix things that dont require fixing. The angled placement was (my understanding) required for a downrange movement to ensure muzzles were pointed into the berm. So why worry about or create an instructional issue with initial staging as that is immaterial to the reason the angle exists? Allow the shooters full latitude on issues that don't matter and focus on the issues that do - as long as the firearm is "restaged" in a safe for down range movement position; that's all you have to focus on and it avoids scrutiny and hurt feelings. AND allows shooters to feel like they have another opportunity to set themselves up for their best performance.
  18. If the targets aint shooting back - you aint getting the full old west experience.
  19. Smokestack - For number 1. I don't "know" but like a lot of the traditions in this game; rules were established not for real cause - but because someone thought "it doesn't look right". I'm sure someone, at some time, worried how it would look to other disciplines if folks were allowed to shoot small gauge shotguns. number 2. Proper equipment is self regulating - I see no competitive benefit or advantage to smaller guages (and I see major competitive disadvantage) so IF a person chooses to self handicap (or requires the accomodation) by the use of a less competive decision; I am not going to stand in their way. I would vote to allow.
  20. You know how to really reduce back splash? Move all the targets out to 300 yards - bingo bango - no splash. Man, won't that be fun?
  21. Beautiful cart, Yul. And a very fitting tribute to the Buffalo Soldiers and their contributions to our country. And to Non Stop - to be held in as high esteem as Yul holds you is the greatest compliment. Congratulations on your new work of art.
  22. Costner is not a bad actor. But any movie that he is in charge of... A guarantee of bloated stories and extended runtimes. The man does not understand brevity or concise story telling and I cannot watch his films.
  23. We have a limited amount of day and I have a limited amount of patience. A slow shooter is one thing - but fiddle farting with gun repair/ ammo malfunction or equipment breakage is another. If you are not making progress towards stage completion - once you have definitely exceeded the "maximum" time of a stage; I will gently direct you to complete what you are doing and move to the unloading table. I am very sorry; but your desire to "complete" the stage or "be clean" does not over ride the necessity to best serve the other 20 shooters on the posse. AND in most cases (at least at large matches) there is a expected time frame to get a posse thru the stage (generally TWO minutes BEEP to BEEP) - I am NOT going to force the other shooters to rush their enjoyment or preparation OR cause a posse backup because of one shooters equipment/ firearm/ ammo malfunction.
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