Facebook controversy

[Ghost Operators]

Hey everyone this was just a few days ago and I just wanted to see what you all think and do you think this is just non sense by Facebook because they just wanna say they took part in the agenda?

This article was posted by Echo 1's Facebook page:

http://www.inquisitr.com/2824020/facebook-gun-ban-targets-airsoft-paintball-guns-sales-replica-firearms-owners-compared-to-hate-groups/

Honestly I feel like this is a low blow and a straight hit in the face to the airsoft community, I know others were affected like actual Firearms and paintball but we are airsofters who use social media like Facebook to buy sell and trade or organize events and honestly is sad because lets be honest who could you kill with airsoft and I mean airsoft doesn't at all cause death unless you swallow a whole bottle of BB's and can't go to the restroom in like 5 days, heck if Facebook bans airsoft you might as well ban the pages that sell Jeep and Jeep part... because some crazy lunatic might buy a vehicle from one of those pages and kill ten people eating hot dogs at the park...(just an example guys I own a Jeep so yeah and.) anyways to be honest from my point of view social media like Facebook killed a lot not all but a lot of local and statewide airsoft forums. But with this happening I think airsofters should go back to their local and state airsoft forums or another better social hub where we can all airsoft and chill. But this is just my opinion.
-Ghost Lead

[Uzamati]

This is nothing but a political move regardless of what they try to say.  They don't like the politics and thoughts of some so they ban them.  At the same time they have every right to, it's their website system that we agree to use on their terms.  While I don't think it's right to hate someone or a group of people because of their political beliefs like Facebook is doing, I feel they have the right to regulate what they want on their property.

[Nexus 1]

Well with the whole facebook groups being banned thing, some feel this is an after effect of California, Maryland and Massachusetts. People just thought "Hahaha Cali got banned from airsoft, hahaha" now its carried over to 2 other states. Now facebook as even taken it into their own hands.

Now there is this reason as well. Myself along with 4 other group admins of big groups found out that someone was going around reporting all our post within the group making facebook target these groups. Changing the groups to secret, and changing the name sadly will do nothing. Facebook can see their own content. Sadly I have now seen 5 groups with 3,000 + people drop off the map because of this. Groups that have been up for 8+ years gone just like that. This is all a domino effect and it will continue. It is a hit in the face and a huge hit. This was a huge community. Now there was a petition going around to sign, sadly that will not do anything. Facebook is not a government or federal company so its not influenced by anything such as that. They are a normal company that is aloud to make whatever decision they want without influence of the people.

In other news though forums will make a comeback such as Airsoft Arizona, Airsoft Forum, Airsoft Society and others. Which could be a good thing cause these forums are not free and these people pay money for these things. Could help bring some communities back. I lost a lot of friends because of those groups, some quit airsoft because of the amount of trolls which true. The amount of trolls in those groups were ridiculous. Some the admins wouldn't even care. So this both has a good effect and bad effect. It depends on how you look at it. Some groups have been able to stay alive but for how much longer? No one knows.

[-MAD- SARGE]

First off this whole action of limiting actions to this degree is plain cowardice at it's core, but it is their product to do with what they choose to do. Airsoft Arizona will always be a resource for those who choose to utilize it.  Nexus is right though, this isn't free and I appreciate Airsofter1 for continuing to pay the bills and XavierMace for lending his expertise in supporting the forum! Lastly, I appreciate all of you who use the forum and continue in further developing and responsibly building up the airsoft community state wide. Post good content and share knowledge, be a resource to others. Carry on.

[Ghost Operators]

This is nothing but a political move regardless of what they try to say.  They don't like the politics and thoughts of some so they ban them.  At the same time they have every right to, it's their website system that we agree to use on their terms.  While I don't think it's right to hate someone or a group of people because of their political beliefs like Facebook is doing, I feel they have the right to regulate what they want on their property.

I don't disagree with Facebook not having the right to ban these kind of thing but to go as far as labeling some airsoft groups as hate groups or even putting airsofters in the same category as a hate group is just flat out wrong in my opinion not only that... but... why enforce a rule that you hardly care about that, then all of the sudden you go ahead WITHOUT WARNING (not trying to be rude just making a point) ban groups, commit straight takedowns, and not give a reason like "Hey Airsoft Page, take down your page or we will Shut it down."... That's a little unfair don't you think even if Facebook has the right to do so, it is "professional" to give a good fair warning. giving people the time of day to make their next on looking for another spot to "airsoft and chill"

[Ghost Operators]

In other news though forums will make a comeback such as Airsoft Arizona, Airsoft Forum, Airsoft Society and others. Which could be a good thing cause these forums are not free and these people pay money for these things. Could help bring some communities back. I lost a lot of friends because of those groups, some quit airsoft because of the amount of trolls which true. The amount of trolls in those groups were ridiculous. Some the admins wouldn't even care. So this both has a good effect and bad effect. It depends on how you look at it. Some groups have been able to stay alive but for how much longer? No one knows.

 I agree with everything else you said I just wanted to quote and comment on this part. Since this has happen I agree his could be a negative effect or a positive effect just depends on how we move forward with this. Because one thing that is always negative and this is everywhere not just forums, but nasty, bad, irritating trolls... they are everywhere, those no good freaks have had good share of ruining to certain people who really wanted to get into the hobby but were looked down upon, because of these trolls.

 Like you said, I really depends on how you look at it. Honestly Airsoft Arizona when I first heard about it already I knew that there are jerks in the world and that they just enjoy the energy of making people unhappy, but when I joined this forum, I knew it was best that I stayed in my lane, made sure I didn't get into anyone else's lane, follow the rules and read and learn from some great people here on this Forum. With that all being said only time will tell when it comes to matters like Facebook and the forum and all the other places that we can go to for airsoft.

[Nexus 1]

Yes trolls are everywhere and will always be every where its just on forums they are more controlled. They cant do as much cause admins keep a good eye out for them. So it keeps it of a more fair condition on a forum.

[XavierMace]

What if I am that troll?

[Ghost Operators]

What if I am that troll?

Well..... lol, I have never seen you be troll to a 10 year old kid wanting to be in airsoft and just asking questions how to get into the hobby and wants to learn and be a contribution to the community, Now I "may" (most likely not) have seen you be a troll to 10 year old kid who claims to be a airsoft major, WHO also claims to be a Delta Sniper, Navy SEAL Green Beret Under Water Basket Weaver Operator..... and if were talking about those who join to think they are the dominant alpha male and are better then anyone, then a troll has a total right to make his or her day fun. So you are the "needed" Kind of Troll....lol
-Ghost Lead

[Nexus 1]

Ahahaha Na, being a troll to a 10 year old claim hes a sniper in the military is complete different then the trolls from FB which Im sure you guys all know.

[BadAsh]

Agreed, it is not trolling, it is doing a community service and we should all be grateful.  If my 13 and 14 yr old kids ever act like that, I give permission to troll away and hopefully shoot them as much as possible in a match.

[Ruvon]

I think the face book thing is sad, but something that needed to happen. Facebook is still a flawed platform, for all the reasons you guy's give and more.
What we really need to take away from this is the idea that we need to start becoming organized and ready for when we start getting legislated out of existence . That can only happen away from the prying eye's of facebook.
I've been playing since '06, when I came into the sport, i discovered a forum from England called Arnies Airsoft Forum. They actually were able to go through and work with they're government to make sure that they didn't have they're hobby stripped from them. Do some google fu on the UKARA act and airsofting. They tend to they're hobby, and to be fair, they don't use facebook to do it.

I'm embracing this as a sign of the times. We need to be on point when it comes to our sport, hobby, life, and we need to be ready when the time comes, why broadcast it out to the rest of the world. Just because we're in the wild west doesn't mean we're safe.

Just my .02 cents...

[e_macairsoft]

I was getting tired of facebook anyways. All the ads and click and bait garbage was getting out of hand. It does suck to lose a good platform to quickly post info for games and such, but going back to the forums is a plus being free to pretty much speak your mind.

[Nexus 1]

Just a FYI as well. Just this morning Airsoft Arizona 6mm Toy Exchange went down which was the largest group for B/S/T for Arizona.

[Ghost Operators]

Just a FYI as well. Just this morning Airsoft Arizona 6mm Toy Exchange went down which was the largest group for B/S/T for Arizona.

  I Just noticed that this morning.