Current Events
Added 2018-02-20 23:00:47 +0000 UTCI'm a bit peeved because, once again, I've had to drop patronage and unsubscribe from several podcasts or video series I watch. None of them were news/lifestyle/politics etc. They were all fiction wholly unrelated to current events but they decided to make a stand, one way or the other, and use their audience as a platform.
Every time there is a gun-related event in the US, and sometimes when there isn't, I'll get a smattering of messages demanding I support X or Y campaign.
As an individual I always vote and I have a good memory for who I will and won't support. I discuss with friends and family what I intend to accomplish and have even bumped into local politicians and made myself clear. I believe people should be politically active. I do watch and listen to political commentary and in that way I have chosen to be engaged. But just like I don't want to have my religion questioned while buying a sandwich, I don't want entertainment chasing my vote.
Statistics show me that nearly half our audience isn't even in the US. Of the remaining I'm fairly certain I know how the majority will vote on gun-related issues and I doubt I could sway them either way. While gun laws certainly affect our ability to produce the show easily (or even at all to a point) unless the impact is 100% direct you will not hear anything from us. Even then I am sure my message would be "vote how you like, but this will wrap the show if it passes" should the day ever come.
So, when you tune into Primer you can feel safe knowing it will always be an island of history and entertainment and I'll never attempt to leverage you all into some cause or another.
...well, except C&Rsenal merch and occasional projects to support museums etc.
Comments
As it should be. Thank you!
2018-02-27 17:41:17 +0000 UTCThank you. I live in a liberal world. I've grown quite tired of the outrage from either side.
2018-02-26 18:29:50 +0000 UTCWhat a relief! We avid (rabid?) gun owners DO need more "safe spaces" where current atrocities are left unexamined... don't we?
Clifton Hicks
2018-02-23 21:10:12 +0000 UTCKeep up the good work. Please continue to use C&Rsenal to focus on the history of the firearms. You and the team do a wonderful job.
Henry Ohme
2018-02-23 02:39:18 +0000 UTCThank you! Well said!
Joe Venzon
2018-02-22 16:27:32 +0000 UTCWhen an entertainer or public edutainer has to veer off course to make it about politics, it's really frustrating and dull even if you agree with them, because everyone and their dog has a hot take for twitter these days. Thank you for keeping it out of the show.
2018-02-21 22:59:45 +0000 UTCOthais, I've always considered you to be a serious historian with rock solid integrity, and I'm not the least worried that you will ever become something else! <3
Anders Eriksson
2018-02-21 21:36:42 +0000 UTCAs one of your international viewers, thank you very much.
Joshua McCoy
2018-02-21 20:11:34 +0000 UTCWell said!
John Whitaker
2018-02-21 18:05:31 +0000 UTCforum moderator is a thankless job
C&Rsenal
2018-02-21 17:49:03 +0000 UTCHere is a good point: If the show were political off and on, could you easily recommend it to friends?
C&Rsenal
2018-02-21 17:47:54 +0000 UTCThank you!
Spencer R
2018-02-21 17:11:01 +0000 UTCCheers.
General Jack Ripper
2018-02-21 16:33:03 +0000 UTCOthias, allow me to add my voice of support. Gun politics are something I can get any time and as a moderator on a gun forum I've been getting it in spades. I come to C&Rsenal to learn history and be entertained. You succeed on both counts. Keep doing what you are doing and don't let the bastards grind you down.
2018-02-21 16:19:56 +0000 UTCThank you.
2018-02-21 15:40:49 +0000 UTCI agree.
2018-02-21 12:01:35 +0000 UTCThank you Othais. Just... thank you. Give Mae a hug for me.
John R. Dorn
2018-02-21 11:26:27 +0000 UTCThank You.... it's nice to get your video "history" lesson... without being "steered" by today's political climate!
2018-02-21 10:35:00 +0000 UTCI've dabbled in pistol target shooting (and would like to do more, when and if I ever get time), but otherwise have noe use for firearms personally. Still, I'm here for the history and insight into the development, mechanics, design and use of classic firearms through the prism of the history of war, which I've always found fascinating. Plus, of course, jokes (good and bad as they may be). You provide that and in spades. You always come across as super amiable and charming, not to forget knowledgeable folks, so I have no doubt we could have a civil and interesting conversation on such topics face to face, but keeping politics out of Primer not only seems wise, but is a big part of why I (and seemingly many others) subscribe and support you (Ian's is the only other channel in this field I support and watch with any regularity for similar reasons). Keep up the good, nay, stellar work!
Chris M
2018-02-21 08:28:39 +0000 UTCI'm glad you keep politics out of it, since being a swedish socialist who loves warfare history and all sorts of weapons and would like to have a firearm license someday while at the same time not thinking guns should be too easily accessible... it would make me feel super awkward supporting you if you'd get into any of the gun politics in America right now
Filip Estelle
2018-02-21 08:02:40 +0000 UTCI'm another non-American who hugely appreciate the show and its focus. If I want politics, there's no shortage of opinionated canals.
Petter Bøckman
2018-02-21 07:29:55 +0000 UTCIndeed!
Petter Bøckman
2018-02-21 07:25:52 +0000 UTCYou and your team make the best content on yt. Major bonus when watching your work is that there is never even a hint of political coloration whatsoever in there. Keep up the great work, greetings from The Netherlands.
2018-02-21 06:35:05 +0000 UTCI am VERY glad it has been a good experience for you!
C&Rsenal
2018-02-21 05:40:42 +0000 UTCAs a non American, resident elsewhere than the USA, I have my own perspective on the functionality and ownership of fire arms in the civil spere. . I also really like the whole engineering perspective of the history and development of firearms. I've learnt a metric shit tonne of stuff since subscribing to C&R. Appreciate your clarity of focus. Yous have a programme, equal to anything done with a substantiality bigger budget as part of programming for free to air TV. Actually, come to think of it, equal, if not better.
Minion
2018-02-21 05:37:22 +0000 UTCI can worry about politics on my political shows. If you ever decide to get political, I won’t be going anywhere.
Rupanrx
2018-02-21 05:05:06 +0000 UTCI'm very glad if we don't agree but you're still finding value in the show. I suspect you'd be less happy if I kept peppering history lessons with finger wagging about how you should live today.
C&Rsenal
2018-02-21 04:41:18 +0000 UTCIt is difficult to maintain patronage to entertainment when shows get political. I remain a viewer until they become activists. In this day and age it is difficult to find any programming that does not lean one way or another. But, we should always remain open to either side of the debate until it becomes apparent that the source is not open to criticism. Keep up the positive entertainment and the outcome will always be positive.
Eric Elcock
2018-02-21 04:07:22 +0000 UTCI liked this post, of course, but one like didn't seem good enough, so here's a comment saying I liked it.
Lumpytusk
2018-02-21 03:49:20 +0000 UTCI think all art is inherently political, and people with passion will necessarily speak on issues as deeply and intensely emotional as mass shootings, in either side of the argument. I suspect we'd not agree on the politics, but your show is excellent, informative and super interesting. Please keep it up, like one of the folks above I'm not a firearms enthusiast but I love the history
Veteran of the Mushroom Wars
2018-02-21 03:41:51 +0000 UTCGood. That's the way it should be. If the politics directly and inextricably relates to you then you should comment on it, otherwise you are an entertainer and historian, not a political commentator. Too many people think that having a TV show makes them an expert on whatever it is they feel like talking about ATM.
Jeff Freeman
2018-02-21 03:40:28 +0000 UTCFunny you should mention it, because that is precisely why I support your channel over several others. Its so difficult to insure my money stays out of the hands of special interest groups. I wont name names, but other channels are quite loud about who they support financially and I find that a bit suspicious for people to say while also running a Patreon page.
Jason
2018-02-21 02:47:18 +0000 UTCTo do your work for its own sake and honor its value honestly is antithetic to those who only see any endeavor as a way to make others subjugate themselves to the "cause" du jour. I will not be "made to care", but I will be made to expose and to shame and to ridicule and to resist. The asshat trying to get an emotional stampede going is not anybody's friend, that asshat is everybody's greatest enemy.
Kyle
2018-02-21 02:19:03 +0000 UTCThankyou for what you do, and double thankyou for keeping this history focused and free of current politics.
2018-02-21 01:22:33 +0000 UTCI watch and sponsor C&Rsenal & Anvil because of the great content, but I also appreciate the lack of any politics. While I suppose I would classify C&R as entertainment, it is educational, as I learn quite a bit from these in depth plunges into historical arms.
Ron Johnson
2018-02-21 00:46:01 +0000 UTCAgree with your philosophy; stay true to that inner voice; in my 74 years, mine has been unerring for me.
Edwin A. Novak
2018-02-21 00:42:12 +0000 UTCWell spoken Othias! Political discourse and personal opinion has no place in the documentation and publication of historical fact(s). I'm proud to be part of C&Rsenal through my small monthly contribution!
Mustafa's Fleas
2018-02-21 00:36:05 +0000 UTCThe thoughts in your first paragraph pretty much has made me abandon most traditional forms of entertainment. It is wise for you to take the Mark Wahlberg approach here considering your audience.
Milsurp Mike
2018-02-21 00:09:18 +0000 UTCThanks guys, I applaud your decision. You are and will continue to be an excellent escape from the drama of the real world.
2018-02-21 00:05:51 +0000 UTCThe absence of politics is one of the biggest reasons I support your channel, besides the excellent content of course.Stick to your guns.
Ethereal
2018-02-20 23:46:53 +0000 UTCThank you for what you do Othias. The project that you have created is such a vitality important documentation of not just the guns but the history of the engineering involved, the politics driving it, and an homage to the men and women that designed, built and carried them. Or culture I'm afraid is pushing hard to sanitize itself of history that a certain body politic feels is not worthy of being honored or even remembered. WE will not allow that and I thank you and would support you more than I do monthly to see you continue the Primer project.
JPhilibert
2018-02-20 23:37:07 +0000 UTCI respect your choice and support you guys because of the dedication to fairness and the passion for history. I also respect history or art shows to defend their own opinion, since writing history and performing art are inherently political, since you have to highlight points and value those highlights. and last I respect your decision to, (also, yes) respectfully, step away from those environments if their conversation do not attune to your senses. ... also, f*yeah, let's get some merch & support museums :)
Leandro Nascimento
2018-02-20 23:35:06 +0000 UTC👊🏻
2018-02-20 23:31:29 +0000 UTCI am very glad to hear this as I feel arms history applies to more than just arms collectors. I like learning about tanks but don't own a single one.
C&Rsenal
2018-02-20 23:29:09 +0000 UTCThanks Othias. Much appreciated. History as this ought to be free of politics. I will continue to support you on Patreon.
2018-02-20 23:21:00 +0000 UTCGoodo. And keep em coming.
Red Marley
2018-02-20 23:20:59 +0000 UTCThank you. While I'm fairly certain you and I both agree on the topic, that's not the point- it's nice to have something I can enjoy where politics is not going to be rammed down my throat at the same time.
2018-02-20 23:18:56 +0000 UTCI appreciate your hard work and lack of political bias on C&Rsenal. Please keep at it.
2018-02-20 23:16:28 +0000 UTCThe concept of "entertainment chasing my vote" probably has been going on for years but in our rapidly evolving mediatech who knows where we'll end up
2018-02-20 23:16:21 +0000 UTCIt's almost as if...dun dun dun....WAR WERE DECLARED!
2018-02-20 23:14:55 +0000 UTCThat's why I watch and support you guys. Even though I don't own a gun or don't care to ever, I do appreciate the care and respect you put into covering the history of firearms without glorifying it. It reveals a high degree of responsibility on your part to be above agendas and be objective.
Andrew Gossen
2018-02-20 23:14:47 +0000 UTCThanks my friend. We can be passionate about our beliefs but as teachers our job is to allow our students to make up their own mind.
Jacob Stevens
2018-02-20 23:12:53 +0000 UTCVery much appreciate your clear and sensible position. You're very respectful of others' rights and feelings, and I love what you're doing for the deep historical background, and the fun of it.
Randall Vanderende
2018-02-20 23:10:34 +0000 UTCThank you for doing what you do. I like being able to just enjoy the history, design, and technology of firearms. I can find all of the crazy politics I want whenever I want. Thank you for being an island of sanity in howling wild of the Internet.
2018-02-20 23:08:30 +0000 UTCIt's appreciated! I get awfully tired of all the choir preaching that goes on in so much other firearms media.
Nicholas Ford
2018-02-20 23:07:43 +0000 UTC