I posted this in the thread referenced above and thought it appropriate to post here as well.
There are plenty of reasons to contribute to this legal fund and whichever one compels you to support it is plenty good enough. However, if you are on the fence I want to put a bug in your ear. This battle affects all of us well beyond the Hide.
The internet is our primary channel for the exchange of information and ideas. This suit is of interest to anyone who would hope that the internet shall always be a venue for individuals to review and discuss anything. The topic here just so happens to be a rifle. It could just as easily be a spatula or a particular brand of bird seed. Word of, and support for, this suit needs to be spread far and wide. It is one way we can give back to the Hide and serve our own interests by keeping these channels open in the future.
This thread and many others are the shape of conversations that could place in any public venue. I think Marc was professional in his review presented to his customer and Frank has been generous in extending his hand to Rooney to bridge a gap with the community. My experience is that Lowlight is far more lenient than most similar sites in allowing a back and forth on almost any topic. In the case of the TR video produced by Marc and presented by Jeff Stevens (the TR customer) I find it bland in its presentation. Without the audio the video alone speaks volumes. With Marc’s commentary we get some descriptors and a professional assessment. His language and assessment are what we would hope to have gotten from a professional opinion. How many of us are able to convene in person with a smith of the caliber of Marc and have a community with the experience found here on the Hide chime in? I think that number is very low. This is of great value to me and to all of us. We all need to rise and defend it.
The truth shall set you free. I would add to that a hefty legal tab. Each side is entitled to present their case before the court. There is a structure around making those cases and almost all of us find it excruciatingly slow and filled with too many rules. That is our system and it costs money. Send Marc a check.
