I meet Mark Christian yesterday
I had a lunch time meeting with former GB member Mark Christian in order to discuss the possible purchase of an M1 rifle. For those who don't recall, Mark was a very popular GB member (even more popular after he gave a way an M1 rifle [:p]) who ran afoul of a small group of folks here who decided to make his life miserable and caused him to leave and go elsewhere. This meeting proved to be so entertaining that I invited Mark to my home for dinner and the two of us chatted well into the evening about firearms and travel. I was surprised that Mark had visited Krakow a few times (where my mother was born) and spoke some fair Polish. He'd also been to Croatia (where my dad was born) as well as many other countries which I had also visited. I found Mark to be rather soft spoken but willing, if allowed, to go into the details of a subject he was familiar with to any length the listener desired and I learned PLENTY about the M1 Rifle in just an hour of listening to Mark. I decided to make the purchase, but with the stupid gun laws here in California it will be a ten day wait for my new toy, a nice H&R M1.
Here is information that Mark told me it was okay to pass along to his friends who are here on Gun Broker: He has pretty much retired from being a firearms dealer after taking a position with an international arms brokerage firm a couple of years back. He spends one third of his time here in the States, one third in Eastern Europe and the remaining time in Central America. Man, that sounds like a rough life to me! He purchased a home in Sofia Bulgaria as well as having a place in Panama City which is under construction and he plans to retire and split his time between Panama and Bulgaria around 2010. This is the same time I'll be retired in Italy so I hope to see a lot of him at my home on Lake Como in a few more years. Mark has been selling off a large portion of his firearms collection and much of it has been sold right here on Gun Broker. Not that he needs a plug, but I suppose if you want to buy any of his guns you may want to look around for his listings on the auction site. On the whole this was a very nice meeting and I can see why those who have met the man face to face have left impressed with Mark. For those here who continue to dislike the man you are only punishing the rest of us by keeping him and his knowledge away from our site.
Here is information that Mark told me it was okay to pass along to his friends who are here on Gun Broker: He has pretty much retired from being a firearms dealer after taking a position with an international arms brokerage firm a couple of years back. He spends one third of his time here in the States, one third in Eastern Europe and the remaining time in Central America. Man, that sounds like a rough life to me! He purchased a home in Sofia Bulgaria as well as having a place in Panama City which is under construction and he plans to retire and split his time between Panama and Bulgaria around 2010. This is the same time I'll be retired in Italy so I hope to see a lot of him at my home on Lake Como in a few more years. Mark has been selling off a large portion of his firearms collection and much of it has been sold right here on Gun Broker. Not that he needs a plug, but I suppose if you want to buy any of his guns you may want to look around for his listings on the auction site. On the whole this was a very nice meeting and I can see why those who have met the man face to face have left impressed with Mark. For those here who continue to dislike the man you are only punishing the rest of us by keeping him and his knowledge away from our site.
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I saw Mark as Very Knowledgable in Firearms and had a distinct and entertaining way of presenting what he knew.
I wish the past could be burried and Mark would start posting here again, as highly unlikely as that is.0 -
I really miss his knowlege on guns.....the guy knows his stuff.things have changed on here the last few years....not nessasarily for the better...[;)] 0 -
Good to hear Mark is doing well. Miss his posts here. Is he still posting at that other forum? I forget which... 0 -
quote:Originally posted by drobs
Good to hear Mark is doing well. Miss his posts here. Is he still posting at that other forum? I forget which...
Yes he is.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Crittergitter
quote:Originally posted by drobs
Good to hear Mark is doing well. Miss his posts here. Is he still posting at that other forum? I forget which...
Yes he is.
Firearms Forum or something else. I forget, I have to protect my screen name.0 -
Or maybe he just got tired of Kalifornia and left to go overseas with that hot cutie he use to put a picture of on here. Maybe he knows remote girls mom... Myself I will stay in the U.S.A. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by select-fire
Or maybe he just got tired of Kalifornia and left to go overseas with that hot cutie he use to put a picture of on here. Maybe he knows remote girls mom... Myself I will stay in the U.S.A.
Perfect example of the scum-suckin' pimp talk that runs people off. Ya don't want yer cutie involved, keep it off the street.
Clouder..0 -
quote:Originally posted by whiteclouder
quote:Originally posted by TRAP55
Mark's reference library on Garands is in his head. Sit between him and BertH at dinner and your head will hurt from the information overload on M-1 Garands and 1885 Winchesters!
I did and Mark ate my salad while Bert distracted me with some cock-a-mammy tale about an 1885 and a half hybrid single-shot automatic.
Still had a great time and will again.
Clouder..
Must not have been too tall of a tale... you ended up buying the gun from me[:D]
I am looking forward to seeing all of you in Reno again this coming April[^][8D] (and you can bring Critter along with as well[;)]).0 -
quote:Originally posted by whiteclouder
quote:Originally posted by select-fire
Or maybe he just got tired of Kalifornia and left to go overseas with that hot cutie he use to put a picture of on here. Maybe he knows remote girls mom... Myself I will stay in the U.S.A.
Perfect example of the scum-suckin' pimp talk that runs people off. Ya don't want yer cutie involved, keep it off the street.
Clouder..
Back of my mind says Mark was her sugar daddy..[:o)][:o)]0 -
quote:Originally posted by select-fire
quote:Originally posted by whiteclouder
quote:Originally posted by select-fire
Or maybe he just got tired of Kalifornia and left to go overseas with that hot cutie he use to put a picture of on here. Maybe he knows remote girls mom... Myself I will stay in the U.S.A.
Perfect example of the scum-suckin' pimp talk that runs people off. Ya don't want yer cutie involved, keep it off the street.
Clouder..
Back of my mind says Mark was her sugar daddy..[:o)][:o)]
That is a pretty crass statement even by the standards of South Carolina where a "Sugar Daddy" is often as accurate a statement of geneology as it is an oxymoron. Mark Christian is a class act and would be just as much one were he unlearned and destitute. It is a matter of integrity, character and self-esteem that can't be purchased like a Corvette at some used car lot.0 -
quote:Originally posted by whiteclouder
...cock-a-mammy...
Wally,
I believe the word you are looking for is "cockamamie", meaning ludicrous, foolish; "cock-a-mammy" is another thing altogether, suffering tedious mention in rap and hip-hop songs.0 -
quote:Originally posted by DancesWithSheep
quote:Originally posted by whiteclouder
...cock-a-mammy...
Wally,
I believe the word you are looking for is "cockamamie", meaning ludicrous, foolish; "cock-a-mammy" is another thing altogether, suffering tedious mention in rap and hip-hop songs.
I believe you are referring to 'cock-"o"-mammy' or the less abbreviated Bronx version cock-yo-mammy. Then there is the purely DC style being Glock-yo-mammy.0 -
Either way, I wouldn't want to be in Mammy's shoes. 0 -
Next time you see Mark give him a big kiss for me.
Dean [:X][:X][:X][:X][:X][:X][:X][:X][:X][:X][:X]
I'm sorry, but we don't need that on the forum.0 -
quote:Originally posted by bigdaddyjunior
quote:Originally posted by select-fire
quote:Originally posted by whiteclouder
quote:Originally posted by select-fire
Or maybe he just got tired of Kalifornia and left to go overseas with that hot cutie he use to put a picture of on here. Maybe he knows remote girls mom... Myself I will stay in the U.S.A.
Perfect example of the scum-suckin' pimp talk that runs people off. Ya don't want yer cutie involved, keep it off the street.
Clouder..
Back of my mind says Mark was her sugar daddy..[:o)][:o)]
That is a pretty crass statement even by the standards of South Carolina where a "Sugar Daddy" is often as accurate a statement of geneology as it is an oxymoron. Mark Christian is a class act and would be just as much one were he unlearned and destitute. It is a matter of integrity, character and self-esteem that can't be purchased like a Corvette at some used car lot.
He must have character flaw though.. his skin must not be very thick to leave the forum cause of a little argueing on here.0 -
Mark was a gracious, generous, and knowledgeable individual. He knew his subject and he knew it well. That tended to make the B.S.er's of GB somewhat unconfortable. From behind the safety of their computer screens they ignorantly uttered derogatory comments directed toward him. He certainly didn't need the bottom feeders of GB as much as they needed him. When the forum became fouled with the stench of these bottom feeders he left. As more bottom feeders congregated his decision to leave became even more legitimate. More than a few of the oldtimers miss the early give and take of this forum....and they don't come often anymore to stop and chat.
I really don't know why Mark left(I had already become only a casual visitor) but when mongrel dogs are nipping at your heals it is very easy for a thoroughbred to ease it into second gear and leave the mongrels in the dust. When I was first starting my CMP Youth League shooting program Mark asked me what I needed to help out my young shooters. He delivered multiple times with hard cash to help my young Americans develop their shooting skills. That two of them attained High Master distinction, that two of them have earned Distinguished Rifleman points, and that one of them has attained President's 100 distinction is in large part due to the finacial assistance that Mark provided.
In my own arrogance I never thought I would meet someone with more M1 knowledge than myself.....I thought I knew ALL of the real M1 gurus....MTC disabused me of that notion early in our correspondence. So for those of you who think that Mark "immaturely" ran away from GB......maybe he just couldn't take the stench. All the best to everyone, Beach.0 -
+100![^]
quote:Originally posted by beachmaster73
Mark was a gracious, generous, and knowledgeable individual. He knew his subject and he knew it well. That tended to make the B.S.er's of GB somewhat unconfortable. From behind the safety of their computer screens they ignorantly uttered derogatory comments directed toward him. He certainly didn't need the bottom feeders of GB as much as they needed him. When the forum became fouled with the stench of these bottom feeders he left. As more bottom feeders congregated his decision to leave became even more legitimate. More than a few of the oldtimers miss the early give and take of this forum....and they don't come often anymore to stop and chat.
I really don't know why Mark left(I had already become only a casual visitor) but when mongrel dogs are nipping at your heals it is very easy for a thoroughbred to ease it into second gear and leave the mongrels in the dust. When I was first starting my CMP Youth League shooting program Mark asked me what I needed to help out my young shooters. He delivered multiple times with hard cash to help my young Americans develop their shooting skills. That two of them attained High Master distinction, that two of them have earned Distinguished Rifleman points, and that one of them has attained President's 100 distinction is in large part due to the finacial assistance that Mark provided.
In my own arrogance I never thought I would meet someone with more M1 knowledge than myself.....I thought I knew ALL of the real M1 gurus....MTC disabused me of that notion early in our correspondence. So for those of you who think that Mark "immaturely" ran away from GB......maybe he just couldn't take the stench. All the best to everyone, Beach.0 -
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I have always been surprised that the scumbag who harrassed MC was never brought out for a public flogging. It is as if everyone is afraid of the person who did it. What it a moderator or something? 0 -
Can't flog him anymore....he's dead 0 -
Well, Beachmaster73;
We certainly don't see enough of you around here, anymore, either.
You also revealed a bit more about Marks' character then he would have been comfortable with us knowing, I am sure..Modesty being a virtue in some circles.
I thank you for it..merely confirms what I knew, however. A good man that got tired of the attacks.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Rack Ops
Can't flog him anymore....he's dead
Really?0 -
speaking of smart, interesting, class acts.....
what happened to cyclonus?0 -
quote:Originally posted by 1911a1fan
quote:Originally posted by competentone
quote:Originally posted by TRAP55
It went farther than just a GB argument. I believe I know Mark well enough to say he won't ever post here again because of it.
Maybe I missed something that happened -- so much got deleted by both Mark and the moderators and I always have long absences from the forum and never read every thread.
Do you have a two-paragraph version of what happened that caused him to decide to leave?
nasty emails, threats, blackhorn
uh... whats a blackhorn??0 -
quote:Originally posted by DancesWithSheep
quote:Originally posted by whiteclouder
...cock-a-mammy...
Wally,
I believe the word you are looking for is "cockamamie", meaning ludicrous, foolish; "cock-a-mammy" is another thing altogether, suffering tedious mention in rap and hip-hop songs.
Turnbull said, "If ya can't remember how to spell it, write it like it sounds. Most folks will git the gist."
Betcha I spell it right next time. Thanks.
Clouder..0 -
The day that Mark and Rancheropaul got sick of the childish
atmosphere of some on GB, was the same day I decided it was
time to look elsewhere also.
I converse with both often and can carry on great "Gun" conversations, without 10 to 1 responses that come from
some "Without a Clue"!
And that was back when there weren't more "Moderators" than
regular GB posters.
"Those were the days my friend, I thought they'd never end".
Hope there are some GB Brass @Tulsa to question why some of the
changes were made, and not TO the benefit of GB.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Spring Creek
The day that Mark and Rancheropaul got sick of the childish
atmosphere of some on GB, was the same day I decided it was
time to look elsewhere also.
I converse with both often and can carry on great "Gun" conversations, without 10 to 1 responses that come from
some "Without a Clue"!
And that was back when there weren't more "Moderators" than
regular GB posters.
"Those were the days my friend, I thought they'd never end".
Hope there are some GB Brass @Tulsa to question why some of the
changes were made, and not TO the benefit of GB.
I am very glad to hear you're not here anymore. Keep it up.0 -
Don't worry, after looking at your "Archived" posts; it's impossible
to see 1% of the 2895 that anybody that knows even an iota about
firearms could garnish anything of value from.
Mark and Paul forgot more about guns, than you'll ever know.
You might like to see your "Ramblings" in real life print and
if you get some enjoyment from that, I guess a purpose is served.
But you also serve as a reason for the migration to other boards,
for those that have some real information to share.
It's not hard to stay away from child like behavior.
So don't hit yourself on the back-try your head.0 -
You must have a lot of friends! 0 -
Ah so it is not the amount we post it is the quality we post. Thanks for the enlightenment.
I think we should have a new measure of this in honor of SpringCreek and his superior intellect. If we can consider postings on Ask The Experts to be good and postings in General Discussion to be bad then we can have a ratio of bad vs total posts. For instance Spring Creek has 7 pages in Ask the Experts out of 18 pages total for a ratio of .389. I have 2 pages in Ask The Experts and 53 total for a ratio of .038.
Using common subtraction (I learned from MC cause he knows it all) I can conclude that Spring Creek is .351 GunBroker points smarter than me.
This gets curiouser and curiouser. If we apply the above concept to MC we will see his ratio of GB points is .357 making him even less intelligent than Spring Creek by .032 GunBroker points.
So go beat your head against the wall and repeat 100 times "The internet is not real life". Once you have that mastered you can then get a life!0
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