Poll of the Day > What the hell is wrong with people from Montana?

(+) Yeah! (+)

So here's how my day went yesterday. I started off in some small town with about 100 people in it, about to start on a stretch of the state that was incredibly desolate and hilly, about 80 miles to the next town while it was about 102 degrees out. Out of nowhere some dude hops of of his truck asking me where I'm heading. I tell him I'm heading west and he immediately tells me I can put the bike in the back and get a ride from him since he's heading that way.

Mind you, this guy doesn't even know my name yet, I could be a serial killer or something and he offers to drive me that distance. I accepted and during the ride when I mentioned my money issues off hand he literally pulled out a wad of cash and handed it to me. He also gave me a bad ass knife and some "road soda" (beer) before droppings me off, a good 20 miles further to my destination than he was going himself.

After that I stopped at a restaurant/c-store to charge up my bike a bit and this old couple, again comes out of nowhere asking why I was out in that heat and even after explaining I had only ridden about 30 miles that day so far they insisted on buying me lunch and giving me a bunch of tips for traversing the mountains since I'm getting close to them. After they leave (giving me their number telling me to call them if I need anything) the waitress gives me some free ice cream before I hit the road. There was also a random woman who asked about the bike and asked if I needed any money without me even hinting at anything money related.

Later towards the evening after about another 30 miles I passed by what looked like a ghost town (it practically was since most of the building were rotting and the total population was about 25) and went into investigate only to be called out to by a woman if I needed anything. After talking to her for a bit she invited me into her house (by far the nicest in the town) and gave me a bunch of food and history lessons on the area before offering to let me spend the night there with her. Again, I'm just some random dude from an eastern city who isn't personable (I forgot to properly introduce myself in each of these encounters) or charismatic in the slightest. The idea that a woman living alone would invite a strange male stranger into her home for the night is difficult for me to comprehend. In the morning she loaded me up with food and when I told her the town I was planning on stopping in today she called up a friend who lives there and set me up with a free place to sleep tonight.

This level of kindness just isn't natural, religious men is one thing but this is just crazy. Also this area is suffering from an intense drought that is destroying the local cow industry so prices are rising and everyone is having a tough time of it and yet still they would help a person like me.

Maybe youve found a good place worth visiting again or maybe even trying to settle at one day

I also visited Montana once and had a positive experience. Beautiful state.

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I've been to Montana several times. I got in an argument with a guy at a restaurant about 8 years ago because he put his pistol on his table while he was eating and the barrel was pointed straight at me.

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faramir77 posted...

I've been to Montana several times. I got in an argument with a guy at a restaurant about 8 years ago because he put his pistol on his table while he was eating and the barrel was pointed straight at me.

That would be pretty uncomfortable I suppose, but arguing with him or telling him to move it probably actually slightly increased your chances of being shot somewhat ironically. That old couple who treated me to lunch were both armed and pulled out their guns when the subject came up as to how different the place is from the city I'm from. The guy who gave me a ride had several guns laying around in his truck too. Accidents can happen for sure but I guess I trust people who are that open and comfortable carrying them around to have some idea what they're doing.

Reigning_King posted...

That would be pretty uncomfortable I suppose, but arguing with him or telling him to move it probably actually slightly increased your chances of being shot somewhat ironically. That old couple who treated me to lunch were both armed and pulled out their guns when the subject came up as to how different the place is from the city I'm from. The guy who gave me a ride had several guns laying around in his truck too. Accidents can happen for sure but I guess I trust people who are that open and comfortable carrying them around to have some idea what they're doing.

It violates the first rule of Firearm safety which is a massive no-no, anyone who is flagrantly ignorant about where his gun is pointing at all times shouldn't have a gun. Flagging people would(or should) get you kicked out of most gun shops/ranges.

Cruddy_horse posted...

It violates the first rule of Firearm safety which is a massive no-no, anyone who is flagrantly ignorant about where his gun is pointing at all times shouldn't have a gun.

Who says the guy was ignorant of where the gun was pointing? Also this happened at a restaurant, not a gun range where people go to actually, you know, fire their guns.

So you're saying that there's something wrong with people who are kind to others? Gotcha.

Reigning_King posted... Who says the guy was ignorant of where the gun was pointing? Also this happened at a restaurant, not a gun range where people go to actually, you know, fire their guns.

You're using some backwards logic here, if the place where guns are being fired and are more commonly found are strict about gun safety then anywhere else should be doubly so.

Are you also implying the guy meant to point it at faramir? If so then he definitely shouldn't have a gun.

Reigning_King posted...

offering to let me spend the night there with her.

Giggity

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Reggie Watts is from Montana. He's so goddamn hilarious and talented. He can sometimes be a bit too 'both sides' politically for me, but I understand where he's coming from...Montana lol.

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Cruddy_horse posted...

You're using some backwards logic here, if the place where guns are being fired and are more commonly found are strict about gun safety then anywhere else should be doubly so.

Are you also implying the guy meant to point it at faramir? If so then he definitely shouldn't have a gun.

My logic is simply that at a place where guns are expected to be fired, pointing a gun at someone is a bigger deal than pointing a gun at someone in a place where the gun would never actually be used except in exceptional circumstances. I also make a distinction between a gun being held and pointed at someone and a gun being placed on a table where it couldn't possibly misfire except in the most freak or freak accidents since no one was touching it.

As for if the guy was deliberately placing it in such a way, who knows, not you or I anyways.

Sounds like a nice place. Wyoming also looks really beautiful.
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ReturnOfFa posted...

Reggie Watts is from Montana. He's so goddamn hilarious and talented. He can sometimes be a bit too 'both sides' politically for me, but I understand where he's coming from...Montana lol.

I never would have guessed he is from there. The guy is brilliant though

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Reigning_King posted...

Who says the guy was ignorant of where the gun was pointing? Also this happened at a restaurant, not a gun range where people go to actually, you know, fire their guns.

If the guy wasn't ignorant of where the gun was pointing then I legally should have the right to kick his teeth out.

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Reigning_King posted...

My logic is simply that at a place where guns are expected to be fired, pointing a gun at someone is a bigger deal than pointing a gun at someone in a place where the gun would never actually be used except in exceptional circumstances. I also make a distinction between a gun being held and pointed at someone and a gun being placed on a table where it couldn't possibly misfire except in the most freak or freak accidents since no one was touching it.

As for if the guy was deliberately placing it in such a way, who knows, not you or I anyways.

Then you're misunderstanding Safety rules, a violation doesn't make it a lesser infraction just because you don't expect to use the weapon at that moment or if it's an area where guns are not normally used.

All it could take is the guy grabbing it by the Trigger and he could have killed faramir vs. pointing it in a safe direction and discharging into a wall which is obviously still a smooth-brained move. You can see any number of idiots online doing this shit, I've seen plenty of shit like this in person too.

When it comes to firearm safety there is absolutely zero room for error, any responsible gun owner knows this.

Reigning_King posted...

My logic is simply that at a place where guns are expected to be fired, pointing a gun at someone is a bigger deal than pointing a gun at someone in a place

Safety rules don't change based on where you are. A gun should never be pointed at anyone or anything you don't intend to shoot.

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You guys keep saying "pointed" but based on the story shouldn't the proper word be "placed"?

Its a trick

Bring your sword next time

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Dude wtf.

So just a bit ago I got to another little town after a hard day of biking up mountains against a strong wing in this heat and I was really hungry. The grocery store was closed already so I went to a nearby bar/restaurant (first time I've ever been in a bar) but the waitress I talked to said they weren't serving food since they had so few people in the kitchen and I ended up just getting two cans of soda.

After I left, the lady who runs the place comes out after me and tells me that she'll personally make me something since she recognized I wasn't from town and must be a traveler who wasn't already aware of the kitchen thing. Not only did she bring me out some food but also another can of soda and a cup of ice water. I tried to give her a $20 but she refused it and wished me safe travels.

I guess if nothing else I can give them a shout out here. If you happen to be in the town of Belt, Montana go check out the Harvest Moon Saloon. You probably won't get free food like me, but it will be good food.

I guess if I ever visit Montana, I need to make it appear as if I'm down on my luck

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Metalsonic66 posted...

I guess if I ever visit Montana, I need to make it appear as if I'm down on my luck

Just because I'm riding around on a bike with all of my worldly belongings strapped to it and I haven't been able to wash my clothes or shower/shave in like a week doesn't mean I look "down on my luck".

lol I'm just saying the people seem happy to help

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