Jargon and Shooting

From time to time I am asked by someone to teach him or her how to shoot or handle firearms. I have had formal training in firearms instruction and taught a great many beginners how to shoot safely. One tool I've found useful is YouTube. There are a number of excellent videos (and many more stinkers) on handling and shooting firearms that I can simply send to folks to give them a basic understanding before we actually go hands-on. I also prefer to do some hands-on training before we ever go to the range with live ammo.

Something that I've begun to find bothersome is the slang/jargon/lingo/terminology that is cropping up in a lot of the new videos.  I’ve been active in the shooting sports for almost half a century.  More importantly, I’m interested in the history and theory of firearms and shooting and actively seek out information.  My collection of books and magazines is extensive.  In addition, and perhaps more importantly, I have years of personal experience in almost all aspects of shooting.  Many of these videos include terminology that I’m not familiar with and worse, this new terminology is replacing terms that have been in use for a hundred years or more. 

 There are several reasons for the new slang.  The first and only legitimate use is to describe something new.  If there is a genuinely new piece of equipment, or technique, or understanding of a process, then a new term is required.  Unfortunately, there are a lot fewer new things in the world of firearms than the youngsters would like to admit. 

The other reasons for new terminology are less acceptable and more frequent. 

Simple ignorance can breed a new word or phrase.  One of the advantages of books is that they can pre-date the Internet.  It’s hard for the current generation to understand how recent and ephemeral the information they find on the Internet really is.  Online info also spreads very quickly so the youngsters hear the other youngsters using the same verbiage (and in some cases mispronunciations) and assume it’s correct.  A lack of knowledge of history forces reinvention.  I would personally rather build on the knowledge of my predecessors instead of having to rediscover everything myself. 

Marketing is another reason for the new jargon.  All the new tactical trainers have a monetary interest in gathering students.  Since the current generation grew up with rapidly changing technology “new is better” has become an accepted (although potentially inaccurate) catchphrase.  It’s hard to stand out from your competition if you teach essentially the same curriculum.  One way to stand out is to teach something “new” and different.  Since there is remarkably little “new” in the shooting world, making up new terminology for old concepts is one way to differentiate yourself from your competition.  To be fair, some of these guys are genuinely ignorant of what came before so are, in all innocence, reinventing the wheel.      

Another and more disturbing reason for new terminology is exclusion.  There’s a tendency for humans to want to belong to groups.  People want to believe they’re special and belonging to an exclusive group makes them feel special.  This often leads to wanting to keep others out of the group.  A secret language or inside joke is one way to exclude others.  If we’d like the shooting sports to grow, we have to be inclusive of others.  By intimidating new shooters, we limit the interest, growth, and support of firearms and shooting. 

The whole point of communication is to make ourselves understood.  The correct and consistent use of terminology is important to clear communication.  If we insist on rapidly changing or misusing the language, we defeat the entire purpose.