I think I've finally unearthed what it is about forums that cause the most trouble.

The dreaded potshot.

Defining what a potshot is, is difficult. Many times, a cognizant comment can be interwined within the potshot. This tends to make the potshot that much more of an irritant. Attempting to untangle the potshot from the comment is next to impossible.


A potshot involves the following; from a hidden, burrowed position, the potshotter scopes out the intended target, rises for a better view, takes aim, and fires, attempting to kill the target, all in one post.

Buckshot potshots can be just as annoying, or damaging. Fire as many insults as possible, all within one post, again, following the modus of the potshotter.


The worst kind of potshotter is from the idiot that isn't even a regular to a forum. This type of potshotter lurks, absorbs, and perhaps has even benefited by reading previous posts made by the soon to be victim, but fires away as if this person's past contributions mean absolutely nothing.

Potshotting, I believe, causes most of the unsavory turmoil that occurs on discussion forums.

It's taken me over two years to identify the action by a specific name. [img]confused.gif[/img]

Potshots. [img]graemlins/thumbs_down.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/wilted.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/broken_heart.gif[/img]