Why is Seek Outside giving gun control advocate Ryan Busse air time?

[highside74]

What hunting people do they even sponsor?

I know Gritty used to give Kevin and his products a lot of love. Looks like Gritty has separated from SO and is using Peax gear now. On a side note Peax new tent looks legit.

 

[dirtytough]

You can buy the same headlamp Peax sells for next to nothing but without the Peax branding and thus not helping pay influencers. I’m sure the tent they “make” can be had somewhere else also

Lol comparing rebranding to anti 2A is a stretch. But whatever makes anti 2A people feel good about themselves.

 

[Theringworm]

I have a lot of respect for Robby and the ‘Slide for allowing this conversation to be had thus far. Much appreciated.

 

[IdahoBeav]

at least SO is a supporter of public lands

Unfortunately, many people in the hunting community swallow loads of leftist pork in the name of public lands.

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[3forks]

I know Gritty used to give Kevin and his products a lot of love. Looks like Gritty has separated from SO and is using Peax gear now. On a side note Peax new tent looks legit.

Brian from Gritty endorsing a product is enough of reason for me not to want to use it regardless of what the manufacturer stands for or how good it is.

 

[Rifleman86]

Unfortunately, many people in the hunting community swallow loads of leftist pork in the name of public lands.

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Let’s be honest, the right isn’t great on the public lands issue.

That said, the right isn’t trying to ban trapping, hunting, or guns.

I can (and have) had many a conversation with people on the right about the importance of public lands and conservation. Nearly all are receptive, and after some back and forth, most see it’s value and why it needs protected.

People on the left who don’t like guns, hunting, or trapping usually aren’t nearly as receptive.

 

[11boo]

I have a lot of respect for Robby and the ‘Slide for allowing this conversation to be had thus far. Much appreciated.

Well said.

 

[cnelk]

I bet the Mods have been working more than usual the past 30 hours or so.

 

[Ratbeetle]

Here is what kills me. People on the left who have twitter pages like Busse, full of vitriol and hate for people with opposing views, always go on and on about “just having an honest conversation.”

The “honest conversation” is always a front. It’s like a time share salesman offering a free vacation… They are going to come off nice, like they just want to talk. In reality they think you are stupid, and they are looking to take advantage of you to get what they want.

In reality, this has been a real honest conversation looks like, where stakeholders from all sides got to have their say, and those that said things got a chance to own them. If people agreed with Busse or SO wanted to say something in this thread, they were free to do so. Same with those who disagreed.

I have a feeling this wasn’t the conversation SO wanted to have however.

Gaslighting...it's incredibly dishonest and manipulative.

 

[Phaseolus]

I bet the Mods have been working more than usual the past 30 hours or so.

Probably going to have less sponsors too.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

We understood he had written a book that many might find negative to the gun industry. That sounds interesting, why the shift? Maybe hunters want to hear why the shift ? We clearly stated we had not read the book, and by doing a podcast it did not mean agreement or approval.

Why wouldn’t you read the book so you could ask meaningful questions or challenge some of the content? Silence can be interpreted as agreement or approval. Meat eater is a great example of individuals who bring people on to hear about different opinions, but are very clear about their stance on controversial issues.

You gave him a platform without any respectful disagreement. Thats why we are all frustrated…well, that and your social media.

I think we would like to hear where you stand on the Second Amendment and assault rifle’s etc , not just hunting.

 

[idahodave]

Myself, and Seek in general have always been naturally curious. Being naturally curious leads us to experiment with fabrics and designs. This natural curiosity means we are open to discussing, learning, and deciding if it is useful to us.

In 2021, we recorded our second podcast with Ryan Busse, because we were curious about what he had to say. The first pod, he was a VP at Kimber and I had known him for several years when he had been a VP at Kimber. We understood he had written a book that many might find negative to the gun industry. That sounds interesting, why the shift? Maybe hunters want to hear why the shift ? We clearly stated we had not read the book, and by doing a podcast it did not mean agreement or approval. We couldn’t really push back, because we had not read the book. I am fine to have discussions with people I disagree with. Disagreements can help us learn and evolve, concrete our viewpoints, or challenge them. I am the type of person who can have a conversation with someone I disagree with, perhaps I come to value their viewpoint, or understand it, even if I disagree. I also think that our podcast is meant to be more exploratory rather than a place for a debate.

As an example, we have also done a podcast with the North American Non-Lead Partnership. It was about knowledge and learning but we didn’t go on a crusade to ban lead. No one has tried to cancel us because of the podcast. It was about learning, and what we can better be done from his perspective.

That being said, I find questioning our support to the hunting community a bit misguided. We donate often to small archery clubs, small hunting clubs, LE, and many small groups, not including large donations BHA, Wild Sheep, Trout Unlimited, Sportsman for the Boundary waters, TWS, TRCP, the Arctic National Refuge, Pheasants Forever ….and generally, these aren’t small donations.

I also find interesting parallels in some of the comments expressed here, from hunters, and those from other customer segments. I am aware that some Rec. people try to dismiss us as a hunting brand, and some hunters try to dismiss us as a rec brand. We do support some rec groups like American Packrafting Association but in any recreational setting, we still unequivocally support public land fair chase hunting. It’s not like we change who we are when communicating to groups. We just want to be who we are and understand there is market overlap.

There is also no political litmus test to work at Seek. I know we have some people, that are fairly conservative, and likely some that are not. I literally do not care. The only real litmus test is you have to be hunting-friendly, pro outdoors, show up for work, and do a good job. We have taught and mentored several of our employees who enjoyed the outdoors in non-hunting ways on how to hunt. We don’t force them to hunt by any means but if they want to learn we are happy to help and have directly added to our hunter population.

Overall, I feel this division and cancellation culture has gotten out of hand. Every topic or debate should allow for more nuanced opinions. I personally am an avid hunter, but I don’t want to do every type of hunting just to hunt. I like big wild places, and the experience, so I’m unlikely to be hunting over a feeder. However, I also don’t try to take away any type of hunting, some types just aren’t my gig and don’t align with what I want to experience. Likewise, when it comes to guns, you can be pro-ownership but want less gun-related crime. On this specific topic, I don't have any answers but my nature is to learn the perspectives of those who think that they do. Discussion can be more nuanced. Opinions can be more nuanced

Regarding Twitter, I have been meaning to distance myself from almost all forms of social. I even communicated that to Robby at the Western Hunting Expo (saying I was far less involved with RS as well .. until today) I mostly used twitter for football. I also have been an occasional agitator for fun … a little bit of both sides. So it feels fair, I am not a fan of the far left either. However, I have followed from both sides ..to see what is said. You could probably cherry pick things followed on both sides if you wanted. Last night, I had removed twitter from my phone (not because of this thread, but to get away from social.. at that time I had no idea of this thread) .. so today, I saw posts, screenshots in this thread, so I deactivated it period. After all football season ended last week and that was my main reason on twitter. Just to be clear, I am not a fan of Trump, though I actually mostly followed the Republican debates in 2016 and wasn’t a fan of Hillary either. I’m fairly in the middle. I like to get outside, I like to hunt. I like talking adventures with people. I like big wild places.

This is nonsense.

 

[Rifleman86]

Probably going to have less sponsors too.

What are you insinuating? That they should’ve shut down a “honest conversation” about a site sponsors podcast and publicly available information because it might have hurt said sponsor?

If they did, they wouldn’t be a forum I’d want any part of. Thankfully they seem to be pretty decent folks who value good discourse, which is the entire point of a discussion forum.

 

[grfox92]

12k views in a little over 24 hours. Yikes.

I know a lot of WKRs don't like Ben Obrien, but he did a podcast with this Busse a year or so ago. I thought Ben did a good job giving good arguments and repeatedly let it be known that they didn't agree on A LOT that the joker had to say.

In my house I axed, Nike, Levi Strauss, Carrhart, Adidas and the list goes on and on and on. I eventually came to the realization that you have to pick and choose your battles....

I like the show SEAL Team. The main character is a liberal cuck. A lot of people probably watch Yellowstone. Pretty sure they are owned by a Chinese parent company. If you watch any mainstream television, series, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon ect. You are supporting people who are far left, and anti gun. Everyone posting here is posting on a device made by companies who support China and have leftist leadership. I'm sure a ton of you still watch the NFL, or NBA, literally the most anti American people in the country. (I say you guys because I don't watch sports, or Yellowstone). My point is if you are alive in the United States today and are not living off the grid and raising 100% of your own food, you are supporting people who disagree with your fundamentals, support China, are anti gun, and are extreme far left. Who's getting rid of their I Phone? (I know there aren't any other options).

I still don't let my kids wear Nikes, I don't buy Carrhart, I have my reasons and that's my choice. Seek Outside is not Nike. They are not Starbucks. The owner is in fact a life long hunter. He doesn't have the same viewpoints as me on everything, but he makes outdoor gear for hunters and backpackers. Because of that I'll need time to form my opinion on supporting Seek going forward.

You can't cancel everyone and everything because you disagree on some things. I am supporting anti gun companies and I dont even know it, so is everyone else. I guess a good point is that now we know information and can make a choice.

I think I'm rambling.

That being said. This whole situation coming to light puts a very bad taste in my mouth. If anyone is interested in trading me a similar quality pack for a SO Unaweep 4800 send me a PM. I was thinking of trying something else just because, but as of right now I feel like I don't even want it.

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[tony]

And to think this all started with one guys wife guilt tripping and threatening to cut him off if he didn't say he hated guns and made him quit his gun job.
And this SO guy really should run for office, that post! Dude, stand by what you said, don't delete your accounts, be a man. You are entitled to your beliefs and opinions. "You were meaning to distance yourself from twitter".
Translation, I'm about to loose a shit ton of money!

 

[Ten Bears]

Kevin’s post was the equivalent word salad of Billy Madison’s “the puppy who lost his way”

 

[BarCO]

People said black rifle coffee would lose money as well. Will be interesting to see,

 

[Rifleman86]

People said black rifle coffee would lose money as well. Will be interesting to see,

Well that’s inconvenient.

 

[gabenzeke]

As far as not being able to get away from people that don't align with us politically, that's totally true. And I acknowledge it is futile to even try. But for me, buying my hunting gear from a person that owns a small company (in the USA no less!) that clearly hates me and/or my values is a bridge too far. And I believe given all we now know, many if not the vast majority of the folks I associate with would agree. I'm not going to fault anyone for continuing to buy seek, as long as they're in the know.

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[tony]

People said black rifle coffee would lose money as well. Will be interesting to see,

I love coffee, I drink too much coffee.
I love the money in my pocket more. Only black rifle coffee I had was given to me. No way I'd pay that much for coffee that tastes........... just like coffee.

I don't want to see a business tank, especially an outdoor business. I've read the black rifle saga, that and the insane price to say I drink the brew of operators is why I don't buy it.
SO will be fine, as mentioned a few pages back, this will be a moot point for some come hunting season.