I am the only Slinger in South Africa. There have been joiners that seemed hopeful, only to prove a dissapointing waste of my hope, time and passion.
 
I connect with 1800+ of you who share my love, understanding and passion for the Sling. In many ways, you are some of my closest friends. You get it. You understand The Sling...
 
Logging on and reading and discussing topics on this kick-ass site is one of the high points of my day (Bear in mind that i was within striking distance of 4 deadly snakes today and am currently nursing a Spectacled Cayman bite. Luckily not on my Sling hand. PPHHEEWW!!). I feel a sense of comfort and comraderie that i find nowhere else.
 
I SALUTE YOU ALL !
 
So. I ask the question. Why is Slinging.org your favorite website to visit? And what makes the Sling such and integral part of your life?? I feel naked and unprepared for the day without my 3 favorite Slings.
 
To answer my own questions, i will start,
 
1. Slinging needs no explanation. It is pleasure in itself. It needs no explanation.
2. Slinging is like chess. Someone can explain the basics to you in an hour. Yet it takes a lifetime of practice and dedication, to master.
3. Regardless of how well you Sling, there is always the challenge YOU SET FOR YOURSELF to improve. To go longer, with greater accuracy.
4. Slinging is something you do for yourself. Regardless of what anyone tells you, you do it because that is who you are.
5. Slinging is solitary. You can always go Slinging. Doesn't matter how sh!tty the world treats you or what it throws your way, You can always go to a place that becomes quiet in your mind, and Sling at a target to meditate on anything.
6. Sling on your own. The Sling and the stones never critisize. They go where they go and it is left to you to improve. On your time. Your way. No deadlines.
Anyone want to go on??
 
Respect and brotherhood to any who calls themselves "Slinger"

Agreed!
 
I love this site because here, everybody gets it. No explanation needed.
 
I was at the Herpetology meeting last month. I asked for a moment to ask something that had no bearing on reptiles.
 
When the time came, i stood up and asked if anyone was interested in learning how to use the sling as a hobby or sport. I offered free slings and lessons to anybody who was interested.
 
The best and onloy respone i got was: "That's a monkey question. Why would i learn how to use sling if i can solve the problem with a 9mm???"
 
I did not bother to try any further as i UNDERSTOOD that none of them would get it.
 
It made me very sad.

Nice thread.  
Look at this site, we discuss EVERYTHING. And we have a big respect for each other, no matter how different we are. And we share a lot of interests. And you're sure you'll always find at least another member that will understand what you're saying or that had an experience similar to yours. And you'll always someone willing to help you.
When I think about the distance between me and you, I'm sad  
That's why I need my daily overdose of Slinging.org.
To get news about you rather than to discuss my efforts in slinging.
Greetings,
Mauro.

Yeah, we all 'get' slinging and the endless facination amazement that comes every slinging session.
 
'Though seperated by thousands of miles, we are connected be a long chain. A chain consiting mostly of jute, hemp, 550 cord, and leather'
 
 
 
I think it's cool to be the 'elite' of primitive projectilist. Nowadays, there are 10s of thousands of archers, but in comparison, only a few slingers; and even fewer great slingers.  
 
This forums pretty cool to how wide a variety of people we have, and we still keep it relatively calm, and always respectful.

it was the guides not the forum that initially drew me in. Here was something I could learn, something to occupy my hands. I've learned the hard way that is very important to me. I have to make things with my hands especially being cooped up in a city and slings can be simple or more elaborate and regardless of which one you do it's functional. I like that a lot. Then I started watching videos to learn how to use the sling and registered to ask a question or two.  
 
Then I kind of just wound up being more active on the forum. I'm continually impressed by the level of discussion here. The members are respectful, the mods are fair, and I always wind up learning things. And I love the range of ages, knowledge and experience here. I'm still pretty new here but I very much enjoy the discussions we have here.

I've been a member of a few forums in my time.  
 
The biggest problem with the vast majority of forums is that they are country and culture specific. As an example I'm the only english man posting on a food smoking/bbq forum where everyone else is an american.  
 
Truly great bunch of guys, but a totally mono-cultural forum. Sometimes that's good, sometimes not.
 
What I really like about slinging.org is that we have managed to gather a truly international membership - and that's incredibly rare. rarer still is that we are the only seriously comprehensive slinging website in the world. In this day and age that's quite a remarkable feat.  
 
One of my main goals as current slinging.org director is to maintain that international feel to the forum. So if any of you americans feel I sometimes jump on you a bit hard when you come out with a americano-centric view or post - that's why. Likewise I try and keep 'america bashing' to a minimum. In either case, it really is not personal, but I intend to maintain slinging.org as the genuinely international site it is today.
 
The fact that we've got mods in 4 different countries (and aussie probably counts double being a polish australian   )is unusual. But part of my conscious blueprint for the forum
 
The international nature of the forum is one of the reasons we can discuss such a wide variety of subjects - most of us try to put aside our own cultural values and engage with other members on a neutral plane.  And that again is rare.  
 
The other thing that tends to set us apart as a forum is that in order to take up slinging or even have an interest in trying it - you need to be of a specific character type. It's not a hobby anyone can or will even attempt.  
 
So while we are often poles apart in political or religious beliefs from our fellow members, we all seem to share a certain mindset.  
Stubborn would be one word (lol) curious, creative, individualistic, generally intelligent, argumentative.
 
It possibly shouldn't make for a harmonious community - but somehow it works  
 
That said trying to organise slinging.org members for anything makes herding cats look like childs play.  
It would occasional makes things easier if we were all slightly less individualistic, but I don't think I'd change it, even if I could  
 
Greenman you're defintiely not the only slinger in south africa - we've had 2 or 3 others on the forum over the years. You do have the distinction of being the only currently active SA member though  
 

As C_A said, this is the "only seriously comprehensive slinging website in the world."  When i decided i wanted to give slinging a go, this was the only site that i could find with any good, helpful information.  The guides and articles were helpful, discussions were interesting, so i joined.  I love being able to read and learn from skilled people living all over the world, and i like the fact that i can trade with people all over the world. I dont post often, but i do check for new posts frequently.

I agree with c_a in that the international flavor of the site is very cool.  Having members from all over the globe makes this site infinitely more interesting, informative, and entertaining.