The lack of draw for members on this site

[Toad]

I know that no one cares about my opinion but I think this site has lost enough members due to peoples views(and rants)about politics and this seems like it could easily turn into another fiasco. Just my .02 if anyone cares!


This site lost members because of it's improper handling of the "politics forum". Other "fishing" sites are doing quite well with having political discussions, swearing when appropriate, and contoversy when appropriate. They are in fact growing in membership while this site is dying a slow death.

When you strangle free speech, you strangle yourself.

[woz]

I believe I am a member of that other site you are talking about. I would give this site a G rating and that one would get a PG -13 rating! Both are great sites and I enjoy them both!

[Al-53]

I agree Toad...when I first came here it was like 20 posts easy a day..now if you get 5 your lucky...I like the site also..some good people....but no action...


Al

[moi]

This site lost members because of it's improper handling of the "politics forum". Other "fishing" sites are doing quite well with having political discussions, swearing when appropriate, and contoversy when appropriate. They are in fact growing in membership while this site is dying a slow death.

When you strangle free speech, you strangle yourself.

Laughing1 Laughing1 Where's O'bass when we need him............he'll fix this ! Laughing1 Laughing1

Beerchug

[icehole37]

I totally agree with free speech and all,and am no "holy roller" by any means. I am a member of another site as well as this one, and to be honest I like this one better, although it is much less fun to visit here as it used to be. I know that there are many here that used to post often, who are now gone, either because they left on their own, or they were "banned", or whatever the case may be. It isn't even my business with why or who did what, but all I know is that this site has become a shell of what it used to be when I first started to visit. I must logon 5-7 times a day(often from work-which is a NO-NO)just to read these posts. As people like CrazyJoe leave, (which by the way I have wondered why since then,please feel free to PM me if you care to share why), this place just don't seem the same. No offense to the Admin or the Mods, I am still happy this site is here for me and all of us to enjoy and I certainly thank them for this. And I certainly appreciate the advice that has been given to me by some(AL-53 comes to mind), and people like Toad,Gary,Yote,Wilbur,CrazyCrawler, and for sure Impact keep me loggin in each day. Bottom line I may not post as much as others, but I love fishing just as much as the rest of you otherwise none of us would be here each day. I guess that is enough of my "rant" and lets try and keep united and keep this site going for years to come!! Thanks and I am going to go raise a glass to all of you!!Beerchug

[Toad]

To icehole37 Beerchug

[YOTE BUSTER]

It is what it is i personally blame it on a couple of the mods.Give the members a little more freedom and don't shut down threads just because they get a little heated .The best thing that has happened to this site lately was Jay W letting members put up there own pic to be voted on for the month.The bad part of that was the mod that use to take care of it doesn't anymoreNotsure Don't get me wrong I'm a die hard member and will be here until i get banned or it shuts down.I still check in a lot every day just don't post as much as i did.OHH yea one other thing read how members veiw a post then how many repies are posted thats bullsh-t at least put up a icon.Yuck1 Jay W put a lot of time into this site and i hope it dosen't dry up and blow away

[Capt.Shay]

This site lost members because of it's improper handling of the "politics forum". Other "fishing" sites are doing quite well with having political discussions, swearing when appropriate, and contoversy when appropriate. They are in fact growing in membership while this site is dying a slow death.

When you strangle free speech, you strangle yourself.

Toad,

You are precisely like a wacked out T-Bagger with a twenty foot pole who stands and protest at a state fair even though he has been asked to stop and then screaming "free speech" when they arrest him.

This is a private web site owned by an individual and as such the owner has set rules as to a what is acceptable and what is not and you agreed to fallow these rules when you signed up for the site. This is not a "free speech" issue. It is simply a matter of you wanting to do what you want to
do when you want to do it. This is not acceptable behavior. Since there are no internet police to haul you away, all that can be done is to ban you.

You have been told this many times and the subject has been beat to death. It is in fact this issue and the bad feelings and mini dramas that have surrounded it that caused the major rip in this sight. This issue and you in particular. I have enjoyed getting to know you and have had the pleasure of fishing aboard you craft but quite frankly, if your just here to stir the pot and try to make things the way you want them well, I think I speak for many when I say please don't bother and the board will be better for it.

If, on the other hand, you have come back to rekindle old aquatints and help get the board back on track I and I'm sure many others welcome you with open arms.

In the mean time, Reload may move down south, Toco and Jeeps may be busy doing their part to over populate the earth, Joe may not be able to log in as much but they will all be around. And new member will join and new friendships and fishing partners will be made, and new techniques and locations will be learned. And most important, we will all keep fishing.

Peace,

http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/verkleidung/costumed-smiley-058.gif



(Edited for spelling and grammar)

[DaveGH]

Agree1 Well said Capt Shay. I hope to put up a couple reports this fall even though my "tennis" elbow has been killing me and normal life stuff. Some members have left and others have joined- it has always been this way.

[Blarney413]

Agree1 Thats just the "circle of life". I would post more but I'm never able to get out. Good thing I bought a boat this yearSmashhead. Oh and when I do get out I don't catch sh**. (G-rated)

[phins13]

Agree1 Thats just the "circle of life". I would post more but I'm never able to get out. Good thing I bought a boat this yearSmashhead. Oh and when I do get out I don't catch sh**. (G-rated) I agree . I also would post more if I had more time to fish instead of working or being a home owner and keeping up with the house.But overall I enjoy this site and seeing the great pics and post many of you put on here.My .02.

[YOTE BUSTER]

All GOOD POINTS

[JEEPSW1]

i'll be posting more come this winter, as i've always been an ice guy, and the twins are a little more managable now.

Besides, i can always fish my lunch break now that the park is closed and the crowds are gone. just need to throw the camera and a pole in the truck. as for the site dying, as long as some of us are here, it will continue.

[theothereric]

currently we have 2,120 members most of which have never posted anything, if you log on during the day make a post...its that simple, even if its just an atta boy or a quick comment about something.

I started a "where is your favorite pizza place" thread and it got a ton of views and many replies. Feel free guys to start a thread of your own, maybe about your other hobbies and interests that might get some traffic. If your not willing to contribute don't expect others to do it for you. Im not sure of the exact numbers but i know we get a couple hundred members signing on every day but only a hand full of posts, we cant blame that on not having a political forum available. Controversy and banter is fine as long as it remains civil, in fact i enjoy a good heated conversation as long as it doesn't get personal and nasty.

Long and short of it...make some posts, share some info and enjoy the site for all it is worth. Jay works hard on it lets not let him down.

[Gary P]

I still get 3-400 views on my cursed reports!

[Toad]

I have to laugh as I read the posts on this thread so far. Most everyone kept their comments to a general type of nature concerning the forum, lack of posts, controversy etc...except one who made it personal. Eyeball Roller

Thanks for the meaningless lecture and personal attack Shay!

[Toad]

I still get 3-400 views on my cursed reports!

That's because when we read your posts and the curse debacles Yikes makes most of us happy we aren't you! Grinning1Laughing1 Wink1

[DougJr]

My wife and grandchildren enjoy reading this site. My wife gets upset and concerned when there is swearing, etc. and there is actually no need of this language. We like to see sites like MA Anglers available to young and old who enjoy the simple life and are interested in what is going on around our area. The question is, "when is swearing appropriate and serious verbal attacks on each other appropriate"?

DougJr. Notsure

[JayW]

MAanglers has been around for over 4.5 years now. When I first started this site, I could have never imagined that it would be where it is today. I was a little skeptical at first that it would take off and succeed as most websites (non-business related) don't make it past a few years. Additionally, creating a forum based website is even harder because you need to build a member base up, which basically acts as the backbone for the entire site. However, perseverance allowed for the site to grow steadily. Many of our initial members came from the Western Massachusetts area with other areas around Massachusetts following. I think the guys from Western Massachusetts formed a good friendship because they were around since the site began. These members mostly all knew each other and posted on a daily basis. This solid foundation allowed for the site to make it through those first difficult years when the site was first formed, until MAanglers became established. I would say things have run relatively smoothly since formation. However, this past winter with the deletion of the political forum section things did get a little hectic around here. I choose to delete this section as I felt it was taking away from the initial focus of this site, which is fishing and the outdoors/hunting. I'm not going to go into any further details on this issue as it has been discussed many times over, except to say that some of our loyal and longtime members became very upset. Some left and or were banned from what became. Looking back I do wish things were handled differently, but then again hindsight is 20-20. I felt bad (and still do to this day) that we lost some of these members who contributed so much to this site. I think that since then, the post count has dropped some (as shown via the site statistics). There may also be a different feel to the site as many of you have commented about (less posts etc.). I do believe that this is contributed to the fact that many of the guys that were around from the beginning (a lot of which post on a frequent basis) of this site don't post as often as they use to. It seems like more people are busy nowadays. Anyways, over these 4.5 years members have come and gone. In addition the post count has fluctuated. I have poured way to much into this site over the years to let this thing fail, so failure is not an option. In conclusion, our member base is our most important asset-without each and everyone of you MAanglers wouldn't be where it is today. Thanks to all -Jay


p.s. I do encourage criticize of this site. I often call upon many of you for your feedback so that I can work to improve things. After all, it is the members who make this site special.

[IMPACT]

This is a hard topic to get into. I want membership to rise as well. For me the blog ride has been good and bad. I picked up fishing heavily about 2 years ago and a year ago found what I was looking for MA Anglers. A bunch of guys who love what I love and are willing to let me and others in on what got them the big one. It has helped my game 100%. I too am also a member of NEF. I prefer this site for the the same reasons you guys all have listed. No jerks allowed but opinions should be voiced on any topic posible. I was not here for what I will call BC ( before cresty) whom I might add should be allowed on here for the simple fact of his fishing input and skill alone. With the propper rules and respect for those rules this place could get a little more exciteing and more PG13 than it is. My wife is a tough cookie when it comes to our children and what they see and read. If you think they go to school and don't hear the f bomb you are nutts. Jay thank you for starting this site and all of your hard work keeping it up.Bow1 I will keep posting I believe it is the only cure for getting more members better information drives more people to show up and little excitement as well. My 2 cents

Oh and thanks IceholeBow1

[YOTE BUSTER]

MAanglers has been around for over 4.5 years now. When I first started this site, I could have never imagined that it would be where it is today. I was a little skeptical at first that it would take off and succeed as most websites (non-business related) don't make it past a few years. Additionally, creating a forum based website is even harder because you need to build a member base up, which basically acts as the backbone for the entire site. However, perseverance allowed for the site to grow steadily. Many of our initial members came from the Western Massachusetts area with other areas around Massachusetts following. I think the guys from Western Massachusetts formed a good friendship because they were around since the site began. These members mostly all knew each other and posted on a daily basis. This solid foundation allowed for the site to make it through those first difficult years when the site was first formed, until MAanglers became established. I would say things have run relatively smoothly since formation. However, this past winter with the deletion of the political forum section things did get a little hectic around here. I choose to delete this section as I felt it was taking away from the initial focus of this site, which is fishing and the outdoors/hunting. I'm not going to go into any further details on this issue as it has been discussed many times over, except to say that some of our loyal and longtime members became very upset. Some left and or were banned from what became. Looking back I do wish things were handled differently, but then again hindsight is 20-20. I felt bad (and still do to this day) that we lost some of these members who contributed so much to this site. I think that since then, the post count has dropped some (as shown via the site statistics). There may also be a different feel to the site as many of you have commented about (less posts etc.). I do believe that this is contributed to the fact that many of the guys that were around from the beginning (a lot of which post on a frequent basis) of this site don't post as often as they use to. It seems like more people are busy nowadays. Anyways, over these 4.5 years members have come and gone. In addition the post count has fluctuated. I have poured way to much into this site over the years to let this thing fail, so failure is not an option. In conclusion, our member base is our most important asset-without each and everyone of you MAanglers wouldn't be where it is today. Thanks to all -Jay


p.s. I do encourage criticize of this site. I often call upon many of you for your feedback so that I can work to improve things. After all, it is the members who make this site special.


Agree1 Bow1 Bow1 Bow1

[Scotty D]

I may not post much, But i do still check the site just about everyday. I do not get out fishing as much as i would like, and when i do its just up the road to the same old places that don't produce lol. However when i do get a chance to go out and do some real fishing, then i attempt to provide a detailed report. I may not have pictures, but my report may help someone out in some way.. I thank all of you for providing me with the information, to make a good day even better.

[JeffA]

i've been fishing a lot, but i haven't posted any reports or pics in fear that Yote may feel insecure about the size of his fish never post again...Grinning1 Wink1

[bobo]

I like this site and I'm sticking to it. Ain't no policito, just wanna fish. Happy to post, and to read what's posted. Celebratin' time on the water and its rewards. That's all I need and I'm glad to have a forum to express it.

[noresman]

I've been a member just about from the beginning. I have met and fished with many members from the site. I personally didn't have a problem with the political forum. I don't get out as much now that my job requires me to be on call every third week but still post most every time I get out. I wish Cresty,Seabass. and Crazy Joe would come back because they all had useful and entertaining info to share.

[Bighoss]

I am one of the ones that log on several times a day just to read everyones post. I do it so I can live vicariously threw you guys. I have no problem posting when I go out, the problem I have is I cant seem to get out this year. work is slowing down and I hope to get in some fall fishing witch will be followed by post. I was once told if you if you swear alot it only shows your lack of intelligence and if you cant get your point or opinion across with out belittling someone it only shows how close minded you are. Im not trying to ruffel any feathers but I like that this site is G rated I show my son some of the pictures and read him the post that go with them.

[O-BASS]

Why are there no posts?

the site isnt maintained actively enough to encourage new voices to speak. the same thing is occuring for a variety of reasons on other fishing based websites i am a member of and post more frequently on.

interactivity on the site would be a huge reason for non posters to chime in.

we disagree on just about everything, but from what ive noticed, Toad starts 1/3rd of all the posts on this site. thats dedication if ive ever seen it. you need to take a catylist member like that, and show the positive: give them an online interview, have someone write a SPECIFIC article for the website highlighting a technique they are talented at, make a short video demonstrating some member adventures, change the layout/font, and like ive never seen here- have a members only get together!

a lot of stuff can be done to drum up some happenings here.i dont post here as often as other sites because im from out of state, but when i do i try to make my posts as interesting and enjoyable a read as possible. there is very little feedback between posters and responders: i welcome any questions regarding my findings via pm or publically on the site, and wouldnt be opposed to sharing that info with anyone here.

yes, a number of members left due to disputes, mostly stemming from political forums. i understand the right to free speach, but we am bombarded with both the political right and left in every other facet of my life and come to this site for the sole purpose of escaping that grind, regardless of how relevant we may think something political is. i would LOVE to pass around some of my political thoughts, but refrain from doing so because thats not the point of this website. the focus of the website should be fishing, sharing of fishing related information, and the betterment of all members angling pursuits.


focus hard on that, and you'll see a heck of a lot more involvement. eliminating the political forums, or bringing them back wont make a lick of diference, only stir the pot and further the divide between existing site members. you want fishing reports and discussion to bloom, then plant the seed.

i did today- you can read my report in the outside of mass section.

Toad- great topic! this is an issue ive discussed with a few guys here, and needed to be brought to light.

[Wilbur Wetline]

The focus of the website should be fishing, sharing of fishing related information, and the betterment of all members angling pursuits.

I agree with this succinct statement by O BASS.

Some good-natured ribbing is fine. Excessive profanity is not - it's the angry voice of a small mind.

Thank you in particular to Capt. Shay for his voice of reason.

[crabbybob]

This site lost members because of it's improper handling of the "politics forum". Other "fishing" sites are doing quite well with having political discussions, swearing when appropriate, and contoversy when appropriate. They are in fact growing in membership while this site is dying a slow death.

When you strangle free speech, you strangle yourself.
I agree. It's obvious that closing the political forum hurt this site, but we shouldn't blame the mods for closing it. Some of the people who posted in that forum, myself included, let things get way out of control, and turned political arguments into personal attacks.

It would be great if we could get a second shot at it, but once bit twice shy as they say.

[wolly bugger]

This is a great site with good local information. Western to central Mass & some good info on the eastern part of the state and Cape. The other sites don't have a whole lot on our part of the state out West. Got to love the deverse opinions, may not agree but they can be amusing. This is a site about fishing, hunting and the outdoors the opinion part it just a little extra, got to remember to not take that part or ourselves to serious. Where else can you post pictures of DINKS and call it a great day.

Too many fish & so little time, Enjoy. Hope this site continues to survive and thrive.

[Bigbear]

"Where else can you post pictures of DINKS and call it a great day. "



One of the best quotes I have seen on this thread.

Thanks wolly bugger!




Wilbur Wetline I think you also hit the nail on the head!!

[sdio5228]

This site is great. I get to check out everyones posts and laugh and cry with ya'll. I post when i can and love the feedback!! I met a bunch of die hard fisherman like myself that i now call my friends (NB)Smoke1 !! I can even say i met my girlfriend because of this sight, thanks for keeping her a secret Trophy11. Smile1 Crazy Joe and fishingphilb put me on to this sight a long time ago and i thank them for that!! Keep the posts coming and tell people about the site.Smoke1 Smoke1

[YOTE BUSTER]

i've been fishing a lot, but i haven't posted any reports or pics in fear that Yote may feel insecure about the size of his fish never post again...Grinning1 Wink1

After this comment Cry1 I don't think I'll ever log on againYikes But I'll send you my email just in case you have more baits to sell. Between you and TOE you guys always hurt my feelings

[seabass]

capt shay...its interesting that you end your post with "peace" after you insult someone.


In conclusion, our member base is our most important asset-without each and everyone of you MAanglers wouldn't be where it is today. Thanks to all p.s. I do encourage criticize of this site. I often call upon many of you for your feedback so that I can work to improve things. After all, it is the members who make this site special.


jay...i find this to be a bit disengenuous. it was the members who voted to institute the poitical sub-forum, it was an individual decision to remove it despite overwhelming support from a poll of members to keep it. i understand its your site....keep it. i still look at yote's dinks!

the site isnt maintained actively enough to encourage new voices to speak. the same thing is occuring for a variety of reasons on other fishing based websites i am a member of and post more frequently on.

maybe its you.....

mike...you have had some great reports on here - no doubt.
however, your spamming of this site and the following aftermath of that was the impetus used to do away with the sub-forum and the banning/leaving of some members.
i think the mods/admins were lookin for a reason to do away with it because of the crybabies, and you gave them all the ammo they needed.

BTW......we used to have two or three get togethers a year at my house....bbq, catfish tourny's, striper tourny's...etc...no beer involved tho...Eyeball Roller
toad hosted many poker tournys in his man hovel...good times indeedBeerchug

[YOTE BUSTER]

"Where else can you post pictures of DINKS and call it a great day. "



One of the best quotes I have seen on this thread.

Thanks wolly bugger!




!!

I would call a dozen or more dinks a good day. Much better than A fish A day programGrinning1

Fran thanks for looking at my dinksNotsure

[Crazy Joe]

We all have our thoughts and things we think are right.Not all of us agree..
Things got pretty ugly here on a few occations. I have lost it a couple times and have said somethings I should not have ..maybe giving more though, I would not have posted it.There have been people on this site who have hidden behind the keyboard.There are alot of great people here who I respect and will miss. But ,hope to still fish with and have a relationship with.I am REAL tired of the people who always have something to say ,but never can produce anything worth a sH!t.I am still around ,but,let someone else hold the torch for a while,not the same 10 people.I Have said this many times,Thanks Jay,for starting the site.I will always back you up when needed and stick up for this site.At this point in my life ,I can't deal with being here all the time.
How about the 2000 people out there that read the site,start posting something......something worth something. And some of you that have been on here, doing something worth a F.
I will never give any info out ,because, I got PMed by some who promised me fishing trips and info,sometime later.You are lyeing fools and I have learned from my mistakes.
We also have some people that have have some control on the site ,that don't need to have the power.
Sorry to be blunt ,but ,that's my feelings.Like it or not!

[Ron72]

WOW i havnt logged on in alittle while, and to come accross this thread was very interesting. I read alot of these posts and man i have to say this one is good.
When I frist joined I was always on checking things out.. My wife told me I was addicted to this site, because I would have to log on and see what happened that day. I have been pretty busy with work, kids getting ready for school, sports and more sports. I do have 5 kids and 4 of them play soccer. Differnt age groups to make it compilcated all are at diffenet times, and I coach a 6 year old soccer team........shoot me please..... I still try to make it on when I can squeze it in there. I try to post replies to other peoples posts, give them an atta boy, or WTG, something.. I dont have as much time in the summer as I do in the winter, maybe this is also true for the lack of posts by other members. This site is losing alot of members, regulars that were always on, always making posts.. This site was bombing in my book, now not so much action, it seems that it has lost alot, alot of good people, great anglers, with alot of great posts.. I was always told not to talk polictics with other people. This opens a door for a direct conflict that people just cant seem to handle. You caan talk all the smack you want about the rod sox, or the yankees, etc. but man as soon as you stasrt talking polictics people just turn onto jerks!!!!!!! This is MAANGLERS, This site says what it is in the name "ANGLERS" also known as sportsmans and sportswomens. There is suposse to be a repect level towards everyone. I log on and show my kids stuff on the site, let them read posts. Usually only when there pic is in the posts, of coujrse!! I dont think getting rid of the polictics fourm was a bAD THING AT ALL.. If you want to talk polictics go on a polictics forum, then come here when you want to talk fishing.. I love reading about all your guys stories, keep them coming. I hope that some of the members who have left will find there way back. If they dont we all lose......Just keep it clean, your point can be made with out spelling it out, keep the topics to a discusion, sometimes things can get heated. Its only a discusion, things should never get personal, or physical. We are adults here, and should respect each other. I have met some great from this site. I hope to out and fish with them again, as well as met other new anglers.

[Toad]

O-BASS you have a truck load of chutzpah telling this forum's members how this site could be more active. What a load of sheite.

This site was was doing just fine this past winter. You were an infrequent visitor to this site with hardly any posts. One day you checked in, took exception to things you read in the the political forum and with no basis left for a logical argument you decided to spam every forum against all forums rules of decorum with cries of racism which is the last refuge of a scoundrel and a cowardly idiot!

You took a page right out of Saul Alinsky's book, Rules for Radicals and created complete chaos for a time. It was your action on your Christmas break or whatever other excessive time off teachers get off. You sir, and your irresponsible childish actions are the main reason this forum took a nose dive. I do not hold one modicum of respect for individuals like you.

[theothereric]

Im a mod on this site as everyone knows already and I have to be careful when expressing my opinions but i have to side with Toad on this one. We lost a lot of good members that posted every day to the tune of 20,000 plus posts between them, O-bass you have 119 in over 2 years. I would much rather have them back and you gone, maybe im out of line but I don't care. MAanglers was much better before your little hissy fit.

[bojango]

It seems as if o-bass is just giving suggestions to improve the site....? ctfisherman.com does many of those things and they have a larger more active membership..and that is a pay site!

I don't see how you can blame one person for an incident that involved so many people. Obviously others acted out of line if they were banned as well....

[DaveGH]

Agree1 I totally agree Bojango, to blame OBASS is a real load when so much went on- easy to blame someone else and not look inside. Posts blaming OBASS or insulting teachers, etc are proof that Jay did the right thing imo.Laughing1 Amount of posts do not equal squat. I don't think a mod should say that about a site member but that's just me and I'm sure OBASS can take it. There was a lot of hate and hostility around here and some decided to take their ball and go home.

I do think it's good that some members have come back and they have tons to add, for sure.

[keeper of twocoins]

When all the banning took place, if you so much as mentioned the name of a person that got banned, YOU also were out on your can!!! Question1

All for the mention of a name? Get real!

[lonewolf1990]

Agree1 I totally agree Bojango, to blame OBASS is a real load when so much went on- easy to blame someone else and not look inside. Posts blaming OBASS or insulting teachers, etc are proof that Jay did the right thing imo.Laughing1 Amount of posts do not equal squat. I don't think a mod should say that about a site member but that's just me and I'm sure OBASS can take it. There was a lot of hate and hostility around here and some decided to take their ball and go home.

I do think it's good that some members have come back and they have tons to add, for sure.Agree1 Agree1 this thread will turn into nothing good if people and mods start bashing other members that gave suggestions i dont really post alot but i enjoy seeing whats going on and learning from other members

[Capt.Shay]

capt shay...its interesting that you end your post with "peace" after you insult someone.

I meant to neither insult nor lecture any one. I stated the facts and if that is uncomfortable to some then so be it.


it was the members who voted to institute the poitical sub-forum, it was an individual decision to remove it despite overwhelming support from a poll of members to keep it.

There was never EVER a vote to create the political forum. That is a complete untruth. You look and find a link for this supposed vote and I will personally drive down and hand you a six of pack of Guinness. Will you do the same for me if you can't? The ONLY reason for it's creation was to try to keep the crap from being spammed all over the board (with little success). And as far as your "overwhelming support poll", this to was a joke. In fact it sasn't even done as an actual "poll". A member said lets make a poll and five or six of the same people that were causing the problem "voted" for it to continue. That is hardly any kind of "overwhelming support"



i think the mods/admins were lookin for a reason to do away with it because of the crybabies, and you gave them all the ammo they needed.

The mods didn't close the sub-board for any one person and they don't need any "reason" to do anything they want to in regard to the board. It was closed because it was causing a lot of problems and it has no business on a fishing board. The only crybabies I saw were the ones who said "If I can't have what I want when I want it then I'm taking my marbles and leaving". In case your wondering,,,, I think you left an alley and a shooter in the corner over there.

The fact of the matter is that the majority of the board was sick if the childish BS and if you read the responses to this thread you will realize that all but a select few, who were the cause of this problem in the first place, feel this way today.

jay.. i understand its your site....keep it.
I don't know how one responds to a statement like that but I guess you showed us.

My post in this thread aren't meant as insults or attacks, they are just the facts. I like and have enjoyed fishing with you Fran along with Cresty, Toad and most others that are involved here. However, if having a friendly, fishing and outdoor focused site means we don't see another post from you for nine more months then I say, so be it.

Peace,

J

[moi]

Agree1 I totally agree Bojango, to blame OBASS is a real load when so much went on- easy to blame someone else and not look insid.

Wrong Dave. O'bass had his hissy-fit & that triggered the "banning exercise". You & Shay & O'bass are in the same camp politically & with a little help from some like minded administrator got a banning frenzy going. If you're pleased with the results well, good for you.

But, that's just my opinion...........

[Capt.Shay]

O-BASS you have a truck load of chutzpah telling this forum's members how this site could be more active. What a load of sheite.

This site was was doing just fine this past winter. You were an infrequent visitor to this site with hardly any posts. One day you checked in, took exception to things you read in the the political forum and with no basis left for a logical argument you decided to spam every forum against all forums rules of decorum with cries of racism which is the last refuge of a scoundrel and a cowardly idiot!

You took a page right out of Saul Alinsky's book, Rules for Radicals and created complete chaos for a time. It was your action on your Christmas break or whatever other excessive time off teachers get off. You sir, and your irresponsible childish actions are the main reason this forum took a nose dive. I do not hold one modicum of respect for individuals like you.

Oh ya !!!!

Lets bring back the political forums so we can have more great post like this one.Thumbsup

This thread is is only talk about talking about politics and it is starting to circle the drain.

Toad if you want to know the one primary reason for all the crap that went down back then (and for that fact now) walk in to the bathroom and stand facing the sink, now look up. There ya go, you found him.

Have a nice day,

J

[O-BASS]

wow.

i stand by my original statements, both past and present.

i have every right to offer my suggestions, and believe i was asked specifically to offer advice on how to make this site a better place by the creator, who welcomes suggestions/criticiques. i'll take the high road and ignore your personal insults Toad, but im about to call you out, so keep reading...

if i am in fact as you say the reason this site has taken a nosedive, i applaud your admission, and gleefully accept responsibility. its the first step towards ridding the site of non fishing nonsense, and gearing its focus back towards enviromental recreation.

you have a large faithful following here Toad. perhaps I'll match your presense around here with what i bring to this website; bringing a new batch of faces with me, and sparking an influx of growth for Maanglers.com. want proof things are changing already? here it is:

5 of you will now bash me (done already on this thread), insult me, and twist verbage into different meanings on things i said. go ahead, tell me how pathetic i am being a teacher, and how i ruin america for how i think, how my profession makes me a homosexual/terrorist supporter/fiscal leech.

but, 3 of you will support me, appreciative of a member with a fraction of the posts you may have, yet all of which contribute to the site in a positive way except a very memorable and intentioned few. if you look over the history on here, i never spoke of that garbage the way the old guard did. i keep my posts about fishing and the Sox. enough was enough. get over it.

that means im 2 members away from being just as liked and respected as you Toad. ill stick to fishing reports, however frequent they are, and let you do your thing. and ill bet that from my reports, i can get just as many people going on this site as any political or personal bashing you could provide.

so here is my challenge, public and viewable for all and designed to spark some life around here:

assuming your retired and have the time, and can fish as much as me, ill let you pick the body of water, and ill meet with you to fish. bury the hatchet- WHATEVER. bring all your friends, im not stalking you or coming to get you- im a musician, not a fighter. im looking to honestly put it all behind us, and let the site benifit from it.

we fish together for the day, same boat. raise money for a charity (you pick), and members put a buck on who catches more fish, payable via paypal to a moderated Maanglers.com account account. 50/50 split after the results are posted, winner gets 50% for being closest to the totals for each fisherman caught, and picking the correct winner. the fishing is completely different than what most expect- its bluegil fishing. a pure numbers game. im all for putting this aside Toad, for the good of this site. ill bet if you do the same, and let it go, guys with your thoughts will also let it go, and Maanglers can move on.

if you accept the challenge, then i allow you to create all terms and conditions for the benifit of this site; weight-ins, an official 'gil counter referee, i cant use my hands but you get 5 poles, whatever!

if you dont, than you will be rid of me for good. just like that, if we cant bury the divide that seperates this website politically and focus on fishing, than i will sacrifice my membership to allow the site to prosper, and request immediate deletion of my account effective on 9/28/2010.

lets do this for Maanglers.com, and set the example for the future.

[RickC]

Guys, let's not go down this road again,,,,,please Beerchug

Just get out and fish and post a dang report.

[icehole37]

I know that no one cares about my opinion but I think this site has lost enough members due to peoples views(and rants)about politics and this seems like it could easily turn into another fiasco. Just my .02 if anyone cares!


I knew this was coming, lets just look at some dink fish instead of bashing each other.

[IMPACT]

I like to fish...Thumbsup Just saying...Laughing1

[Toad]

I'm done. Laughing1 Laughing1 Laughing1 Laughing1

I think I made my point? Don't really care if I did or not. What1

Turned into a really interesting thread....sheite load of views and lots of responses! Thumbsup Grinning1 A lot of folks who never or rarely post chimed in and let thier voices be heard. Pulled some newbies out of the woodwork too. Probably the most views and responses for something on this forum for well over 9 months! Wink1 Smoke1

[FishingNewEngland]

I just joined over here to get away from the political nonsense, name calling, drama that happens at another site I frequent. It's taken a couple of days to read this thread, go over some old posts, and see what everyone is talking about.

I, for one, don't think there's any need for a political forum on a fishing site. I know a lot of the guys that were here are now on another site and over there they have very few rules. It's loaded with a bunch of guys who rarely fish, insult other members, and have become internet keyboard bullies. Is there any place for it on a fishing forum? Not really.

I've suggested this site to several of my friends who feel the same way. Hope it helps.

[Toad]

I've suggested this site to several of my friends who feel the same way. Hope it helps.

Thank you....I also hope it helps! Thumbsup

[mtypython]

i'm a member of a few, don't post often mainly because i haven't been out but a few times,i myself enjoy toads rants and raves and gary's curse, this site is more of a family is what i saw when i forst registered and family has fights etc, the other that some of you are on, seems to me to be mostly tourney dou..., ex tourney and tourney wannabe's and it all about top 5 fish being x amount of weight, thier 200-500 $$ rods, if that's yopur thing more to you. banning people for thier views or whatever reason an language almost seems like a violation, put a warning that there may be foul language on some of the posts especially something political, this site is like an old arm chair comfortable, i hope it stays this way

[JayW]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to post in this thread their opinions. I would like to just bring up a few points/clarify a few things.

I started the political forum. I purposely made it a sub-forum of the General Forum so that it had its own area that was sort-of away from the rest of the site. A person would then have to click-thru the General Section to get there. This would keep the General Forum politics free, so that a member who wanted to not get engaged with politics didn't have to see it in the General Section. I didn't anticipate there being any issues with this forum, however that was a bad assumption on my part. We are all human beings and all have different beliefs and ideologies, this is what makes us all unique.

I made this site with the vision of it being very family oriented. Like many of you have said, MAanglers is G rated. I don't think this comes as a surprise to any of us. It has been this way since its creation nearly 4.5 years ago. The mods do a great job here at monitoring things to make sure it stays this way. There are times when threads get heated and we choose to close them. Maybe these threads don't need to be closed as they will die out, however we try to quell things before things get to out of hand. Certainly other fishing sites are PG-13 and have a different feel to them but this is what we are. I feel that most things on this site can be shown to members families without having to worry about what is shown. I do have in place swear blockers so that if someone swears it shows up as (****). This keeps it clean for the little ones. On other sites, there may be times where some things wouldn't want to be shown to little kids.

With this in mind now, I decided to personally close the political forum. After it was open for a while, I realized there was the potential for conflicts among members. I was thinking of closing down the Political Forum last November, which was months before everything happened with that forum. In addition, I believed that the political forum was taking away from the focus of this site.

I know around the time that I closed the political forum, there was a poll in which members voted about the status of the political forum. I'm pretty sure most voted that they were in favor or ok with the political forum. I know by me choosing to close the forum this offended some and I do apologize.

I don't think it was anyone's fault about what transpired. Whatever happened is long in the past now and I do hope that we can all move forward. I hope that those that choose to leave will find their way back. I think that they know members miss their contributions to this site as members routinely reference and ask about them. I think this thread was good as many of us have vented some frustration about certain things, and its good to finally put all of this in the past.

As I wrap this up now, I want to say one last thing. A few years ago when I was with one of the well respected members on here this person said this to me. "I use to have a few buddies to call up to go fishing. Now because of this site I have so many people to call up to go fishing." This sticks in my head and I'm very proud of what has been accomplished with this site.

[IMPACT]

The End...

[lonewolf1990]

The End...
Agree1 Agree1

[bojango]

Agree1 Agree1
Agree1Agree1Agree1

[DaveGH]

NO! I have one last thing that needs to be said. DaveGH shut the hell up!
Thanks1

[IMPACT]

NO! I have one last thing that needs to be said. DaveGH shut the hell up!
Thanks1
LMAOBeerchugAgree1

[YOTE BUSTER]

Agree1Agree1Agree1

Agree1 Agree1 Agree1 Agree1

[fishinbuddy]

I have been a member for several years and have never been one to do much posting nor do I memtion my friends favorite fishin holes. I have posted some my fishing excursions when my grandson (myfishinbuddy) and I have been out. For someone as young as he, he is a pretty good little angler.
However several years ago it was "suggested" that I do more posting. One of our moderators must have "wished" that I would post more. Well be careful what you wish for. My post was removed from this site and it was not because I used foul language, not because I went off the deep end, didn't mention anyone by name, call anyone a name, nothing like that at least to the best of my memory which is still pretty darned good, my post was removed from the site and I have never been asked to write another one. So be very careful what you wish for.
Politics, well save that for another day. Let 's just say. Not everyone out there is the sharpest knife in the drawer and stupidity unfortunately has never been a impediment to becoming a politician and these politicans never seem to learn that neither morality nor stupidity can be legistlated. It is our job to seperate these politicans from their jobs.

[icehole37]

Do like Napoleon Dynamite and just VOTE FOR PEDRO!!!

[dirtiegirtie]

O-Bass, I liked your idea of a tourney and I know what you were going for, just trying to get people to take a pause, put aside differences, and reconnect with the actual intent of this site, fishing and meeting people that enjoy fishing. To that end, I would love to participate... on either side. Make it a 'Pro vs. Anti Politics forum' grudge match, make it a 'liberal vs. conservative' grudge match, make it what ever the heck you want and I'll gladly fish on which ever side could use another fisherman. I would much rather be associated with all of you as fishermen than half of you due to my political views.

[O-BASS]

O-Bass, I liked your idea of a tourney and I know what you were going for, just trying to get people to take a pause, put aside differences, and reconnect with the actual intent of this site, fishing and meeting people that enjoy fishing. To that end, I would love to participate... on either side. Make it a 'Pro vs. Anti Politics forum' grudge match, make it a 'liberal vs. conservative' grudge match, make it what ever the heck you want and I'll gladly fish on which ever side could use another fisherman. I would much rather be associated with all of you as fishermen than half of you due to my political views.

im glad i got one person to notice my post. DG, im flattered you wish to join me in putting things aside, but there is only one person on here who needs to respond to that offer, and if he cannot acknowledge my extended hand, than its honestly a very sad day and showing for the exemplatory membership of this website.

My offer stands with 13 days remaining.

O'

[Toad]

My offer stands with 13 days remaining.

O'

Yea sure...and maybe we can go the playground and play some see-saw together afterward! WHEEEE!Laughing1 Laughing1 Laughing1

I really don't care to meet or have anything to do with you. Lord only knows when you would throw another temper tantrum. Yuck1 Just saying..ya know.

Consider your post noticed but I prefer to fish and hang with stable individuals. I don't do tournaments or Connecticut. I also find it rather ironic that you are taking such an interest on this site now that I am reinstated (will see for how long) and after I started this thread. Eyeball Roller ...which I am now done with...fer shure. Thumbsup

[bojango]

just go fishing

[Paqman]

Yea sure...and maybe we can go the playground and play some see-saw together afterward! WHEEEE!Laughing1 Laughing1 Laughing1

I really don't care to meet or have anything to do with you. Lord only knows when you would throw another temper tantrum. Yuck1 Just saying..ya know.

Consider your post noticed but I prefer to fish and hang with stable individuals. I don't do tournaments or Connecticut. I also find it rather ironic that you are taking such an interest on this site now that I am reinstated (will see for how long) and after I started this thread. Eyeball Roller ...which I am now done with...fer shure. Thumbsup


http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg175/paqman227/oh-snap.jpg

[icehole37]

Come on Toad give me my props will ya, I think that is my quote you borrowed to start this thread to jump so you could jump on your soap box. Can we share the fame together? After all some people would say Toad and Icehole go hand in hand.Laughing1 Just kidding old timer, hopefully this thread will be locked soon and we could all move on, and get back to posting about fishingBeerchug

[O-BASS]

I really don't care to meet or have anything to do with you. Consider your post noticed but I prefer to fish and hang with stable individuals. I don't do tournaments or Connecticut.

so be it. sorry you feel this way, and this is the example we will leave things off on for the remaining members around here.

if nothing i can do or say or offer will make peace, than 9/28 will be my final day.

best of luck to you and the members of the site. ill probably post one more report before then in the out of state forum.

its been a pleasure more often than not.

O'