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Caution, You Are About To Enter A No-Spin Zone!
No, I'm not picking on the spin fishers - heck, I know
some of you do that too. No problem! Maybe I should
have said a "no-hype" zone.
There is an interesting series of comments on the Bulletin
Board about Large Arbor (LA) Reels. It is important, because
there are some misconceptions as to what a LA reel really is,
how it does or doesn't work, and why/if a person absolutely
has to have one. Where did the misconceptions come from?
It could be the manufactures put some hype on a new product
to sell more, or a person discussing them didn't understand
the differences in the wide variety available. Regardless,
it all was discussed, (very thoroughly I must say) on the
FAOL Bulletin Board.
If you have any questions about LA reels, I encourage you
to read the whole 'string' of comments.
As owners of this website, we do have the ability to remove
any comments we wish from the Bulletin Board. We have rarely
done so because we really believe in an open and honest exchange
of ideas. JC and I don't always agree with the comments, and
if our hackles are really disturbed we will say so. But the
final choice as to what you personally believe is up to you.
We just provide the best information we can, and a place to
share ideas and comments.
Which brings me to a book I just finished reading. It is not
about fly fishing. It is however very important to all of us.
Title is Bias by Bernard Goldberg, published by
Regnery. What makes it important is the fact that Bernard
Goldberg was a writer (for Dan Rather of CBS), and a reporter
for CBS News for nearly thirty years. He felt the news
was slanted to the left and said so. He appealed to the
producers and network executives for more "balanced reporting"
to no avail. So he wrote the book - which was pretty much
the end of his career at CBS.
I'm not going to do a book review here, but get the book and
protect yourself. You really need to know how the "news" is
manipulated, why and for what purpose.
My husband, JC and I have not watched any of the 'network'
evening news programs in years. We got tired of the "spin"
we saw, and for a long time we watched the The News Hour
with Jim Lehrer PBS. It was better, but still wasn't
necessarily 'fair and balanced' and frankly sometimes was
just boring. Eventually our local television cable provider
picked up Fox and Fox News. What a difference. It
is fair and balanced, (to the point of me occasionally yelling
back at the tv). There is still some 'spin' by some political
types, but it sure shows up as just that.
As fly fishermen I believe we are more in tune with our
world - but we only can be informed if we know the information
we are getting is accurate. Today's network television "news"
programs are much more likely to be entertainment rated rather
than "news." And much more concerned about their ratings than
with the facts.
If how we react to what happens around us, how we feel, if
we support certain goals or priorities depends on the information
we get, we have a right to get the straight stuff and let us
make up our own minds.
Taking that one step further, don't you have the right to know
the pro's and con's of every issue which involves our world?
Our resources? Our fisheries? What you purchase? Are the
so-called Product Reviews you see in print really
product reviews or paid advertorials? We know they are
real here - reviews of products that aren't necessarily
of our Sponsors products. We wouldn't have it any other way.
The bottom line has always been, "Buyer Beware" - but without
truly fair and balanced reporting in the news - or a product
review - how is one to make up their minds? There may be
"truth in advertising" laws, but there aren't any "truth
in reporting" or even one law regulating truth in political
campaigns or their television advertising.
In a world which becomes more complex every day, it is our
responsibility to sort out those truths and then apply them
to our own lives and circumstances. Being informed is not
just sitting in front of the boob tube and mouthing whatever
you hear to your friends and associates.
Did you know that over 50% of the US population gets its 'news'
from late night television programs like Jay Leno and David
Letterman? Those people even get to vote too!
It's a new year. If I would ask you to do anything special
in 2002 here it is, be aware of how the 'news' is trying to
influence the way you think. Listen carefully, I think you
will be surprised. Oh, and read the book, Bias.
You won't just be surprised, you'll be shocked. ~ The LadyFisher
If you would like to comment on this or any other article please feel free to
post your views on the FAOL Bulletin Board!
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