I just happened upon this article, while “cruising the web” and found it sort of “interesting reading”!?!
Like a lot of fishermen I enjoy the various bulletin board sites that exist on the web. These are a lot of fun and they provide a sense of community among anglers and a public forum to exchange information. However these sites also have their flaws.
The web provides the opportunity for those who post the ability to remain anonymous. It is now possible to slander someone or something without fear of reprisal. Asking a question about a certain piece of gear and you are certain to get a dozen replies almost immediately. Some of the replies may be legit, however anyone with an ax to grind will surely do so. I find it particularly obnoxious on those sites run by shops when the sites owner replies to a question on a piece of equipment that he doesn?t stock in his shop. He will almost certainly start off by saying that so and so company makes a great product and the owner is a great guy, but you can do better by buying what I carry.
I always get a kick out of questions about rods. They start off with: ?I am considering buying a new rod from company X. How does this rod compare to company Y?s?? You might as well go to a NASCAR race and ask the fans as to which is better a Ford or a Chevy? The only way to make this kind of decision is to go out and cast the rod for yourself.
Today when someone has a bad experience with a product or a provider the first thing they do is vent their rage on the Internet. The company of course has no way of defending themselves and the reader has no idea of what sparked the problem and what steps the company took to remedy the situation.
There are no secrets anymore thanks to the Internet. There may never have been to begin with, but today if someone finds a great place to fish you can bet that he will post it on the web as soon as he can get online. True it may be great to inquire as to how the fishing is on the Androscoggin and you will get an instant answer (right or wrong) by checking the Internet.
Over time the best of sites seem to become dominated by one or two individual members. These guys are always the experts on everything. It is doubtful that anyone could have possibly enjoyed as much time on the water as these fellows claim. They can tell you what rod and reel to buy, where to fish, what scotch to drink and what cigar to smoke with impunity.
I guess if I have a real pet peeve with these sites its posts that end with JMHO (just my humble opinion) and smiley faces. Lets face it, the writer?s opinion was anything but humble.
In all honesty there are a lot of good things about these sites. These are public forums and everyone has a right to be heard. Just don?t be bullied by the so called ?experts.? In some cases some very controversial and timely issues are brought to light that might not be given any attention in the press. They provide a place to announce various events of interest to members and have been know to promote worthy causes.