Don't even know if it's a word but that's how I feel with all the senior members getting sick of each other.  Seems that with time, some have realized that aside from fishing, we are all very different.  One particular member (no names) and I are great examples of how it SHOULD be done.  We have different fishing beliefs, religious beliefs and a few others but we deal with each other using the utmost respect.  I actually feel like I have grown as a person dealing with our differences.  I often find myself looking to this person for advice on numerous things now.  I know his eyes see things differently than mine and I appreciate having a friend with a different perspective that I can utilize.

Some of you guys are going out of your way to make your point and dong it with malice.  

It's just plain,....disheartening.

I wonder if there is anything I can do as a mod.  I've wanted to post on it but know that I can tend to word things wrong in these situations, but I've seen just about enough of my friends at each others throats to keep quiet anymore.

Lead by example guys, rise above, forgive and accept.

I don't have a ton of respect for people who don't at least TRY to rise above a situation.  With that said, I think every one of you are capable.  Show me I'm right.

Thanks for listening,

RESPECTFULLY,

LBH

thanks for the post. Its very hard to convey emotion or sarcasm or whatever when said in text or writing. Also people tend to become a bit more comfortable when behind a computer, saying the first thing that comes to mind. My other forums did away with the edit button, as to make sure people would think before posting. Just a thought.

I would also like to thank all the mods on doing a great job keeping the peace. I know they can seems like the forum police at times, but there is a reason they're here.

Link please.

I don't find out about any of this stuff until I show up at tournaments with BFR members involved.  What am I missing?  

This is a general, generic, no names post to reflect a sentiment.  That's all. No examples needed.  

If you feel this thread applies to you, take it for what it is worth (to you).  If things are smooth in your posting world, then the status quo is ideal.

Not a thread to generate hugs or apologies,...just change or "awareness" if you will.

Disheartening... yes LBH it is a word  

On to the subject at hand.  I feel the same as you.  I don't want to take sides because I like everyone here and learn stuff and take advice from each of you on a daily basis.  But let's face it, some threads in the "everything else" section turn into arguments rather easily.  And lately... whew it's just seemed like tension has blown over and people are really getting riled up.

Threads get locked, posts become deleted, members are banned or decide to leave... it's a common occurence on any forum (I'm a part of a few).  But we can't let that get us mad or upset.  No one is singling any given person out at least as a mod.  I think the mods here do an excellent job and warn us when we are getting out of hand.  I know it's easier said than done and some of us have higher tolerances than others but we need to maintain composure if we decide to post on a controversial subject matter.  Keep in mind no one HAS to post on any given thread, it's a choice.  We know the rules, expectations and etiquette of the forum and just need to keep these things in mind when getting into a potentially "hot" subject matter.  Not trying to be a parent or take the place of the mod but stating some things that people may want to think about before hitting that "post" button.

I normally review my post one or two times for sentences or points where I think my tone may have seemed off or if I felt like I was pushing my view too hard or something.  Just a food for thought.  This place means the world to me and I'm just trying to help out.  I wouldn't be the bass fisherman I am today if it weren't for you guys.

In my experience, I try to follow 3 general rules when it comes to posting on forums:

1) If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.

2) Don't do anything to anyone that you wouldn't want done to you.

3) Discretion is the better part of valor.

Wicked awesome post LBH.

There's an old saying that seems to hold true these days in website forums

War doesn't decide who's right, only who's left.

I also know that a lot of our members take pride in our youth.  We have some great kids here.  

We need to remember that we are their role models at times.  Showing them how adults can put differences aside and accept each other isn't something the kids get to see too often anymore.  I'd like to think that the member base here at BR are JUST the people to give these kids a glimpse of this.

Now, I'm no angel, I know I can sometimes slip and not be the best example.  I have bad habits and a foul mouth at times and numerous other short comings.

All we can do is try and be aware, and try to be better to ourselves and each other.

NOW LET'S GO CATCH SOME FISH FOLKS!!

I ve been working on not being such a knucklehead myself. I have been gettin a little better, others i just avoid and ignore because no matter how I ttry my tolerance and patience disintergrates and I get into self rightous raging, nobody needs or wants that 8-)

I've been thinking about this topic all morning and how to reply.  

Here is my biggest complaint and has been really getting on my nerves lately.  Happens alot on all boards not just this one,  and yes I am guilty of this one too.

Sarcastic remarks,

I believe are causing this aggrevation between senior members.  As I said I've done it too but I guess I have started to refrain more and have been getting aggrevated more with them.  These remarks are thread killers and some topics have been good and real informative until a sarcastic remark.  Then its all down hill.  

Is there a time and place for some fun with sarcastic remarks?  yes but keeping it in the everything else would be nice.  

I've been thinking about this topic all morning and how to reply.  

Here is my biggest complaint and has been really getting on my nerves lately.  Happens alot on all boards not just this one,  and yes I am guilty of this one too.

Sarcastic remarks,

I believe are causing this aggrevation between senior members.  As I said I've done it too but I guess I have started to refrain more and have been getting aggrevated more with them.  These remarks are thread killers and some topics have been good and real informative until a sarcastic remark.  Then its all down hill.  

Yup, I can be That guy.  Gonna try and be more mindful of it.

Good post LBH, we needed a post like this.

He that never changes his opinions, never corrects his mistakes, and will never be wiser on the morrow than he is today.

Please, do not welcome me in that I was an ex member under a different user name. I left about a month ago and reviewed the posts as a "guest". The reasons for resigning earlier are the very reasons being discussed here.

Upon first joining, after spending several months reading the very good articles found on BR, I was very impressed with the quality of the people and the discussions under the General, fishing tackle, boating and rods and reels forums. Shortly thereafter, I began reading everything else.

As LBH and Glenn have commented previously, I have found a general degradation of the quality of the posts. Glenn has a big problem on his hands. I recognized this when the first discussions about the 2008 BR fishing trip showed up in August. I noticed that there was a huge difference in the responses to the 2008 trip compared to the excitement and goodwill expressed about the 2007 trip. I encourage all members to review those posts, mostly made from October 2006.

To me, it is a sad day when the various BR members fail to realize how good they have it and do not appreciate what they have as opposed to what they do not have.

For me, my life changed dramatically 13 years ago when my wife, after giving birth to my daughter 2 months earlier, collapsed and died but was revived by paramedics. Since that 26th day of August 1994, my wife has been severely brain injured. I kept her at home despite severe behavioral problems for 2 years. I wanted to keep my family together.  Finally, in 1997, I had to place her in a long term care facility. I became her conservator.

In 2002, I remarried but I still care for my wife. I call her "my wife" because as far as she can remember, I am still her husband.

There was no insurance for her, no settlement money, etc. By the grace of God, I was in a position to place my wife in a facility that takes very good care of her. However, the financial and emotional strain has become insurmountable. I can no longer afford the same level of care for my wife.

Each of us has our own tradegies and challenges in life. Mine is no different from many other people. However, the point is that we have to keep some perspective on life and avoid the pitfalls of negative comments, sarcasm and arrogance.

There is an oversupply of petty bickering, sarcasm and general disrespect among the members here. I submit that each of us should show some appreciation of the good things in life that make it enjoyable.   Such as fishing.   I suck at fishing, but I am still out there heaving the lures, hoping to catch a bass.   For me, BR was one aspect that I found very enjoyable, particularly the commaraderie among the various members.   However, as I have said, this commaraderie has greatly diminished.  I also submit that before one writes in anger, arrogance or in some other negative emotional state that they count to 10 before posting the comment.

Life is too short to be caught up in all of this oneupmanship and sarcasm. I can, but will not, identify those members who have disappointed me in their fairly recent fall from the high esteem in which I held them due to their unwarranted, disrespectful comments.

As I try to teach my daughter, do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

I am now off my soapbox. That being said, I apologize if I have expressed personal facts about my life and viewpoints that have offended -- it is completely unintentional.

Tom

We appreciate you taking the time to come back and give us your well thought out input Tom.  Thanks.

Tom,

Thank you for taking the time to submit your post. I sincerely hope you decide to stay aboard and share your thoughts as we move forward.

Again, thank you.

-Kent a.k.a. roadwarrior

Well said, Hoover.

I don't know who you were before, but welcome back. I know I've been guilty in the past of making some smart-arsed comments. I hope nothing I said caused you to leave.

Good thread LBH. A little something here for all to think about. I too have been thinking about how to reply to this. Hoover beat me to the punch, and said it better than I would have, so I'll shut up.

Cheers,

GK

Hey Hoover and LBH: Points taken and well written, Hey Hoover keep putting one foot in front of the other things get better, never prerfect but oh so much better, Im glad you are back

Muddy, I f I can be of help in any way feel free to PM me.

Thanks for the welcome back.  It is good to be here although I never posted much in the past and, quite frankly, I don't intend to. My knowledge of bass and my experience fishing for them is limited so, at this stage, I don't have much to add.  I just savor the opportunity to learn about a sport I love.

It is my sincere hope, as LBH has clearly said, that at the end of the day, we should feel a friendship and kinship with our fellow members. Each of the long time/senior members have much knowledge to give which is greatly appreciated by us less experienced bass fishermen/women. Life is too short wasting time and energy being angry or maliciously sarcastic. My heartfelt best wishes to each BR member; I have great confidence that Glenn and the other mods will go to the lengths necessary to rekindle the kinship we all have felt with the focus on catching that wily creature called a bass.

Tom

It's the internet. Disagreement is part of the deal.

Topical forums like this one bring many people with a common interest together. It also creates a lot of people who like to think they know everything about everything.

Forums such as this one will see people who have a huge ego and think entirely too much of themselves. Many many internet experts out there.

Some people have thin skins and look for reasons to be offended. Some have no sense of humor. Some just don't have a clue.

IMO, one of the main problems here is that you can't blow off steam. At least not here. Get it out in the open. If your poor little feelings get hurt, tough.

It's the internet for crying out loud. If you take this stuff so d**n seriously that you're leaving just because someone was 'mean', then perhaps you should look for another way to pass your time.

Probably not what you were looking for Russ, but it needed to come out. Delete if necessary.

Would it be nice if everyone got along? :-/

I've been on forums where everyone was of the same mind. Those forums aren't in existence any longer.

I'd say some probably think me an ******* and that's fine with me. I don't pull any punches and I say what is on my mind when it is on my mind.

And in the words of Frank Costanza, I've got a lot of problems with you people. But you know what, it's no big deal. If you've got a problem with me, send me a PM ( : ) and we'll work it out. Hell, ask for my phone number and we'll talk it out.

:-X

Interesting replies so far.

I wonder if there is anything I can do as a mod.

Respectfully, I think there is... Be quicker to edit or delete inflamatory posts. There are a lot of us longer term members that get away with stuff that would surely be edited from a new member. (me included) Also, when editing or deleting- do so to the original post and the response.

99% of the time, you guys are all over it- once in a while, a snowball starts rolling. I just happen to be in the other 1% lately. ...lol

So, Burly how, in your opinion, does one "blow off steam?"  I'm not talking about this site specifically, but any site where like-minded people tend to congregate and where differences of opinion are bound to happen?

Interesting replies so far.

I wonder if there is anything I can do as a mod.

Respectfully, I think there is...  Be quicker to edit or delete inflamatory posts.  There are a lot of us longer term members that get away with stuff that would surely be edited from a new member. (me included)  Also, when editing or deleting- do so to the original post and the response.  

99% of the time, you guys are all over it- once in a while, a snowball starts rolling.  I just happen to be in the other 1% lately.  ...lol

We do our best man.  I was thinking more along the lines of starting this thread,.....in hopes it would trigger a reaction for the adults here to step up and get along.

So, Burly how, in your opinion, does one "blow off steam?" I'm not talking about this site specifically, but any site where like-minded people tend to congregate and where differences of opinion are bound to happen?

Good old fashioned hissy fit arguments.

That or a case of 22LR, a spotlight and a trash dump.  

You guys are doing fine. It's up to the membership now! I have been really trying hard not to answer things I feel strongly about , once i wait it really is not that important in the long run. The key for me is not engaging with people i just can't get along with, I don't have the need or the right to keep going back for more.Cant get along with 11,000 memebers but you can get along with a few. Don't make those people bad guys , just folks I can't get along with and visa versa.