X2 Wolf and Gov. LOL My post for the month...Join a group and start doing these discussions face to face.You cant do it on here with no accountability than a computer monitor...Please join SVIAC or something and get involved... Screw the negativity not getting us anywhere.... If the negativity dies maybe a few us will start posting again its brutal on here.... Go fishing get off the computer LOL!!!
High Five
Thread Hijack Alert
I am not sure I agree with you
I think it is time to be more public, more open, more transparent and more communicative within the sport fishing community. Accountability does not come from suppression or silence, however free speech and participation also has its responsibilities.
Some may not go to a meeting but they may send a letter or they may ask their candidate about a fishery issue before voting because they have read about it here.
I would also suggest that I understand that many would rather talk and read about the fish caught or what’s the hot lure. Sport fishing is a hobby for most of us and we do it for fun and relaxation. However, the cold hard truth is that fishery politics participation is the heavy lifting that keeps us all actually able to catch fish and experiment with that new lure. Fishery political discussion on this forum is a valuable part of that participation.
The cold light of public discussion Is a direct adjunct of participatory democracy and can sometimes be more accountable than backroom meetings and deals by small numbers with vested interest no matter how representative, well intentioned and fair minded those individuals are. This is not a criticism, we all have vested interests and perspectives, I sure do.
Think of open public discussion as one means we are held accountable and kept honest which is particularly important for those who take on leadership and decision making roles, volunteer or not. Bottom line - know one who puts themselves out their likes to be 2nd guessed but it is not always a bad thing. Pretty frustrating I am sure if you think the person who is 2nd guessing you does not know squat and may not.
While in one sense anonymity can allow some to hide behind it, I would suggest that if you are active angler and post frequently that level of anonymity is pretty low. Further you earn your credibility here. While we all have our off moments and difference of opinion are natural; say something stupid, ignorant, meaningless and in my case too long or too often, and you will earn the results. That also is a form of accountability. Post enough and you will need a thick skin and have to lick your wounds because you are going to get someone worked up
I sometimes perceive that when people talk about sport fishery public political discussion here in a negative sense what is often going on with them is a fear based response leading to a need to silence others because of a perception that their own particular perspective, viewpoint or financial self interest may either not prevail or be harmed. Not you of course High Five. I also acknowledge my bias that I see things a little different if the difference is with someone whose loyalties to other interests are incompatible with what I see as the interests of the sport sector or our fish. It’s a bias I can live with.
Anyone actually think there are not competing interests and that a lot of lobbying does not go on within our sport fishing family and on this forum?
A little conflict within the sport fishing community is healthy but like a family when we face a significant external threat to our fish or angling we come together. No outside interests who read our little internal squabbles should doubt that or our collective resolve
