AuntyM-

I'm sure you are the one person participating in this thread that Parker was NOT referring to.....

Perhaps it will disappoint you but there is no real punchline.

I quit posting on this thread for awhile because my intention is not to get into a 'sporties v...or wild v....' conversation (and I'm a touch busy) , but to explore the philosophical question 'If OP rivers are predestined for a natural extinction event, then what difference do barbless hooks make really? What difference does it make if you hold the fish out of the water for a photo or leave it in? What difference does it make if we catch wild or hatchery steelhead? What difference do all the things we usually discuss around here really make in the context of geologic time? This thought occurred to me as I was driving through the Smith river valley on my way to San Francisco this weekend and the answers I kept coming up with conflict with my general belief system. When this happens I like to talk it out, especially with people that will challenge me to potentially think a different way.

I think people often hold too high a regard for themselves when it comes to their views on the natural world. Often people can't look past the end of their own lifetime when examining how we humans impact the environment. Very, very seldom do I hear anyone anywhere talk about the impact of the environment on human beings. This is illustrative of my point....

Grandpa -
Its not surprising to me that you would not 'get' what I am talking about. Not because I think any less of you than I do myself but because I know that you already 'don't like me', you have me 'pegged', you know my 'type', you think I'm a 'lib', I'm 'on drugs'...from what I have read from you this makes you much less likely to take anything I write seriously. Fine.... You can't see past my dark sense of humor far enough to see that I may, as do 99% percent of other human beings in the world, have something to offer you in terms of conversation if you would just take the time to listen to what I have to say. You'll never do that though will you?...because you have me pegged. I submit to you sir, that is your loss.

I can tell you this much with certainty. I don't know you, my only frame of reference for you is what you post on the board. Granted, I disagree with most of what you have to say but at least I afford you the respect of listening to what you have to say. I've even been known to *egad* acknowledge when I'm wrong...even alter my views based on conversations had on these boards. There are even some board members who have many more reasons than you do to dislike me would acknowledge that I keep an open mind in nearly every conversation, sometimes even while vehemently arguing one particular side.

All you saw was Jesus is dead? Remember if you would that I didn't bring religious beliefs into the conversation. If some other guy can jump in and thump the figurative Bible without even addressing the actual question I raised, then I should be able to thumb my figurative nose at it. I'm sure you will add 'heathen' now to your list of reasons why you don't like h2o. BTW...this conversation was never about religion.