Bob,

First, thanks for providing this PP forum. I’ve learned from it and try to return in kind by informing the community with some of my knowledge.

PP Community,

It seems like most of us appreciate that this public access forum exists on Bob’s private website. A website’s value is in its content. When we share information on fish biology or ecology, how to fish, or where to fish when (just not too specific), we’re adding value to the site. When we debate issues like hatchery and wild fish, or CNR and WSR, we’re informing the community and still adding value to the site. But the moment anyone attacks people rather than arguing a position, they’re taking value away from the site. Clearly, it’s Bob’s prerogative to determine how much de-valuation is OK for his website. It’s one thing to be passionate about issues - which is likely what brings us here - but quite another to not keep our emotions in check when arguing positions with other BB members.

I’m sorry CFM got booted, and not just because he’s my friend. CFM brought a lot of value to this site. He’s passionate about fishing, informed about issues, and does his homework better than anyone I know. Of course we disagree on issues from time to time and argue our positions as well as we can, while maintaining respect for one another. That’s how it’s gotta’ be in real life, and that’s the only way it works out here in cyber-space too, over the long haul.

Bruce seems really knowledgeable. I don’t know that he participated in anything other than the WSR debate, but when he wasn’t attacking people, I think he was adding value to the topic. Too bad I won’t know what additional value he might have added.

It’s a public access forum, but we’re here as Bob’s guests. It shouldn’t be so hard to follow his rules. There have been complaints that in some cases it wasn’t CFM or Bruce who attacked first. I think that’s irrelevant. Most of the participants here are adults. It shouldn’t be so hard to ignore attacks (acknowledging them tends to be encouraging) and just move on to the salient issues in the various posts and respond to those.

Count me among those that appreciate this forum. It’s the only fishing site I visit regularly since the old flyfisherman one went gunnysack. If an “elitist” flyfisherman can find a home among all this downriggers/ sliding lead/ herring/ anchovy/ sandshrimp/ and gooey egg cure, I think most anyone can get along here if they choose to. You just have to choose to.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.