Hmmmm…very clear where you stand about your idea of ADVERTISING…whatever way you choose to view or define it, it’s to your discretion, no argument there…it’s your site. Apparently FSHKILLR isn’t a good friend of yours otherwise his self-serving post would have been kept without issue, right? Anyhow, it’s also clear that you felt that he or some tackle store posted this message to make more money for themselves, still not sure why, but that’s clear. I’m glad though that you did decide to keep the posts up so that others could see and judge for themselves, what’s going on.

Like most here in this forum and others, we’re ALL looking for good information, whether that includes information on where we can get good deals related to fishing, the latest hot spots or just plain great information in general on anything FISHING RELATED. This is why we visit these sites, and often times go to more than one to get a good range of info. I thought that the particular post in question passed that check of passing along great information, without spamming a tackle shop in the process—an apparent pet peeve of yours. I attended that swap meet and don’t recall seeing any guy/girl walking around with a nametag labeled “FSHKILLR” soliciting my business, or anybody else’s for that matter, inside or outside the shop where it was held. Maybe the reason you saw the person’s post on other websites was because he/she thought this was useful info for ALL fishermen? Sorry his/her simple post was such a threat to your fear of advertising getting out of hand on your site and was a clear-cut case of spam. IMHO…you sound a bit paranoid. Now, my issue is that when I see someone getting rudely slammed for some childish plug-pulling game you want to play, you’re damn right I’m gonna speak up. That’s MY PERROGATIVE, and I exercise it as I see fit, whenever I choose to exercise it, on any site as long as the opportunity for that platform is permitted. Maybe this time, and because there have been similar cases like this on your site, especially on your perception of “spamming” vs. someone else’s, it finally got to me…and I spoke up. Don’t open up and try to run a message board if you’re gonna whine every time someone challenges your views or puts up a simple post to relate his/her view to you, that’s why it’s called a forum… If this is the worst that you’ve gotten or seen that you’re afraid of happening on your site, you really have no clue of how bad it can get. I have followed this site along with many other sites that serve a similar purpose—providing great info, whatever form it might be, for folks that like to fish. Just because I don’t post every day, doesn’t mean I’m not browsing and see what's going on. This particular issue is nothing in the scope of issues that exist for any message board. Your site is nothing new. That’s not saying it’s good or bad, just not new. And the issues you're afraid of have been covered well in many of the sites you visit and have gotten ideas from. I’m hardly trashing your site any more than simply reminding you to check yourself before you slam/accuse folks for something you can’t even support.

As for “my insinuation” that you don’t care about the MPLA, guess I’ll never know, but I can only hope that you do. Never said you didn’t nor did I try to prove it either way…I simply said that maybe it doesn’t concern you. Putting down one of our biggest proponents on the cause over what you called “advertising” certainly didn’t help show it. My main purpose for bringing this up was to point out that while you’re slamming a guy and/or his shop for something he probably has nothing to do with this, understand that he’s on your side…whether or not he put up the post. These guys are more on your team than you give them credit to be, so maybe you shouldn’t be so quick to jump. Maybe the guy should have left the shop’s name off the post, who really cares…it was about a swap meet, free to fishermen to sell or just browse, buy, chat, whatever, but in any case for all fishermen that cared to attend…nothing more, nothing less.

Best of luck to you with your site. I mean that sincerely, despite our difference of opinions. You certainly don’t need to waste your time to “ban” me because I don’t spam, nor have you ever seen me try to push anyone, any place, or any product on this site, nor do I plan to do anything of that nature. I’m done with this post and don’t feel a need to continue the discussion or spend any more time on these boards—clearly an option you’ve given, and I will happily take.

Tight lines…
Tony