Civil Participation
News columnists have recently lamented the end of what they term the “age of civility.†Many point to the boorish behavior and immature conduct found on so many public forums and blogs as proof that the internet has been the overriding factor in the loss of such civility. I would contend that the internet itself isn’t to blame – it didn’t cause nor create bad behavior. It simply provided a medium for those already inclined to act on their baser human instincts.
Rod Building internet forums aren’t immune where the lack of civility is concerned. As one well known rod builder commented about one forum, “It’s an online public restroom wall.†He’s right, of course, and it’s a shame that new rod builders often view such places and feel repulsed by what they read. Some tend to associate that conduct with the new craft they’ve just begun. Which is unfair, but understandable.
The good news is that what occurs on any rod building forum, good or bad, is directly controlled by the owners/operators of those forums. Those that are closely monitored with a steady hand on the delete key and no fear regarding the account termination of those who prove troublesome, tend to be free from the problems that plague those where reasonable moderation is almost nonexistent. Thus, there are still plenty of rod building forums where folks can participate and learn in a friendly and civil atmosphere.
When asked, I hold my own forum Rodbuilding.org (www.rodbuilding.org) up as a model of civil conduct and strict adherence to rod building information, devoid of the antics that often ruin a public forum. But there are other good ones as well. In the Northeast you have the rod building forum at Stripersonline (http://www.stripersonline.com/surftalk/forumdisplay.php?f=165). It offers valuable information from above board participants and sees a great deal of daily traffic. Over at Rodbuildingforum.com you can find an equally pleasant experience for the fly rod crowd. The folks there are helpful and pleasant. It’s a nice place to be. There are others, of course, but in my mind these three stand out as what most average rod builders are looking to find when they go seeking information from a place where they can feel comfortable participating.  The registration numbers and daily traffic certainly bear this out.
Yes there are bad ones and you don’t have to go far to find them. But there is an upside – as long as the immature and uncivil have a place of their own, they won’t be bothering the rest of us.
Tom Kirkman
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“An online public restroom wall” you can say that again! Most of those places aren’t even about rod building. Just a place for romperroom rowdies to hang out and play. Just like a TV set, if you don’t like it you don’t have to watch it. Plenty of other good rod building forums on the net. The ones you listed are all good. There are also some good ones on the regional fishing boards although they don’t get a ton of traffic.Still some good stuff though.
I saw some of what you were talking about on a western coast board. Your own family’s military record and history proves somebody there did not do their homework before trying to create that brouhah. Thanks for the photos-they said it all.
It is very much true that this website is very well monitored and you will only find information on the art of rodbuilding. I like that. I enjoy the fact that I don’t have to deal with drama when I come on here and get the information I need for rodbuilding. However there is a place for a forum that allows a little more opportunity for someone to express their concerns and opinions. There is a dark side of rodbuilding where there is backstabbing, sneekiness, and vendettas against other rodbuilders. This sort of thing needs to be exposed and a forum that will do that is very valuable. Every person has a choice of what type of forum they choose to participate in and frankly Iike both.
Pat, The problem is, not everyone is upfront about things. You had an email from me prior to the uproar, telling you that I would more than happy to promote your veterans rod program in the RodMaker Magazine News Column. Had you come forward and told the truth, most of the unpleasantness and untruths that were spouted on one forum would have been stopped dead in their tracks.
In an earlier life I ran two nightclubs. Made the mistake at the first one of not putting our foot down. The second one went differently. We ran off the riff raff right away and after that first couple months the word was out that we did not allow that type of stuff at our place. Any public forum or assembly house is the same way. The owners and managers have to set the tone for the type operation they are going to run.
I can only speak for myself, but as a rod builder I go to the forums every so often when I need a helping hand on something. I could care less about the fighting and fussing. When I see that sort of thing I move on to a different place. I have a gut feeling that most rod builders feel the same way.
I thought it was very wrong for that woman to attack your family’s proud military service history like that. No way I will buy any of her products. Keep up the good work and hold your head high.
I watched one even sink to the level where members are making threats of physical violence against others. I wonder what that has to do with rod building and if the website owners understand that at that level they become personally liable.
Many of us older builders remember and respected Gene Bullard. What this crazy lady who claims to be his niece is doing recently has ruined his legacy. How many more over the top long winded sermons will we have to hear about “uncle Gene?”
I really see what you mean, I’ve talked about this for a while now with some of the guys. The thing to also remember is that these sites where all the trash talking takes place really don’t have that many actual users. If you study the names and how often they appear its really only about a dozen guys just chatting and talking back and forth over and over and over. So those sites don’t really represent many builders at all.
There may not be many builders participating on those sites but on some of them some of the best rodbuilders in the World are on them. I still like both types of sites. If I want to be serious I come here, if I want to just have some fun I go elsewhere.
Pat
great article, how do you feel this will be affected in the future? I’m glad I stumbled across this website at rodbuilding.org! I had almost given up on finding a place where somebody wasn’t constantly jumping on people and making a mess of things. Most rod builders are grown men and we don’t want to have to read and see all the immature crap.
Man your not kidding!!!! Some of these forums are cess pools. I make a point of NOT doing business with any dealer or business person I see posting on them. Childish stuff.
I don’t think some people know how they hurt their own business with that kind of bashing. I know of one epoxy brand I will NEVER use again!
This is very interesting. Many may not believe it for a female rod builder that sort of bad conduct, language and stuff is a real turn off. Your forum is a place I feel comfortable at.