Fishing and the Internet

Heywood · Post by **Heywood** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 4:26 pm

Please take the time to read the whole story, regradless of how you feel about me personally.

A lot can be said about the internet, both good and bad. But when it comes to fishing and internet forums things can get out of hand. Simple reports can turn ugly, forum fights break out over secret spots, grown men act like teenage boys fighting over a prom date. People resort to blurring out back grounds, while others criticize that choice. Many will readily give out information about a particular area, while some are tight lipped, fearing it will be over run by the omnipresent “Lurkers”. I for one used to like posting reports, I am usually careful not to give away to much information with the pictures and never mention my home waters.

I have had my share of internet “fights”. I’ll admit it, I don’t take criticism very well, I tend to take it very personal. Maybe it’s a character flaw, I don’t know. When it comes from a friend, I deal with it like it was intended, but when its from someone who doesn’t know me, I can come un-glued. Is all very unnecessary. This brings me to the heart of this article. I had one these so called “heated discussions” several years ago over a conversation I had about a spot that a club member had told me about. It was a simple slip of the tongue on my part, but it led to such an argument that it cost me the friendship of a great angler.

As chance would have it, I ran across this angler, we’ll just call him “Wally” at a launch that not many people know about. We said our “Hello’s”, and went our separate ways. I thought about Wally while I was out on the water, not sure what would be said when we returned. It was a short morning session, the redfish never really showed up and I’m not big on blind casting, so we called it and headed back to the ramp. In the distance I could see that I would meet Wally again, as they were heading in as well. We made causal chit chat and I asked Wally about his health. He had some issues with cancer in the past which required major surgery, but he had come through it alright. He mentioned that his last check up showed something that concerned his doctors and wouldn’t know for a few days what the outcome would be. While I listened to him talk about his ordeals something struck me, here we were, two stubborn and determined personalities that at one point were ready to rip each other head off over a bunch of fish. It was then I went to my truck and gave Wally my number and email address. I told him to let me know how he was doing. Well I received a phone call the other night.

My friend Wally has Renal Cancer. Three large tumors showed up on his last check up. Non-operable. What do you say to someone when they tell you this? It hit me like a ton of bricks. Wally did most of the talking, I did all the listening. He will be on a dangerous regiment of medicine, the outcome of this is not entirely known. Wally may become to sick to ever fish again, something which we both enjoy more than most people will ever know. We both offered apologies for our past encounter, which seemed really petty. I told him to keep me informed on his condition and if there was anything I could do, to call.

I have thought about our conversation for the last few days. To think that I might miss out on getting to know Wally better and spend some time on the water with him because of a argument over a fishing location is pretty pathetic. I have burned some bridges in the past, pissed people off, made some enemies and looking back I am truly sorry for that. Living with anger and discontent is not a good thing at all. So after my talk with Wally I vowed to make amends with those people if possible. Life is just to short and uncertain.

Its just fishing people, that’s all it is. Its not worth losing friends over.

Vlap · Post by **Vlap** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 5:10 pm

Well said Heywood! You a good man in my book.

FLPat · Post by **FLPat** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 5:22 pm

That post shows the kind of compassionate, friendly, helpful gentleman I have always known you to be. No sacrasm -- just the truth.

Pat & her Heritage Redfish

Redfisher · Post by **Redfisher** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 5:30 pm

I am always willing to forgive and forget. As I said before,I would like to call each and every one here a friend. I just refuse to sit back and allow my friends to be bad mouthed or abused.
Sometimes you look back and you can't even remember why some arguements even started.

seeinred · Post by **seeinred** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 7:06 pm

Redfisher wrote:
Sometimes you look back and you can't even remember why some arguements even started.

Story of my life lol. Life is definitely too short...

GILs_GONE_WILD · Post by **GILs_GONE_WILD** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 8:41 pm

Well put Heywood.

This should be posted on EVERY forum on the internet. Just change fishing to whatever the forum subject happens to be!!

TerryW · Post by **TerryW** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 9:12 pm

I suspect that I know who this is and was just thinking about him last week and wondering what had happened to him. Very sad. Glad you are in touch, Bill.

Manning · Post by **Manning** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 10:11 pm

With the exception of one person, I don't know anyone on this forum personally. So the only way I know you is by what you post here.

It has been my experience that people treat each other worse in the cyberspace environment that they do in the face to face world. I have been part of other forums dedicated to other interests and seen the same behavior. Not sure I understand it, but it seems to be true. If we all just acted as we would in real life then a great deal of the BS would just be gone. JMHO

Chief1600 · Post by **Chief1600** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:48 am

Well said Heywood

DaveR · Post by **DaveR** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:03 am

I may have to move you up a notch or two on my speed dial.

You're a good soul Bill. Glad to count you among my friends.

Sledford · Post by **Sledford** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:11 am

Well said Bill. I have always said that there is no room for sarcasm on a friendly web site. If you can not say anything positive please don't say anything at all.

JoeS · Post by **JoeS** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:31 pm

Nice Post Bill......

MarkM · Post by **MarkM** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 2:34 pm

Nice post. Bill. You have said plenty, whether anyone thinks it's worth reading or not. I have made many friends from this forum alone, and none of them are worth losing for anything, especially something as petty as a fishing hole.

Rik · Post by **Rik** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:37 pm

Yes, folks, I deleted a bunch of posts (also edited a few) from this thread. They were intentionally disruptive.

Heywood, I apologize that your heartfelt post turned ugly.

Heywood · Post by **Heywood** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:48 pm

Rik wrote:Yes, folks, I deleted a bunch of posts (also edited a few) from this thread. They were intentionally disruptive.

Heywood, I apologize that your heartfelt post turned ugly.

I just ignored it

Rik · Post by **Rik** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:51 pm

I think someone has a sig line to that effect.......