For the record.

[mhall]

I want to go on record at saying a few things. I love this site and enjoy it very much. I think we are a bit to touchy sometimes on here about what is allowed and not allowed, but that is the rules and I'll abide by them or leave, no grey area. I for one will admit and anyone that knows me will attest that I will speak my mind to a fault, I can't help it. By that same token I would give you the shirt off of my back if you needed it. I'm old fashioned and I see things the way that I think they should be, which is old school. Fundamental stuff like honesty, integrity, being faithful to family and friends, and a hand shake is a bond and trust and no paper can break it. My Dad and Mom raised us old school to respect authority and our elders. I'll be 47 years old this year and I still Yes Mam and No Sir to my elders in many situations in everyday life which blows some peoples minds, can't help it old habits are hard to break. I say all these things to get to my point which is not a back patting campaign for myself.

When I see the country get in the shape it is now I vent verbally sometimes on this site. In this forum it's more than likely wrong and I shouldn't do it so I'm going to attempt to not do it in the future. If you read and understand what I wrote above maybe you can slightly understand why I get a little keyed up sometimes, still no excuse. This is a family site and without question I get carried away sometimes.

For the record I do not hate all liberals. Maybe we have some fundamental differences but that doesn't make me a better person than them or them better than me, just different. I have freinds that are liberals and they are fine people. Andrew for one on this site is a self proclaimed liberal but we see eye to eye on almost everything and he is one of the nicest individuals that I have ever met in my entire life and I truely mean that. I would like to see this country get back some good ole common sense values though. You know just cut and dry, right and wrong stuff.

In closing I wrote this because I feel that I have offended some on here and that is not my intention and as I've gotten older I have tried to realise that I'm not always right. Also that I need to accept that not everybody looks at things the way that I do and that's o.k. If I get jacked up now and again you have a little insight as to why and I'll try in the future to keep it toned down a bit.

Happy first day of Spring to all and thanks for letting me vent a bit, Mark.

[Grumpy]

Well said Mark and I agree 100 percent because what you wrote goes for me also.

Grumpy

[lil skeeter]

i for one appreciate the fact that alot of the members on here say what they feel rather than beating around the bush or hold back for the sake of someones feelings. i dont get in on the political talks first of all because im not really into talking that subject but also realize that nobody on either side is willing to admit when someone on the otherside is right, its a never ending debate with no winners and alot of opinions. as far as not patting your own back goes, maybe you should because theres not alot of that anymore. i try to yes maam and yes sir to those that are years older than myself. im 34 yrs old with 4 children. i correct my three older boys all the time when they dont show that respect to there elders, hold doors open for someone and so on. its embaressing to me when they dont. if you dont teach kids this they wont learn from anyone else and in most cases they wont pick it up from their buddies.

[Col Forbin]

Good post Mark.

I must have missed all the controversy - that will teach me to go fishing again.

All kidding aside, I think the majority of us feel the same as you.

[riverrat12]

Well said Mark and I agree 100 percent because what you wrote goes for me also.

Grumpy

Same here Mark, heck this site would'nt be the same without you rufflin some feathers..lol...Oh and I talked to a buddie of yours yesterday, Jimbo said hey....Headin to the river now...need to vent some, you know my number...Chuck

[cra97]

i for one appreciate the fact that alot of the members on here say what they feel rather than beating around the bush or hold back for the sake of someones feelings. i dont get in on the political talks first of all because im not really into talking that subject but also realize that nobody on either side is willing to admit when someone on the otherside is right, its a never ending debate with no winners and alot of opinions. as far as not patting your own back goes, maybe you should because theres not alot of that anymore. i try to yes maam and yes sir to those that are years older than myself. im 34 yrs old with 4 children. i correct my three older boys all the time when they dont show that respect to there elders, hold doors open for someone and so on. its embaressing to me when they dont. if you dont teach kids this they wont learn from anyone else and in most cases they wont pick it up from their buddies.

I try and do the same with my 4 children, but I also don't set the best example when I "fly off the handle" once in a while over a strong opinion I have on certain issues. I, like those before me here, try and keep it in check most of the time but I am human and it comes out sometimes, wrong or right. I DO believe if more "children" in our world were taught even SOME of the "old fashion values" that my dad beat (and yes, they were beat) into us, we would not have a lot of the issues we have today with them. I wish I could just once, and not for the sake of the pain factor but rather the scare it would cause, give my children a good "old fashion whippin", you know the ones with a "switch", without having to know I will end up losing them and spending time in jail with "bubba".
Good posts and thank you all for the insight.

Rob

[DJD]

I agree Mark. Even though we have different backgrounds it sounds like our parents raised us in a very similiar way. I love the different view points on here and we all get carried away but hey that's the america we love isn't it? We can speak or feel differently and still get along. I haven't met several of the jousting partners on here from the dark side () but I know we would get along. Good post.

[Tim_T]

You bunch of old softies, to heck with each and every one of you, wimps! LOL!

[Cobra190]

No two people are ever going to see eye to eye on everything, much less as many as there are on this board. That's what makes this board as strong as it is. Folks can disagree on things, get into heated debate, and then turn right around and offer advice or trade fishing stories with no problem. Isn't this what keeps those of us who haunt the off topic board coming back. Think of what those that never stray from the fishing board miss out on.

[DJD]

No two people are ever going to see eye to eye on everything, much less as many as there are on this board. That's what makes this board as strong as it is. Folks can disagree on things, get into heated debate, and then turn right around and offer advice or trade fishing stories with no problem. Isn't this what keeps those of us who haunt the off topic board coming back. Think of what those that never stray from the fishing board miss out on.

LOL! I prefer this board over the fishing board anyway.

[MsgMills]

I agree with everything as well...I don't hold any grudges against anyone who has a different opinion on something.... But yes this board is the best, dang i sure wish I could have found Indiana in that bracket of 65 teams....lol

[Dave Stewart]

From a moderators point of view:

There is absolutely nothing wrong with folks disageeing...if we all thought the same way in this world there would never be any progress made to make it a better world for all. Nothing wrong with venting here as long as your venting stays within the published rules of the site for discussion boards.

We moderators agreed when we took this responsibility to enforce the published rules as written. I will be the first to admit I have deleted many threads and posts that I totally agreed with and felt the same way about....deleting posts and threads have nothing to do with how I or any of the other moderators feel about the subject at hand...it has to do with that set of rules that are established for the site.

Because of my background (military) and such, I am basically a black and white type of person...I tend to see things as either one way or the other...ie...either the post conforms with the rules or it doesn't. I understand how one can loose their temper once in a while and cut loose....never do that myself....LOL. But, just as in real life, doing so in the cyber world has its repercussions and when you do it here the repercussion is having your post deleted. Repeated offenses will result in temporary banning or permanent banning...this is a judgement call by moderators and the owner of the site.

I can honestly say that the only folks I have banned (and I have banned more folks than any other moderator or the owner)...were banned because they continuously slammed other members, slammed moderators or continuously put up posts with profanity or such not suitable for younger folks to read.

Here are some of the things I know for a fact that we moderators have experienced from deleting posts or banning someone:

1. Threats via email or phone to us and or families.
2. Individual campaigns to try to ruin my business and/or cost another moderator his job.
3. Personal slams via email about our wives, families etc....also some of this on the boards here a few times.
4. Destruction of moderators personal property.
5. Internet stalking.

Not going to go into details...but put yourself in our places and I think you can see why we moderators may sometimes not have a lot of patience for folks that do not obey the rules.

I have no doubt in my mind that most of the folks that come here and participate are great folks...have met and made friends with a number of them. But like anything else in life, there is always that low percentage of folks that live to take advantage of the situation or others. This is why we have to have rules and laws in our society..to keep order among the low percentage whose actions have the greatest impact on the well being of the majority.

Off my soapbox now..gotta go to work in the real world. You guys have a good time here....keep it clean and we can all enjoy life a little more.