I do not want to stir the pot, in fact I hope that nobody replies to this. I have been around here a while, as a member, and one of the folks that helped brainstorm this forum in its infancy. What I see going on here with the recent changes is a lot of insecurity. People are offended because they feel that is aimed towards them. There are many older members who submit posts with poor content, and many new guys who can blow your mind with excellent posts. If you are feeling personally attacked by these new rules, then maybe you need to do some reflection. Are you a bass in a ten gallon guy, or do you actually contribute? Are your posts well thought out or are you just rambling about how you hit a creek today, and saw tons of shiny fish but were unable to catch any with your 6 inch petstore fish net. Are you showing quality pics of fish that you recently sampled, or are you submitting cameraphone pics and asking for an ID? Are you telling us how you dealt with with an aquarium illness, or whining about a shiner that recently died.
If you are "that guy" Maybe it is high time to clean it up a bit. Don't blame it on elitism, blame it on yourself. I am very tolerant, and love to help people out, but I honestly don't want to have to read about your poor dying fish, or your failed sampling trip. Don't just post for the sake of posting! There is an excellent Native fish forum on MFK to discuss sampling streams with your minnow trap, or your cast net.
We were all new at one point in time, some of us actually tried. We quickly graduated from cameraphones, to cheap specimen tanks, and some have gone even farther to perfect their skills.
I think that all the moderators here are asking is for a bit of thought. Think before you post. Ask yourself, "do I really need to start a topic about today's failed collecting trip, and do I really need to tell the NANFA forum how I only caught a creek chub, and tadpole". No, we don't need to hear it. PM your buddy and tell him about it. I don't care, and don't want to sift through this junk on a daily basis.
Go out, and document a trip with worthwhile photos of fish, habitat, and folks will want to see it. Show good pics of your fish room, and I want to see it. Show your innovative new filtration.
IF you are just hanging out and posting for the sake of it, you are guilty, and need to clean it up a bit. If you are not, then you need to quit worrying about these new rules, and move on. If you are not a paying NANFA member, and want access to the Trading Dock, then join, and swap your fish. If you feel that NANFA is too elitist because it refuses to become MFK, then go back to MFK.
Please do not add your content to my thread. I don't want to hear it. These changes are clearcut, and have been decided on by our moderators. Get with the program, and stop whining. If you are part of the problem, then fix it. If you are not part of the problem, then hopefully you will enjoy the higher quality content that your moderators are trying to provide for you.

I admit I did post some poor pics, fish died posts, and no luck sampling trip info before. But I thought based on an earlier post that you were working on a seperate forum for off topic/less sensical information. Most forums I visit have that sort of thing. This DOES seem a bit targeted honestly, but I do say their is ANOTHER way I can deal with a targeted post besides complaining or contemplating. I am a paying NANFA member, I support NANFA and beleive in its goals, but I can always STOP being a paying NANFA member if I feel targeted or selected out. If any others do they could as well. Think that over a bit, NANFA needs ALL the paying members they can get.

I admit I did post some poor pics, fish died posts, and no luck sampling trip info before. But I thought based on an earlier post that you were working on a seperate forum for off topic/less sensical information. Most forums I visit have that sort of thing. This DOES seem a bit targeted honestly, but I do say their is ANOTHER way I can deal with a targeted post besides complaining or contemplating. I am a paying NANFA member, I support NANFA and beleive in its goals, but I can always STOP being a paying NANFA member if I feel targeted or selected out. If any others do they could as well. Think that over a bit, NANFA needs ALL the paying members they can get.

You must understand, the old time members feel the exact same way. I don't need NANFA, it does not excel my professional carrier, help with schooling, or make me sleep better at night. I've made many serious friends through NANFA beyond their screen name, but my patients has run dry with the babble. The list was primarily replaced by the forum and without interaction with the organization, I have no use for it. I will continue to have these bonds and passions for native fish with or without NANFA.

Please have pride in your posts. If it looks, sounds, and feels like something from MFK, maybe it should be there.

Edited by natureman187, 06 July 2010 - 12:09 PM.

I do not want to stir the pot, in fact I hope that nobody replies to this. I have been around here a while, as a member, and one of the folks that helped brainstorm this forum in its infancy. What I see going on here with the recent changes is a lot of insecurity. People are offended because they feel that is aimed towards them. There are many older members who submit posts with poor content, and many new guys who can blow your mind with excellent posts. If you are feeling personally attacked by these new rules, then maybe you need to do some reflection. Are you a bass in a ten gallon guy, or do you actually contribute? Are your posts well thought out or are you just rambling about how you hit a creek today, and saw tons of shiny fish but were unable to catch any with your 6 inch petstore fish net. Are you showing quality pics of fish that you recently sampled, or are you submitting cameraphone pics and asking for an ID? Are you telling us how you dealt with with an aquarium illness, or whining about a shiner that recently died.
If you are "that guy" Maybe it is high time to clean it up a bit. Don't blame it on elitism, blame it on yourself. I am very tolerant, and love to help people out, but I honestly don't want to have to read about your poor dying fish, or your failed sampling trip. Don't just post for the sake of posting! There is an excellent Native fish forum on MFK to discuss sampling streams with your minnow trap, or your cast net.
We were all new at one point in time, some of us actually tried. We quickly graduated from cameraphones, to cheap specimen tanks, and some have gone even farther to perfect their skills.
I think that all the moderators here are asking is for a bit of thought. Think before you post. Ask yourself, "do I really need to start a topic about today's failed collecting trip, and do I really need to tell the NANFA forum how I only caught a creek chub, and tadpole". No, we don't need to hear it. PM your buddy and tell him about it. I don't care, and don't want to sift through this junk on a daily basis.
Go out, and document a trip with worthwhile photos of fish, habitat, and folks will want to see it. Show good pics of your fish room, and I want to see it. Show your innovative new filtration.
IF you are just hanging out and posting for the sake of it, you are guilty, and need to clean it up a bit. If you are not, then you need to quit worrying about these new rules, and move on. If you are not a paying NANFA member, and want access to the Trading Dock, then join, and swap your fish. If you feel that NANFA is too elitist because it refuses to become MFK, then go back to MFK.
Please do not add your content to my thread. I don't want to hear it. These changes are clearcut, and have been decided on by our moderators. Get with the program, and stop whining. If you are part of the problem, then fix it. If you are not part of the problem, then hopefully you will enjoy the higher quality content that your moderators are trying to provide for you.

very well put Matt.

I admit I did post some poor pics, fish died posts, and no luck sampling trip info before. But I thought based on an earlier post that you were working on a seperate forum for off topic/less sensical information. Most forums I visit have that sort of thing. This DOES seem a bit targeted honestly, but I do say their is ANOTHER way I can deal with a targeted post besides complaining or contemplating. I am a paying NANFA member, I support NANFA and beleive in its goals, but I can always STOP being a paying NANFA member if I feel targeted or selected out. If any others do they could as well. Think that over a bit, NANFA needs ALL the paying members they can get.

So are you "that guy"? Honestly I do not know you nor have I paid any attention to your posts. I may have read some, and they somehow became my example, but I was in no way targeting you at all. As I said, I have not even paid any attention to who you are, no offense. When I wrote this I was generalizing, and in no way had FIRSTCHAOS in mind. This is a perfect example of the point I mas making. You must in some way feel that you are personally contributing less than useful information. If that is the case, make a few changes. That is all.
Now don't reply, I have made my point. You do not have to justify yourself, or explain to me. I am a nobody. Not a moderator, not a board member, just a Member offering some insight.