Internet hunting forums.

[Tiercel 6,986]

The recent ( last 10 years) spate of internet forums catering for hunting people are many and varied. To be honest I enjoy visiting most. Today I started to think about their purpose? Who are they for? Who benefits from them? Most if not all are run by people who have a passion for hunting no matter what form it takes. Mostly at their own cost.

 

They seem ideal, somewhere where like-minded people can share ideas and embrace other peoples ways of doing the same discipline, no matter what discipline that may be. Somewhere where newcomers to the hunting game can come and learn off of people who have been doing it for years.

 

But, it really saddens me that some people who for the want of a better term, we shall call key board warriors, are intent on making these forums inhospitable places for the persons who are learning, have an interest or even just a bit slower than the norm. These people seem to take great delight in bullying people to the extent that some will not post for fear of ridicule.

 

In the days before Internet forums, I cannot speak for other areas but in our area there was one pub where we all met on a Friday night. Yes it got heated, yes it sometimes ended "Out the back" But the underlying theme was that we were all hunters no matter what discipline you followed. Newcomers with their seemingly inane questions were welcomed; knowledge was shared and given without the superior attitudes that you can to find on forums these days.

 

Thinking about it, I suppose even though there was a diversity of disciplines followed, because we all came from the same area we all had the same amount of animals to hunt. Therefore as has happened to me on this forum, you do not get someone, who has a large concentration of rabbits in their area, telling me that he knew better than me as he had caught 800 rabbits this year.

 

I must be honest here and say I feel that, I have taken a lot from forums such as this, I hope I give something back. I have met some wonderful people, some who I am proud to call a friend. There are so many people who are willing to give up their time to help others Woodga and Snareman spring to mind, two people who will go out of their way to help anyone. BUT and it is a big but you have the minority who for some reason feel it is their right to impose their questionable morals on anyone who they feel they can victimise with impunity.

 

They are not necessarily the great unwashed, some are very educated people but seem to think that they have the right to bully people who do not conform to their standards. To these people I will say, " For Gods sake get a life!" If you are bullied in your life? Do something about it; do not perpetuate bullying by bullying others.

 

I feel the way some if not all forums are being infiltrated by these bullies and they are on a downward spiral. That will be a shame as they can potentially be a great place to visit. Friendly, welcoming and where knowledge is passed free of charge purely to help a fellow hunter.

 

Rant over.

 

TC

[just jack 998]

nice read there mate , i've learnt quite a bit on here and also met a few decent people, as for the others , don't let it get to you pal atb, jack

[John Keswick 119]

Your sentiments about this issue are not just felt by yourself, but by many that have been around the internet block for a while.

I can remember when this forum was new, brand new in fact and since then lots of good info has been passed on, unfortunately over the last couple of years the dimwits (they are the clever ones) and the down right fecking stupid have found their way here, I am sorry to say that it has been a downward spiral since then!

Lack of quality of info (due to those that have it, just reluctant to say it) and just ignorant scribbling’s from retards that have nothing better to do, but post shite on here.

 

Sad although it is, it’s inevitable when a site gets this big.

 

If someone can be bothered to post a topic or a reply surely they should take the time to at least put a spell check on it, so that those used to reading normal ENGLISH don’t have to decipher the code?

[Guest lurchers&terriers]

good points there mate. iv learned not to take them to seriously. there's hundreds of thousands or more that hunt but don't use forums. some hate them and don't see the point and a lot iv found have never even heard of them. these forums are only used by a very small minority. there are far bigger things to worry about than the world of the online hunting forum. i like them i get a lot of use out of them but some people get lost in them and seem to take them very seriously. sometimes people need to stop , think and put things in to perspective.

[IanB 0]

You will find the people who think they know everything, basically don't, there heads too far up their own arses...Just ignore them, theres nothing more you can do, you will never change there mind or opinion... As for idiots, the worlds full of them, take a look at youtube the videos and the comments, the pathetic spelling, the venomous shite that gets spouted by the imbeciles on the net... The hunting game is full of, mines bigger and better, etc like everything else... What do you do about it ?????

[alimac 882]

before the day of forums etc, a new comer had to go out and learn his trade by there own mistakes, wether its was ferrets. fishing, dogs, etc etc, and imo there is no way better than this to learn, yes they may pick up some theorie on the forums, alot of which will be not so good..

[droid 11]

The problems start when someone feels threatened. Usually by being told that something they are doing is not right/ethcal/humane. Then the discussion turns personal.

 

There's also a type that thinks that moderate expertise in one field (no pun intended) makes them experts in all fields.

 

But I reckon the main problem is that some people regard anyone that argues with them as a mortal enemy. For example, I've had arguments with tiercel in the past, but that doesn't mean that I have to comment on everything he posts and try to pick holes in it. Or dislike him as a person.

 

And poor English isn't the problem, lazy English is.