Taking Stock – Please Read

[Julian Grattidge]

In view of a few recent events on NWC, I feel it’s time to put pen to paper, or to be more precise, fingers to keyboard, in the hope of clearing the air, adding weight to some of our site values, and hopefully moving things forward for the coming year.

2007 was a phenomenal year for NWC, and as 2008 approached we had nearly 1000 members on the boards, and the website as a whole was receiving over 1000 visitors each day - and with each day that passes, these figures continue to rise. I often wonder why the site gets so busy at times, and on reflection, I think much is to do with our continued aim of trying to provide a clean and friendly website that offers up-to-date information on all aspects of northwest carping to the user; irrespective of time served or experience gained.

Of course success has to be managed, and without the immense amount of help and support the boards have received from the moderators and administrators over the years, there’s no way the site would be in the shape it is – and it’s well worth pointing out that this invaluable support is offered voluntarily. Likewise, there are a large number of regular members who continue to offer help and support to existing and new members who post in the forums, and again, without them, the site would not be the success it is today.

How do we rate? Well, it’s a tough one to answer really. If we went on visitor numbers alone, then I’d say pretty well. If we went on the amount of new visitors each month, then again, I’d say pretty well. But are we the best website out there? Probably not. Do we get it right every time? No. And is this the right website for everyone. Definitely not!

The key is balance. Every day I get emails, PM’s, phone calls and even the odd letter about the site. Some love it exactly as it is, some think we are over zealous in our moderation, some think we are not strict enough - So how do you get it right?

Before NWC, I gained a great deal of experience working for Elton on AnglersNet, where they have over 13,000 forum members! What I quickly learned is that you can please some of the people some of the time, but you’ll never please all of the people all of the time. An overused cliché perhaps… but it’s bloody true!

As such, I knew it was down to me to structure the ethos for NWC right at the beginning, and then to filter this out through rules and posting guidelines. I know I always bang on about wanting to make the site accessible for all ages, but I have to say, this was one thing I was adamant about right from the start. Many years ago I remember talking to a friend who said his wife had banned his young lads from fishing websites because of the language used on the forums, not to mention references made to any number of illicit activities whilst apparently in the act of ‘fishing’. At the time his kids were aged around seven and nine, and I remember thinking what a shame it was, as they were both mad keen on the sport and were missing out on some of the positive content the internet can have to offer.

As I spoke to more parents on the bank I realised this was a common problem. You only have to look at some of the forums out there to see what I’m talking about in full effect! Now don’t get me wrong, I’m no prude, and I’m well known for outbursts never penned in the Concise OED, but only when in the company of like minded adults. I guess it comes down to morals and values – and I make no apology for having some.

I fully appreciate that some think we go over the top. In many instances I’m sure we do. Yet I’d rather NWC be known as a website that enforces a code of practice, than a site that simply does not give a toss – and let’s face it – there are plenty of those out there! We all bemoan the breakdown in modern society, and call me old fashioned, but I believe if things are ever going to get any better, then we all have a part to play – no matter how small - and this stance on site content is my miniscule stab at trying to make the world a better place for those more impressionable than ourselves!

Over recent months there has been a marked increase in comments about our stance on language and content. I fully appreciate that to some it may be over the top, and perhaps it is, but either way, this policy will remain steadfastly in place. In a post only the other day there was a comment about us being over the top, and that to the posters knowledge, not many kids came on the site. I can confirm that youngsters are on the site every day – just because they are not posting doesn’t mean they are not there. You have to remember that many parents have controls in place as they don’t want their kids joining chatrooms and forums – and I don’t blame them! But we get loads browsing the site each day, as a regular stream of emails from both youngsters and parents proves testament to. Don’t forget, the forum is only *part* of NWC – not the whole,

I regularly get emails off parents saying what a pleasant change it makes to find a ‘clean’ forum, and that they are happy to let their kids browse NWC at their leisure – and on a personal note, every such letter makes up for all the posts complaining we are like the Gestapo!

To be honest, since becoming a father almost two years ago, I’m now more committed than ever in publishing a site which really is accessible to anglers of any age. Whether you are a parent yourself or not, you may still think it’s a pointless exercise, and fine, that’s your opinion and you are fully entitled to it – but I don’t, and as the site plays by the rules I put in place, they will remain for the foreseeable future.

Of late there has also been a number of instances where we have been accused of spoiling the fun, by this I mean editing, closing, or pulling threads that some members feel could have been left – of which the weekends Pendle thread is prime example. Sometimes it’s difficult to know when to (or indeed when not to) intervene. Some times we get it right, sometimes we don’t. Sometimes, as in this instance, even the mods don’t see eye to eye – so again, it’s about trying to find a balance.

When I switched the PC on after the weekend’s antics, peoples views on what had happened, and subsequent actions taken differed immensely. Though I have to say, I had just under thirty pm’s on the subject, and the vast majority applauded the fact we pulled it. I was not online as the thread unfolded in real time, and only got the chance to finally read it in full yesterday morning. To be honest, having done so, I have to say that overall, I don’t think it shows the site in a good light. However, contrary to what many might assume, it was not ollie’s posts I had a problem with. As usual, these were penned in an intelligent and humorous manner, and most had me in stitches, as let’s be fair, the lad gave as good as he got and probably selected the worst possible person in the world to pick a fight with!

However, whereas ollie’s posts were well written and contained no small amount of tongue in cheek humour, some of the subsequent posts made by others resembled a bit of a free-for-all, with many jumping over themselves to get involved and stick the knife in, whether the guy asked for it or not. Many of these were penned without much thought, and with little regard for either the forum guidelines or the member on the receiving end. Had the bulk of the posts been between Ollie and the lad in question, then I would probably have let it carry on, for a while at least. But having read the whole thing from start to finish in the cold light of day, I fully stand by the decision to pull it. There may have been an argument for editing out the posts which went over the top, but to be honest, sometimes it’s just easier to pull the whole thing, and believe it or not, some of us have a life away from this forum and so don’t want to be tied to it hour after hour removing posts that should never have been made in the first place!

If people are running around looking for somebody to blame, then many need look no further than themselves. The irony is that on an almost identical thread a few weeks ago with carpking, the mod team (myself included) were accused of letting things drag for too long when in some peoples eyes the thread should have been pulled long before, yet here on the Pendle thread, two people who had criticised me by pm about the fact I did not pull it, were all over the Pendle thread like a rash!! You know who you are!!

I appreciate feelings are running high, but for god’s sake, it’s just a forum on a website! I’m glad NWC means a lot to some of you, it means a lot to me too, but it’s all too easy to take things personally – we pulled a thread. It’s not the first and it certainly won’t be the last. When threads are pulled it’s not because we are purposefully looking to bruise egos, it’s simply that on balance it was felt it didn’t fit within the posting guidelines.

Moderators take a lot of stick; some justified, most not. Yet, irrespective of this they continue to devote their time to the forum, and for that, site owners like myself are truly indebted. I can live with lively debate, constructive criticism, and even digs at the way we might do things, but when it gets personal, either on this board or others, then I shall not hesitate in taking action where I think it’s needed, and our actions on a few accounts earlier in the week prove testament to this. Sometimes people think they have the right to say whatever they like, whenever they like. Perhaps they do - but be under no illusion that there may also be consequences!

We seem to have similar problems each year throughout the colder months. Too many people are kicking around indoors with nothing to do as they are not out fishing - and most that are aren’t catching. You only have to look to the catch reports section for proof – there’s only about a dozen threads with replies made this year! Other people I speak to who run carp forums say exactly the same thing at this time of year ‘Silly season’, so it’s not just us. Come the summer, we’ll all be out again; catching some kippers and enjoying life to the full, and everybody on the board will no doubt rub along that bit better.

It’s a real shame, but it seems you can’t start a thread at the moment without somebody biting your head off in the first few posts, or sending it so far off topic that it has little chance of recovery, or worse still, some just feel the need to add witty (and I use the term loosely) or sarcastic remarks. At the end of the day, this is supposed to be a fishing forum – to talk about fishing. I’m all for a bit of banter along the way, I always have been, but of late, a great deal of content posted by some appears to be added out of nothing more than boredom, and it adds absolutely nothing to the quality of the site – which can never be a good thing.

I spoke to a close friend on the phone yesterday. He said he’d been on the site the day before to have a look at a few threads, and of the five or so he looked at, three went off-topic in about four posts, and in one of the other two, the person asking a question had been shot down in flames in an instant for no apparent reason. He did not bother looking at any more, and for me, that tells its own story.

I’ve been getting quite a few pm’s from members saying much the same thing over recent months, but as always I try to take an balanced and impartial view - Some people only want to laugh and joke, others just want quality content – so where do we draw the line?

I’m happy to let the banter continue, it was always my view that it should be a light-hearted website, but what I am looking to do for the foreseeable future, is bring a bit of structure back to the boards, so where threads go off topic - we’ll address it, where threads aren’t really contributing to the overall value of the site – we’ll address it, and where threads get clogged up with ‘nothing’ posts, we’ll address it. Of late it seems there are a few who have a habit of following each other around the boards, each trying to add a witty quip, and then moving onto the next thread to do exactly the same thing, but not before patting the last person on the back for much the same content added. As I say, I’m all for banter, but the complaints from forum regulars about this sort of thing are building to fever pitch – so it’s not just me that’s getting despondent about it.

If all some people ant to do is have a laugh and a joke, then fine, but please keep it in the random chat thread or others within non-fishing section which are left up there for exactly that purpose. At the moment it seems each section is getting clogged up with junk posts.

Some will see it as another case of heavy handed moderation, others I’m sure will breathe a sigh of relief that we’re finally going to tackle the problem. Which ever side of the fence you come down on, all’s I’m saying is that it is our intention to bring some uncluttered, quality *fishing related* posts back to the boards.

I penned most of the above last night and had covered most of what I wanted to say, but just before I called it a day I got the following email via the main site, which to be honest, made me more resolute than ever to try and bring about some change on the boards;

Hi im looking for a carp lake to fish hopefuly to catch bigger than my 16LB. Im 16 but can get lifts with my friend to most places from mum or dads. Iam not great but getting better from reading lots on the site and hope you can help. my writings not v good so dont want to ask the forum.

Thank you

darren


His writing might not be the best, but it’s better than some we see from people twice his age, and although brief, to me it shows humility well beyond his years, and to be honest, it really saddened me that he felt unable to post up a request on the boards.

On discussing the current climate, a valued contributor to NWC today commented that in his opinion, “a move into better times will need to be lead rather than awaited and the generation of plenty of new/relevant topics (kept online) by the mods is essential even if it has to be somewhat contrived ...”

I really couldn’t have put it any better myself, and as such, there is going to be change.

I will shortly be adding some new sections, and I hope through carrying out a little more tidying up, we can evolve ever onwards and create an atmosphere where any angler, irrespective of age or experience, feels they are able to join in the community.

If you’ve stuck with me this far, and by that I mean the thread (though it goes for the forum as well), then I thank you for your time. When I think back to when there were only half a dozen of us on the forum, it amazes me how far we’ve come, but what I’m continually learning is that the boards are in a constant state of flux, and it’s all too easy to take your eye of the ball!

In view of some recent events, I’d also like to take this opportunity to put on record my thanks to Boyd (braidman) for his invaluable help and contributions to the site over recent years. A top bloke on the forum and on the bank. Boyd has decided to step down as a moderator from NWC, and I’m sure many would echo my sentiments - tight lines mate.

On a final note, I’d just like to say that I am approachable. If ever you have an opinion about the boards or the site as a whole which you’d like to share with me, then please do get in touch. I receive about 600 emails a day, and whilst much is spam, I do endeavour to reply to every one that’s fishing related, so whilst this post is closed as it’s more of a notice of intention, please do pm or email me if you have an opinion – I don’t bite.

If you don’t agree with the things we do or say, that’s fine – as I’ve already said it’s up to the individual to decide if the site is good or bad. We’re not to everyone’s tastes and people will vote with their feet. However, if you do like what we do, and do wish to contribute, then we are extremely happy to have you on board… but please, don’t take it too seriously!

To try and put things into perspective, I spent most of yesterday afternoon sorting a webpage for the guys running next month’s 'Bromborough Carp Do' in aid of McMillan Cancer Support. After reading some of the material it contained, it certainly made me think about what’s really important in life – and believe me, it’s not this forum!

Thanks for the continued support.

With respect…

Julian