The Spearboard monopoly

    Quote from Apnea addict

    Ha! Too funny because this was me to the T. I've been on Spearboard for years. Can't honestly say I knew this site existed. I've over to spearfishing planet, but it didn't really do much for me. In a recent thread a link to this site was posted. Speardiver was of course ****ed out. I suggested to the readers that they replace **** with "spear" and "diver" in order to see the link. So Tony sent me a nasty PM suggesting that "disciplinary action" has been taken against members for less and that I have been a valuable contributor to the forum and he would hate to have to make that no longer the case. I respectfully told him to go f*ck himself and promptly made an account here. I have been a long time and positive (IMO) contributor to that thread and he threatens me just because I explained to people how to view the link? What a ridiculous lack of respect for his board's members. I'm not leaving spearboard, but I certainly have lost respect for Tony. What a load.


    You are one of the best posters over there for sure IMO.

    BOBBERRYFISHCARVINGS.COM

    Quote from ladvr

    The way SB has turned Bill into spearfishing's "tool of the century" is sad. Borderline elder abuse...


    To Bill's credit, he is one of the most helpful posters there. He honestly puts a lot of time and thought into giving good information on guns, hunting technique, or whatever. When I was thinking of replacing my Wong handle he sent about 5 pms with photos of how he did his. Very good info.
    He's welcome on my boat anytime.

    This "drama" is not old, it's ongoing and damaging, having repercussions in the real world, and spearfishermen need to be made aware. I too have met people through spearboard, but no thanks is due to the grogan. As mentioned before he didn't create spearboard, and under his ownership spearboard became a reflection of the grogan's personality. If through all the BS you manage to get your voice heard on SB, and connect with people of like mind, it's in spite of Spearboard not because of it. That is actually the main point of this thread which I'm trying to get across. Spearboard is huge and it inevitably attracts a lot people, drawing them away from other forums and/or preventing other forums from being created in the first place. Once there members are conditioned to accept the BS as being part of the forum experience. Spearboard wears people down and before you know it your negative online personality is formed. You continue to have a negative experience but keep coming back because you think this is how it is, not knowing there are other options. That is the spearboard monopoly.


    BTW this is how you can easily post or pm a censored link on spearboard http://spearfishing.world/spea…orum-link-censorship.html

    Quote from hank

    To Bill's credit, he is one of the most helpful posters there. He honestly puts a lot of time and thought into giving good information on guns, hunting technique, or whatever. When I was thinking of replacing my Wong handle he sent about 5 pms with photos of how he did his. Very good info.
    He's welcome on my boat anytime.


    I agree he has a lot of info to share. I am sure he is a great guy just all the negative attacks stick in my head.

    BOBBERRYFISHCARVINGS.COM

    I just wish I could remove my content from SB if I'm not able to to send/receive PM, see images, or have a avatar. I have no personal issues with Bill Mac and he is very civil when I have spoke to him on the phone a few times months ago.


    I chose to look forward over the bow so I can steer the boat. Any wave behind me is in my wake...I can't change one second of the past.... That said, I plan on quality contributions in the months ahead.


    Cheers, Don

    "Great mother ocean brought forth all life, it is my eternal home'' Don Berry from Blue Water Hunters.


    Spearfishing Store the freediving and spearfishing equipment specialists.

    Quote from Don Paul

    I just wish I could remove my content from SB if I'm not able to to send/receive PM, see images, or have a avatar. I have no personal issues with Bill Mac and he is very civil when I have spoke to him on the phone a few times months ago.


    I chose to look forward over the bow so I can steer the boat. Any wave behind me is in my wake...I can't change one second of the past.... That said, I plan on quality contributions in the months ahead.


    Cheers, Don


    Well said

    Quote from Dan

    This "drama" is not old, it's ongoing and damaging, having repercussions in the real world, and spearfishermen need to be made aware. I too have met people through spearboard, but no thanks is due to the grogan. As mentioned before he didn't create spearboard, and under his ownership spearboard became a reflection of the grogan's personality. If through all the BS you manage to get your voice heard on SB, and connect with people of like mind, it's in spite of Spearboard not because of it. That is actually the main point of this thread which I'm trying to get across. Spearboard is huge and it inevitably attracts a lot people, drawing them away from other forums and/or preventing other forums from being created in the first place. Once there members are conditioned to accept the BS as being part of the forum experience. Spearboard wears people down and before you know it your negative online personality is formed. You continue to have a negative experience but keep coming back because you think this is how it is, not knowing there are other options. That is the spearboard monopoly.


    BTW this is how you can easily post or pm a censored link on spearboard http://spearfishing.world/memb…orum-link-censorship.html


    Good observations...

    I bailed out of sb because of the drama and b.s. that was going on there. I hope to not have it happen here as well :(. Everyone is entitled to an opinion and this is mine:


    One of the many problems with sb is the lack of regulation and courtesy. Here's a classic example, fairly recently I tried to help out a noob that pmed me, so I gave him some info on a spot. He did well and then after that started posting more and more info on specific spots, so I pmed him to keep posting reports but be more general. He started to be a little bitch about it and whine about how I'm the only one that complains about that. We got into it and I simply explained that no one needs to know the specifics unless they are your close friends, broadcasting it only brings a shitstorm of divers to the area and the more traffic the worse that area becomes. If you don't think seeing a bunch of noob divers getting out of their cars, trampling lawns, being loud as they manly carry their loaded spearguns out of the water etc is damaging you only have to look at the rash of permit parking only signs, no parking signs etc in pv. After that last argument I pretty much had it, sb is burning the good divers with the noobs who can't even take the time to use the search function let alone be civil to other divers.


    You can spear whatever you want, as long as it's legal IDGAF what you are doing. Sure I'm a marine biologist but it doesnt mean i don't like to kill fish, anyone who knows me knows I like killing and eating fish. Keep in mind there are a shitload of other people reading all of the spearing forums and yes they are not in your interest. It's better to keep a low profile about what you are doing and remember some things are more sensitive than others. No you shouldn't be ashamed of what you killed, but parading around with it in the parking lots and rubbing peoples faces in it is just going to make us look bad. Shooting shorts and asking what size is legal or shooting fish and asking, "what kind of fish is this?" is not just stupid, its damaging.


    Everyone has their own opinions on what should be able to be shot and what shouldn't. If someone doesn't agree with you then that's okay, there's no need to be an asshole about it. 99% of things said online wouldn't be said if you were right in front of the guy you were talking to, it's easy to be tough when you are behind a keyboard.


    We are looked at to be a zero bycatch, low environmental impact sport. If you are tearing off fish, shooting shorts, posting overlimit pix etc how the ~`~`~`~` is that low impact? Do you not realize this will have a negative effect on any lawmaker/enviro who gets forwarded your post?


    Bill Mac is an asset. Yes he can be hot headed, but he's helped out more noobs (including myself) and put more people on fish than anyone I know. He has a temper, but remember this guy is old school. He was busy fighting for the country when most of us weren't even born. This is not an excuse, it's a fact. I've known him for years and had disagreements with him but we have mutual respect for each other and yes I consider him a good friend just as I consider you guys on this board friends.


    As for the not named moderator, Nate Baker is a solid guy. The whole b.s. about him being a enviro spy is complete bullshit. He voiced his own opinion about laguna and trust me, his one letter didn't close the mpa there that closure was done in closed meetings a long time ago. Aren't you entitled to your own opinion? He wasn't trying to censor anyone on sb, he was trying to clean shit up. By taunting him or any of the other guys on sb was just stupid, people were probably trying to get banned or trying to be a hero or prove some "I'll show you" point. When I left, I didn't make a big deal about it. I just simply stopped posting and put a contact email. If you think you are that big a deal that everyone needs to follow you and plead for your return then brother you need to check yourself because in a few months no one is going to give a shit where you are or even remember what you posted.


    Me? I ~`~`~`~`ing left that board and the only thing I'll be doing is posting when I need something, or buy/sell something. SB is done, until it gets cleaned up it will cause more damage to spearos and the spearo cause than anyone will ever know. It wasn't handled correctly because the owner needs a lot of traffic and numbers for sales. It's not rocket science.


    Stop fighting about shit, be an adult and send a pm to the person you disagree with. You'll find out 9/10 that it was a misunderstanding, and if they don't agree with you let it go. It's just their OPINION.


    And if it's that big a deal to you that you need to prove something, show up at their door and be a man about it. Don't badmouth them behind closed doors.


    I know a lot of you don't agree with me and that's okay. It's just my opinion vs. your opinion. My opinion on mpas? It was complete bullshit that they closed down the most heavily foot traffic/boating areas, they did that shit on purpose. I believe in slot limits and heavy duty fines for poachers, not complete closures.If you want to talk to me in person about something then let me know, I'm more than happy to meet you half way and discuss it.

    Quote from chris oak

    One of the many problems with sb is the lack of regulation and courtesy. Here's a classic example, fairly recently I tried to help out a noob that pmed me, so I gave him some info on a spot. He did well and then after that started posting more and more info on specific spots, so I pmed him to keep posting reports but be more general. He started to be a little bitch about it and whine about how I'm the only one that complains about that. We got into it and I simply explained that no one needs to know the specifics unless they are your close friends, broadcasting it only brings a shitstorm of divers to the area and the more traffic the worse that area becomes. If you don't think seeing a bunch of noob divers getting out of their cars, trampling lawns, being loud as they manly carry their loaded spearguns out of the water etc is damaging you only have to look at the rash of permit parking only signs, no parking signs etc in pv. After that last argument I pretty much had it, sb is burning the good divers with the noobs who can't even take the time to use the search function let alone be civil to other divers.

    Quote from chris oak

    Me? I ~`~`~`~`ing left that board and the only thing I'll be doing is posting when I need something, or buy/sell something. SB is done, until it gets cleaned up it will cause more damage to spearos and the spearo cause than anyone will ever know. It wasn't handled correctly because the owner needs a lot of traffic and numbers for sales. It's not rocket science.

    I quoted this because it's most pertinent to what I was trying to say with this thread, and I agree with you. Thanks for your input Chris.


    The problem with Bill Mac is that he's overbearing/dominating with his views, and when he's not winning the argument he makes it personal. I can handle him so it wouldn't be a big deal. But when he's losing an argument (which he inserted himself into or started in the first place) he starts appealing to the masses to back him up and eventually moderators and forum management. When things don't go his way I've seen him play the final "I'm a poor old man" and "If he talks to me that way I'm leaving the forum" cards, pretty lame.

    Courtesy and respect are critical. Especially on an online environment where people don't know you and tone is tough to read sometimes. I agree with chris about many things in his post. I am glad to see this forum implement policies to improve such things. Mandatory first posts are nice and the policy about not posting specific dive spots is great. I think these go a long way towards having a fresh start. I look at this forum as a fresh start.


    For those not necessarily involved in the latest SB drama, it is easy to miss what it was all about. Yes, it was about Bill Mac and Nate Baker but that was all old. What kept it going was the lack of clear rules and consistent enforcement of policies on SB. What started everything was an attack by Bill which was responded to by a thread linking to other Bill Mac posts. There was nothing negative said by the poster about Bill. It was a link to other posts Bill had put on SB. bill responded by personally attacking a whole bunch of people and calling his buddies in SB management. Despite the personal attacks by Bill and the extremely negative nature of his comments, he faced no punishment but the OP did.


    The Bill Mac thing was funny but what got everybody riled up for many days was the fact that there was no equal punishment. To put one person on a timeout but not the other who made even worse attacks is not consistent and equal enforcement of the rules. This brought accusations of favoritism by Nate and Tony which were pretty clear for all to see. Then there was censoring with no explanation and a whole bunch of other things to fan the flames. After thie first thread, it stopped being about Bill Mac and started being all about mismanagement of the forum which was blatant for all to see.


    SB will continue to fail unless it is managed properly and fairly. I think we are all in agreement about that.

    This can basically sum up my situation.


    If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.


    I had no other cheeks to turn to Bill Mac. The mods would do nothing against them. Actually JFJF laughed and posted that I complained about Bill Mac on the open forum. After countless jabs I decided to stick it to him. I even got a phone call from Tony saying he wants us back hahahahahhahahahahhahahhaha

    BOBBERRYFISHCARVINGS.COM

    Quote from toptuna


    I even got a phone call from Tony saying he wants us back hahahahahhahahahahhahahhaha


    I never even received a PM that I couldn't wear or use the gear of my choice, nor tell a diver in PM if asked.:rolleyes1:


    SB reminded me of grade school when your first friend found out you had other friends but wanted you just in their circle.


    Dan, myself and the other members can only try to make this forum a cool place to sit down with your friends and forget about the BS of the workday or other daily burdens. This place is not a cage, just an atoll with a narrow pass and calm waters when the wind blows.


    Cheers, Don

    "Great mother ocean brought forth all life, it is my eternal home'' Don Berry from Blue Water Hunters.


    Spearfishing Store the freediving and spearfishing equipment specialists.

    Quote from toptuna

    Thanks Don you and there sure do make it a welcoming place.


    Thanks....Peace brothers:D


    Cheers. Don

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