What is Happening These Days?

I've been reading a number of article on the Internet lately. Some are very well written, informative, controversial, funny even. Some are none of these things but they are opinions made in a free country. (Well here in Canada and the US). As long as an article is written with the proper motivation and respect any subject can be discussed. Hate, racism and the like are not taboo if it is discussed openly with decency and respect. Most of the items to which I been reading fit this criteria but I have found a few that didn't. I just stopped reading them when they crossed the line with me. Some don't deserve a response. What really bothers me though is the hate filled personal attacks that people post to the authors that they don't agree with. Some of these posts are very threatening. I'm not opposed to criticism if the argument is valid, based on facts or even opposing opinion. The posts I've come across lately are disturbing. For example, it isn't OK to threaten an author of an article or call them hateful names because he doesn't feel fishing tournaments are good for the sport or the fisheries they are held on. The author of the article had valid scientific evidence, expert opinion and a well written piece that should be respected. (Now there is a difference here in regards to respect and agreement). Certain individuals feel that by threatening writers or intimidating them, they win the argument. Nobody says that we always must agree on things but give people their freedom to legitimately state their point of view. Goethe said, "There is nothing worse than aggressive stupidity."

As far back a Walton, anglers have prided themselves as being gentlemen and women. It was our love for our sport that gives us common ground. So if a 'rough, live bait angler' ever ran into a 'gentle flyfisher' in an English countryside pub, they would swap stories, maybe jibe one-another or even try to convince the other that their way is the best way to fish. No fights, no threats or name calling. Perhaps a few pints would be shared. Walton's time was no less violent than ours but I think that people were more responsible for their actions and behaviors. They didn't hide behind an anonymous posting on a blog or website. They were adult enough to face each-other and behave accordingly. The internet has weakened our abilities to be wise, confident and even witty. Eric Hoffer said, "Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength." We have become dumb brutes who bark obscenities and think we are incapable of being wrong.

On a positive note...We can change this. Perhaps if we could get out to a pub where other anglers may frequent. Maybe we could research more about a controversial subject, (not just from Wikopedia either), before spouting off. Perhap if we can stop and see the value of other people we can see the importance of their ideas. Finally, we could just shut our mouths sometimes, read about and ponder a subject, then, as the stoic philosophers did, record our thought in our own journals. By doing so we never offend and we can be confident in what we believe with dignity and courage.

(Read Marcus Aurelius) . Thanks for reading my latest rant. Please leave a nice response or don't leave anything at all. Jackfish