Walleye Expo Booze = Not Family Enviroment (long post)

[Nodak7mm (Rod V)]

Let me start off by saying "I am not on soapbox", nor do I have anything against drinking. Lets just say there is a time and a place for everything and that maybe some people at the expo had really bad timing.

Brought my family to the expo yesterday, wife & 2 daughters (6 & 8 yrs old) The kids profess they had a good time, Sam the 6 yr old put several older boys to shame with the kids casting clinic. The wife was enjoying herself as we went looking at boats and we agree on getting the same boat (1700 Fisherman).

About 3:00 we were upstairs flowing with the crowd, the girls wanted to tie a jig. But the good "family time" suddenly stopped as the wife had beer spilled on her and we all got to listen to "trash talk" as one enlightened individual began to cuss out his buddy for spilling his beer. Not even a feeble attempt of an apology as they moved fast out of my range as they noted their mistake and that I was extremely ticked off. Okay, one isolated incident, let it go the wife said..

Reached the jig/rig tieing table, busy place. I promised the kids they could tie one. Sat down at the rig table as all attention was on the jigs being tied. Pretty soon we were joined by 4 guys, all elightened & strengthed by the barley pop they were carrrying with them. As they crowded around my girls and me, I thought that with the kids around they might act accordingly. Boy was I wrong, after one started slopping beer and rather loudly professing his displeasure with his buddies using the "F" word every other word. It was time to go.

Typically after a good time is had, the ride home is enjoyed by all discussing the hi-lites of the trip, not mine.

I had a 6 year old crying cause Dad broke his promise to let her tie her own lure at the show.

The 8 yr old was close to tears also, but more so wondering as "Why those guys were talking like that" and "why were they drinking"
Well lets just say, the wife was not pleased.

Okay, what will be remembered about this family outing?
Is it the discussion at the W/Central booth?
Was it the guys at the 3 or 4 booths that specifically took the time to talk with the girls and give them a trinket?
Is it that the wife and I agreed on a boat?
I am afraid not?

Today I am very disapointed I took my family to that show. I guess my thoughts that the beer don't come out till it's time to sit around the campfire at the end of the day isn't shared by all.

Rod Vigstol

[WAeyes]

I recently went to a sportsmans expo. and they kept the beer drinkers in one tent and were not allowed out with any alcohol, just makes sense to me. Too many kids and non-drinkers to allow that to go on. Sorry to hear about your experience, maybe you should contact someone in charge of the show.

[cisco]

This type of thing should definitely be reported. Alcohol is legal, public drunkeness is not. I'm amazed that a few critics of the Chicago Muskie show complained about "no beer" -- the show was housed at a suburban junior college with a no beer policy.

It's sad testimony when events cannot be held unless mind altering chemicals are served. Too much of both fishing and hunting is associated with alcohol.

[Hans]

My guess is these guys woulda been the same style @$$holes if they have been drinking chocolate milk and spilled it.

Hans

[Chief No Beer]

With some of your recent posts involving alcohol, you are probably the last person here that should be responding to this. I disagree that these beligerent guys would have acted the same way if they spilled chocolate milk rather than beer. You sound like an alcoholic trying to justify yourself. Anyone with any sense of reality can see where your response is coming from.

[eyesguy]

As another one who attended this event, I will echo the posters remarks. My 11 year old son was in awe of the whole experience and couldn't understand my unwillingness to allow him to participate in some of the activities. Already at noon there were some "problems". This was not just beer...full service bar ...
i've said enuf..

eyesguy

[mnjimcarp]

rod,
you were not alone. i was working a rod manufacturers booth and i was truly amazed at how the beers and drinks just kept streaming through the walleye expo. quite frankly, i was busy talking to people for two days and I could not keep from wondering why the heck did they allow people to buy drinks and wander through the event.
i definitely thought that the event was a huge success. many people that attended the event were representative of the kind of class individuals that we have come to expect in the fishing world.
once again, the small minority of the population made a huge impression. i would assume that these are the same classless people that raise heck in public campgrounds all night and have little or no regard for their neighbors.
it really is important for all of us to voice our displeasure with regard to this topic. Excessive drinking and fishing don't go together. AS for the guys using the "F" word in public at a family event, they need a good dose of reality! (figure it out)

[Hans]

> With some of your recent posts
> involving alcohol, you are probably
> the last person here that
> should be responding to this.

Dear Chief No Beer,

My post was not intended to justify these guys' behavior, or
to promote liquor at sports shows, but simply to suggest that
jerks are always jerks, whether they have a snootfull of beer
or not. (As you have just proven with your anonymous attempt
at censorship.)

As far as "recent posts involving alcohol", you must be reading
someone elses messages.

Hans

[Spinner]

Sorry to hear about your experience!

Next year go Friday afternoon/evening. I brought my 6 year old son out there again this year and he had a blast. Nobody boozing it up, nobody dropping the "F" Bomb, etc.

You can also walk up to any booth and talk to these people. No waiting, no crowds, plus these guys are fresh and ready to talk.

Give it a try next year. You won't be disappointed.

[eyewinder]

Why do they sell from a full-service bar? It's all about the money. . .And really, as adults we should be able to drink a beer without ruining the day for someone else.

[Al]

This is a bit off topic, but a bit on too. I've noticed in resturants several times, the behavior of high school aged kids out with friends. I remember one specific instance, which only my wife was along, some kids started F-this, F that...While waiting to be seated. A young family was there with young kids and the look of horor on the parents faces was erie. One older gentleman piped up to them and asked them if they were learning that type of English in the local school? The HS kids quickly shut up. It was the classiest put down and effective move I've ever seen.

As my pop used to say "some people just have had no upbringing".

[AquaMan]

That is truely a shame. Sorry to hear that happened.

I am especially surprised since I was there Friday and they would not let me buy more then one beer at a time. Before you say anything, lemme explain. I was there with a buddy and he ran to the restroom while I was in line. I could not buy 2 beers until he returned to pick it up the other one. One per person. Even then we watched another guy being questioned because it apeared that he had had one too many. It did not appear to me to be that way, but he showed a lot more color as the questioning went on. In the end they refused to serve him, much to his diapointment and he left with a few choice words.

I think I would have pointed those guys out to security and had them removed. There are far more that dislike a drunk then like them.

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~

--- "It all begins and ends at the water's edge"

[Chief No Beer]

Oh come on now Hans, if my memory serves me right, and I'm sure it does, I remember 1 post in particuar around Xmas where you stated something about being drunk by 9:00AM or something of that nature. You aren't going to make me do a search for it are you? I'm sure there were a few others about your need for the sauce. Here's to you old boy, chocolate milk for everybody. If you are a jerk without alcohol, you become a bigger jerk with it, right?

[Nodak7mm]

I have to say that I am very pleased by the similar opinions voiced. It goes to show that it's apparent that "it only takes a few rotten minnows stink up the boat".

I appreciate the comments. It reflects the high caliber of people and true sportsmens ethics that are present on this board

On a good note the wife is really bugging me to buy that 1700 fisherman. (It's killing me, but not this year)

Your all welcome at my fire!

Rod V.

[TBO/MN]

Hans that was uncalled for and down right nasty. I think you should be banned from this site for that move. Seems the longer I read your post the more I dislike the way you handle things. If Scott reads this, I hope he shuts you down for good.

TBO/MN

[Hans]

TBO

Anonymous "Chief No Beer" has been dogging me with public character assassination posts for two days, so I referred him to an offsite web page. I didn't see you chastising him for his public anonymous insults, so why are you so quick to chastise me for a non-public scolding?

Hans

[AquaMan]

That is pretty ****ty, Hans. You have clearly demonstrated your inability to conduct clean and thoughtful conversation. I have typically given you the latitude that everyone is entitled to on this board when you have belittled my input. Although you are entitled to your opinion and this board makes no claimes to beliefs, support, regulations, etc, I feel that you have crossed the unspoken line here and it is, therefore, with deep regreat, that I feel you should be restricted from posting until such time you can conduct yourself in a responsible and appropriate fashion.

Better yet, go fishing and calm down!

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~

--- "It all begins and ends at the water's edge"

[Capt. Morgan]

good reply to chief no balls! I'll drink to that. I remember the post about drinking it was posted in jest, not a pro-alcohol statement. Maybe come spring senses of humor will thaw out, till then some folks should try getting their underwear 1 size larger cause it seams they might be a little tight!

As to Nodak and his family, I'm sorry you folks had to go through that, I see behavior like that everywear and not just alcohol related events. Movies, grocery store, school and especially on the road. This is our screw your neighbor society at it's worst. shameful, but it's gonna do nothing but get worse.

[TBO/MN]

That response to "any" post was inappropiate, and you know it. Don't get into "he started it first" mode, that doesn't even work with my 4th graders. You put a link into this public forum that was accessable to everyone that clicked on it, that includes 9 year old kids, that makes it public, as this board is public.

You went over the line, in my mind.

TBO/MN

[GullGuide]

THATS EXACTLY what set me off on my post about 2 lines in MN!
Why do you have to be such a child about things on this site Mr. Hans? Think of how many little kids saw that display of your obvious superior intellect!

[rdog]

He did it to me so it alright to do it to him. Two wrongs don't make a right.

I thought it was very distastefull and wonder how many un-involved people went to that web site to "enjoy" that.

Speaks a lot of your character.

I agree you should be banned.

[Teacher]

HANS you are suspended from school for one week. No computer and bring back 1000 lines of.......I will never make any obscene remarks or actions when I post on Walleye Central. Now Git!!!

[Chief No Beer]

Well...I guess you have pretty much proved your mentality Hans. The truth must really hurt to resort to such an extreme. Character assasination? No, just the truth. Take your foul mouth down the road, your as bad as Jeff Reed.

[Golden]

Geez, a guy makes a post offering an opinion, it gets turned into an argument.

I have to delete a post from Hans that leads to a very questionable page (that was the reason I blocked URL's last time, do I have to do that again?)

I know who Hans is, and I can block any and everyone from the message board if I have to but I always think people will behave themselves.

I'm going to keep this thread online and watch to see how it goes, but if people don't start watching their manners and snide remarks they'll find themselves without a Walleye message board to log into, I'll block them right out of it.

Get the message?

This isn't pointed at any one person, it's just good overall knowledge everyone should know.


Scott

[GC]

AMEN Scot!

[Kevin/CO]

As a High Schooler myself I must say that it was not right for those kids that you mentioned to be using that kind of language in public. I won't make myself out to be perfect and never swear but it still is in good taste to try to restrain yourself in public. But being a teenager I also know that that type of language is way to prolifick in the High School society, and until this passed Sunday I felt that atleast in mainstream society social appropriateness was still wide spread. As for foul language and the lack of social appropriateness I must say that it is a growing problem and is regrettably seemingly the worse in teh sportsmen's society. As to the original post I to have noticed and been atleast slightly offended from similiar actions. It is with deep sentiments that young children have to experience these instances, but here's atleast sometihng that may seem more disturbing. I remember being around the age of the original posters children and being at school and having everybody at recess swear just to swear, exposureto these things is a fact.

Sorry if this seems as though its a social commentary but I felt that with teen agers being mentioned in one of the posts that the opinions of an actual teenager might help.

[cisco]

The larger question, which I sought to address, is why do so many believe that every function must be accompanied by alcohol? Would the Walleye Expo be any worse without a booze concession? To be around drunks, all I have to do is go to any of a number of nearby bars.

I'm reminded of a discussion at church in Wisconsin some years ago. There was argument over which public park to use for the annual picnic. Some did not want the one park because they had a no alcohol rule -- even for a church picnic there was concern whether alcohol could be consumed. And, this is true, the park that did permit alcohol WAS chosen.

Alcohol needs to be addressed. It contributes to disease and social dysfunction. Wis ranks only behind Nevada and Alaska in consumption. Minn is several notches down, but still too high. Boating, rec vehicle, and traffic deaths are one small part of the whole alcoholic subculture mess. And, this is not preaching, it is reporting fact.

[vetspet(ind)]

yep....my guess is that it has less to do with the booze than just who these guys are...i have excellent stream fishing very near my home and on the few times i've gone.... either once when i took my 6 and 8 yr daughters and every other word was "f" or "gd" etc...i could not believe it....so i packed up and left..on another trip i brought a chinese friend along and thought we were back in world war II as one guy was obviously prejudiced and literally was threatening to tangle with anyone who even got close to his rigs...on a third trip i got a hit on a lure and some huge guy came running thru the water up to me and began jerking his lure literally 2 ft from me...trying to snag fish...we left..." i made a statement that i'd be getting into a fight if we stayed"....on the way back this same fellow was running up and down the stream trying to net salmon...i went ballistic..no cussing...just told him off and reported him to the dnr...that did my stream fishing in nw ind...just take my boat out now and figure i can control what goes on in it...no smoking ...no drinking alcohol....other than that no problems..steve

[vetspet(ind)]

hey...we have common ground cisco...there is hope...good post

[Frank from TBay]

Hey Cisco, good post, I 100% agree with you.
Good fishing: Frank

[cisco]

surely you can recognize but another liberal plot?

[KØHB]

Who is Jeff Reed?

[Hans]

Scott,

Four things --

Thing #1 - I apologize to you and the other board users. I should not have caved in to the anonymous "Chief Beer Belly" and reacted to his personal attacks.

Thing #2 - Of course you can find me. I've been registered with my full name (unlike most here) since day-one of the new board format.

Thing #3 - Can you also find the anonymous unregistered una-bashers and delete their insults?

Thing #4 - Thanks for a great service to the walleye community.

Thing #5 - I apologize again.

Thing #6 - I can't count so good.

Hans
(hic!) :7

--
Anything worth doing, is worth doing for money.

[AquaMan]

Ditto, Hans. I did get carried away myself and for that I offer a truce and an apology. Maybe this spring we can share a tale or two around the fire while we sip on a soda or two ;-)

Man that ice has to be thawing soon.........

Be good or good at it, bud!

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~

--- "It all begins and ends at the water's edge"

[bob oh]

I think that the first thing you need to address is what underlines alcohol use at almost any event - profit. You need to convince the show promoters that they can make as much money without alcohol - can they. I am not disagreeing with any one, just stating what I think is the prime motivator of almost all action - profit.
Bob

[vetspet(ind)]

lighten up....i was complementing you....and that was a first... however...if you wish to debate...

[Backwater Eddy]

There is a time and place for everything, but if the organizers of such events believe the use of alcohole outweighs the need to promote a family atmosphere at these events they need to re-think the deal some?

Personally if I new ahead of time the event allowed free roaming alcohole consumption, I would not bring my family, we would go elsewhere.

Responsibility with the use of alcohole anywhere, anytime, is a lesson the industry should be actively promoting in order to insure a good experance for all on or off the water. The dysfunctional buy few, if any, new boats or toys.

Much like smoking in a public place, our behavior may effect others so we should be responsible for our own actions.

Yes, very existential an eclectic I know but it is that simple really.

BE...><ND>

{Patience is said to be a virtue, so lets all hurry up and find some!}

[Gilligan]

Scott.. hope the URL aspect stays available to us. It is very useful when we can offer a response with a link to pass along useful information if it isnt available here. It was a feature I was glad to have back would be nice if all would use as intended and not abuse it. I would rather see wrong users banned rather than give up useful options.

[cn]

Who knows what the agreement the Expo had with Canterbury Park? Maybe it is like a wedding reception-you have to have a cash bar in order to get the room for free. Maybe the alcohol sales keep the price affordable?

In any case, it is not so much the debate of alcohol or not, but more the ongoing debate of alcohol: responsible use or not.

I thought the Expo was a really good event and that it went well for the most part. As it is a family show, maybe it could be regulated a little better w/re: to alcohol.

Maybe Saturday can be "Family Day" with no alcohol served? What if no alcohol is served 2 hours before the show closes each day? Maybe the expo just has to regulate the alcohol sales/consumption a little more closely for those who do not seem to be able to regulate themselves better?

But in all fairness, this is not the first show that I have seen this happen at-I've seen it at all the shows I go to. That doesn't make it right, but it isn't the only show this is a problem. Back to the age old issue of responsible use or not.