In Response to WC's Stance in the Industry

[Golden]

I posted this in the AIM Payout thread but I thought it might be something worth posting in it's own thread just to try to get more "eyes" on it.

When you read this, remember it's in response to the AIM Payout thread and it will make more sense, but the content applies to more than just that thread.

Scott Golden

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Sigh.....I usually try not to intervene or post my personal views because I believe the website belongs to the public and it's not a place for me to push my personal agenda.

But, at times I'm forced to comment and this seems one of those times.

I read through all the posts in this thread and I'm not seeing anything that I would consider bashing, derogatory or a personal vendetta.

I see some strong opinions, detailed questions, comments and I see some push and shove but all in all it seems a fair and balanced thread.

I know it has been trimmed by the moderators and I applaud them for that.

The moderators of this website do an outstanding job, albeit a thankless job, and I rely soley on them because I believe acting as a group is better than acting as an individual. As an individual a forum can take the personality of that individual, as a group that cannot happen.

All posts are monitored, all questionable posts are voted upon by the moderators and majority vote decides the fate of each questionable post.

All that being said and it has already been mentioned a couple time within this thread, Walleye Central allows discussion.

When I say we allow discussion, I mean we allow both sides to present their case (argument).

I don't consider it a conversation or a debate unless both sides are allowed to be presented.....if it's only one side I consider that a commercial or advertisement.

People should be allowed to voice their opinion either pro or con.

As for "guest" posters ...... I always get a kick out of that when it comes from "other sites" because I can go to those sites and visit the message boards and the vast majority of posters on both of "those sites" are not using their real names......they register under a false name so they post under a false name......frankly I don't see the difference because nobody knows who they are.....isn't that the same as being a "guest" ????

I can go to either site, register under a false name with a hotmail or gmail address and post to my hearts content........registration isn't a cure, only moderation works in the long run.

I believe all opinions are valid. They might not be the same as yours....but that doesn't make yours right and everyone else wrong.

The moderators of this website spend hours and hours a day keeping it civil.

Not sterile.....but civil.

Now......to the point at hand right now.

Walleye Central is pro walleye tournament, pro walleye everything and anything.

We want AIM to survive, we want FLW to survive and we want MWC to survive.

We support all the major walleye circuits and we are the ONLY website that does.

No other walleye website in the world spends as much money as I do to promote and provide coverage of every major walleye tournament in the world.

To consider us the enemy hurts me deeply......mainly because it's obviously not true and anyone that follows WC knows that.

We do more for the walleye tournament industry than any other website does...period...hands down....at no cost to them....at my expense.

We do not play favorites, we provide what I consider the best tournament coverage on the internet for ALL major walleye tournaments.

I fish tournaments as do most of the moderators.......it bothers me that some people boycott us or think we are the enemy when we are obviously the largest supporter of walleye tournaments in cyberspace. In fact, we are the only online supporter of every major walleye tournament.

Walleye Central isn't posting these threads, we are not participating in these threads.....we are monitoring them and we are allowing discussion (heated discussion at times) but we are not the enemy.

We are media, we are the largest online walleye media in the world, we have the largest online walleye audience in the world and it's a lot of work keeping it under control.

We are not perfect, we make mistakes, we depend on help from our visitors and we do our best.

We are here to help the industry, we are here to support the industry and anyone that thinks differently is wrong....plain and simple....wrong.

Don't kill the messenger........

If you see something that is out of line, click the little red triangle (alert) and the moderators will look at it, vote on it and take proper action. I have full faith in my moderators and depend on them hourly, daily, monthly and yearly.

If you want a sterile forum where everything is one sided, nobody is allowed to speak their piece if it's not the same opinion as theirs.....this isn't the place for you.

If you want to have debates, conversation and discussion with people that agree and disagree with your point of view......welcome to Walleye Central.

Keep it civil, or the moderators will nuke it.....

[Raybob]

-sounds very fair for all posters ...might be a good topic to pin at the top for awhile...

[dutchboy]

People seem to have a axe to grind be it here or the other sites. I also don't get it, but hey I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer. My opinion is that the net makes it far to easy to sit back and stir the pot. It's easy to post stuff you know will start an argument no matter if you believe it true or not. Add in the "holier then thou" crowd and you get some real pissy threads. At times I enjoy the banter, at times I wish the little kids would just go to bed and stay off here.

But...........as wild and seemingly uncontrolled some of these discussions get, they are nothing compared to the Muskie crowd.

Thanks for providing this venue to us and a special thanks to the mods who all make it possible.

[Sunshine]

Dutch Boy,

I agree w/ what you say. I also know that when threads get out of line (in my opinion) I always have the option of not reading that particular thread).

I do not come here to get upset or frustrated. If it ends up that way, I have learned to stop reading.

There always appeared to be inner strife between the PWT "good ole' Boys" (not my terminology or belief but others) and fisherman that did other circuits. I believe that some of those hiding behind the keyboard are the same people that criticized the fisherman and PWT circuit when it was around. Must be deep wounds for some reason.

Scott,
You are always put into a darn if I do and darned if I don't position in these situations. People will complain about WC being too sterile; taking sides; having favorites; and censorship. You can not please everyone so I suggest just trying to please me

As a very smart person once said: "Shut up and Fish".

[rebs]

Scott
I believe you and your staff do an excellent job of running this website. The moderators have always been fair in my opinion. I have had a few of my posts nuked and I do not hold a grudge or have an axe to gring, its all part of the site, the mods do a great job and always seem fair to me.
Walleye central is the best fishing site period and I hope it stays around a long long time.

[3708]

Scott, just keep on doing the outstanding job you always have and remember there are more with you than against ! Some people out there just believe in this addage: "Why be dumb , with a little less effort I can be STUPID" Hairjig

Scott, like I have posted in the past personally I feel competive angling will always have a place in some fashion or form in the walleye world. People will be people, Scott. We all are made up differently so you get a varied way people on this site on how they react and respond. You and your moderators have a tough job but over time have seen where they handle issues quite professionally. The AIM post was timely and breathes a fresh breath of air into the tournament angling scene. Over the years I have taken the stand that I try and view issues like the glass is half full not empty. There is way too much doom and gloom we can gravitate to right now that does nothing more then tear people down. I do not have the answer for why people do this, simply it is waste of time and accomplishes nothing. Your site provides a valuable service to us "avid" fisherman. Where else can we get timely accurate product evaluations, except from those that use the products on this site. If we chose to follow touornament angling we can. Also if we need just opinions on everyday life the forum is here too. I thank you for this and your moderators for keeping it valuable to so many of us. I will always remain a guest, I have too much to lose if my opinions are taking out of context. But by being a guesst should not diminish the validity of ones comments or thoughts. Have a good day!!

[TAH]

I finally had time to check it out this past fall and I am glad I did, I don't "visit" others because frankly, I enjoy this one. Thanks (juls is o.k. too) lol

WC is as good as it gets and has been that way since the beginning. You cover everything walleye and provides an entertaining and informative site. Keep up the quality of work and thanks for being you.