Commodore Joe Redcloud wrote:
On Thu, 1 Dec 2005 18:40:23 -0600, "John" wrote:

Good point...

"Commodore Joe Redcloud" wrote in message
.. .
On Thu, 1 Dec 2005 18:02:34 -0600, "John"
wrote:

I don't mean to be rude, but there are considerable more polictical posts
on
this group then there are boats. Shouldn't we stay on target and post
the
polictical BS on another site?


So where are your many on-topic posts that spark boating conversation?
It's so
easy to complain, compared to actually participating.


Commodore Joe Redcloud


I look forward to your on-topic posts! I really do! This group could actually be
turned around if enough people started lots of threads about boats and boating,
and nobody responded in any way to political trolling.


Commodore Joe Redcloud


One of the challenges this group has faced, for many years, is that it
tends to drive away
participants who are actual experts in marine related fields. Most of
the rec.boats crew who own boats own outboard or sterndrive trailer
boats......(no surprise, most people who own a boat own an outboard or
sterndrive trailer boat...). Were you here, under a different screen
name perhaps, when Dave Brown, Peggie Hall, Bill Grannis, and others
were regular participants? One could post, (in example), "Why does my
1996 65HP Mercury outboard always seem to stall out and die a couple of
hundred yards from the dock?" and somebody who actually *knew what they
were talking about (!)* and worked on outboards
as a profession would offer a very short list of things to check. The
usual follow up posts were of two varieties:

1) The poser of the original question posting a "Thank you, it did turn
out to be debris in the vent cap of the fuel tank....."

2) The same couple of people calling names, hollering "SPAM"!, making
absolutely terrible
comments about anybody who would make a living selling or servicing
boats, and generally communicating how totally unwelcome were any
remarks from a qualified professional in the field being discussed.


The ultimate irony might be that, in some cases, a few of the anti-spam
crew post nothing but political garbage, personal attacks, cut 'n paste
liberal or conservative propaganda, and engage in years-long public
flame fests with the same two or three individuals here. The first time
an outboard motor repairman, a boat builder, or a diesel mechanic
mentions their profession in this NG, predictible voices ring out with
"Get the hell off of rec.boats! This group isn't here so you can
advertise your services!" (advertise? to a group of about 30? including
perhaps 10-12 non-boaters?) After enough requests to stop interrupting
the flaming, political posting, rival cut 'n pastes, and name calling-
most of the actual experts have complied.