Skipper wrote:
JohnH wrote:

Skipper, my boat is in storage. I can't even look at it. It will be that
way until early April, unless I can get them to take it out in late
March.
I'm not doing any fishing, but when I do, I'll talk about it. Honest.

There is still a vast menu of on-topic items to be discussed in the off
season. Do you really think 99% off-topic is healthy for the NG?

Neutral topics of interest should not be excluded from discussion.

I completely agree, but not when off-topic consumes the NG. Best course
for the NG is keeping the *primary* focus on boating, IMO. Look at
today's NG content. Do you really believe that's the kind of content to
draw in and retain boaters?

On another note, check out the charter and voting summary for
rec.boats.cruising. I do find it interesting that only two of the
original voters still participate in that group:

ftp://ftp.isc.org/pub/usenet/news.an...newgroups/rec/



--
Skipper


This lecture is from someone who re-entered the NG late last year and spent
his first month here flaming and lying about it's members, especially Chuck.

Another born again I guess. But we shall see.

Reggie Smithers wrote:
Skipper wrote:
JohnH wrote:

Skipper, my boat is in storage. I can't even look at it. It will be that
way until early April, unless I can get them to take it out in late March.
I'm not doing any fishing, but when I do, I'll talk about it. Honest.

There is still a vast menu of on-topic items to be discussed in the off
season. Do you really think 99% off-topic is healthy for the NG?

Neutral topics of interest should not be excluded from discussion.

I completely agree, but not when off-topic consumes the NG. Best course
for the NG is keeping the *primary* focus on boating, IMO. Look at
today's NG content. Do you really believe that's the kind of content to
draw in and retain boaters?

On another note, check out the charter and voting summary for
rec.boats.cruising. I do find it interesting that only two of the
original voters still participate in that group:

ftp://ftp.isc.org/pub/usenet/news.an...newgroups/rec/



--
Skipper
Skipper,
Why don't you start another thread with a boating topic you think we be
of interest?

--
Reggie
************************************************** *************
That's my story and I am sticking to it.

************************************************** *************

Perhaps the word boats could be dropped from the group name, then it
would just be "recreational"...

Reggie Smithers wrote:
Skipper wrote:
JohnH wrote:

Skipper, my boat is in storage. I can't even look at it. It will be that
way until early April, unless I can get them to take it out in late March.
I'm not doing any fishing, but when I do, I'll talk about it. Honest.

There is still a vast menu of on-topic items to be discussed in the off
season. Do you really think 99% off-topic is healthy for the NG?

Neutral topics of interest should not be excluded from discussion.

I completely agree, but not when off-topic consumes the NG. Best course
for the NG is keeping the *primary* focus on boating, IMO. Look at
today's NG content. Do you really believe that's the kind of content to
draw in and retain boaters?

On another note, check out the charter and voting summary for
rec.boats.cruising. I do find it interesting that only two of the
original voters still participate in that group:

ftp://ftp.isc.org/pub/usenet/news.an...newgroups/rec/



--
Skipper
Skipper,
Why don't you start another thread with a boating topic you think we be
of interest?

--
Reggie
************************************************** *************
That's my story and I am sticking to it.

************************************************** *************

Perhaps the word boats could be dropped from the group name, then it
would just be "recreational"...

"markvictor" wrote in message
ups.com...
Reggie Smithers wrote:
Skipper wrote:
JohnH wrote:

Skipper, my boat is in storage. I can't even look at it. It will be
that
way until early April, unless I can get them to take it out in late
March.
I'm not doing any fishing, but when I do, I'll talk about it. Honest.

There is still a vast menu of on-topic items to be discussed in the off
season. Do you really think 99% off-topic is healthy for the NG?

Neutral topics of interest should not be excluded from discussion.

I completely agree, but not when off-topic consumes the NG. Best course
for the NG is keeping the *primary* focus on boating, IMO. Look at
today's NG content. Do you really believe that's the kind of content to
draw in and retain boaters?

On another note, check out the charter and voting summary for
rec.boats.cruising. I do find it interesting that only two of the
original voters still participate in that group:

ftp://ftp.isc.org/pub/usenet/news.an...newgroups/rec/



--
Skipper
Skipper,
Why don't you start another thread with a boating topic you think we be
of interest?

--
Reggie
************************************************** *************
That's my story and I am sticking to it.

************************************************** *************

Perhaps the word boats could be dropped from the group name, then it
would just be "recreational"...


Nope. Perhaps folks here just need to chill as you cannot talk boats 24x7.
If one wants a NG that discusses boats/boating and *only* boats/boating, as
well as one without any sense of humor or signs of human life...........they
can go to rec.boats.cruising. Informative yet rather dull.

I dare you to find a boating forum on the internet with topics 100% related
to boats or boating. There is no such creature.

When you are on your boat, do you limit the conversation to boats and
boating?

wrote:
JimH wrote:

The *Challenge*: Perhaps it is time to revisit this issue since the
original *Challenge* a month or so ago.

I am not disputing the validity of that original challenge but I do have
some comments and suggestions.

Since that *Challenge* this NG is dripping wet with tensions because of the
various mandates placed on it and the participation has actually *decreased*
as a result of it.



Yes, "participation" is down and thank heavens for small favors. There
are entire threads missing. In fact, there are entire categories of
threads missing. Gone are the conservative cut 'n pastes, the liberal
cut 'n pastes, the duelling presidential popularity polls, the f'd up
debates about the "heroic liberation" or "political colonization" of
Iraq (take your pick). Gone are the "Harry Krause is a ________"
threads. Gone are the "Liberals are destroying the Christian religion"
threads. Missing from most posts of all types are the vicious name
calling and the endless Jr. High School "neener/neener's". Certain
posters, with little or nothing to contribute to discussions about
boating, are indeed missing in action. Too darn bad- they can take the
naming and flaming somewhere else as it should be a reasonable
expectation (when one visits a NG titled "rec.boats") that most of the
discussion should center around boating.

But check this out, please, Jim. Discussion of boating topics is way
*up* from what it has been.


Yep - The atmosphere is getting to be like..... aahhhhh... Well..... A
Boating news group!!! :-)

Where people can be grown up and use it as it was intended to be. I am
glad to see the pollution go down in this group.

If someone wants to go to all the back biting political bs why no go to
where there are other like minded folks and have at it. I am sure it
would not be hard to find.

Cheers

Capt Jack R..

Jack Redington wrote:

Yep - The atmosphere is getting to be like..... aahhhhh... Well..... A
Boating news group!!! :-)

Where people can be grown up and use it as it was intended to be. I am
glad to see the pollution go down in this group.

Truer words were never spoken...and from a long time and valued
contributor. Let's work to keep it going in that direction.

--
Skipper

JimH wrote:
Skipper wrote:
JohnH wrote:

Skipper, my boat is in storage. I can't even look at it. It will be that
way until early April, unless I can get them to take it out in late
March.
I'm not doing any fishing, but when I do, I'll talk about it. Honest.

There is still a vast menu of on-topic items to be discussed in the off
season. Do you really think 99% off-topic is healthy for the NG?

Neutral topics of interest should not be excluded from discussion.

I completely agree, but not when off-topic consumes the NG. Best course
for the NG is keeping the *primary* focus on boating, IMO. Look at
today's NG content. Do you really believe that's the kind of content to
draw in and retain boaters?

On another note, check out the charter and voting summary for
rec.boats.cruising. I do find it interesting that only two of the
original voters still participate in that group:

ftp://ftp.isc.org/pub/usenet/news.an...newgroups/rec/



--
Skipper


This lecture is from someone who re-entered the NG late last year and spent
his first month here flaming and lying about it's members, especially Chuck.

Another born again I guess. But we shall see.

Yep, I agree.