One of the things I've loved about these forums is the general peace. There have been some instances where it wasn't around, but for the most part the folks seem friendly towards each other. One thing I've noticed is that some of the personal attacks Siskyou talked about came from assumptions. Case in point, the not quite recent topic of seperate traditional seasons was being debated. It was stated that traditional equipment is harder than compounds. It seemed that from that statement people started accusing the staters of saying they were better than others. Which obviously wasn't what was happening. No one ever made a comment about being superior, or using superior equipment, just that it was harder to use. Things like that will 'cause a lot of needless debate and avoid the issue at hand. One of my first posts was about crossbows. I'd no idea what I was starting when I posted it. Now that I've hung around here too much I can see it from true veterans' view points-another crossbow thread! If people keep in mind that we're reading, not talking, and that we may misinterpret what one has written; instead of taking it the wrong way and getting worked up about it. If people grow vulgar and slandering then I feel it's the responsibility of the moderators to try to calm peopled own or lock the post. Like, Siskyou, I enjoy the family atmosphere. I don't appreciate foul language by any means. Just recently I noticed a post with some swearing in it; a couple days later it had been edited. If this board didn't have this attitude towards foul language and other perversions, I wouldn't hang around here. I don't feel like proof-reading posts and skippig over the display of ignorance through swearing. It does nothing to benefit, so just leave it out. Anyways, back to topic. This has always seemed a place to ramble about anything hunting related, and bounce ideas between each other. Getting ideas from people and the veteran knowledge are also a great help; especially to those such as myself who weren't taught to hunt by our father or grandfather. This board has help me to learn things before I'd to learn the hardway; and given me ideas of what to try and keep in mind in the field. For me, this board has been a type of serrogate hunting mentor. With my family trying to keep me out of the woods, this is the place I can get information to do better in the woods. Very few times has someone talked down to me over my ignorance, but have been willing to offer knowledge. If the nature was of the rather a lot of the newbies, like myself, won't stick around. No doubt this board has benefited hunting in general by helping the new people that show up make the right decisions. If they'd been treated harshly, they may be the type of "hunters" so abhored by the members of the board. Because of this I don't think there's much refining that needs to be done; some, but not much. I feel that re-enforcing the nature of helping each other out, especially young'ns, would do more good than revisions.

God bless,
Brandan