Even before we started this new discussion, I was thinking of creating a post to discuss our treatment of other posters. I read this board practically every day, but seldom ever post. However, The way some people treat other posters has really bothered me. So, here are my views on the subject, as well as on the posting on certain topics.

It never, never, helps to bash someone. Never. It is never beneficial. It serves no useful purpose. The end result will either be that the person will either never post again, leave the forum, and who knows, maybe give up hunting all together, and then we have lost a friend, and ally, and supporter. Or, the person will get defensive, and a war of words insues. It is entirely possible to correct, to lead, to guide, without being vicious, vindictive, or antagonistic. Aren' t we here for those reasons? To lead and guide, not to destroy? Certainly, if mistakes have been made, these can be pointed out, and suggestions offered for improvement. But, it is just as easy to offer such suggestions repectfully as it is to offer them degradingly. I suggest we help each other, rather than tear each other apart.

With regards to lost animal posts, or other posts in which someone makes a mistake, how are to learn from these mistakes if we don' t share them with others and find out how we can do things better? Is there anyone out there that has never made a mistake? Maybe, but I' m telling you, you' re in select company. All of us make mistakes, and the way to learn from them is to solicit suggestions from those more experienced than ourselves. Once in a while, lost animals are not a result of a mistake, anyway, but a result of unfortunate circumtances, such as a deer that has been standing still moves the instant you shoot. I read a post, on another forum recently of a hunter that lost his first deer after 30 years of hunting. I respect this hunter a lot, and consider him to be extremely skilled and responsible. But, sometimes, things happen. As far as the antis go, what we post on this board really isn' t going to make much of a difference. If they couldn' t find stories of lost animals, they would just make them up anyway. Aside from than, lost animals are a fact, truth. Lost animals are going to happen. I don' t believe in coverups, in hiding or ignoring facts. I don' t like being secretive about things, or ignoring reality. If an anti asks me if animals are lost by hunting, I' m not going to lie to her and say they aren' t. I do not believe in denying facts. I feel that covering up facts only makes it that much worse when the fact is revealed. At the same time, It isn' t beneficial to taunt these people, by telling them gory stories or slinging dead animals on the hood our our truck.

As far as pictures go. I like to see good pictures, too, but I' m not going criticize any other hunter' s picture. I particularly like to see the animal before it is dressed out, whether in the garage or in the field. I also like to see the whole animal, not just the head and neck. As far as a little blood, tongues, etc, I see that as, again, part of hunting. To pretend there is no blood spilled is unrealistic. I actually like to be able to tell where the entry/exit wound is. Furthermore this whole deal about politically correct pictures is a very recent phenomenon, born, I think, primarily out of the internet. Many, many, people are not yet familiar with the rules to politically correct hunting pictures, it will take time for the word to get around.