Sensitive Situation

[Ham]

I'd want to be real careful about slander. What if it looks like a performer in Branson, but it isn't that guy. You "out" him and his show goes down the tubes which he could show financial damages dmages, you could be sued for saying on a public forum something that isn't true.

The police should control this. They have the same problem in Shreveport at parks associated with boat ramps along the Red River. A few plainscolthes policemen making a few high profile arrests would slow this down a bunch.

Going to the local media about this might work as well.

[Danoinark]

I'd want to be real careful about slander.

Agreed, lets not put OAF in jeopardy.

[pinecone]

Why didn't you go up and ask for an autograph? Just don't shake his hand!!

I notice you did not mention his name, is there some reason you want to keep him in the closet. I think he should be named and maybe his ticket sales will drop some. The only way to stop it is to expose the matter and let them know it is not a good place to hang out. If you keep it quiet and ignore it, they will have no reason to leave. Why not park in front of them with bright lights on and wait for them to leave. I don't think you would be breaking any laws.

I don't collect autographs and try to mind my own business. I'll let him bring himself out of the closet.

His personalized license plate substantiated who I thought he was. I'm just disturbed about not being able to enjoy Tanney fishing without wondering who will be hanging out in the parking lot when we get ready to leave.

[Jeremy Hunt]

I’ve also been seeing this for years and nothing changes for the most part. Just to let you guy’s know where most the problem occurs so you’ll be on the lookout is the middle parking lot as you’re going to the MDC public boat ramp. That’s seems to be the prime “hang out” for meeting. To my knowledge and from how I see their operation going down is they will park backwards and then go directly across the street from the parking lot and do whatever it is they do. Sometimes when I’m driving down to the ramp I’ll see one walking over there and when I pass him I’ll look in my mirror and see him hiding and watching what I’m doing to make sure the coast is clear. So I’ve put two and two together and that’s where alot of it is happening at. I haven’t seen to much activity on the main trail because I think they know that’s always crowded with people. You can bet most of the time, if you see a car parked backwards in that middle parking lot and someone sitting in the driver set doing nothing or looks like he‘s not rigging up to go fishing, they’re up to no good.

I think that’s a good idea about writing down the license plate. A few of us did that way back in the day because we were getting tired of it and it did scare them away, but it also got some of them mad so we stopped. One thing that get’s under my skin is mistaking you to be someone they think they’re meeting. I’ve had a few drive up to my car when I’m parking or something and then realize I’m a fisherman and then bolt. I really wish this would stop!!

Let’s really do something about this. I think we can get rid of this problem.

[Greg]

I guess I'm just not very observant. Despite fishing that area for years I've never seen what is described here? I don't doubt it but I've just never seen it. I'll continue to mind my own business and concentrate on the fishing. But if it becomes "in your face" (especially where my family is concerned) I would definitely consider some type of action. Everyone has their own line in the sand I guess.

Greg

[jdmidwest]

I really don't see the slander. If Lilley is parked in the lot with a personalized plate that said OAF-1, and someone reported seeing him in the lot, how would that be slander? Now if you said he was trolling for fruit, that may be slander.

Anyhow, your problem, I have only been over to Taney once. Better over in that part of the state than around here.

That lifestyle should really be more discreet. I don't want to see it on TV, in a parade, or in a parking lot.

[bigredbirdfan]

I don't want to start a big debate on same-sex issues because this is not the place- too impersonal. But I don't consider men or women who call themselves gay freaks at all. I believe no one is born gay. Yes some have more opposite-sex hormones but like the Phillip said, that doesn't make them "gay". It ALL centers around sex. Sex out of marriage. For believers who believe it's a "sin" and do it anyhow, it's called a stronghold in their life, just like smoking or drinking or another activity that can't be controlled- it's almost impossible to give it up without help. I have several friends who came out of the gay scene. It was extremely hard.

I have compassion for these people because I know alot of them are hurting and don't know what else to do. They're looking for love and acceptance but these acts will never, ever fulfill what they are looking for. The empty hole just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

So lay off the jokes and name calling cause all of us have issues... we just need to protect kids, young people and old people alike from being exposed to something like this.

Phil: I have no problem with alternative lifestyles. When I reference freaks I mean people who can't find a bedroom. Anyone who does this crap in public is a little wierd or an out and out freak. Some people get a thrill out of this public part and that is sick to me.

[moduckdoc]

I am not saying this is the perfect way to fix the problem, but I have seen it work. When our ship pulled into Bay City MI we tied up in a park that had some men that were there for only one reason and it wasn't to enjoy the beauty of the park. One of the men tried to pick up one of the huys from the ship, so a group of about 15 or so went out to the parking lot with links of chain for buoys and started heaving them through the windows of all of the cars parked there with men sitting in them. After that everytime the ship pulled in cars immediatley pulled out or were conspicuously absent.

Sometimes a community can work together to fix problems or stop them before they get too big. I'm just sayin.

[johnnymiller]

As retired law enforcement maybe I can make a few suggestions that would help. First of all, sexual activity of any type in public is illegal and if witnessed by law enforcement officials those involved can and should be charged. Contact your local prosecutor's office and express your concerns that local law enforcement is not doing enough to solve this problem. In the past I have been a part of 'sting' operations which involved either observing this activity, or being solicited for this activity. Either way it is a crime and generally results in a guilty plea and payment of a fine. Usually one sting operation is sufficient to take care of the problem.

An important part of the sting is the publication of the person(s) names in the local papers. What these people fear most is EXPOSURE! If local law enforcement will not, or cannot do their job, there is one thing the regular fishermen can do that is usually almost as effective.

When you observe the persons you suspect are 'cruising', write down their license number, a description of the car and of the person driving. Take it from me, most of these people are 'in the closet'. They are married with children, and many occupy respectable positions in the community. Seeing a person jotting down their license number will scare them away for a good long time.

The solution to this is to get local law enforcement to conduct an investigation and make mass arrests, then publish the arrests in the local news. If they will not a letter writing and telephone campaign to local politicians will probably get results. Be persistent. Good luck.

I suggest you sting them with a number 8 barbed woolly booger and let them run to the backing .

[bigredbirdfan]

Let me tell you guys something before anyone gets carried away. They are a very close knit group and communicate very effectively. They will band together if provoked. This happend in the 90's at phelps grove park in springfield and they were being harrassed. They had CB radios back then and when harrassed banded together to protect each other. I do not advise anyone to single them out or you may be sorry. Unfortunately, They closed the area completly at night to solve the problem by running them off. I hope this won't happen here but you never know. Depends on how big a problem the law enforcement consider it.