Thoughts And Comments On Forum Expansion

[jdmidwest]

Did I miss something? Gunshow weekend, out arming the masses and its mass confusions on here!

[Donna G]

What's the famous line? You can't please all the people all the time? Or here's another one straight from AA or is it Alanon? 'Take what you like and leave the rest.' I read the forums on topics that I like and I don't read the forums on topics I'm not interested in. It's a great system. I'm in to bass fishing, so I don't read the posts on fly fishing or hunting. Choice is a beautiful thing. It's like a buffet. I can eat all I want of my favorite stuff and ignore the wrinkled peas. lol

I love OA because everyone has been extremely nice to me, it's well-moderated and G rated, I've learned a lot and no one has suggested I shouldn't be here. I've seen some sites where certain people posting go into x-rated bleepisms over a woman on the forum. I just want to read, write and learn about fishing. I'm not trying to prove anything gender-wise. So, I really, REALLY appreciate the acceptance here.

Thanks for the good job you do, Lilley. I love OA, but I'm sure your new one will be exceptional, too. And, if not, I'll take what I like and leave the rest.

Donna G

"No one likes change except a wet baby." Mark Twain

[Phil Lilley]

Let me clear up some things that have been said by those who are REALLY confused and mislead by Trav here.

I am NOT going to sell ozarkanglers.com.

I am NOT going to change ozarkanglers.com.

I am NOT going to add new waters UNLESS members make a case such as the recently added Bourbeuse River.

It has NEVER been my intention to grow this forum bigger... I think it is as big as it should be, probably too big. That's why I have combined and deleted a few forums here in the last couple of weeks.

I AM the same person who built and has maintained this site since 1997. I haven't had a major character change and have not lost my mental capacities... I am not thinking about doing something as stupid as was suggested some 3 pages ago.

Now...

Can we get back to some constructive suggestions.

All I want to hear is what waters outside the Ozarks, outside the waters named on OAF, would be of interest to you guys that could be added to a new forum?

AR, MO, KS, OK, IA, IL maybe west TN

[Chief Grey Bear]

Trav didn't confuse me but ....

"But with the following OA has and possibly that lack of coverage on other "waters of interest", I waned to explore the idea of expanding to other Midwest areas."

"It's not a matter of the forum getting too big- I don't think that's possible."

"Spring is the time to jump on change."

"I want this topic to run for at least a week before I decide what to do."

"If there's forums and websites already doing the job, doing a good job, then there's no need for us to expand."

" I've secured a new url site and have it setup for a new forum. I'll move the forum over and update it, build in new waters and have it up in a week or so."

"Unfortunately, you'll have to register on the new forum. I can't move over memberships."

"Instead of adding more and more waters to this forum, I decided to just start another site altogether and add those waters to it."

"It has NEVER been my intention to grow this forum bigger... I think it is as big as it should be"

Like you, I don't understand why we didn't follow what your were saying. Where was the confusion?

[Phil Lilley]

Thank you for pointing out my flaws... I'm have bungled this from the beginning. I apologize.

[KC Trout Fan]

I am in favor of expansion, due to the fact that i am a northerner. If you would need feedback on lakes in and around Kansas City I am avaliable and very willing. Plus, I have Been wanting to change my handle forever and havent been able to do so. I think some people are worried about the quailty of a new board, but I think if Phil will allow Fisherman in the different regions to assist in moderating the sections it will take nothing away from the Ozarks section, and strengthen the over all goal of a broader forum. I fish tournaments in KC and down at The Rock, and know we dont have a quality discussion board for KC . I would love to have the opportunity to meet other anglers in my area and pick their brains like you guys do. So obviously I am in support of the expansion and truly appreciate the all that Phil and friends do for us fishermen.

Sincerly,

Matt Morrison

[zander]

Well, I am a little relieved but also disappointed. I had visions of selling my OAF hat on eBay as a collector's item to supplement my retirement. I bet there would be alot of traffic with Reelfoot Lake on the new site, every fishing magazine out there has plenty of advertisements for that place.

[Tightline]

Besides our close neighboring states lakes I would be interested in eastern Tennessee.

My neice lives in Nashville and she says the rivers and creeks out their are much like ours and they have several with wild Trout populations.

Buget wise,its a place that I could visit.

Also I have wondered why we don't have a place for Smithville lake,with all the people from KC that visit this forum,I fished it a couple of times and it is a dandy little lake for Crappie and Bass.

[Greg]

Wow. What a discussion. I'm glad I didn't read this thread until today. I probably would have posted a comment and just added to the confusion!!

I will say one thing though - I don't think it would be the end of the world (or the OAF world anyway) - if at some point Phil made the decision to move OAF to another url. There is another forum I participate in sometimes that the owner made that decision. He made that decision so he could expand and update the forum as well as make it load faster (the old site loaded pretty slowly even with a high speed connection). All of the members had to re-register. Was it inconvenient? - yes. But the forum stayed intact and everything else stayed the same.

Trav - it's nice to have you back on the forum regularly. It just wasn't the same without you.

Just my belated .02

Greg

[Greg]

Phil one other comment about your original question. I don't have any areas/waters I would like added. But I would like somewhere to go for travel suggestions - specifically fly fishing. Maybe a forum on this in the fly fishing section? Personally as my kids are nearly grown I have more of an inclination (and somewhat more $$) to travel out west, Canada, Alaska, etc. I know the members here would be a good source of info.

Greg