Banning of Fishton?

joe · 03-04-2008, 05:05 PM

I learnt with regret that fishton has been banned from the site. I think the other members of the site would like an explanation of why this has happened. I consider john to be a gentleman and a no nonsense type of person but i am very taken back by this as he has been a member for a long time and if there was a caring and sharing example he was it.i am not tring to open a can of worms here but i would like comments from the other members as well.please accept this forum in the light it was meant.

VX70 · 03-04-2008, 05:21 PM

I would also like to know what the reason is, Fishton has always been a very good contributor to the BFSA community.

pomerob · 03-04-2008, 06:10 PM

It is indeed a sad day, I feel torn. Fishton is a good friend :-( i have made many friends in here and John is certainly one of the friendships I cherish.

drew · 03-04-2008, 06:14 PM

joe Wrote:I learnt with regret that fishton has been banned from the site.I think the other members of the site would like an explanation of why this has happened.I consider john to be a gentleman and a no nonsense type of person but i am very taken back by this as he has been a member for a long time and if there was a caring and sharing example he was it.i am not tring to open a can of worms here but i would like comments from the other members as well.please accept this forum in the light it was meant.

Joe, as much as a few may disagree, Fishton is a great loss to the site. I am fortunate enough to know him very well, and you are right. He is a no nonsense type of guy. Some people take offense to this and prefer the sugar coated approach. He is indeed the caring and sharing type, and one cannot do that properly if you are not 100% honest.
However, honesty is sometimes not appreciated and that is a sad reality of life. Then there is the other side of the scale where honesty is lacking in some people. Fishton's opinions are true and honest, and he won't be shy to bark at someone who is dishonest. Over the past few months he has added more value to this site than most, and has in the past, sponsored many c4t months etc.

BFSA has been EXTREMELY quiet the last two days and it just seems like to much of a coincidence to me. I'm sure there are many people who share your views about Fishton, but after what has transpired, they are afraid to view their opinions.

Fishton makes an analogy to a pit bull in a corner being poked with a stick. It's all a barrel of laughs until the dog has had enough. I have no idea why John still competes in events as he is ALWAYS the target of hostility, and if not that, then lady luck will more often than not give him the proverbial middle finger. Fishton will fight for what he believes is right, and while he may go down the same road as many others, unlike them he won't give up. He and I have very similar views in terms of doing the right thing. Strolling has been a HUGE issue for John, and he has taken it on the chin and spent over R100 000 rekitting his boat with sneakers, batteries, finders etc due to rule changes. Every month, the rules are aimed at him, while strolling is completely frowned upon, brushpiling and baiting of spots is acceptable. The irony is that the chaps that brush pile are the same guys that change the rules to get rid of him. Fishton still has to go out in a comp and find the fish before catching them. The other chaps already know where they are.

Why all this rambling?, well I think people need to get the bigger picture and recognise that we are not all perfect, and what I deem to be acceptable, and what you deem to be acceptable, and what Billy-Bob Smith deems do be acceptable will always be different. It then boils down to maturity and acceptance of one another. What we will all agree on though, is that when you go fishing with your young son in a competition and people hurl abuse at both of you, you will indeed take offense and I think this type of situation has stolen the fun from John's fishing. John is an extremely proud father and when issues arise that involve Connor or Max he won't hold back for anyone.

Fishton reacted to a situation. He never created it, and it was his reaction that got the focus and not the situation. It is a great loss and no matter what anyone thinks, just all sit down and admit that you yourselves are not perfect.

bassmaster · 03-04-2008, 06:15 PM

Hi Joe

No problems. But I am not going to get into the finer details.

We had a disagreement after there was a problem with the prize for Connor. During the disagreement we exchanged words on the website which should never have been posted and for that I apologise.

Fishton unfortunately said a few things totally out of context during the exchange and I saw them as a very personal attack. I did talk to him on Sunday night about it and I thought the matter was then finalised, I then banned him for one month as a consequence and he agreed and was fine with it or so he lead me to believe. Today another incident occurred which was totally uncalled for and therefore he is no longer welcome on this website.

Sometimes I have to make and live with decision that not everyone will agree with. It's very hard to keep everyone happy all the time.

I hope everyone understands.

Fishton was definitely one of the most sharing guys on the website and I will not take that away from him at all, his knowledge will be sorely missed.

bassmaster · 03-04-2008, 06:20 PM

I am also by no means claiming to be perfect, but there are boundaries to everything...

DecimalDan · 03-04-2008, 08:09 PM

I am absolutely devastated.Over the last few months John has realised that my wife and I are newbies to the art of bass fishing of a boat. He has gone out of his way to provide us with information on how to improve our knowledge so that we can keep our spirit up. I have found him nothing but sincere and a true gentleman.
It is sad that at a time in our country were we are meant to unite we find reasons not to solve our differences and live in peace with each other. Very sad day

BigB · 03-04-2008, 08:35 PM

bassmaster Wrote:I then banned him for one month as a consequence.

bassmaster Wrote:he is no longer welcome on this website.

bassmaster Wrote:I have to make and live with decision that not everyone will agree with.

I don't like to be confrontational myself and see in Fishton someone who can sometimes call a spade a ##### shovel.

However, BFSA is called a community, but there was no vote to dismiss someone who appears to have been as popular with some as he was unpopular with others.

I have one question: Why no vote?

I have one observation: If Joe Blogs and I have an altercation, then either a middle man will step in and moderate or we will sort things out between ourselves. If however I go head to head with Bassmaster and displease him, does this mean that I am out as well?

I have one statement: I don't do well in an autocratic environment. I like the freedom angle that comes with democracy. You get to say your say, and then you get to face the consequences from your peers.

Nuff said, I think the 2 parties should have sorted this out without this kind of finality.

VX70 · 03-04-2008, 08:54 PM

I totally agree with BigB!!

I somehow feel that the site will take a BIG nock with the banning of Fishton, I for some find the site dead the last few days and feel that slow to no postings will close the site down sooner than later .. I mean who wants to pay money for something that’s not rocking ?

Dafron · 03-04-2008, 09:06 PM

I agree, this is a community and the spirit thereof should be respected.

We are here to help and learn, personal scuffles have no place here! and that includes the Moderator!

Why has the "Offending Post" been removed? Are we now facing good old censorship by the chosen few?

I say lets vote!!

Majority Rules!!!!

:blue-cool:

Vaalboy · 03-04-2008, 09:16 PM

I believe that pride and principle will be a barrier to any attempted reconcilliation for both parties.

We have lost a passionate member who has unselfishly shared some of his hard earned knowledge on this site. It is a sad day indeed. :blue-cry:

drew · 03-04-2008, 09:18 PM

Dafron, this is not the fist time a post has been squashed. There is a time and a place for censorship and as far as that is concerned, I think Shane has made good judgement calls, both in the past and now, for the benefit of BFSA and all it's members.
I know, coz I am one of the members that have had posts squashed :blue-redface:

robfisher · 03-04-2008, 09:19 PM

Dafron Wrote:Why has the "Offending Post" been removed? Are we now facing good old censorship by the chosen few?

The offending posts were removed after discussion and agreement with Fishton… blatant flaming is never good for any online environment… I have been in the online game since its inception and while some may revel in anarchy and flame wars it’s never good for the individuals or the web site in the long run.

robfisher · 03-04-2008, 09:21 PM

drew Wrote:Dafron, this is not the fist time a post has been squashed. There is a time and a place for censorship and as far as that is concerned, I think Shane has made good judgement calls, both in the past and now, for the benefit of BFSA and all it's members.
I know, coz I am one of the members that have had posts squashed :blue-redface:

100% Drew… and Shane actually had nothing to do with the nuking of the flame war… it was me… I spoke to John and asked him if it was OK for me to nuke it… and then I nuked it because flame wars have no place on this or any other community web site…. It helps no one.

Dafron · 03-04-2008, 09:28 PM

Drew, I have not been a member here very long, but if there has been one member that has made me feel right at home it was Fishton.

I don't care for the politics, this should have been sorted outside the forum!

Squashing posts has its time and place, we are big boys now and will sort each other out in our own way, a cold shoulder can do wonders "ask my wife" lol

There is always 2 sides to every story, i feel we are not getting a chance to hear the other!

Be that as it may, its a sad when crap like this happens amongst buddies!

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Banning of Fishton?