New member stories

[ampersat]

This has kind of been stuck in my craw for a while now and I thought I'd just put it out there. If nothing else, it'll make me feel better.

There is something of an informal tradition for new members to post a fishing story of some kind as their own introduction to the community. It's not a formal Ifish policy. I, for one, didn't post an introductory story but have spun a tale or two in my years here for the enjoyment of the board.

Lots of times the new folks to the board aren't aware of the introductory story "hazing". We assume that people lurk here for a while before joining and are aware of who "the players" are and what "the rules" are. This oftentimes is not the case. It also makes for a pretty unwelcoming welcome wagon that people seem to jump on pretty quick when they see a new "fry" post.

So, I'd like to suggest that the whole thing be forgotten. No more introductory stories. Most of the time, people show up here looking for info. Once they're here, they soon become ifish junkies just like the rest of us. Sooner or later, they'll have a story to tell, just like the rest of us. Let's all welcome the new folks and be helpful.

I feel like this would make the welcome warmer and improve the overall ifish aesthetic.

While it's nice to have new people intro themselves when joining the board I agree that they shouldn't be badgered into it if they don't want to.
Some people just want to assimilate into the community without a lot of fanfair and should be allowed to do so.Those that are okay with telling an introductory story then by all means let's hear them.

[Fshklr]

Ampersat,
I agree with dropping the story initiation but there are thousands of us now and this thread will be gone in a day or 2..so maybe 200 members will see it...50 will follow it, leaving 5000 to carry on the torch. I do like reading some of the stories though, especially the ones that show I am not the only clumsy one out there!! :grin:

[Akuracy503]

I got away without posting my fish story as a newbie :grin:

:grin: Ha, I too dont think it hurts anyone to forget about it...
But either way I respect the tradition

[Plum Crazy]

Amp,
I try to spend some time each sign on saying Hi to new fish as I know you do. But, I think that we need to say Hi to all new fish. Have you ever seen a post from a female fisher it's like people cant type fast enough to welcome her. That should really be the case for them all. I don't mind a little FUN Hazeing now and then. Whats the harm of letting them know of traditions? I know that I for one kept looking for responces to my first thread to see if anyone cared I was here. So do I think most of New fish here. I will be preaty hard to stop asking for stories when this topic is gone in 2 point 2 seconds. It probably would take an Act of Jennie to keep it as law.
Good point though
Fire

[Salmonator]

100% agree amp

[wootersen]

Amp-

Thanks for starting this thread. I've felt the same way for a while, I just thought I was part of the minority and not the majority.

The fish stories are great, but I think some people are intimidated by the whole thing. There are some very accomplished fishpersons on the board and I think some people continue to lurk because they don't want to deal with the "hazing".

While were at it. I don't think wearing pants should be necessary when your on Ifish either :grin: Skivvies, yes, but NO MORE PANTS !!! [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

[Quasimodo the fish killer]

good for you AMP and Fire. this board can be very unwelcome at times to new people.

I was around for a while as a lurker then baild cause no one would even acknowlege I existed when I asked a question.

I forgot the password to that nic and now even the nic I had at the time but I came back and started all over. I posted a newbie story thinking maybe thats where I went wrong but got pretty much the same reception.

now if I have an answer to someones delima or have some little tidbit that can help someone thats asking a question I just post it and if it gets acknowleged great if not oh well I tried to help best I could.

it sure would be nice if a lot more guys on here were like you 2


Quasi


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[Pickles]

Bravo Amp

[Reel Fun Fish'n]

Great Idea Amp [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[anger management]

[img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[shalom]

I posted a first story back in Nov . I recieved nothing but nice comments and frendly replies . I enjoy reading the new storys and try to welcome them . I type poorley and make mistakes and i !m sorry for that .People on the board have all been nice to me and i thank them for that .

[Mad Mikey]

I think I got away without a first story too, I'll tell it if anyone wants to hear it.
When I came on board it had not become a big issue yet.
After Spookalotafish posted his Rogue River mishap I knew that anything I did would be a hard act to follow.
Hmmmm, OK. I moved to LaGrande in 78', caught a trout on the Grande Ronde River on a trolling bobber with a fly and a poor helpless grasshopper stuck to it.
At last! Now I'm in!!!!!!! [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

[Plum Crazy]

I think that its a case by case basis. In fishing terms it's like this in my eyes.
Some New Ifishers have read and understand the process. At one time WE all were Fry. Some sign up and write little and participation is nil.
Some wont shut up and write constantly about just about everything. Some write here and there about different topics. Some look at pictures. Some laugh at their computers at the jokes, hazing, stories and such. Some have thick skin and some get upset at the littlest infraction of political correctness or lack their of.
My point is This.
Its a tradition yes some are going to find it hurtful some funny, some don't care. I don't see any hazing that any of the Moderators would or do edit. Nothing says you Have to give a story. Its just a fun way to maybe break the Ice.
My other point is This- Do you remember my story or any other stories from say Team Silver Bullets,
Carrot Milk, Kentucky etc. NO because thats all they are is Ice breakers.
Fire

[The Bad Fish]

i am not a big fan of the" hi my name is (insert name here) and i like long walks on the beach and fine wine and blah blah blah.. good on you amp.. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[The Overfishin Condition]

Devils advocat here I guess. I don't think that the new story is a huge deal, but I feel I've probably been guilty of jumping onto a few people for not posting their story first. Most specifically when a new members first post is in the classifieds- because I assume they are just leaching resources, like some people leech welfare. I for one, like to at least hear that someone is new, before all of the sudden they are selling something on the classifieds. I guess that I feel a newbie story allows people to start on the right foot as a new contributor to "the community." I don't want to create ANY trouble here. Just my .02 for why I think the tradition may have started in the first place, sort of a getting to know you thing. On the first day of school, not everyone is comfortable standing and saying their name, but sometimes it's good to step outside your comfort zone, good for you, good for everyone else. Tight lines, lets go fishing.

[Fishalot]

I make it a point to inform people of the tradition when their first post is in the classifids, mostly because doing that has no class.
This is a fishing community first, not a post your stuff here because there is no advertising fee.
I can go either way with this, it is nice to get to know a little about people. A new person can do a search on any of us and learn all they want .


Fishalot

[Tyeebuster]

[img]graemlins/icon_argue.gif[/img] Well put amp! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[Jennie@ifish]

But... then again, if a new member comes here because he's heard great things about how the classifieds get things sold, then who can blame someone for signing up to sell something?

Maybe, just maybe, he has your new dream boat, and what a contribution that would be! :smile:

I still don't think you can blame someone for signing up for free classifieds. It's just another drawing point for ifish.

Maybe the new user will use the class ads, decide that ifish is a great place, and join in. Who knows?

Jen

[Bounty Hunter]

I COMPLETELY DISSAGREE! WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO GET RID OF A GREAT TRADITION? :whazzup:

The new member stories are a great way for people to introduce themselves. We're getting more and more newbies every day, and any little anecdote to pass along helps to distinguish someone from the last 100 guys with the word 'Steelhead' in their moniker.

I think hazing is a strong way to put it. We usually politely remind someone of the tradition and then follow up with answers or 'Welcomes' by the handfull (ususally, if we have answers). I know I would be a lot less inclinded to tell someone a tip or direct them to a favorite stretch of river if they weren't showing any indication that they want to join the community.

After all, this is a community and not just a fishing board. If you want to see what inhospitable to newbies really feels like, I can direct you to some other boards. :shocked:

[greenbuttskunk]

I just think it as simple as this.
Hey..... Welcome to Ifish, glad you can be part of the great group we have. Answer questions, etc.
Then , hey, if you've got a great fish story you can share, we'd enjoy you sharing it, helps get to know you better, and it's always entertaining.
Thanks and welcome aboard.
It's all in the packaging. Since we are communicating through a computer, it's easy for a new guy to get a wrong impression when things are written in a certain way.
I love stories, keep em coming.
GBS

[Ceeleekamp]

Hello,
My name is Michael and I am new to the ifish community. I live in Washington State, but do enjoy an occasional trip to the Tillamook region of Oregon.
I have been a member of Steelheader.net for a couple of years now and have pretty much had enough of the bickering about "zippers" and most veterans hating new-bees... This site looks good for the most part and I am not here to sell anything, only to receive some much needed help and hopefully hook up with a board member or two.

OK, with that being said, here is my story:

Last February my Dad and I wanted to head to Tillamook for a few days on the Wilson. He has winter steelhead fished for many years and it was my first winter on a river so he decided to surprise me with a guided trip.
We were skunked on the Wilson, but the next day on the Nestucca was filled with huge smiles, and bend rods. I hooked 4 fish and lost two and have yet to catch another since. The only hard part was that I was catching fish and my Dad wasn't, but a good time was had by all involved.
Oh, don't worry about my Dad; he hooked 14+ pounds of Chrome this year to my zilch.... The fish Gods work in mysterious ways!!
Thanks for the Welcome all!!
Hope to see ya out there!
Sincerely,
Preesil

[TillamookChinook]

I like the tradition of posting a story.

My observation is that most responses to a first post that does not include a story say something like, "Welcome to IFish" or "Welcome to IFish. A story is in order."

It is amazing to see the response when a newbie posts and appears to be female. I don't know if that is really a problem or not. I'm pretty sure it will not help if we all take off our pants before logging on to IFish, as suggested by Wootersen.

TC

[ 01-12-2004, 01:10 PM: Message edited by: TillamookChinook ]

[Boat Monkey]

I think posting an intro (which I have yet to do) is fine, but hazing is often taken too far and occasionally misinterpreted by the "hazee." It's far better to have the reputation of a mature, helpful board than hooligans with attitudes. On the other hand, there is also nothing wrong checking someone who is out of line...

[Hogmaster]

I think everybody should have to tell a story with their first post!

Even though I didn't. :smile:

But if anybody can't think of anything to write, either they can come fish with me or I with them. Then there will be plenty of material!

:grin: :grin: :grin:

Seriously, it bothers me that people bug people with the "tell us a story" pressure. It isn't easy for some people to write like that, and frankly some of the material isn't all that good anyway.

That certainly doesn't mean they aren't going to be a contributor, though. They may ask great questions that many can learn from. They may have a tip that is easier for them to write about than recreating what happened when uncle Ned fell in the stream when he hooked a fish. Or, as Jennie pointed out, even if they are just selling it may be valuable to someone else, so in their way they have contributed.

Amp, the only thing I will mention was that I did not open this thread for quite awhile because of the "thumbs down" you associated with the thread. It made me think you were just bashing the writers as opposed to the thoughtful explanation I saw once I finally opened the thread. Just a 2 cent comment, but you might consider making it a lightbulb...

Hog



[ 01-12-2004, 01:48 PM: Message edited by: Hogmaster ]

[Fishalot]

Ok who started this new member story thing anyway :whazzup: . I am not talking about this topic I know ampersat posted it.
I see there are people that are against it and for it, I for one have always liked the intro stories and they are not mandatory. I am guilty of informing a few new members that there is a tradition of new members posting a intro story
:blush: . My first post on this thread pointed out how some new people post on the classifides and how I did not think that was cool. I sure didnot want to sound like I was in charge around here.
Jennie is right it just might be the dream boat that I have been looking for or another members dream boat.
I for one will start asking new members if they would like to tell a story so we can get to know them :grin: .


Fishalot

[Pitch Pocket]

For the sake of Jennie and her registered member list, (remember, more members mean higher advertising rates) if anyone avoids signing up for fear that they will have to post a story to participate, then it is not good for ifish.business.

Some people can't spell much less come up with a coherent storyline as an intro. We can all agree that there is little expected, (this isn't letters to Penthouse) but the pressure for the shy and the less educated folk may be too much for them to follow through with.

If participation in ifish is only for experienced, educated fishing people with a fishing story, then lets keep the unofficial 'light hazing'. However, if ifish wants to include the less eloquent and perhaps someone who doesn't have a fishing story but wants to learn to fish, then 86 the story demand/intimidation for those and the people less than interested in spinning a yarn.

[I Fred]

I do not like the term "newbie"....I do not like the demand "hey newbie, wheres the story?"....I do not like the "post a story and maybe you will get more information"....I do not think hazing/initiation/story is at all necessary....I agree with Amp 100%....I like Ifish.... Thats what I think....B.M.

[Quasimodo the fish killer]

I agree with pitch pocket some people were born story tellers they get your attention with it and hold you there, others are not, but that doesnt mean they wont have some tidbit of knowlege that will help someone.


Quasi.


.

[V. Green]

I have been coming to ifish.net since before th BB started. I would come to read Jennie's LOF article a couple of times per week. When the BB began many of the original posters did not give a intro story. That "Tradition" started some time after that. I was surprised one day when I saw members attacking a new poster for not having an intro story. If that is the "Tradition" then it should go away.

Personally I think some members post too often. If your member 5000 and you have 1000 posts maybe you should go outside and go fishing :smile: Whover member 5000 is I mean you no offense.

[wannacatchem]

hmmmmmm.......member #2 has 11,000+ post and she fishes everyday. I think the newbie story is a good tradition, as long as it's voluntary. My intro story was short and not so sweet. I have received a ton of info from this site, mostly by reading (lurking) and asking just a few questions. I have noticed that when I mention Ifish out in the field, most (all but one) people say, "yeah, I've heard of it" and aren't real friendly. I have met one fisher on this board that admits it, he's a heck of nice guy. Got to where I don't even ask. When I posted about my new boat and what are the essentials, I had a couple people ask for open seats, and several people offered to go fishing with me. New boat = new friends, I guess

[Reelentless]

I agree, Amp.

A friend joined a few months ago. I recently asked him why he hasn't posted anything yet. His response, "I still havent posted my introduction and I don't know what to say." He was a little stressed out over it.

I told him not to worry about it.