Mr. Kirkman;

Thank You for your diligence and commitment toward keeping this site on a professional level to were Rod builders such as myself can come to learn, grow, share, and improve on the craft and businesses I (we) so truly love and enjoy.

Thank you also for “taking it on the hip” from those that have ulterior motives and would like to tear down what you have accomplished through this site and you magazine.

Well Said, Steve!

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Agreed, Thanks!

BTW - What is up with some people being negative about this site??? Occassionally, I have received an Email that comes across very bitter...Just the other day I got some kind of crazy rant about a product and I am crazy if I listen to anyone here that says otherwise. Is there some sort of rod builder rift that I am unaware of?

-Steve

Tampa, FL

For those who hadn't read it earlier I think Richard Forhan summed it up perfectly in this post


[www.rodbuilding.org]

In the 6 years that this site has been online, we've gotten nearly 300,000 posts from thousands of rod builders. There are currently over 7000 registered users here. In all that time and with all the traffic this forum has had, only about 10 or 12 people have been banned. Usually for very bad conduct and only after they received multiple warnings. But, it only takes a few out of that extremely small number to decide that they weren't treated fairly and then decide to use their time to bother the legitimate users with such emails. Sometimes they take their "case" to other forums which aren't closely moderated and fire shots from those places. Of course, that's one of the reasons that those forums can't build much of an audience beyond a dozen or two dozen guys - the average rod builder isn't interested in that nonsense, they just want to learn about custom rod building.

I've never understood why the few folks who don't like this site, or perhaps me personally, just don't go somewhere else. But then, they seek a large audience and that's tough to find too many other places. So, they continue to come back here, with aliases, private emails, etc. Most of the folks who have the worst things to say about this site spend a good portion of each day here - I see they've been looking in whenever I record the log files for the day's traffic. They just can't stay away.

You will never please everyone and you'd be naive to think otherwise. I do the best I can for the greatest number of people and provide a tremendous amount of leeway in nearly all cases. But there have been a few, rare cases where I had to ban someone or boot a sponsor (again, very, very few) and I firmly believe this site is the better for it. But those very few folks will sometimes continue to try and cause trouble by whatever means they can. Thankfully, we're only talking about a very, very tiny number compared to the total database of registered users and other non-registered readers here. A dozen or so out of thousands, maybe.

And now let's not take this topic into the same realm that the "value rods" topic went. Let's get back to what we do best here - talking about custom rods.

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THANKS TOM..............THANKS FROM THE HEART

As in all business, organizations, publications, forums, and even political parties, sometimes the rise and success of one leaves another headed the other direction.
When the leadership of the one that is not going in the direction they want realizes this, it leaves them with two choices

1-To adjust and turn it around to go in the direction they want.

2 - Blame the one that is being successful for their lack thereof and start a smear campaign hoping to turn things around.
The sad thing is the smear campaigns hurt a lot of people in the process and seldom stop the inevitable. Partly because many people will leave the organization causing the smear campaigns because they simple deicide they don’t like being in an organization with this attitude.
And partly because they are attracted to the one that refuses to partake or bow to the type of garbage they are spouting out.


Sam Walton (Wal-Mart’s) is the perfect example of this.

At one time he and his store were on the verge of bankruptcy. He stepped back looked the situation over adjusted his business plans and became the largest retailer ever.
He did not whine, or complain, or blame anyone else. He took the helm and steered the ship to success. Now the same people that were successes when he was failing want to cry foul and blame his corporation for their lack of success.

I too have received these emails, and for that reason alone I stay here choosing to be part of a group of people that manifest character and integrity that chose to educate and inform others instead of spreading bitterness and hostility.

I appreciate the kind notes, but per the rules. let's just get back to talking about rod buildng. Thanks.

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I've talked to people over the years who thought Mother Teresa was a publicity hound and not a very good person at all. Not comparing Tom to MT, just pointing out that there is nobody that is universally liked by everyone. If you are held in high esteem by most then you are on the right track.

To those that complain: -- - AN EMPTY BUCKET RATTLES THE LOUDEST ! ! !

Steve, a good product form down in the bayou is great for complaints. Boudreaux's Butt paste or Boudreaux's Butt wash www.buttpaste.com is where it can be found. it always lightens the mood atleast

I want to mention, just so there are no bad assumptions made, that neither David Ahrens nor Sevier Mfg. were banned from the site. We have had 2 nice phone conversations and everything is fine.

The unpleasantness that took place was on the part of unrelated parties who were using false names to post under to further their own personal agendas. It had nothing to do with David or Sevier.

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