North Australian FISH FINDER forums

Don't know how anybody else feels but I've noticed a shift in emphasis of culture over the last 5 years in respect of fishing forums.

In the 80s and 90s a lot of fishing/boating clubs went through a similar process.

A bunch of fishing/boating people would put up a clubhouse so they could get together socially with mates/friends to talk about fishing/boating.

With infiltration into the various management committees by people without similar focus, the clubs gradually changed into social clubs with some members who were interested in fishing/boating. The club became the social universe in smaller places.

A lot of internet fishing forums have started going the same way. Most have a live chat area which has become a vehicle for detailed personal or social interchange.

Even the fishing/boating specific posting become diluted with social chat.

Not this forum though.

The chat area is still fishing/boating focused and the postings remain interesting and subject specific.

To me FFF is like an island surrounded by fishing forum wrecks either on the bottom already or in the process of going under. The sad thing is that members seem oblivious to the fact that they've sunk or are in the process. I think that's because of the gradual and usually unintended take-over by the social brigade. Its usually only noticed when its compared to a forum that hasn't changed much and there aren't many like that.

You've just gotta take your hat off to Matt who has intuitively managed this forum and the interests so well. His job has been made easier by some long term members sticking with him and who are happy to maintain the unique culture.

Thanks Ron, it has been an interesting evolution. And yes, there is a good long-term mob on here

The dynamics of the surviving forums have changed. FFF still gets up to four genuine new members a day, but many never post reports, they just ask questions.

Facebook slowed reports down on here as people use their FB pages to show off their catch, but it has been for the better overall as there is less aggro here now, it has gone to FB

get a room you two

The problem with FB is the size of the audience, it's too big and with too many different demographics that have mixed agendas. A post of FB is likely to get 500 likes and 42 comments before I even stumble upon it in my news feed. By then the original contributors have likely had enough and switched off. This fast-paced exchange of opinions is perfect for the trolls. By contrast, here a topic can breathe for a few days allowing a relaxed genuine exchange of information (even if the answer is 5 of us tell someone to buy the FF Mag ).

Another place this is better is the buy and sell. FB is just a filthy pit overflowing with "socially acceptable dialogue" full of people exclaiming "SOLD" and "NIL" and usually by the time I spot an item it 13 people have claimed it and another 27 have first dibs if the sale falls through.

get a room you two

Nah, I thought maybe Ron's post was to start a fight

Interesting what you say Dannett.

Maybe the internet will devolve down to two or three megawebsites.

Matt Flynn wrote:

get a room you two

Maybe the internet will devolve down to two or three megawebsites.

What? Like Google, Facebook and Yahoo?

Matt Flynn wrote:Maybe the internet will devolve down to two or three megawebsites.

Email, Facebook and Porn.

Ronje .... iust had a read of your post.. took a bit of thinking about ... but you are so right in what you say .
a good observation ... and it is relative to so many groups and subjects
Matt .. you have a great site here

nomad wrote:get a room you two

Hope that room has a bed big enough for 3 as you were one of those stayers I was thinking about, Nomad.

Attached is one of any number of diagrams of the various stages that a organisation goes through in its life cycle. The danger point is at the top of the curve where complacency starts to become evident. The organisation tends to lose focus on what's going on around it and starts focusing on itself (self serving).

The trick is to know what's happening before the stage is reached because as sure as night follows day, its downhill after that and a rescue becomes more difficult.

FFF hasn't reached that point and may avoid it as FFF still has its depth to its width ratio in balance.

Cheers

I personally had questioned what has changed.
Not being a Facebookaholic, hadn't considered that.
I can remember when there was many more times as many people on the Site, at one time, as there is now.
I was starting to think there was another Darwin/NT Fishing Site everybody was going too.

If you look at post numbers on various forums, not just fishing, they levelled out and then decreased as Facebook took off.

It seems to have stabilised now.

It will all change again in time, but it's anyone's guess as to how.

Interestingly, if you look at Google Trends, most search terms (no particular subject) have taken a slow dive in recent years.

This still the best forum for Territory fishing, the depth of knowledge amongst the group is impressive and can't be matched anywhere. I know I get frustrated occasionally with some of the comments, but that is the problem when when there is no face to face interaction. I'm not sure if it's tongue in cheek or not. Anyway Matt keep it going.

PS I still haven't unpacked my gear from Groote and as soon as I locate the survey maps I'll put them on the web somewhere, will let you know.

Regards

Gagey