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Editorial 4/4/04
Now
Chris is a personal friend of mine, great guy, great angler. I love getting
his take on things. As we talk about our websites, his personal nemesis,
is what I term the "Ethical Police" (E.P.). By definition, these
are the self-imposed authorities who it appears, sole purpose in life,
is roaming the boards, giving the final word on any subject, any person.
Now the greatest problem we have in the Seattle based steelhead world,
is we only have a few steelhead rivers, a few fish, and those anglers
who choose to pursue them. As clearly a dominant flyfishing steelhead
business in Washington, with year round fishing, and three full time guides.
I guess that makes me an easy mark. Forget all the shops, forget all the
other guide services or flyfishing clubs, Dickson is the one, putting
all the anglers on the river. Flattering, but of course not true.
The two modes of Ethics Police: Character assassination vs. the anti-endorsement:
Character assassination is easy: When the scriber comes out and say things
like " I think all guides are whores of the rivers". that is
pretty straight away. Most readers will blow it off.
The anti-endorsement is much more tactical, much more subtle. The writer
is really not trying for a frontal attack. As the E.P. you realize if
you fire out, you are exposed. Someone is probably going to fire back.
No, the better idea here is to come across as an unbiased authority, to
set up a statement with something like " Nothing against Dennis but.......(then
the disparaging remark). The goal is not so much to attack credibility,
but to simply undermine it by erosion.
As in any world of politics, the Ethics Police (E.P.) make up only of
a handful of whiners, but it is critically important to them, that they
come across as the authority and thus speaking for the masses. This of
course becomes "guilty until proven innocent". We as readers
empower them by allowing them to decide who or what is acceptable and
who or what is not. They prey on those who do not have first hand knowledge,
focus is reputation.
The E.P. may even be taking on someone immensely popular with their own
friends and clients. The anti-endorser has to tread carefully here, as
to not stir the ire of the thinkers. In America, if you step outside fairness
too far, someone is going to call you on it.
Chances are the E.P. and the recipient are going to agree on 99% of the
issues, including wild steelhead preservation. E.P. is going to need to
come up with some ruse that makes it appear that the target has some less
than desirable motive for his actions. That is why the fuss about Cop
Car. I can even come out and say, "Seriously, it isn't about a dumb
fly" - but if that is the issue E.P. want to make, (because they
can't seem to find a good one), then that is where they will make the
issue. The E.P. knows he doesn't have to kill the waters, just murky it
up a bit.
So why do the Ethical Police bother with it in the first place?
Alliterative motives: Trust me Pal, the E.P. has his own agenda. I tend
to subscribe to the "it takes a village", gig. If we are going
to save our wild fish, it will only be done by those who care enough to
stand up for it. If the E.P. actually took the time spend some time on
the water with the attacked, they might actually see and hear what we
advocate in schools, on guide trips, is the same things they believe in.
(D. H. not withstanding). Another story.
No, the E.P. of the greater Seattle area are only concerned with themselves.
Their problem is not with me, or any other commercial entity, shop or
guide. They believe these rivers belong to them, and when YOU the angler,
are out there fishing, you are trespassing on their space. Simply put,
they need you to get discouraged with the non-fish catching, and go home,
or chase trout waters. A crazed form of "limited entry." On
the other hand, if you go out with someone like me and catch a steelhead,
chances are you will be back. Not good for the E.P.
So the next time you hear unkind things said about anybody in the world
of flyfishing, simply ask E.P. a simple question. "Have you ever
fished with them?". Take the time to make up your own mind, or at
the very least, find those who have had personal experience with the outfitter.
It won't cost a thing.
"Lets just work together and get along" isn't from Rodney King,
it came from Christ when he said, "Love your neighbor as yourself".
D
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