I wanted to open up a thread about the purpose of the "Roll Call" thread so that more thoughts can be shared.

On the actual "Roll Call..." thread, please just put a single post there so we can use that thread to get a real count of active members.

And thanks and welcome to those who came out with a first post.

A lot of things have changed over the course of time with Pond Boss, Lusk, and the Forum. There have always been internal and open discussions of pros and cons with the forum. Most all of the discussions have been regarding what actions should be taken to preserve and improve the forum, and also considerations for what the forum does, business wise, and as a driver of business to the Pond Boss organization. As time had moved along, Lusk's businesses have changed and/or evolved, or morphed into new or different things.

So, this is an open thread to share any thoughts that you want to share.


On the "Roll Call..." thread, it seems that we have about (45-46) or so members who have replied thus far. I know the number is much greater, so don't be shy.

This forum has opened my eyes to alot. To start off I never realized so much went into them. I started redigging my pond with no clue of what to do. Which dont get me wrong I still have so much to learn about them. Never knew you could get a pond clear in kansas. I have seen a few more natural ponds that had some clarity but never like I'm hearing on here. Always thought every pond had bass, crappie and catfish. Oh man just how wrong was I (lol). This forum has been a place for me to learn alot and also create some hopefully lasting bonds. So to everyone from the people who help pay for this (yellow donate button top left of page). To the moderators who help in discussions with their knowledge down to the grunts like me who ask stupid questions all the time. A GREAT BIG THANK YOU from me.

Hello.

Although I'm far from you all.
I allow myself a little suggestion.

What I don't like are those who are not members and who come to (rinse their eyes), I don't know if the expression is good in English in French (se ringer l'ceil).

There should be an incentive let's say a video section or other, and to access it , you must be a member.
Just a little idea.
A+

azteca, I'm not sure I understand the 'rinse their eyes' comment.

Can you clarify?

I don't get on very much in the winter because we overwinter in a different (more southern) location from where our ponds are located. My interests turn to other things. But I happened to check in today!

Hi folks, Ponds froze over for quite a while in NW Cleveland, brrr. I still check in nearly every day. I recruited two more pond-meisters to the forum and bought one a "Christmas Gift Subscription" which he really likes. He even was persuaded to refurb his pond which I used all I've learned here and by watching Bob's weekly FB broadcasts. What I've found is that the more you know, the more you know that you don't know! LOL. It's always great seeing the friendly folks always willing to lend a hand with their experience and knowledge to those less fortunate in those areas (me). Be Blessed my friends.

Thanks again.

Don in cold NE Ohio.

Hello.

It is an expression that is said of a person who visually enjoys something, like watching video without being a member.
A+

I believe the forum started in the very late '90s or early 2000's.

It was very novel at the time, the idea of specific hobby-based 'sites' where like minded people gathered.

So, we're talking a span of two decades or more.

In that time, social media has essentially appeared, and grown.

Over the few decades, some PB friendships that were developed here ended up shifting more to other media like FB. Certainly, once a friendship develops, ponds may not be the 'bonding' ingredient going forward.

Even Lusk does a well attended Wednesday night gig on FB, as previously mentioned.

So, have we lost activity/interest here due to other social media? Sure, probably, but does that mean we need to change up?

I am into three forums mainly...here at Pond Boss, Amazing Ribs and Golf Simulator. You get what you pay for. I am active on Face Book, but disappointed in offerings of similar forum type groups. Our forums present searchable encyclopedias of knowledge and on the spot members' experiential expertise, and ..the entertainment we enjoy of their documented experiences.
For example, I just asked for ways to sample the pond water at depth and within a day had two great answers. The one I'll try is a cheap twelve volt battery powered water pump dropped to the depth, get a sample! I would still be in Schitt's Creek if I had not found this forum! And I would have more reason for depression without the entertainment and thought provoking discussions...and thank the Lord for Bob's Wednesday shows! (and for a new internet service that works). Look at Amazing Ribs...where else could you follow the development of sous vide technique and smoking to produce perfectly probe tender (good rendering) medium rare (130 F) big briskets...it has become a thing!

It looks to me that there's lots of people out there with ponds searching for knowledge on Face Book...but they're not finding it, the groups on FB just throw comments about. Those groups also don't seem to like seeing a link to or mention of Pond Boss. Maybe a more active FB page, with more posts to capture those folks' attention...with ads for the (pay to play) forum...where they can actually research or simply learn what is needed in every case. Am I missing something? Quite possibly...I'm a retired nuke engineer, not a marketer. LOL

If I make a big production of our pond on Facebook, and make it public or post in a "Group"...I'm liable to be crucified for wasting valuable water to evaporation. On Facebook, I share only with my "Friends." There's plenty of conflict potential right there...if it gets political. Most of my friends will not see it because they haven't shown interest or something? Facebook is good for sharing experiences among friends and family...to those who currently have an interest...but we share all experiences, Easter egg hunts to sausages in the smokehouse.

If the programming was there to embed the forum within Facebook, maybe. To integrate with FB, never! It seems now that anything may be construed to be offensive to some classification of people, whereupon oversight censorship and even cancellation (including the wiping of memory) may be prescribed.

I agree with Dan re FB. They've become so politically correct that you have to watch every word, including facts that they find disturbing.

I think that "facts" have become "beliefs" which vary by what tribe we belong to, especially which political part we identify with. This is no more evident than for beliefs associated with the pandemic. I listen to both extremes of the news outlets, and they both employ selective reporting. When I want to understand a scientific area, I use Google Scholar. Sometimes differing views are expressed on this forum. If so, I head to the primary scientific literature and see what's been researched and what results were found. We are all naturally biased which is why scientists need to be trained to push that bias aside. Even so, double-blind studies are often conducted to avoid this bias, even for well-trained scientists. I find that it is enlightening to listen to my adult children to see what their views are. Just residing in an echo chamber does not promote growth. Respectful dialog among folks with different beliefs just doesn't happen enough.

One thing is certain from a business standpoint.... I'd rather be in control of the basket that my eggs are in than not.

People who have built a business stream or 'following' of FB have mostly found that FB eventually rains on the parade.

Social site, Parler, fell to that fatal flaw when Amazon Cloud shut them down.

Facebook is pretty much a cesspool.

Actually a good point, nvcdl.

At Facebook, as a user, I'm not the customer. I'm actually the product. Me and my personal information are what is being sold.

That's a new development within the span of the life of the Pond Boss Forum.

I don't do Facebook.

"A lot of things have changed over the course of time with Pond Boss, Lusk, and the Forum. There have always been internal and open discussions of pros and cons with the forum. Most all of the discussions have been regarding what actions should be taken to preserve and improve the forum, and also considerations for what the forum does, business wise, and as a driver of business to the Pond Boss organization"

Indeed.

That's probably shared by many, but on the other end of the coin, we can point to many who are there, and active (Condello, Sue Cruz, TJ, DaveDavidson, Overton, Ryan Freeze, LovinLivin, Banks, Grimes, Lusk, Tyler Stubbs, Dave Vanderhider, Omaha, myself, Rainman, Todd3138, Blaine Hession, Blair St.Amant, Trent Lewis, Fattay, Kelly Duffie, Robert Kramer, Bing, DJT, James Holt, rmedgar, Mike Otto, Nate Herman, Dwight Bremer, claybird, Cary Martin, Scott Tucker, Dave Beasley, Chris Steelman, etc.)

That sampling has a vast age spread too.

Once the move to FB happened, ponds were no longer the glue of the relationship.

And that's why I'm not on Facebook.

Oh I understand!! I'm only bringing it up as a factor that can impact activity here on the Forum.

If the forum migrates to FB, count me out.

That's not what I'm saying, just to be clear.

But your sentiment is a clear boundary for many folks.

And all the more reason to avoid letting FB inundate all the Pond Boss folk with what they think is correct and what we should be "interested in " to see and buy. I am convinced that FB knows way more about you than you could ever imagine. Just watch your computer and see how magically FB knows what other sites you have gone to and what interests you have , even with the most restrictive settings you choose.

We should focus on how we can use SM to help PB reach people - turn the tables on them (social media) but not give them access to us.

Try out one of those fake Chinese ads on FB...$39 for an electric bike...you'll never get the bike, but your FB feed will be inundated with more fake ads. I'm thinking FB lets its "trusted" partners peruse our data and target us specifically!

The ads down the left side of the entry page on the Forum...does the Forum get paid for those? I just got an ad for Florsheim shoes; I wore them as a kid (1950s) specially built to roll my ankles out. Maybe they're even digitizing old store receipts, mining data. Ha ha.

And doggone it, there'll be an ad I genuinely want to see, but it'll flip to another ad.

Privacy Badger from EFF. Use it on all your browsers.

That's actually a great point. Doing a "roll call" when we're not in "peak" pond season may yield weaker results than if you were to do one in the late spring or summer, when everything comes back to life from this terrible winter we've had.

Steve, yes, that's the point that Bill Cody was also making.

DannyMac, I run an ad blocker, so I don't see any of those ads on Pond Boss.

Count me out too, if that happens.

No need for scare quotes re facts. I mentioned a fact about criminal behavior that has well established in the literature for over fifty years and got put in FB jail for my trouble. Not because it wasn't true, they didn't even dispute that, but because they didn't like it.

^^^^^That right there^^^^^

Facebook is fine for banter and chit-chat. It is not an archival platform. Poof - gone down the memory hole never to be seen again.

These "old fashioned" discussion boards are like time machines.