Richard, I swore to myself that if this thread did turn in the direction you and one or two others have taken it, I would take no further part in it....but sadly, I don't have the will power to stick to that after reading your latest post. You are clearly an intelligent and articulate person, and you state your case well...and I for one do not deny the truth of some of what you say. However, what I will never understand about folk with your attitude is why you think that everything and anything that happens in our lives and world, however much it saddens and affects us, must be accepted with a meek smile and put down to the inevitability of life. It seems that to challenge anything, to refuse to accept, to voice sadness or concern about things that upset us....is wrong and damaging to us as anglers, and society as a whole. One of the favourite and most frequently voiced (and most galling) platitudes put forward by many to support such opinions is that anything that brings about change, anything that worries or upsets us as individuals, anything we see as a threat....should not only be unquestionably accepted, but should actually be viewed as 'a valuable addition and enrichment to the diversity of our lives'. The oddest thing about that statement is that those who spout such....stuff....not only manage to utter it with a straight face....but actually expect those who hear it to keep a straight face as well.
The basics of your views and others that think the same way seems to be that we must always silently accept the inevitable. In the case of otters, it seems that because they are indigenous to this country, because they have returned, because they have a right to be here....then it is job done....so shut your mouth, smile....and spend your next leisure session trying to decide what hobby you would like to have a bash at next. What you must NOT do is say anything on a forum that just might just reach the ears of Joe public, because he/she has been manipulated by the media to see life in an entirely different and cosy way...and do not want that view challenged. To question why that particular animal should be viewed in that way, whilst lord knows how many other animals have been eradicated at the whim of the 'society' at that time....seems unclear. The reason for 'society' once again being on the verge of culling thousands of badgers, with no real scientific evidence one way or the other to prove that this action would be beneficial, or why the fact that the alternatives available would most likely be more effective is being ignored....seems unclear as well.
I should state at this point that I am NOT in favour of wiping out otters....I just question the view that in some way these animals are different, that they in particular are 'untouchables'. I Have wondered, when I have heard the idea muted before, whether otters could be controlled, as in the case of many other wild animals. However, I really am not sure on that point, I must admit it worries me. I recognise that my views are coloured at present by the impending disaster on my much loved local, and will put that one in abeyance until my thinking is clearer.
In your last post, you are once again scathing and sarcastic when referring to those who voice concerns over the EE situation, so I assume (as it would be in character with your 'accept and shut up' attitude) that you are happy with the issues around the current immigration situation as a whole...and the disaster that is quite possibly about to happen? I would happily debate that with you elsewhere if you wish, but not on this thread....that is WAY beyond the scope of this discussion.
Lastly, you say that "Society no longer tolerates many aspects of the relationship that it had with animals and nature a century ago, this is a fact so get used to it; and anglers are members of society whether they like it or not. Therefore it is imperative that we educate society as to what we are about so that they view us as a benign force for the good of nature and the countryside as a whole". Why do you feel that because 'society' no longer tolerates something, that this 'fact' must be accepted by all? Does the fact that 'society' has been led by the nose to think this way at this moment in time seem to you to be necessarily a good thing Richard? Do you seriously feel that this current cuddly attitude will be sustainable if we are to feed the frightening world population figures predicted for the near future? Again, something to be discussed elsewhere in my view, but just my response to your words.
Again, if you seriously believe we must accept whatever views are current in society....how do you justify this statement (and I quote) "Therefore it is imperative that we educate society as to what we are about so that they view us as a benign force for the good of nature and the countryside as a whole." That doesn't seem to lay well with your call for 'acceptance' of established social views does it? Quite frankly, the general public see us anglers (on the rare occasion when we come into their thoughts at all) as bizarre weirdies who spend their spare time indulging in an utterly pointless pastime....and they are not sure, but they think it MAY be cruel, because they think they heard that somewhere once. They don't usually hold very strong views about us one way or another, not least because fish are cold, slimy things that make them shudder just thinking about them, so not really sure what the cruelty thing is all about anyway....especially as East Enders is just about to come on. Apart from the silliness about East Enders, that attitude has held true for as long as men have angled for pleasure....so whilst I don't like accepting things 'just because they are'....I do accept that the chances of changing that attitude any time soon are vanishingly small. I would also wager that YOU know that to be a fact too, and just typed that sentence because it sounded good at the time. The animal rights lobbyists and anti angling brigade are an altogether different kettle of fish of course (pun intended)....but they will do what they do, for political and umpteen other reasons, if they can spare the time required to attack the local abortion clinic or ban this or that bomb, or can undo the chains attaching themselves to a tree somewhere, in time to get to the latest hoot they have organised to harass anglers on the local cut.
Enough....I could ramble on forever, but it wouldn't get either of us anywhere because we are what we are, and neither of us is likely to change the way the other thinks. I just needed to put a tiny fraction of the thoughts and emotions your post managed to set in motion in my brain...what little is left of it.
Dave.