Earning those important brownie points (and other stuff)
It's been some time since my last update/blog.....we had a baby boy. He weighed in at 7lb 9oz and he truly has changed my/our world. If you are a facebook or twitter follower I must say sorry for all the annoying family/baby photo's that now by far outnumber any fishing related posts......I won't stop though as these are my personal profiles. If it upsets you that much then quite simply unfriend or unfollow me.....simple, so dont bother messaging me to stop, I will continue to ignore you.
I haven't been totally inactive fishing wise, I've been earning much valued "Brownie Points".....these are possibly the most common thing between most of us carpers. Without these little beauties most of us would probably never be allowed to leave the house to go fishing overnight, let alone for say 3 days!
What can you do to earn "Brownie Points".....well to be honest I think we are all different and it ranges from simple things, like treating the better half to a take away or further up the scale (worth more points) decorating the bedroom. Basically the points are earned doing things that normally cost you money or hours of your time (sometimes longer than the fishing time you want!).
There are variants and many people will differ to how they achieve "Brownie Points"....another one I have encountered is a thing called "Shopping". This is probably the most expensive method of gaining the points. If you have no other option then be warned, especially if you use a credit card, ensure all your tackle needs are met before "Shopping" commences; this ensures your card is not refused when you need those bag of boilies or essential tackle items you have needed since your last visit to the lake.
I opted for decorating to gain some points recently. I originally was only thinking of a day session or quick overnighter so started on our downstairs toilet, a nice easy job. Since then I have now also done the bedroom, the ensuite and will also be doing the main bathroom and bedroom 2.
This is a common case known as mass banking of points, but be careful, they can sometimes be over spent on just one session. For instance all this work has gained me 3 days on the bank (I'm thinking a winter trip to Farlows), I was expecting to maybe get another 24hrs somewhere as its quite a bit of decorating......luckily the hallway and landing need painting too so I can still negotiate further. Potentially I could have lost some bankside time.
I haven't been totally inactive fishing wise, I've been earning much valued "Brownie Points".....these are possibly the most common thing between most of us carpers. Without these little beauties most of us would probably never be allowed to leave the house to go fishing overnight, let alone for say 3 days!
What can you do to earn "Brownie Points".....well to be honest I think we are all different and it ranges from simple things, like treating the better half to a take away or further up the scale (worth more points) decorating the bedroom. Basically the points are earned doing things that normally cost you money or hours of your time (sometimes longer than the fishing time you want!).
There are variants and many people will differ to how they achieve "Brownie Points"....another one I have encountered is a thing called "Shopping". This is probably the most expensive method of gaining the points. If you have no other option then be warned, especially if you use a credit card, ensure all your tackle needs are met before "Shopping" commences; this ensures your card is not refused when you need those bag of boilies or essential tackle items you have needed since your last visit to the lake.
I opted for decorating to gain some points recently. I originally was only thinking of a day session or quick overnighter so started on our downstairs toilet, a nice easy job. Since then I have now also done the bedroom, the ensuite and will also be doing the main bathroom and bedroom 2.
This is a common case known as mass banking of points, but be careful, they can sometimes be over spent on just one session. For instance all this work has gained me 3 days on the bank (I'm thinking a winter trip to Farlows), I was expecting to maybe get another 24hrs somewhere as its quite a bit of decorating......luckily the hallway and landing need painting too so I can still negotiate further. Potentially I could have lost some bankside time.
Other stuff
Not being out on the bank so much I have had to get my fix from others and have been much more active on social media (although most of my post have been of littlun). I love social media for carp fishing, its fantastic to learn how others fish and at what lakes. Its even better when venues have their own profiles and you can directly discuss or read about specific swims or fish movements and captures.
However, unfortunately there is a downside to social media. There is always someone that knows more than you, would have done better than you, would not have done it that way, doesn't think you did it right, doesn't like your post/blog, perhaps feels offended by what you have written, maybe just doesn't like you (even though you have never met in person) or quite simply wants to give you abuse.......keyboard warriors? maybe. Recently I have spent more time on the keyboard than out on the bank so I probably class as one......quite simply I think some people like the fact they can abuse people via social media as its not face to face.
This is a very sad side to the social media of carpers. I even know a very good carp angler has given the carp world up and is pursuing alternative species just because of this kind of behavior from our so called brotherhood. I also know others that have similar abuse and arguments as well as myself with brothers that perhaps are so opinionated that they believe no one else is allowed one. Heck I even had abuse on Google+ regarding my ALS challenge, on this occasion I did actually become a keyboard warrior as the guy was just rude and didn't think once about other peoples feelings in the things written....his last resort was to delete all his comments and unfollow me. As you can imagine my life couldn't go on......perhaps I'm dumb?!
So much bitching and backstabbing in the carp industry its a miracle there are not any big fights at the shows such as the "Big One"etc. Much of it can be seen around if you look hard enough. At the end of the day though it is an industry where business is business, friends one minute enemies the next. No different to any other industry, we just see it as we are part of the brotherhood over social media.
Of course as always this is all just my opinion, please don't hold it against me or even worse unfriend or unfollow me....that would be devastating :))
The plus side of social media by far outways all these negatives and generally the people I interact with are very polite, funny, helpful and most importantly individual.
Enjoy carp fishing, remember there is always someone that knows more than you but we are all learning more every day, it's how we become the anglers we are.
Failure to listen or see it from another point of view will not help you progress and everyone has and is entitled to an opinion......you can choose your own and voice it, but in a nice way. If you unintentionally offend its no big deal to apologise.
Tight Lines Brothers....may the carp gods be good to you.
However, unfortunately there is a downside to social media. There is always someone that knows more than you, would have done better than you, would not have done it that way, doesn't think you did it right, doesn't like your post/blog, perhaps feels offended by what you have written, maybe just doesn't like you (even though you have never met in person) or quite simply wants to give you abuse.......keyboard warriors? maybe. Recently I have spent more time on the keyboard than out on the bank so I probably class as one......quite simply I think some people like the fact they can abuse people via social media as its not face to face.
This is a very sad side to the social media of carpers. I even know a very good carp angler has given the carp world up and is pursuing alternative species just because of this kind of behavior from our so called brotherhood. I also know others that have similar abuse and arguments as well as myself with brothers that perhaps are so opinionated that they believe no one else is allowed one. Heck I even had abuse on Google+ regarding my ALS challenge, on this occasion I did actually become a keyboard warrior as the guy was just rude and didn't think once about other peoples feelings in the things written....his last resort was to delete all his comments and unfollow me. As you can imagine my life couldn't go on......perhaps I'm dumb?!
So much bitching and backstabbing in the carp industry its a miracle there are not any big fights at the shows such as the "Big One"etc. Much of it can be seen around if you look hard enough. At the end of the day though it is an industry where business is business, friends one minute enemies the next. No different to any other industry, we just see it as we are part of the brotherhood over social media.
Of course as always this is all just my opinion, please don't hold it against me or even worse unfriend or unfollow me....that would be devastating :))
The plus side of social media by far outways all these negatives and generally the people I interact with are very polite, funny, helpful and most importantly individual.
Enjoy carp fishing, remember there is always someone that knows more than you but we are all learning more every day, it's how we become the anglers we are.
Failure to listen or see it from another point of view will not help you progress and everyone has and is entitled to an opinion......you can choose your own and voice it, but in a nice way. If you unintentionally offend its no big deal to apologise.
Tight Lines Brothers....may the carp gods be good to you.
