I think he is spot on.
https://freerangeamerican.us/matt-rinella-unfollowing-hunting-social-media
Quote from: Gentry on December 20, 2021, 01:49:57 PM
I think he is spot on.
Absolutely agree. Thanks for posting this. ...The best dissection of the problems we have with hunting in today's society that I have seen to date. Kudos to the author for telling it like it is! This article should be required reading for everybody! :icon_thumright:
I dunno. The older I get the more I trust what my gut tells me, even when I can't put it into words. My gut feels like there is just one word I can find here. Irony.
Social media and crossguns legal for all the entire archery season are the 2 big reasons for overcrowding IL public land.
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I agree with many of his points and I feel if all hunting was dropped off of Facebook, twatter, Instaglam we would all be better off than if it remains. I despise the look at me, buy my stuff, chest thumping sea of obnoxiousness that social media hunting has created. So glad old gobbler is my only form of social media.However one thing that I do not want to see disappear is the acknowledgement to the reality of things. In order for people to live, plants and animals must die. It seems like everyone is hiding from that fact these days and I fear if it is shoved away and hidden then the hunter will have more of an uphill battle. The reality is, I am willing to bet there are very few, if any, Instaglammers, YouTubers, or facebookers that have the majority of their content on conservation, explaining the benefits of hunting and the proper management of wildlife. Showing the good and bad with a respectful and sincere attitude. However, that doesn't get "likes" and sell merchandise. Instead its a bunch of shooting, whooping and hollering and acting like fools when they kill something. I just wish there wasn't such a desire to be famous and have a bunch of people you don't even know "following" you. So while overall I agree with Matt more than I disagree, I think there could be some benefits of hunting on social media if the right person stepped up who had zero interest in money, "likes" or fame. However I ain't the man for the job and don't want to be the man for the job. I would feel like I was pimping out something very dear to me if I was to step out on that limb.
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By the way, Matt Rinella voiced this very topic on a blood origins podcast a few weeks ago. Sounds like he is going to expound on his thoughts a bit more in the near future
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Using social media to chit on social media, haha.
Many good points, but a bit self serving as well.
Unless I am mistaken, that appears to be a written article. I wouldn't really count that as social media. Regardless, I think the point of this thread is more about the content of the article. Care to share your thoughts or would you rather continue spamming the board with senseless grade school comments?
Personally, I think he is spot on and if you disagree with him you likely enjoy giving strangers "likes" and/or posting your little photos in an attempt to garner admiration From people you will never meet.
I enjoyed the read, however I find it hard to believe he hasn't benefited from the hunting side of social media I mean his brother has pimped hunting out on social media more than anyone in the world. Lol
Quote from: kytrkyhntr on December 21, 2021, 09:02:21 PM
I enjoyed the read, however I find it hard to believe he hasn't benefited from the hunting side of social media I mean his brother has pimped hunting out on social media more than anyone in the world. Lol
He deliberately references that in the article and goes on to talk about the shame he felt when he realized why he was posting on social media. He was Man enough to look himself in the mirror and admit his faults, a trait many are lacking these days.
I understand your point.. but I'm just saying I would be willing to bet you his pockets are being lined in some shape or form from social media. Therefore it's a little ironic. Also I found this article 2 weeks ago on... you guessed it... social media lol just saying if you're so anti social media then just delete it.
I agree with most of what he wrote. I think the key point is to limit putting up photos on social media of dead critters. I quit watching the hunting shows on TV some time ago. The distillation of the hunt to hunt a little bit, kill and pose inside of 30-60 minutes is a completely false narrative of what hunting is about.
Ok, so let's say everyone stops posting pics on social media. What about all the jack leg hunting shows, magazine articles, websites dedicated to making a buck off hunting? I'm talking the canned hunts with all sorts of circus animals, blind hunters where turkeys go to pecking as soon as they come into sight, etc. The stuff that makes a hunter cringe to think non hunting public may see it and think we all do such.
The genie is out of the bottle. Best you can do is use common sense, some do that without some idealist article looking for his own 15 minutes of fame. I've enjoyed watching meathunter because it promoted fair chase. Now I find I'm a bad guy contributing to the decline of hunting. Lol
I agree with much of what he says, I do feel social medial has promoted the "Get one at any cost" attitude and if you take time to read much of what is said there (Social media) it goes completely against what it taught in hunters education classes. I read about quartering to shots with a bow or crossbow quite often and they tend to want to say something to the effect of "I am shooting so and so pounds so my arrow will punch right through" or "I am using a broad head made of one piece of steel and I know what it will do and it will do far more than any other broad head" or other such stupidity. I read "I only shoot them in the head" (even with a bow) comments, only shoot them high in the spine. Well you will drop them yes (Now always with a bow) but then you often time need to take a follow up shot which with a bow or a single shot gun like a muzzle loader can take a bit to get loaded and then shot and in the meantime the animal is laying there suffering. Besides that why would you want to ruin the best meat on the deer by shooting it in the spine anyway?
As far as magazines go I do not think it is the same thing, they were around for many decades and never created the problems I see now with hunting, in many cases those guys were doing a job, loved what they were after and shared it in a respectable manner unlike much of what you see on social media with blood all over the place, a tongue hanging out of a deer which just ruins every shot in my mind, shove that back in there or cut it off but don't include it in the photo, you can even edit it out very easily, basically show the animal with respect if you are going to show it is what I am saying.
Don't even get me going on the vast majority of crossbow hunters I have talked to on both social media and in person (Not just kids, grown adults in their 40's and 50's mind you) that think they can shoot a deer at 100-150 yards and won't listen to you when you try to explain to them "If a deer can jump and arrow at 30 yards what do you think it will do at those ranges?" Or "You can't see obstructions in the woods at shorter ranges what makes you think you will see them at longer ranges?" Or "You are not shooting off your bench rest in the woods" or "You don't have the adrenaline giving you the shakes when you are on your bench at home like you do when you are hunting" They all want to believe what they can do in video games with a crossbow is real. (I am a gamer by the way) Everybody thinks I am anti crossbow, I am not, I am anti stupid people with any hunting implement.
Social Media isn't to blame. If you want to blame anyone put it where it belongs solely on this new breed of hunters and their new attitudes.
It isn't just restricted to hunting. Our whole society has begun rotting from the inside out, and has been for some time. We will continue this downward slide till we hit rock bottom, then people will look around and exclaim, "how did this happen?"
Social media, Social media, I don't have facebook, twitter or instagram I don't see the need for any of it. If I want you to know something I'll call you or text you. BUT if you want to use those things your right to do so. It's all about people wanting to be famous in my mind. Look how reality TV has taken off I don't care to watch it either but have looked at some shows to see what it's about. Big Brother all about back stabbing your fellow man to get ahead to win some money. Fear Factor. Let's see how much we can pay peasants to eat the most ridiculous things. Other shows showing nothing but drama who wants friends like that. No different then actors or singers becoming famous. Getting all the fame that comes with it. Social Media people wanting the same fame. Alex Baldwins fame keeping him from murder charges at this point. YOU or I be locked up for pointing an empty gun at someone and pulling the trigger that killed someone.
Someone put up early not riding your deer around in view of the public not to offend anyone screw that
Ride it around and be proud of your accomplishment. Anti hunters don't need fuel there anti regardless.
If two men can run around in public kissing I can ride around my deer proudly.
The states don't care how many people show up in there state to hunt as long as they're making money everything is about money. How many states has sold turkeys to other states for profit!!!! But won't relocate in the state to less populated areas no money to be made.
That's some of my views on this. If you don't see it that way you are your own person have your on views but don't complain about mine I won't complain about yours.
Quote from: the Ward on December 24, 2021, 06:39:19 AM
It isn't just restricted to hunting. Our whole society has begun rotting from the inside out, and has been for some time. We will continue this downward slide till we hit rock bottom, then people will look around and exclaim, "how did this happen?"
I just noticed this post today and I found the article a good read. In the end I agree with Ward ( I had to chuckle because I think we have had some disagreements to, but truth is truth). I honestly don't know how to respond. I agree with the idea of humility and loving the sport for the honor it brings a great outdoors. I also understand a reasonable pride in the fruits of one's efforts afield. Yet I have always had a disdain for obsessive braggarts (even self-loafing when I fall into the trap). I have found that many of the look-at-me hunters are actually suffering from low self-esteem and need social reinforcement. The other pool are somewhat narcissistic and just want glorified, they even mask it with false humility. Some people just like sharing for the sake of sharing and the thought it will be enjoyable to others. The braggarts have always existed, they just found a bigger platform.
Does this actually do an irrevocable damage to hunting....I am not sure. That is why I agree with Ward, the same complaints apply to almost all of society and everything we do anymore. The fact is there are more people and less resource all the time. In the end I do not think social media, like facebbok and instagram, are good for conservation, but I am not sure they are the doom of it either. Here is a question: If we feel it is all bad are we feeding the beast by participating on
Old Gobbler ? Is it wrong to post kills here as well. I have made some very good friends through social media I would have never known without it and I have benefited from it. I think it has also caused me some grief, but in all my life I have not found the perfect world, I think it's called Heaven and it ain't on earth. In the mean time discussion is one of the most important tools. So this article serves a purpose in that it makes us think about what we are doing. Old age brings a lot of humility to the camp fire and the old sage has learned there are less inquisitions when you mumble areply like, "naww only saw one small one". The questioner then knows better then to ask any further. These old sages have went through the stages and filled the photo albums, puffed the chest out and hung the trophies and now they have finally come to the place every trip afield is a blessing and there is way more peace in stopping to smell the roses then to trample them in pursuit of glory
There's a post on Rokslide about this that has probably over 1k replies at this point. Lots of opinions. Matt is responding to some of them over there but I'm not following along to closely.
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It is an interesting read. I'm now at the age were I don't worry how hunting will be ten years from now. The younger hunters should be concerned however. I do enjoy most episodes of the Meateater shows and actually have bookmarked one turkey hunt that takes place on Montana public land that they don't pinpoint too much and explain why. I believe Matt takes two jakes. To each his own regarding social media. It's here to stay. Merry Christmas.
Great great article until at the end it said "follow Matt" That's social media. Don't look at the other guys pictures and articles. "Look at Mine"
Agree, the main problems are the "new breeds" And the immense numbers of them.
It always amazes me that peoples answers to reducing crowding on public lands is to limit hunters instead of pushing to make more public lands. If states make more money off of public land and its hunting its a clear insentive to add more public access. This can be done by subsidizing farmers and land owners to shelare their land and wildlife. This isnt accomplished by attacking other hunters instead you have to band together and influence the politicians and money always talks.
Most of what he says is true and worth considering. I do not put any pics or "look at me stuff" on the computer. This bought to mind a young guy in the hunt club I belong to. Last fall and previous falls he puts up pictures of the deer that he and his young son shoot. He was upset with me about another topic and asked why when I see his kills on FB that I don't congratulate him. Now doesn't that just speak to this article when the author posted that he was doing it to brag and be told what a good hunter he is? My brother and I do quite well but we don't display anything publically. To do so would make me feel like the author. I don't care who knows or does not know. I hunt for the fun of it and the food that I harvest. Then again I am old and not really part of the "look at me" crowd. The "look at me" crowd is all to evident in all activities today.
If a tree falls in the woods and I don't get the video will I still get the likes?
Get on board with my New Year No Post Challenge. Keep on hunting, but post nothing in 2022. This will prove you've moved past the attention-seeking toddler stage in your development as a hunter and now go afield for mature reasons. More importantly than proving it to others, you'll prove it to yourself. Is hunting still fun without the likes?
this is right on
I think hanging mounted trophies in your house is odd. Does not mean I care what others do. This dude brings up some good points, but none of them really affect me much. There is enough hypocrisy to go around for everyone. A forum is a form of social media. We are discussing and being social. Does it matter if you post pictures of yourself on the FaceSpace or if you hang out on a forum and tell everyone your way is the best and their way is wrong? Market hunters were just responding to public demand for ducks and making a buck at the cost of conservation and they are reviled. Sounds like Social Media warriors to me - mostly the ones that brag about public land birds and then monetize their hunt by likes and shares and selling stuff. Not much different than shilling gear by making a TV show and having sponsors. I feel the problem is the whole "get mine" attitude that is sadly pervasive in today's society. I think Social Media is a symptom, not the disease. Lack of ethics, lack of mentoring (can't judge noobs if you are not helping some), lack of consideration all play factors. I ain't got the answers, but all of it saddens me.
The one thing that I think is most detrimental is hard core hunters not sticking together based on small differences in hunting method, hunting location and hunting style. And I acknowledge I am as guilty of some of these sins as the next guy, they are just different sins.
Like mentioned before I agree with a lot of it but also disagree with a little of it. OG is a form of social media albeit not nearly as popular as others. I like seeing people who are successful and just want to share with their friends, however when it crosses over to a look at me,attention craving, moneymaking sideshow I cringe. I am all for fun and storytelling however I don't feel it should to be done to feed someone's sense of self worth or wallet.
Well put Happy.
Happy just summed up my feelings nicely.
you can take a picture of what you kill without using it as weapon. influncers have created a weapon. the end.
The article needs to be extrapolated a step further. Why are we limiting this to just hunting? It's the same with food, beauty, housing etc. You should be proud of your accomplishments but showing them off to strangers is likely more about bragging than pride.
His dislike is directed to those who have become "influencers". Those, like his brother, whom I like watching, have weaponized social media, YouTube, and hunting shows in general, to make tons of money telling nabobs, "You too can be a successful outdoorsman if you just watch me and buy my stuff." Not the guy who occasionally posts a photo on this Facebook page that goes out to only his friends. I admit, I post photos of me and my family enjoying the outdoors, fishing, hunting, boating, etc. But I have the privacy set to "Friends" only. It's like a private postcard. A way to keep up with my friends who I don't get to see often. I enjoy seeing the posts of my buddies with their catch, kill etc. Used correctly, social media can be great. But there are too many who do it for the money and the consequences be damned.
Look at season structures geared toward restricting public land hunting in the south......Oklahoma and Kansas limits slashed. Look at lack of leftover tags and # of tag application in the Midwest and north.
I hope they are enjoying their little bit of money they made and perceived fame because the cost to displaced local public land hunters is priceless.
Loose lips sinks ships. Didn't their daddies tell them ......
He hit on the main issue here... less land each year + more hunters than ever = more limited opportunity each year. It comes from all sides. Even the many hunters that have had private access for years are losing their access due to bigger money $ stepping in and leasing or buying it. This pushes even more hunters each year to Public.
This issue will just continue to get worse each year. I feel bad for the younger hunters, Public turkey hunting is so pressured it's more like a dove shoot sometimes in most public land, especially Fla. Maybe they will just be hunting in the Medaverse in the future...who knows..