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Actually, it was about four years ago. I needed to get some experience with the internet. A guy in my IT department suggested I pick an "appropriate" topic I knew reasonably well and see what I could find. It was at a time when I'd taken a hiatus from fishing, my kids were older and I wanted back in, so I typed in "striped-bass fishing". Why I stayed is many-fold. Because the site offers so much in so many different forums. I can express an opinion or seek advice or just read what the more experienced are saying or doing (like the plug builders work I am daily in awe of). There's other sites here in NJ I look at on occasion, but S-B is up on my laptop from the time I get to work until I leave, maybe in part it's because I have a history and strong family ties on Cape Cod and that's ultimately where I will to be. I can jump back in from time-to-time and see what's new and it relieves the stress of my day. Because of the underlying theme we all come here for, I've formed friendships I don't have with people I regularly see face-to-face. The way members support each other in times of crises is practically unimaginable. The site has an integrity that's highly regarded and rarely broken and no matter the level of expertise of the person making a post, it's generally received and responded to with equal integrity and respect. Unless warranted, no one is ever made to feel bad or stupid about asking a question or giving an opinion. I can ramble on for a paragraph and not put into words all the reasons I come back each day. Maybe the better question to ask would have been, "Why aren't you here?"
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