Lol. Most of us are just inland Mainers and don’t know any lobstermen personally. Therefore we judge them from stereotypes and what we read in the news. No doubt this is unfair.

What are the stereotypes? Lobstermen are rich bastards. Lobstering is a closed, “in the family” type industry that doesn’t share the wealth with average Mainers. Lobstermen are belligerent drunks and drug addicts. Lobstermen are grifters who make their living selling revolting prison food to ignorant tourists who think it’s a delicacy. Probably all of this is unfair.

What do we hear on the news? “Lobstermen whine about wind power, say it will destroy industry.” “Lobstermen whine about not being allowed to kill whales, say it will destroy industry.” “Lobstermen rally for LePage, say Mills will destroy industry.” You guys come across as a bunch of whiny, hysterical, selfish motherfuckers in the newspapers. Probably this is not entirely your fault.

If you don’t want to be generalized in this way, express the diversity of your opinions. Organize groups to lobby in favor of offshore wind or whale protections, or to open up the industry and make it less insular and more accessible to people who didn’t grow up in lobstering families. The fact that you are generalized so much is partially your own fault for not showing us your other sides.