Thats a really good point , I would be interested to see the demographic of the average angler.
The difference between the conversations I have had with other anglers I have met on the canal or at commercials compared to here - is like chalk and cheese.
"you should try so and so commie its easy - the fish are massive too" is the "average" comment I used to get.
But we shouldn't forget that for the average angler catching 20 * 10 LB carp on a day ticket water ( which I have managed to master a couple of times ) is deffo exciting - rod bends round , sound of the line being taken , good fun.
However , even for a happy splodger like me there is a lot of fun to be had not carp fishing , there is a prolific roach water ( public ) by me that I have had fantastic days fishing for roach on a whip and most of the memorable fish I have caught are not carp - 2 massive tench from the canal , a pike from the canal , a very large perch from the canal , a day absolutely catching roach after roach at a public pool.
But also the mentality is , for some anglers is to judge the day on how many carp you have caught , I once caught about 10 carp in 90 minutes on a swim feeder dropped just of the ( artificial island ) , "got my moneys worth there" , for a lot of casual anglers going fishing and not catching a carp is like going out and not pulling - "all the carp were lesbians"
If you join a forum to talk about fishing , as Sam says you are probably not the average angler.