Aquaman's Rant!

[aquaman]

Okay, I know this is a message board and all of us are going to post questions to the things we do not know. Hay that is one way that we learn. But I need to air a pet peeve (spelling?) too often people are posting a question and all they want is someone to agree with them, even though they know the answer is wrong. I have seen it here many times, and those of you who post more than I post or have been here longer than I know this even better. If this hobby were painting, sculpting, or some other hobby that did not deal with the lives of innocent creatures in out care it would not bother me, and I know some things are subject to opinion. I am no tree hugger by a long shot, sometimes things die because we are learning, and other times because we did not keep up with the proper care. It is going to happen! However, I have seen people asking, for example, how long can I keep this fish that will get really large in my 20-gallon nano. Most people will tell the person that it is a very bad idea, but there always seems to be one who will say it is okay. All the people who suggest it not be done will then be ignored, in favor of the answer that the poster wanted. Why even ask the question if you are just going to do it any way?! I think that if we take upon ourselves the responsibilities of a life, we need to give it the best living conditions we can or not get it at all. If we cannot give it the BEST conditions DO NOT GET IT! For example unless you have a couple thousand gallon tank DO NOT GET A NURSE SHARK, don’t even ask if you can until it gets bigger because you have the intent to get a bigger tank. First, get the bigger tank then get the animal! I know some times we say we can’t afford the tank, lights, filtration etc. we need to care for this animal yet but we are saving to do so. I say if you are willing to save to get the necessary environment, than you can save and wait to get the fish, coral, anemone etc. Let’s make this a message board that we can feel some pride in (I know we all do) anytime someone new comes to the hobby looking for answers. Sometimes the right answer is not the easy one.
Alright, I am done with my rant, I hope I was clear in what I was trying to say, and I guess I will open myself up to be flamed now.

I just want to see us do the right thing by these creatures even if it means we cannot have one.
BTW, I know most of you are doing the right thing already, and I am not pointing a finger at any one person.

 

[lefty]

I understand what you're saying, and to an extent I agree. But, let's say someone has a one inch fish that has an adult size of, say, 6 inches. I don't think it's a problem to ask if it's okay to keep the fish temporarily in a 20g while they save up for a 100g. The thing with a question like that depends on one thing: Does the fish need the larger tank just because of its adult size or its behavior? This holds true for tangs. They may look small enough to be kept in a 20g, but 95% of the people on this board won't do it because they know the tang will stress out because it needs lots of swimming space. Now, a new person to the hobby would not know this. They would just see a two inch fish and say "Hey, it looks small enough to put in my tank, so how about it?". This is where the kind people on this message board come in and explain why the tang needs a larger tank--not just for size, but behavior. If a person, having this knowledge prior to asking "Can I have a tang in 20g tank?" decides to post such a question looking for someone to tell them it's okay, I see a problem in that. They are being selfish and are NOT looking in the best interest of the fish.
In conclusion, sometimes things come across as "I just want someone to agree with me" when often, it is the person's "n00bness" to the hobby that has kept them from learning the information (yet).
Hope that all made sense!
-lefty

 

[22caddy]

I agree completely with you aquaman. While ranting, this is my biggest pet peeve on all the boards I am a member of, asking the same questions over and over. I mean my god, some of them are on the same page. DO A SEARCH FOR ONCE. I have not had a question yet that I haven't been able to search and find the answer. Save the people here the time and trouble. You are just wasting server space. I am a member of a car forum where I did not go to for sixth months or so. When I did go to it, it was like I never left. Still the same questions. I see the same thing here.

 

[jedi]

Hi All,
As a newbie to the site I would like to ad a little something to this topic.
First off, I echo what Lefty has said.
Now to my own feelings...
I am new to this site, and new to this hobby. As I get into it more and more, and use this site more and more, I am Begining to see some of the frustrations both the hobbiest, and the members here are experiencing.
I began without alot of knowledge, and once I got set up, I started looking online for sites to assist me,so I could provide the best environment possible for my Fish. I found this one.And I am on it CONSTANTLY. Work , home, whenever.
My first post was a question, as I believe most peeps do. And I got some good responses. but, while I waited for the responses I looked around the forums, did a couple searches, and found the answers I was looking for.
Now, I am still new, and still experiencing many of the same issues that newbies have with their first tank. But instead of posting a ? that has been asked a thousand times, I search, read, and then read some more. I say that not as a pat on my own back, but as a statement of fact.
My point is this. MANY MANY peeps do not know how to search. Not that they are lazy,becuase this hobby is definatly not for the lazy. I believe they lack the computer savy to know how to use these types of sites for the gain of knowledge. I have been reading, and although I am no expert, i have been able to answer a few of the easier questions that are asked. But for me, when someone askes the questions, I use that as my own starting point to learn.I may not have the issue that the person asking has, but if I ever do I am thankfull for that person asking, which in turn sent me out to learn what to do IF..
I too am a memeber of a similar type of forum (not Fish). and i too go back and its like I never left. But I am very happy to help those who are seeking answers not for them but for me.
So if I may suggest something. when the question is asked, we find the link to the thread and direct the person to that.
It goes back to the old saying. "feed a starving man a fish and he eats for a day.....Teach a man to fish, and he can eat forever" Or something like that.
Hope this one make a little sence although its a little off topic.
As a newbie I am very grateful for this site, for the information I have gained, and the knowledge I have gained ot provide my fish with the best environment I can.
thanks,
Jedi

 

[aquaman]

As I said, I do not have a problem with people asking questions, nor do I have a problem with people asking the same questions over and over again. My problem comes when we know we cannot do something but are just looking for someone to agree with us, so we can feel justified doing something we know is wrong. Also, I do not have a problem with someone keeping a juvenile in a smaller tank than the adult version will need, but I have a big problem when they say they just do not have the money to care for this fish properly yet. Yes some people will patiently save to get what is needed, so If they are willing to do this, they why can’t they be patient to get the fish? BTW this is not just new hobbyists doing this there are people who have been around in this hobby longer than I who do it.
I am not saying we can’t look to the future, but if we have a nano tank, for example, and we scrape by taking care of that, then how do we expect to save money for a larger tank, when we can’t afford what we are doing now. It is just plain selfish! Again, I know most people are responsible; this is a rant more for those who don’t seem to give a rip. If I have offended you and you are not one of the people who do this, than I am deeply sorry. However, I do not have that same sentiment for those who are guilty, not of a simple mistake, but those who blatantly do this kind of thing.
Okay, my rant is over.

 

[veganman]

Aquaman!
After reading through the forums of this site and several others, I have concluded that this is a problem everywhere.
There seems to be a lack of true honesty.....where opinions override facts to some extent on all of the boards.
I always subscribe to the "research it before you buy it" mantra. I have found it in my best interest to not research on message boards, as the information can be conflicting from board to board (sometimes thread to thread).
What is it they say.........."Don't believe anything you hear and only half of what you read"
Veganman

 

[mbrands]

Originally posted by Veganman
I have found it in my best interest to not research on message boards
Veganman - by that rational, are you suggesting it is a bad idea to seek the advice/opinions of other board users who have experienced keeping the pets I am considering? For example, I got some valuable information about keeping a Hawaiian Spotted Puffy in the Fish Forum that I can't get from a salesman at a LFS. I think it would be more fair to say don't use this as your only research.
Sunny Phoenix, eh? I know a dog sitter in Phoenix.

 

[veganman]

What I meant, MBRANDS, is that I wouldn't regard postings on any message board as scientific fact.
If I needed an opinion or advice, this is the first place I would go, but I prefer reference books and published articles for the facts.
I think I know a retail manager in Phoenix! Small world huh? LOL!!!!!