1968OldsMa - chin up. I am new to the hobby also, just 3 small months. I have learned volumes from the forum and everyone is really nice. And, if someone does seem insulting, usually they don't mean to - they just vent because they have been at it a long time and certain things frustrate them to hear.
One thing I learned for sure in the saltwater world, is that there are lots and lots of opinions. And not everyone agrees to their opinion. I have found more diversity of opinions on saltwater forums than I have on the Oscar forum I belong to.
As a newbie, I haven't expereinced any high and mighty attitudes at all here, but I sure have on my Oscar forum.
I think newbies need to be a little more understanding of the senior pros that have been at it a long time and have vast knowledge and experience. They might not always use the best choice of words, but the intentions are well meant. They are passionate about their hobby. They mean well. And once in a while I have found on my Oscar forum, I did run into someone that came across to me as very arrogant and a pure know it all flaunting ego, I know the feeling it can come accross as unfriendly or insulting.
However, to the pros out there, I know most have good intentions and mean well, but try to be a little more patient with us newbies - everyone has to crawl before they can walk. And the steps are not always easy, remember you were there once yourself.
There is nothing better than a friend on a forum that has great knowledge and you tend to agree with their analysis and logic most of the time and they are friendly and compasionate about their answers. I have found many people on this site like that. Particulary BETH!!! :cheer:
If any of you have Oscars, then a great person is Corrie on the oscarspot.com site. I know of some arrogant names on that site, but I will leave them nameless.
1968OldsMa - welcome to this forum, it's an awesome place and each day I find I am spending more and more time on it. I check new posts every day and have begun to respond to more of them.
A suggestion I can offer you that can help is before you post a thread, look to see in a search if a similar thread exists out there. And then, add a post to that. It keeps the redundancy of post topics down.
Good luck. I too, am struggling with the health of one of my anemones. I posted a thread tonight asking people how long they have their BTA in captivity. It sounds like they don't live very long in aquariums. That is sad, because they are so cool.