Help me defend our hobby

[NaClH2Opgh]

Some people will never let these discussions stay civil or intellectual. They rant and spout misinformation and when they have exhausted all that they get personal. saying things like "do you have a wind turbine on your roof?" "you cant comment on environmental issues you are typing on a computer which uses electrcity" etc. It's all very childish.

Regarding solar. I think "never" is a rather strong and maybe misleading word. I met someone last week who is just starting her phd on plastic solar cells. They are cheaper, can be moulded into many different shapes, and you dont need lots of silicone.

By the way, the thread lost its civility when you came in. Love your last statement. Talk about backing up claims. "Oh I met someone"....:lolspin: You were the one that started to take this to a personal level with the name calling. The only childish character that I see is the hypocrisy that spews forth from your keyboard.

 

[Rossini]

Google plastic solar cells. There are 100's of web links. :wavehand:


So calling me a 'greeny' is not name calling then? I only called you arrogant and ignorant after you repeatedly asked me personal questions like "do i run solar or wind" and then claimed it was silly for me to say solar is too expensive for most people to afford at present(which it is).

Please try and be more positive, instead of knocking solutions to environmental problems and the people who want them to succeed.

 

[BennyFrank]

i did not read all 128 posts but i woud simply point out that by keeping these animals you help to ensure they dont go exticnt?

Not really. Only a very small percentage of marine fish can be bred in captivity.

 

[wdt2000]

It is NOT supposed to be adversarial. Yet that is where you get your kicks.

Simply not true.

When someone chooses to share information with you - it is your obvious "will" - (apt name I suppose) to dis-credit, argue, conflagrate, and de-mean.

Simply not true.

I am sorry that whatever your situation is that you feel anyone n the medical equipment field, or apparently power generation is corrupt, or charging too much.

Again not true, I have nothing against medical equipment field. I own shares of Baxter..

As for the power generation and TVA in corruption I am referring to the inspector generals report on the Heath Shuler dealings. I think my power is very cheap compared to the rest of the country.

Let me just be plain. The BEST thing you and I can do for the good of this forum - is to NOT respond to one another. So - I am asking you to not antagonize me.

Again, I was simply pointing out that the App State wind site had done site assessments in the area and found many ridgelines that would sustain wind turbines. If your going to say you have inside knowledge that says different, you should back it up...

As for antagonizing your the one who has resorted to personal insults. If you don't want to respond to me feel free, but I will not be limiting myself. I don't pick the threads I reply to based on who else has replied.

 

[mstrpln03]

Remind them that all the world's coral reefs are in decline. Should we be able to reverse the threats of global warming, ocean acidification and the sand blowing off the African desert and settling on the reefs, then someday our reefs may provide the brood stock to reseed our oceans. And if we can't solve these problems, perhaps in 50 years or so, the corals in our tanks will be the last living specimens. Even your tree hugger in-laws should understand that.

 

[DirtyDeeds]

Just eat lots of beans and hold it in untill they start opening there big mouths

 

[cortez marine]

Guys,
Just read the funding of failure in the post near this one;
What environmentalists are you speaking of. I don't see any.


Funding Failure; World bank initiative pulls the plug on MAC.

 

[wooden_reefer]

Fish for ornament and enjoyment does not have more impact on the ocean than fish for food, as long as the habitat is not destroyed in either case.

 

[lordofthereef]

Wow this thread sort of went on a bit of a wild tangent from where it started didn't it? LOL

 

[Rossini]

Guys,
Just read the funding of failure in the post near this one;
What environmentalists are you speaking of. I don't see any.


Funding Failure; World bank initiative pulls the plug on MAC.

What good have the World Bank ever done for the environment?

All I know of is environmental disasters?

 

[techigirl78]

To the OP, I would really mention it to your in-laws that you were a little nervous about what they may think of your new hobby and that you really appreciated the interest they have shown if you have not already. It seems that while they may live an extreme life, they don't try to force things on others. Although, they may make little comments, I don't think they can necessarily stop that as they seem to have a fundamentally different way of life. It is similar to asking a nun not to mention God.

 

[BIGG D]

Wow this thread sort of went on a bit of a wild tangent from where it started didn't it? LOL

Indeed.
Entertaining though

 

[timdam]

"tree huggers"... that word just makes me laugh! i wonder if they all sit around and call us "fish geeks"!

 

[Pacific Reefs]

Reef aquariums touch almost everyone that looks at them. It has changed my views on the Ocean and conservation. At the same time aquariums may be all we have left as far as corals go in the future and we need to learn as much about them as we can now. I think technology is moving in the right direction to help us conserve power such as LED lighting, pump efficiency etc. Your tree hugger friends/ relatives should be happy that you are trying to educate people with your aquarium. If they were that serious they would move to the middle of no where and grow their own food.

 

[CleveYank]

I have been enjoying the salty scene now for about 2 years. What started off as a father and son project has evolved into a true obsession. We just love it! We started with a 75 gallon and are now cycling our 175 bow front. I see no end in sight (unless we run out of money).

Here the thing. With the holidays approaching I know I will have family over to the house and my brother and sister in law are those tree hugger types. Environmental extremist’s if you will. They also lead a life they refer to as a “minimalist”. Don’t get me wrong. I am environmentally aware myself and commend them for their passion. But, I mean, they don’t even own a car. They want their “carbon footprint” to be as small as possible. They ride bikes everywhere they can… and rent a car when they need one. Their newborn baby wears only cloth diapers. They have no furniture to speak of in their apartment (save trees). Just pillows and mattresses on the floor. Just the bare essentials. Oh…and they named this precious newborn little boy…Crow. Yes…the childs name…is Crow. Good luck with that one kid.

Anyway…Are you kind of getting the picture now? To each his own I suppose.

I know they are going to come into my house this Christmas and “freak” when they see my reef set up. I have lots of nice rock from the Fiji Islands and lots of nice fishys caught in the wild. Oh…and did I mention this guy also is an expert on every subject? (He’s one of those too).

I honestly don’t know how to defend this hobby to a guy like this.
Mainly because… I am afraid he may be right.

Any advice???

No offense intended. But anyone friend, foe or relative that directly or indirectly pushed their aggenda on me within the confines of my own home while eating my food at dinner would be more worried whether they landed on their head or their butt than if I'd accept their views.

As to defense of the hobby. It's come along way. When I started in 89 everything was wild caught.

I posted a poll recently (2 weeks ago) in the SPS keepers forum asking a percentage of hobbyist there that had wild compared to captive grown. The overwhelming numbers were in 85% had all captive bred. Tell that to your eco-belligerent house guests.

Sure there is still that dumbo out there that decides to put 8 square mile range sand shark eggs in a 75. But for the most part...well to be fair for what folks post that they appear to actually be very capasionate about their captive livestock and alot of them put strict limits and catches to whom they sell them too. It used to be thanks for the cash they're yours now. I see alot of folks asking, "say that clown I had to take out and sell to you, still doing ok?"

Tree hugging is actually something all of us should do to a point. We shouldn't shut down GM and become bamboo farmers, but growing a garden, recycling your stuff. Using the really expensive low energy compacts that blow out way before the 2 year warranty. But being eco-nazi's isn't just rude, it's just as radical as the folks who don't recycle as an example because they just don't give a damn.