Understood. I agree with your empirical findings, no problem. Every sane person does.
I disagree with some / most of your grandeur conclusions, apart from something we have all known for a long time -
[1] -- fish are being tank / pond / farm raised in "wrong" water by generations and hence are getting more accustomed to water that's wrong for their w/c kin
[2] -- fish are very resilient and highly adaptable in general but there are exceptions and limits, which are rather well understood for each commonly-kept species by now
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One more time, you are new here and people respond better to someone who shares their passion and experience.
If you don't keep fish and only search internet and get your kicks from raising eyebrows, you won't be taken seriously here.
People don't relate to "Google scholars" and "YouTube crusaders" with no-to-little personal experience.
You will be dismissed as a troll in the eyes of most, I am afraid.
1. So, what do you keep?
2. What have you kept?
3. What's your fish keeping history?
4. Post your fish, tank pics and vids, if you will, so we know better who we deal with.
Pretty please.
Feel free to start your own thread on this topic, which would probably be the right route, and link it here.
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... and not just you, others have made this insane claim as well...
.... The insane, nutty argument that "Well most people never end up with big fish blah blah blah" is pure BS and we know this based on the internet being readily available...
..."Only forum people can grow big fish and most fish die after 2 years blah blah" is completely opposite of a quick google search result.
Please, muster your strength and manners and refrain from insulting everybody / most of us here, if you will, starting from the name calling and ending with putting some sort of arrogant words in our mouth, albeit the last statement about "only forum people" would largely hold water, if softened.