phillydog1958;3922543; said:
How do I make the distinction between cats, dogs and fish? Because fish are cold-blooded, simple creatures who can't love or even care for you. Just because your fish see you walking near their tank and swim excitedly, while looking at you, does not mean that they love you. It simply means that they know you're the "thing" who feeds them. They're responding to your walking near the tank, just as Pavlov's dog salivated when the bell rang. It's pure conditioning, not love or even care. Fish care about 3 things: Reproduction, eating and eating. Some argue that dogs are the only creatures that can offer their owners true, unconditional love. I'm not sure it's love, but I know that dogs and cats are emotionally sophisticated enough to care for their owners and display that care. As far as me concluding that some people do go to extremes and overindulge themselves in the hobby, just read the threads on the site. The proof is in the pudding. I've seen people literally cry and swear that they will not continue the hobby due to a sudden lost of an expensive fish. Where is the fun in that? I've seen people spend money on the hobby and sell off tanks and fish. I know that the economy is bad and that unemployment is at a high. Some people are not balanced in their decision-making. They're spending wrecklessly. This site is a microcosm and snapshot of the bigger world. All of the problems and issues that the rest of the world is experiencing, is also present with many people on this and any other site on the 'net. Some of us are balanced and some of us are not. You said I have over simplified the hobby of fishkeeping? How? I'm not simplifying the hobby. I'm saying that some hobbyist simplify the decisions that they make in reference to the hobby. And, your comment about keeping fish in a bowl does not deserve a response. I'm sure you know that. All I'm saying is that we need to keep it in perspective. I love life. I like my fish. Fish are not my life.
How do I make the distinction between cats, dogs and fish? Because fish are cold-blooded, simple creatures who can't love or even care for you.
If your basis for determining whether a pet is a good companion or not is whether or not it is cold blooded, perhaps you should realize that the fish and reptile hobbies are enormous, and people really love them. Perhaps you would be better off on a puppy forum if you are going to make such shallow judgments about cold blooded animals.
Just because your fish see you walking near their tank and swim excitedly, while looking at you, does not mean that they love you. It simply means that they know you're the "thing" who feeds them. They're responding to your walking near the tank, just as Pavlov's dog salivated when the bell rang. It's pure conditioning, not love or even care. Fish care about 3 things: Reproduction, eating and eating. Some argue that dogs are the only creatures that can offer their owners true, unconditional love. I'm not sure it's love, but I know that dogs and cats are emotionally sophisticated enough to care for their owners and display that care.
You completely missed my point. Did you actually read my post? I basically said that not everybody seeks the social interactions that mammals can provide. Maybe you find that more appealing, but not everybody else does. Not once did I say that fish can love people.
As far as me concluding that some people do go to extremes and overindulge themselves in the hobby, just read the threads on the site. The proof is in the pudding. I've seen people literally cry and swear that they will not continue the hobby due to a sudden lost of an expensive fish. Where is the fun in that? I've seen people spend money on the hobby and sell off tanks and fish. I know that the economy is bad and that unemployment is at a high. Some people are not balanced in their decision-making. They're spending wrecklessly. This site is a microcosm and snapshot of the bigger world. All of the problems and issues that the rest of the world is experiencing, is also present with many people on this and any other site on the 'net. Some of us are balanced and some of us are not.
You are assuming that MFK represents the whole fish keeping community. Not even close to being accurate. You are drawing conclusions from an
internet forum about a whole hobby; most serious fish keepers don't even know about this website. People crying and swearing on the internet doesn't mean anything. It could be some 10 year old kid whining about his 10g that is stuffed with cichlids. People post irresponsible things on the internet all the time; to deduce that that is how the majority of hobbyists go about taking the hobby seriously is narrow minded.
Some people are not balanced in their decision-making. They're spending wrecklessly.
Mind explaining how you arrived at this conclusion? Do you know the financial situations and budgets of others on this forum? Who are you to judge what financial decisions they make?
You said I have over simplified the hobby of fishkeeping? How? I'm not simplifying the hobby. I'm saying that some hobbyist simplify the decisions that they make in reference to the hobby. And, your comment about keeping fish in a bowl does not deserve a response. I'm sure you know that. All I'm saying is that we need to keep it in perspective. I love life. I like my fish. Fish are not my life.
But you
are oversimplifying the fish keeping hobby. If you had any idea about how complex, difficult, and deep keeping many species of fish can actually be, you would realize that
not taking the hobby seriously, in these cases, is a mistake only an irresponsible fish keeper would make.
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Humans are the greatest and most intellectually-sophisticated beings on this planet. I'm, without a doubt, unequivocally, stating that you can't compare a human life to that of a fish. it's not a contest, under no circumstance. I'm also stating that this type of thinking is not balanced. It's exactly what the OP was implying. Are we taking this hobby too seriously? Maybe so . . . If one thinks that a child and a fish can be on the same plane. I'm done . . . I feel like I'm beating a dead horse.
Compare a human life to a fish...what are you arguing here? Do you believe there is some divine being that dictates that humans are superior to other animals?
Why is comparing fish to humans not balanced? You seem to have some superiority complex...I realize that humans generally love humans, and I have no problem with that, but you are objectifying the issue far too much.
For example, what if somebody has received nothing but abuse and torture from humans all of his life, and he decides to take solace in the fact that his fish can provide him comfort? Should he still value human life more than fish life?
maybe your momma lol 
