Are people taking this hobby to seriously?

[Nabbig2]

IMO the reason why Fido doesn't compare to a fish because dogs are loving, they interact with you. I mean INTERACT not just go to you when your going to feed them like a fish. Plus fish just have that barrier that you can't breach unlike a dog,cat, parrot, hamster, frog, that you can actually take out and play/interact with. Literally a barrier too....the glass. Sure it's great when they breed and follow your hand around, but it's not interacting. A dog or cat will come to you not for food soley at least and want you to pet them or interact with them. Even a guinea pig will after some time get used to their owner and will want that petting that interaction that they get from their owner. A fish on the other hand wants food....that's it. Sure you might be one of the lucky few that the fish seemed happy to see when you walk in the door from work, but really is it happy to see you or happy knowin that your going to feed it?

See, the problem is the assumption that everybody enjoys this physical interaction with animals. What if people hate it? I know many people who don't like interacting with dogs, cats, or other animals.
Fish possess numerous qualities that mammals don't. For example, there incredibly diverse species of fish, each with its own requirements, personality, and appearance. One can keep and study thousands of species of fish over the course of his or her life. With mammals, it's relatively monotonous (again, relatively). Having your pets in a tank also has its perks; you don't need to worry about feces or fur all over the house, or many other problems.

Not everyone seeks that social interaction that dogs and cats can provide, it's as simple as that. Take TV. Is it more interactive than fish? No, but it provides entertainment for many people.

 

[packer43064]

Nice. I'm just saying my 2 Florida gars will never be on the same level as my puppy Oreo or my GF's Hamster named Marvin or my rabbit Fluff. Just not going to happen FOR ME, I agree there are people who might like fish more than a mammal for the reasons that you explained but pertaining to me that's how I see it.

 

[poly-nomial]

Nice. I'm just saying my 2 Florida gars will never be on the same level as my puppy Oreo or my GF's Hamster named Marvin or my rabbit Fluff. Just not going to happen FOR ME, I agree there are people who might like fish more than a mammal for the reasons that you explained but pertaining to me that's how I see it.

That's because you keep more boring fish like raphaels JK!! But seriously i think of my dats as like another pet. Not like JUST a pet fish, but a serious pet. If you know what i mean :S

 

[Nabbig2]

Nice. I'm just saying my 2 Florida gars will never be on the same level as my puppy Oreo or my GF's Hamster named Marvin or my rabbit Fluff. Just not going to happen FOR ME, I agree there are people who might like fish more than a mammal for the reasons that you explained but pertaining to me that's how I see it.

Indeed, my point, each to his own. I used to have a rabbit, and I know the joy the physical and social interaction can bring.

It's this quote that probably disturbed me the most:

It's a HOBBY, not a LIFESTYLE. Some people on this site do go to extremes. Perhaps they lack something in their lives and fish fill that void. I don't mean to be offensive, but we have to keep things in perspective. Fish are not like kids, dogs and cats. They are a hobby.

It was quite unsettling seeing people agree to the bold part; fish are just as much pets as any mammal is. That is the point I want to get across.

As for the kids part...that could be debated as well

 

[phillydog1958]

How do you make the distinction between fish and dogs and cats? Although I'm sure there are some people that do it, fish keepers in general do not keep fish to fill a void; they do it simply for fun. How did you arrive at that conclusion? It's a complex, interesting, and fun hobby. I think you have an oversimplified view of keeping fish.

Fish keeping IS a lifestyle for many people, maybe not for those of you who keep goldfish in a bowl. You can spend your whole life working and then coming home and spending time with your fish; people also make social connections with others about fish. Also, fish keeping can very well be a part of personal identity.

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.

 

[phillydog1958]

See, the problem is the assumption that everybody enjoys this physical interaction with animals. What if people hate it? I know many people who don't like interacting with dogs, cats, or other animals.
Fish possess numerous qualities that mammals don't. For example, there incredibly diverse species of fish, each with its own requirements, personality, and appearance. One can keep and study thousands of species of fish over the course of his or her life. With mammals, it's relatively monotonous (again, relatively). Having your pets in a tank also has its perks; you don't need to worry about feces or fur all over the house, or many other problems.

Not everyone seeks that social interaction that dogs and cats can provide, it's as simple as that. Take TV. Is it more interactive than fish? No, but it provides entertainment for many people.

A fish can't and does not have a "PERSONALITY." Note the root word: "PERSON", which denotes human being. To sum up my point, human beings are the only creatures with a "PERSONALITY."

 

[TheCanuck]

A fish can't and does not have a "PERSONALITY." Note the root word: "PERSON", which denotes human being. To sum up my point, human beings are the only creatures with a "PERSONALITY."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejDNfTwkkAE

I find some fish have more personaility than most dogs. Especailly cats.... Everyone has their own thing. For me a rabbit would be food for my eel and i wouldnt think anything of it while its squeling like a crying baby being sliced to death. 20 pound bunny getting swallowed would be fun, the full size guinie pig was hilarious lol! I find dogging people or calling them crazy or impling they are pathetic for having this love is wrong. If somone likes fish more than dogs thats fine. Most of those little yappy dogs i could feed to my eel and think nothing of it. My dog is awsome, hes a 6'2 grate dane, 160 pounds. His place is the same as my fish. My life.

Lets keep the points clear.... If somone is serious about fish then thats fine. Leave them alone, you have no right to tell them to be any different or complain about it. Its monsterfishkeepers.com serious fish keeping.

Everyone places things at different levels of love in their life. Things they would drop for other things. This thread just shows the difference between the true fish keepers from the hobbiests.... simple as that.

Fish are on this forum. If you like cute little bunnies or dogs theres probably a forum for that.

 

[phillydog1958]

Indeed, my point, each to his own. I used to have a rabbit, and I know the joy the physical and social interaction can bring.

It's this quote that probably disturbed me the most:



It was quite unsettling seeing people agree to the bold part; fish are just as much pets as any mammal is. That is the point I want to get across.

As for the kids part...that could be debated as well

By that odd comment, we can conclude that you are not a FATHER.

 

[livebearerfreak]

every single one of my fish has there own personilty! its just how the owner sees there fish. we are like there God we care for them baby them clean there homes/tanks whatever you wanna call it. if we didnt know much bout them then we wouldnt know if there sick or happy, as of right now i can tell if my fish are *SICK* or *HAPPY* some fish will let you pet them or *stroke* there heads ( meaning petting them but some use that in a diff way ) so all in all my dog and fish are on the same scale level. i love them both the same..

 

[erk419]

A fish can't and does not have a "PERSONALITY." Note the root word: "PERSON", which denotes human being. To sum up my point, human beings are the only creatures with a "PERSONALITY."

Theres different definitions to this word here is one of them.

the complex of all the attributes--behavioral, temperamental, emotional and mental--that characterize a unique individual.

So therefore fish can and do have personality's.