How many informative people have you met in the hobby?

[wild bill]

I don't know about others but some of the most informative and kind people I have ever met are in this hobby. We started keeping fish about 9 years ago and I can truly say it has been a pleasure the whole time. One of the most informative people I have ever met is fellow member RD. When he starts talking I have learned you should really listen. He has probably forgotten more than most of us can hope to remember. My wife has joined 2 aquarium clubs here in Alberta. This has also been a great way to meet people ful of knowledge. The info we have learned here has helped us to spawn close to 50 types of fish. Then one day we happened upon a man who I now consider a friend who builds aqariums. He has been a very kind friend to us.
So what I would like to know is what have others found people like in this hobby. Have people been kind and informative or have you found the opposite.

 

[Anthony Nolet]

I am the only person that I personally know that keeps fish lol

 

[Oddball]

I've met many informative fish-keepers since I began in this hobby. Mostly through aquarium societies I was a member of. I joined NJAS when I started and garnered tons of information and experiences from members maintaining a wide variety of species and systems. These folks also guided me towards resources (books and institutions) where I could continue to gain additional information to improve my aquarist skills. This continued through with additional societies I joined like the San Diego Tropical Fish Society. All the info I gleaned from these clubs afforded me the opportunities of achieving master breeder points from the number and diversity of species I've been fortunate enough to have spawn for me and I've won many awards for the species I've displayed in shows. Keep in mind that most of my learning process in this hobby occurred before the home PC and the internet. Back then, all the best info was derived via word-of-mouth from people passing on their knowledge to the next generation.

 

[HumphreyBear]

Keep in mind that most of my learning process in this hobby occurred before the home PC and the internet. Back then, all the best info was derived via word-of-mouth from people passing on their knowledge to the next generation.

Amen. Whilst I enjoy forums I believe this is still true.

If you have sufficient experience you can survive on forums with a finely tuned BS meter. Unfortunately to get the BS meter tuned you have to have some experience. Chicken meet egg.

I strongly believe that a great many of the best resources in our hobby are not online, or not significantly online. Still, it is nice to come here for those experienced souls who are prepared to share, such as yourself, Oddball.

Cheers,
Humphrey

 

[Aquanero]

I've had the pleasure of meeting many. At last years K2 I finally met Oddball, whom I consider one of the most knowledgeable people in the hobby and a really nice guy. I've spoken to RD on the phone a few times but we've never met in person. George Fear owner of Shark Aquarium is always great to talk fish with and really knows his stuff. Iiving in Jersey has given me the opportunity to meet many of the heavy hitters in the hobby. I've met Jeff Rapps, Aquamojo, Pedro from Aquascape. MFK members, unstoppablejayd, shookones, dogofwar are very knowledgeable. Li the owner of MFK who contributes countless hours and resources to support the hobby at all levels from local clubs to national conventions is a great guy whom I've had the pleasure of meeting on several occasions. Except for very few, this hobby is blessed with some of the nicest and friendliest people I have ever met. I'm proud to be a part of it.

 

[tlindsey]

I've worked for two brothers that I have learned from before internet Recently met a owner of a reputable lfs here the owners is Dave Hale of Somethingfishy, not only is he is a nice guy knows so much about african, and ca, and sa cichlids breeds them in his hatchery. Since joining MFK I'm learning so much from very knowledgeable members, won't mention names because so many have helped me learn something every day Like to say thanks for helping future hobbyists.

 

[wild bill]

Wow I can't believe I forgot to mention the great people hear on MFK. The information I have gained hear is out of this world. Reading yor responses to others Odd Ball told me you were a wealth of information as well. Living here in Alberta you don't meet a lot of other members but I have met a few.

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

Before the internet become popular all my information came from LFS (wrong or right no one know until you experienced it and that's brutal sometime), local fish keepers, and fish clubs. Now, with the ease of internet search and forums you can attain most information with a few key words and clicks...I still love the old school way that lead us to regular social meeting weekly/monthly...Nowadays, technologies making people lazy to go out and hang out in regular basic

 

[Wailua Boy]

There is nothing like hands on experience being passed on word of mouth but I must admit the internet has made a lot of information available to lots of people.

 

[skjl47]

Amen. Whilst I enjoy forums I believe this is still true.

If you have sufficient experience you can survive on forums with a finely tuned BS meter. Unfortunately to get the BS meter tuned you have to have some experience. Chicken meet egg.

I strongly believe that a great many of the best resources in our hobby are not online, or not significantly online. Still, it is nice to come here for those experienced souls who are prepared to share, such as yourself, Oddball.

Cheers,
Humphrey

Hello; So true. I came to the online fish forums after keeping tanks for several decades. I was struck by the amount of BS being posted. Added to it was the stubborn defense of some things I knew from experience to not be a good idea. I am not sure how a novice can select the good advice from all the rest. After a while I began to try to be extra concise in my posts in the hope of making my points as clear as possible. I have also learned to be clear in that I have actually tried a thing or that I have no experience with whatever it is.

I am experienced enough to have some basis to understand what seems right or what is off the wall. While I gained much of my knowledge from trial and error in the distant past, I did run across helpful people all along. I do pick up a gem of information from the threads now and again.

I do like some of the lounge discussions on this forum. In spite of a fair number of boneheads that are around, I have found several forum members I can have a spirited back and forth with in a civil manner.