Guys,
You are describing any political campaign in the country right now.
Granted many reefies don't get out much but we have a thing called Democracy and it does get heated...most of the time.
Here in California, a rich guy paid a fortune to recall the governor, then resigned from running himself while crying on camera,
the governor is accused of being an idiot and a 'sell-out to the energy consortiums',
they're going after candidate Arnolds girl chasing , pot smoking days of youth and accusing him of gang rape,
Chicano Candidate Bustamonte is accused of being a radical, racist from his college days...and then the issues really sharpen.
Much is on the line for these folks and for California. Should they all be civil and 'chat nicely'? When does that happen in the selection of leaders for our Democracy?
The deeper your involvement in something, the more passion it elicits...the shallower you regard something, the easier is is to just pop-in, wag a finger and tell everyone to behave.
The educated elite that seeks to run our country clearly could not live up to the standards of civility being suggested...and often. Thats why we have moder
ators on these forums and at the AMDA Roundtable Town Hall Discussion @ MACNA.
I have been to the general fishkeeping forums and seen dozens of threads where they fight and often bitterly over the smallest of matters. We have been witness to serious donnybrooks between the trades own 'leading characters' over filtration and supplementation! The 'salt wars' are an epic part of our history now and define us as a tribe that will become animated and agressive over seemingly minute things that others can hardly see as contentious.
The coral reefs survival and the hobbys sustainability I submit
are worth the pain it takes to forge policy over. If you don't care enough to fight for this, what do you care enough about?
Be proud of your heart and passion for things greater than yourself...and stand for something people!
Just be sure to break when the moderator says break.
Thats fair isn't it? Surely we don't want a world where people care so little about everything that they are ambivalent and don't care enough to try and make a difference.
Stand up and speak your mind! And don't worry if you get as good as you dish out . Its how Democracy works.
Steve
PS This is a public forum on the Industry behind the Hobby and its understandably not for everyone.