Do What? (a redneck saying that is growing old real fast)

[JennM]

Great reading and thank God for you patient people at the LFS!

A statement such as this is what makes it all worthwhile. *That* is why many of us do what we do, in spite of enormous ignorance and stupidity at times.

In a perfect world, everyone would research before they bought a standard (not reef-ready) 75 g tank and a Sea Clone skimmer at ***smart, a Mandarin Dragonet at ***co and a Sea Apple because it looked "neat" at some shop where nobody informed the consumer that the thing is not only fragile, but potentially lethal ... but the reality is that most do not.

There is also a lot of satisfaction in getting those folks straightened out, and seeing photos or visiting them after holding their hands for 6 months... they first came in with a putrid water sample and 6 months later they have a healthy, thriving system with appropriate creatures and equipment, and have spent some time reading some reference books or hobbyist forums. Now they are hobbyists enjoying what they are doing, not just consumers haphazardly buying whatever catches their fancy at the moment, and wondering why it (and their other creatures) is dead a few days later. That type of "hobbyist" gives up quickly and they will soon have their equipment listed in the Thrifty Nickel for the next sucker to buy...

That's the part of it that etail misses completely and that's the part of it that keeps us going to work every day and inspires us to keep trying, even despite gross ignorance.

Not everyone has an epiphany and starts learning - some just refuse to learn, they just keep blindly doing - but at least if they come to us they learn that we aren't going to steer them wrongly or we won't "let" them make a stupid purchase. Some just keep on peeing on that electric fence - despite all our good work, they will still go out and buy something stupid somewhere, where nobody asks questions. That's the nature of the business.

It's refreshing indeed when somebody comes in, and actually knows about the organisms they are contemplating buying - those are the customers we really live and breathe for - some come in that way the first time - educated and informed... but some we need to work on a bit first

Jenn

 

[clarionreef]

Sure hobbyists can be out of it and not ready for prime time...but how bout the would-be regulators of the trade ?
In a box of hand-made live rock from Bali yesterday a wildlife inspector asked if we could...

1] put water in w/ the live rock for the bristleworms, crabs and mantis shrimps that settle in the bottom of the box...
and 2] declare them ie. the bristleworms, crabs and mantis shrimp on the documentation.

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

:lol:


what a dumba**

 

[clarionreef]

...and cruelty to said hitchhikers was a point mentioned as well.
For self therapy giving , drive-by eco-noobs it could be fleshed out into an issue.

Steve

 

[mark@mac]

Isn't it ironic that comments like that are made by government officials/officers, when "cruelty" to far more animals, but more importantly the ecosystems AND people are often overlooked, or worse yet ignored for the sake of development? e.g. food fishing, mining, construction of homes and malls, etc., etc..... :roll:

Mark

 

[clarionreef]

and theres more...
We nearly got in trouble for an encrusting porites that grew unannounced and unseen to 5 inches across on the 5 months old rock.
I was warned that this incidental coral growth on the handmade live rock must be chiseled off if it exceeds 3 centimeters in diameter.
So...to save the coral we must ....
Steve
PS.
I have to write them in Bali and warn them now to chisel it off of each and every piece.

 

[MartinE]

1] put water in w/ the live rock for the bristleworms, crabs and mantis shrimps that settle in the bottom of the box...

You should just say "Sure if the Government pays for the extra shipping cost due to said water" :lol: