[MDPinUSA]

I believe this thread is related to the aquarium keeping / live stock management qualifications, or lack of them with EB. Also possibly some legal wrong doing.

This is a most interesting thread. Between the many questioners and the few argent supporters, the underlying lack of foundation with some "experts" has been exposed.

I am always awestruck when I witness the raw emotion exhibited by a few that will walk barefoot, backwards, over broken glass, uphill to support someone that they communicated with online or has sent them an email.

Many people want free information from the internet. Few understand the qualifications of the presentor of the information. -- This is a basic problem with our hobby/industry.

E.g. Consider the number of people that cried, whined then got upset when RAG followed the direction of real commerce.

There are several speakers and authors that have more experience than entry to some mid level hobbyists. For these hobbyists some of their information is usable.

Difficulties arise when some speakers/authors attempt to expound/pontificate in areas they are unqualifed to discuss.

Additional difficulties are created when some speakers/authors attempt doing real business vs. their usual online aqua guru act.

A few have realized that the more popular they get with the online crowd, the easier for them to create a book and sell it.

When I read posts by entry level to mid level aquarists that refer to some of todays glorified self-serving hobbyists as "industry leaders".... I realize these folks are in what is commonly refered to as a ... gray area.

I have personally seen presentations by most of yesterdays and todays aqua gurus. As I indicated in an earlier post, a few are nothing less than great. It is the ego driven personalities that pushes themselves to bask in the rays of adoring hobbyists.

E.g. Would you take time away from your family, home, business, pack a suitcase, pack your presentation ... get to your local airport, take off your shoes, belt, undergo homeland security procedure ... wait 90+ minutes for your plane ...travel economy class ...get picked up at your destination by someone from an aquarium club ... make your presentation (usually wearing blue jeans and a work shirt-- Hell of an impression for people that will meet you once. -- Great image of professionism and authority, NOT) ...be treated to a meal ...stay at a Motel 4.5 or sleep on someones living room floor ...get a ride back to the airport ...go through the security checks.. wait another 90+ minutes for your flight ... dig deep for the money it cost for long term parking... Then tell someone like me... "I do this for free.... I have problems paying $40.00+ for long term parking".

But hey, you get what you pay for. We get the enjoyment from a great thread like this when someone like this exhibits one or more of the trates described. -- Some are laughing at my words. Thank you for appreaciating my humor. -- However, the loss of animals, US Govt. stink, etc. is not a laughing matter.

Real experts/professionals do not have the time or inclination to travel to dozens of hobby meetings, post on multiple web sites and be satisfied with aquarium god like status.

Didn't someone already indicate... you get what you pay for?