I appreciate it, but I do not feel I have done anything but point out what should have been obvious to any adult. Those that have stooped into gossip, well, theres no reasoning to be done there as they will always find some way to justify their behaviour. Those that have ulterior motives, no changing of that can be done either, although exposure allows reasonable peaple to put things into a more honest context.
And to be honest, those that have something negative to say against me, I really could care less. I have nothing to gain or lose as this is strictly a hobby for me. Throwing such a thing out in the manner in which it was done serves only those that have motive to do so. (save me the "I love the corals" routine please), any adult with half a lick of sense sees what this is. Sadly they appear to be a silent majority. But I can understand that as well. This all just flys in the face of what I think is fair and is a shamefull way to conduct ones self.
OK, well after literally 100's of emails for and against my supposed motives, here is the promised explanation.
1. The email was sent to all existing RAG members who have been active in the last year. It did not solicit any new members.
2. The email was only sent to those who have selected to receive emails from administrators in their control panel.
3. Cuddlefish in his posts have pretty much covered why this email was sent out. However, I will give you a brief synopsis:
The future of our hobby can be directly impacted by this. Imagine all the permits and such that can be denied because of having a bad taste in ones mouth if something did happen. Corals and other endangered or restricted species would not be made available for study because of the possibility of something like this happening again. Thus, I believe it was paramount that our community know and discuss this topic.
I phrased my intro very carefully and basically asked Eric to give an account and if this could really be true. Since this time, Eric has sent me several emails and I have sent one response to him, as the sole recipient in a confidential manner.
I have asked him specifically to summarize his email and post it here on this thread in hopes that it will clarify some points on his position. If he does, that is up to him, but the door is open for him to do so.
4. RAG as a pay to play site. Several have alluded that this site is going down, that this is a ploy to get more users, actually as you can see, not one new user has posted on this thread. RAG became a pay to play site so that we could avoid all the problems associated with having sponsors and having to cater to their whims. RAG is proud to be the only site that is wholly supported by their members. How can RAG give timely, factual, and relevant information when they are handcuffed to sponsors? Don't have competing products because a sponsor might not like it, don't say anything bad about a sponsor because they do not like it.
The banners you see are advertisements, those who advertise on RAG know quite well that our business model will not pull punches. If an advertiser has a bad product, sure they can advertise on RAG but then they must deal with the fall out from the product, much like the magazines and news papers handle advertisers.
Read the threads and you will see which products and such the RAG community uses and recommends then make your decision on RAG's business model. But please next time ask before you make assumptions, just like we asked and several other forums asked Eric to give his side.
I read some other forums and I am very thankful that no one has taken this thread down the "you're a turd" "No you are" "No you are" path.
I did not know what happened and the basics of the story are very important to me. I am a collector. I have been since the heyday of wild live rock collecting. Even though I do not do it commercially anymore the relevance is great to me. I think I may have been insulted but I choose to take the high road and assume that people were not so vitriolic. I will cling to this assumption. It is a good one. No matter what y'all think, I have benefitted. I am here to learn and I have learned a goodly amount. It has changed me in a way I don't feel like sharing right now. Maybe I'll open myself up later.
I was not in contact with Patrick about this thread but he has confirmed some of my assumptions. Sometimes I am right about these things.
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Ask me why you shouldn't go to Friends University!
I have great concerns about the longevity of this hobby when importers are caught selling endangered species.... when animals are taken from the wild without proper collecting technique and/or permits.... when animals are kept in poor conditions and expire... when difficult to obtain collecting permits are granted then abused.
Each time just one of these actions are made public, our hobby and industry gets a black eye.
It would be best for all concerned if Eric posted answers to the questions raised.
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Michael Del Prete
CEO Aqua Craft Products www.AquaCraft.net
Actually, if Mr. Borneman doesn't want to speak on this, I'm sure he has his reasons. Besides, his time to speak was two years ago. If he didn't want to speak about it then, why would he want to speak about it now? He's only being called out now because of the site and reactions to it. And that's certainly no pleasant way to be called to the stage...
charlesr1958 can I ask you what connection you have to Mr. Borneman seeing as he copied you several supposed confidential emails that he sent me.
I have always said right up front that I consider Eric to be an online friend. He also has helped me understand the reefs that I am privelaged to have daily access to. He also is always more than happy to take the time to help me in any number of projects that I undertake on a hobby level. Were he a "stranger" to me, I would most likely not have been as vocal, and just put this sort of thread down to yet another gossip fest or arguement and went about my merry way. I would like to appear so noble as to say that I would have risen to the defense of anyone under such an attack, but that would not have been true a few weeks ago. But since I have been vocal about "fairness", I will have to hold myself to that standard for anyone under such an attack, regardless of who they are, or the accusation being made. It is afterall, the basis of our legal system and something I defended personaly for twenty years. This specific incidence has only raised my own awareness of this subject and has taught me that I have a bit more work to do on myself as well. For others, all I can do is point out what should be the standard we all should strive for and be held to, including myself. In our society, culture, history and religions, all those sayings regarding justice and "fair play" are the reminders to us when we begin to allow our basic, selfish, egotiscal human natures to get the better of us.
To thy own self be true - Those that live in glass houses...- Innocent, until proven guilty - Casting the first stones - and a few hundred others. All very high standards to aim for, but when we fail to try, its really not a pretty sight. That and it is only common sense that when all the facts are not present, any discussion is pretty much useless and downright harmfull to all involved in the attempt.
Honestly, what has any of this really done? I can not think of one good thing to have come of it, all I see is a bunch of accusations, feelings and egos hurt, things said that normaly would not ever have been said, and just an all around really bad taste left in ones mouth, most likely from the rotten egg dripping down off of our faces.
I've sat here for the last five minutes trying to think of what else that I can say to contribute but am at a total loss. I've said my peace a great many times and yet allow myself to be drawn back into it again and again out of sheer frustration. (sprinkled with some ego no doubt as well). As such, having said my peace yet again. I can only shut up now and hope this thread goes the way of all other similiar ones. Ya all have a good weekend.
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