The Keynoter article was obviously written in response to the forum discussions about this topic and as an attempt to quell them.
The consequences of past and present actions within the "leadership" of our hobby is the real issue. The information posted on the opportunitylost website is merely a small window on the mistakes that can affect the hobby, which is the larger problem. Not only are these mistakes in the form of actions, but also from a lack of dedicated research and experience within the hobby, which results in mis-information that is distributed through books, magazines, conferences, web sites, and in forum discussions.
Eric's perspective of the hobby is much larger than most of ours so there may be good intentions he had that will never be realized. My comments are not directed toward Eric, but are directed toward everyone who acts or speaks as a "leader" within the hobby. Some of those leaders perform time consuming research, they set up the necessary experiments or scenarios, they take the time and effort to establish facts, they make sure their information is solid before sharing it. These are the kinds of leaders that the hobby needs and their actions benefit all of us. The kind of "leaders" that the hobby doesn't need are those who rush to publish unfounded hypotheses, rush to fill every niche that may place them in public view, load themselves up with projects they can't complete, and give advice about things they have no experience with. Those kinds of "leaders" are best described in the quote below:
LOL No it doesn't! If anything, it just raises even more questions.
I never eliminated this as a possibility either. Yes, it COULD have been a verbal misunderstanding. This we may never know for sure either.
This is the most bizarre of all the comments I've seen on any forum discussing this. Huge success?! How?!?! Why!?!? What was accomplished?!? If you honestly think that something was accomplished by all this, then I'm afraid you just don't understand what happened at all.
I do know what happened. The 'project' you keep referring to is the relocation of corals large enough to be moved with success. Eric B had nothing to do with that. He was given corals that were too small to be relocated. You stated above that you didn't eliminate the possibility of it being a misunderstanding that he took larger corals than he was supposed to.
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Originally Posted by sihaya
Um, because it's wrong. The only documents posted on my site are official, government documents. And I plan to keep it that way.
It's wrong because you say it's wrong. And as far as government documents being the only thing posted... I guarantee you if someone writes an article from, say, NBC that states Eric B destroyed the chances of hundreds of pounds of corals surviving, it would be on the site. What sort of government documents do you expect to find that would help conclude this matter?
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Originally Posted by sihaya
No. That's how it was SUPPOSED to be. That's not what actually happened. Watch Eric's 2004 IMAC lecture... read his RK article. He took huge colonies. That's what the FKNMS is saying "could have been a verbal misunderstanding." That possible "verbal misunderstanding" is over what size corals he was meant to take.
Right, so it was a misunderstanding (or maybe not)... who cares? He obviously didn't think he was at fault... otherwise I doubt he would be so open and honest about it. He was admitting fault in mentioning what he took. It's possible that that's how they found out he took larger corals than allowed.
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Originally Posted by sihaya
No, it wasn't. Maybe what was left of the corals was transplanted. I don't know. But what happened to the "Borneman corals" just tragic and no good came of it at all. The corals were recalled before the project could accomplish much of anything.
Again, your mention of the project is in reference to what? The project that Eric spearheaded and was completely initiated by him? Or the project that involved moving all colonies large enough to save to another part of the ocean? Because Eric B was not involved in relocating the larger corals - which was a success.
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Originally Posted by sihaya
Response: Sorry, my bad, I honestly did mean that to be an attack. Let me re-phrase: David, please review the documents again. I know they can be a bit hard to follow, but I suspect that you may not have a full understanding of what the original project plans were and what ultimately happened.
It's obvious that this is a personal matter and I think your feelings have gotten in the way of objective judgment. Having said that - good lucking in your quest as you will make no new discoveries. As far as "that's all it took" to discourage Eric B, you have done nothing but hurt and you are either blind to that or just don't care. You have done nothing but encourage rumors and when you hypothesize in the way of hurting somebody's character with barely enough evidence to even make guesses, it's just not right. These 'maybes' and 'ifs' are hurting somebody's character - and it's obvious that it's entirely due to the fact that you have some personal vendetta against him. Good luck finding your 'truth' that you seek.
See, this is what I don't understand David. My tax dollars pay to keep these corals protected. I don't mind that because America has so few reefs in their waters and I want them protected.....however, I want them protected PROPERLY!!! Unfortunately, the corals that Eric touched will;
Never be used for research
Never be transplanted
Your tax dollars pay for Eric B's research?
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Originally Posted by curtswearing
I used to work in Government Contracting. Want to know what happens when you file a FOIA request? You get it ALL as it's cleared for government purposes. If you think that the website that published the results of a FOIA request is one-sided, then the entire government is against Eric.
So where is the rest of the story? As mentioned before, why are parts of some of the forms cut off? I mean really, the author of the website only wanted to save us some scrolling?
Aside from the 'government documents' posted on opportunitylost, why are the people whom are drawing conclusions doing so? I mean I'm asking an honest question... I am not personally involved in this matter. I just want to know what is driving this campaign other than slight curiosity.
This is no longer a discussion on what may have happened. It's clear who has drawn their conclusions. And no matter how many times it's mentioned, we don't have enough information to draw conclusions, and yet we continue to do so. It seems admittingly clear that some of the problems encountered could have been due to verbal miscommunications - and yet, you know what - good luck with your witch hunt guys.
I was also curious why Eric B wasn't issuing statements. If you can't understand why he wouldn't want to involve his colleagues or friends in this matter, then I truly am sorry for you.
Really - good luck guys, and I really hope that you haven't made use of any of Eric B's contribution to this hobby. One of the most popular books written on this hobby - Aquarium Corals - is probably owned by and referred to by each of you quite frequently... and yet you dare to make assumptions slighting the authors character based on so little and incomplete information. Despicable. Don't bother dissecting my post, it won't be read.
Ummm - I don't own the book and have never referenced it. It was published 16 years after my first marine aquarium was set up.
Don't bother dissecting my post? If you won't read a response, then why post to begin with? I find that drive by mentality equally despicable.
I would certainly want to answer for myself at least to my followers when federal documents indicate I have done something wrong. I'd probably post it on my own website and leave it at that, but then I am not a recognized leader in this hobby.
The book mentioned is more of a coffee table book. The photos are spectacular. I would suggest Martin Moe's writings to any serious hobbyist even though his reputation was assailed by EB at one point.
__________________
Ask me why you shouldn't go to Friends University!
Nope...never once said that. My tax dollars are for corals in the sanctuary. (Some of which are now gone forever....hence my sadness).
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Aside from the 'government documents' posted on opportunitylost, why are the people whom are drawing conclusions doing so? I mean I'm asking an honest question... I am not personally involved in this matter. I just want to know what is driving this campaign other than slight curiosity.
I can only speak for myself. I'm NOT drawing conclusions. A number of things happened that don't require any analysis at all. I don't want this to EVER HAPPEN AGAIN!!!
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