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Re: Elitist

I am not going to respond anymore to any further discussion about the so
called "Elitist" topic. Personally I would rather talk about fish. However I
have a few closing remarks. It amazes me how many people jumped on people
when things are brought up like being "elitist" etc. however when an e-mail
that serves no other purpose but to discourage and quelch any enthusiasm is
written no one says anything. You say you want things to be like they were
30, 20, 10 years ago. You say that the old timers use to mentor and teach
etc.

"What I still see among the old timers like Dave Koran is a willingness to
mentor and teach.  There seems to be, however, somewhat less receptivity to
listen and learn on the part of the younger hobbyists coming up, especially
those who participate in online forums"

Yet I have yet to see any behavior as such from this crowd. ( forgive me
there are a some out there I know) I have strong values and have great
respect for the older generation. My grandpa and me can sit and talk for
hours about WWII and how things were back then. I have the greatest respect
for the wisdom that can be learned from such interaction. I have kids in my
neighborhood who come to me for fish and advice as well as at the school
where my wife teaches there is beginning to be a following. this is
important so we can have Killie hobbyist in the future. My wife has tanks in
her classroom and the kids fight over the weekly chore list to  take care of
the fish. The problem may be that none of you have taken the initiative that
it takes to do this. I will admit I do not know any of you very well and I
hope in time this will blow over and no one holds grudges or bad feelings
and we can be friends. But I am yet to see anyone from the so called "core
group" worthy of such honor. If there were I would think they would have
responded in an impartial way and admonished both sides. In any disagreement
there are two sides I dont think I am totally correct in my thinking but at
the same time I think the "core group" should acknowledge some
responsibility themselves. I am yet to see this. If you want to have the
club that there was 20-30 years ago then act like true leaders and set the
example. Dont whine and attack the newer members, teach us! Frankly some of
the letters have as Doug pointed out been rather discouraging and
condescending. Yet all I have heard is how your not Elitist. It seems rather
defensive to be honest. Yet you continue to drive the younger people away
that you hope to mentor.

There is a proverb that says you reap what you sow. Right now all I see are
core group members discouraging and killing the enthusiasm of new members.
If you want the club to be the way things were in the 60's, 70's etc then
stop attacking the new members and squashing all their ideas. If you want
respect, act like men worthy of it and you shall receive it. Things are the
way that they are because thats what you "core members" have sowed. If you
want things to be the  they were in the "good old days" then stop whining
and do something about it. The other day a newer member asked about his
gardneri fry disappearing I waited for some of the wiser ones to help when
nobody responded I offered my help. ( Please understand there are many folks
who are very very helpful out there!) instead of complaining about how the
new members dont listen and dont want to be mentored take the initiative and
answer some questions be the mentors you claim so much to want to be. I know
that I will now have flames for the next couple of days about this but keep
in mind my take on all this is just this: Lets promote the Killie hobby and
I believe that all this is just killing it. those that want to be mentors
and such should see how they can help new members and keep them. your
behavior has yet to demonstrate this. Anyway I have some eggs to pick and
some water changes to do.

Dave Sanchez
Orlando, FL








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