[Killietalk] Breeder vs. Blackhole; was RE: Aquabid vs BNL - I prefer BNL

["Ken" <ken_combs at sbcglobal.net>]

Richard, all>

I've dealt with Richard before and have been the grateful recipient of some
of the best fish in my fish-room...I'm just using his post to highlight a
couple of points that I've given a great deal of thought to over the last
few yrs...I'm playing the Devils advocate here for what I believe is a
worthy/healthy discussion: <long>

Richard explained:

"Like most in the AKA, I have a network of friends I have made over the
years, and these people get first crack at rare fish I succeed in breeding.
These are people who have demonstrated ability to breed fish.  This is the
"old-boy network" newcomers complain about and it does exist.  If you don't
like it, tough!  They are my fish and I'll give them to whoever I want.  Put
in the time, learn how to breed, show your fish, and network.  Networking is
the only way to make sure fish get into the hands of those who will put
sincere effort into breeding and distributing fish. No method of sales will
do this, but it cuts new people out of the ability to get fish"

...Truly valid points, and from the angle of "personal satisfaction" that
was given: totally honorable, succinct, upfront and perhaps as a hobbyist
right (again, I've received darn nice fish from Richard and am not inclined
to feel that was directed at me or anyone in particular)...

I'm no better/worse than anyone else here and likely w/o realizing it think
no different than anyone else...But playing Devils Advocate: things get
"complex" if someone widens the scope to claim and encompass more
macro/loftier goals & variables, such as: "master breeder", distributor of
fish; "greater benefit" of the hobby; and club goals/resources...

This issue gets truly "sorted" when one views it from a series of simple
questions: 

-What then distinguishes subjective skill criteria FROM someone's "network
of friends"? (Isn't it totally probable ones list of "master breeder" &
"friends" is one in the same? Or darn close)

-what about the obvious "dual hypocrisy" of someone claiming to be a
club/hobby supporter, then hiding their fish so only their "friends" (or
"master breeders")can have access to their fish?  (my point being: how can
we claim to support the larger hobby/club, but "filter" this support to only
the people we know?) 

-Is giving fish only to people we know really a "personal satisfaction"
thing under the guise of "hobby support"?

- Is the "net gain" truly going to benefit the hobby via "trickle down" fish
distribution? Or is the net gain actually confined to a small network of
people satisfying each other?

-is the "network" really a collection of truly a skilled aquarist, or is it
a function of the fish species we have? (Whether self produced or
not)...What I'm saying here is; are those Skilled breeders associating with
the "gardneri circuit" or just the "Diapteron/rare aphy/rare notho" folks?

I believe I got some valid and complex questions there...I don't question
with whom, where or how anyone distributes their fish per se...... 
...perhaps a right, but easily construed as shallow hypocrisy from a
alternate viewpoint (and truly the catalyst behind the origins of the
persistent "Good-ole-boy" network of "club contributors")...to the external
eye, it's potentially a semi-transparent "club within a club" thing where
the "master breeders" anoint each other based on what fish they have as
opposed to actually being a collection of truly skilled aquarist... <LOL> 

2nd point: a hobbyist reputation as a "blackhole" vs. skilled breeder: 
A true story highlights this dilemma: I got word in a round about way that
one individual "black-listed" me as a killer of his fish, worse he went on
to claim my trade died shortly after he received them...
...Well, dang, isn't that convenient!...of course he feels he was the one
who shipped the healthy fish and I'm the one who killed them, but naturally
it was not the case the other way around...nice!!!

We can't just assume our fish always make a "perfect landing" on the other
end, and the recipient simply sucks at maintaining them...I can think of a
few "self proclaimed master breeders" out here that won't return emails or
even let you know there was a problem to begin with (but sure as hell will
email the "network" about a deal gone south)...

Just saying we should be careful about word of mouth based reputation, and
claims for the reasons we breed and distribute our fishes...

I'm also suggesting here, if the club, or individual, or concerned hobbyist
want to do something good for the hobby via "breeding", then perhaps some
unbiased, non-subjective means of measurement should be visible (BAP points
or something)...I'm also suggesting that perhaps the time is at hand for
some sponsored "hybrid" program encompassing the open commercial market and
conscience organized effort to distribute/breed species...  

Ken...not being a "provocateur", but going outside the box, looking back
in,,,



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