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Experts & Newbies, not Experts vs Newbies
Yesterday, I mailed a post expressing some frustration with some of the
recent postings. I didn't mean to offend anyone, but I do get put-off by the
lack of humility sometimes. This does not mean that I do not respect our most
experienced members. To the contrary, I feel like I ought to ask for
autographs from some of them. I know of no other place where one can converse
with the foremost authorities on a given subject, and I feel privileged to be
able to listen in. My advice, please be patient. If you feel that the
question is too basic for you to respond to, don't. By definition, if you are
an expert on a subject, you have more knowledge than everyone else. If you
limit this discussion group to only experts, you will have only a handful of
folks who are qualified to participate. Also, you will have to establish
credentials as to whom is an expert. Even if you are successful at this, You
will have lost a large group of people who are potentially valuable to this
list. Newbie or not, These people can still comment on a wide range of
topics; Such as new products, plant and fish sources, hardware sources, the
quality of various mail-order houses, DIY projects, and on and on. Are you
willing to deprive yourselves of this, or is your plan to establish a private
elite group and still peak in on the regular group from time to time?
Now for the good stuff, have any of our experts ever thought of
authoring a book on our hobby? I think that we would all agree that there is
a shortage of really good, beautifully illustrated books on aquarium plants.
I would buy it. (providing you kept it affordable) Also, I would like to see
an American viewpoint on the subject. Not that I have anything against our
German and Japanese friends, but I don't believe that they are the only ones
qualified to write books on the subject. My personal preference would be an
illustrated plant identification book with a small how-to section.
How about inventing an affordable substrate heating system, or marketing
a CO2 system that is both well made and affordable? How about a lighting
system? How about making SAE's more available.
These are things that our hobby needs in order to go forward. I think
that, if you consider yourself an expert and you are really concerned about
the future of this hobby, then these are some areas where you could do a lot
of good. Help someone else, and you become a better person.
If more people become involved in our hobby, then more and better
products should become more available at a cheaper price. To use a cliche', "
a rising tide lifts all ships". Excuse me now, I have to get down off this
soapbox.