Caution! Extremely Opinionated Posting!

[DeeDeeK]

here's what i think could be happening:

• you've been writing to be published so long you've forgot how many people really don't understand you upon the first read.
• you're so educated in the english language you couldn't fathom writing any other way and may have trouble communicating with those of a lesser understanding
• your intended target audience really is only those that can understand you at a glance and respond at a level which you delegate by your original lengthy post in your threads
• you require an intelligent debate about everything... argumentative.

• other... please explain

now, by no means do i intend this to be insulting. when i lay things on the line how i see them i tend to seem to come off that way. if i did so, please accept my apology. at the same time please take a second look at what i've posted in terms of my real intent... to be an eye opener.

have a great day... but be gentle. opcorn:

Yes, there are times when I could use a dose of gentleness and compassion in my writing. Your post IS an eye opener for me and a little ouchy, but only because I'm a tad embarrassed, because your post speaks to me.

What I see now in that first posting of mine in this thread is an attempt to put everything 'aquarium' that is in my head, including the kitchen sink, into a short bit of writing. Being a very gifted person when it comes to language, I can sort of accomplish this but at the cost of being less comprehensible. Clearly I've over amped myself and everyone else with this bit of intellectual 'clown vomit!'

Yes, I do frequently lack composure.

Honestly, being published is a relatively new and rare thing for me but I am learning. I hope that I am contributing as much as I am getting from this thread and others I post on because I'm learning a lot. Arguments, even the same objections over and over again but from different sources, give me exercise as I try to respond clearly, gently, and comprehensibly. The objections of folks who've obviously misunderstood my writing teach me about my own writing, where it's unclear or overly complicated, awkward, or simply too dense with juxtaposed ideas.

The whole process aids me in writing clearer, more focussed, and more understandable pieces.

Funny thing, but my spoken English is far far less sophisticated and intelligent than my written. It's almost as if two entirely different people were communicating

I do like intelligent debate if there is to be debate at all. Preferably if someone objects to something I write or say, they are objecting to something I really did write or say and not just an isolated impression they got from the writing. Also, I prefer to know facts which support my position and expect the same from those I debate with. Finally, I try to argue my points logically and if I'm shown that I'm wrong, I try to adopt or adapt my opponent's argument. I win if I learn something or if I teach something in an argument, whether I'm "right" or "wrong."

Truly, not all of us deal with all things on the same level. I'm refreshed by people who can keep up with or outpace me where language and the realm of ideas is concerned. So, yeah, I write for such readers frequently. I think that's okay, though. If the writing's too tough, too annoying, too long, too dense, or has too many big words for somebody, I encourage them either to try harder and possibly learn a bit or to blow me off in favor of something more their cup of tea. Aquaria Central has many members and every thread isn't for everybody. I can't make heads or tails of many DIY posts involving electronics, careful measurements, etc. but I don't expect them to be tailored to my needs at the cost of not effectively conveying the intended information and techniques.

Alright, I've defended my poor, little ego enough. Your points are well taken and I'm already seeing new possibilities for expressing the content of the first, flamboyant, florid post o' mine on this thread differently, probably in several separate pieces of writing. Perhaps I should think about writing a thing or two with the newb in mind?

Finally, if I am confusing to some (many?) readers, know that it is because I am also confused, not merely trawling for free, raw information and opinions.

 

[DeeDeeK]

If you feel that way, I would consider PMing a mod and asking them to lock this thread and then you could post a new one with a rewrite.

I would personally avoid any references to dog **** sandwiches or whatever myself, as this tends to stand out for me as needlessly offensive and provocative. But it is your piece, not mine

I studied with a master potter, of the Japanese Kenzan line. I joked about something sordid while we were in the studio and she turned away and ignored me for the rest of the afternoon. The next day I apologized and she said no need but did I not agree that everything we take into our bodies affects our bodies and in some small way at least changes them? I did agree. Now she asked did I not agree that everything we take into our minds, through words and our senses, affect our minds and brains similarly to the way food does our bodies. I agreed. Then she said "if you wouldn't sit down to eat a plate of dog ca-ca if I served it too you, why would I stay to listen to the noxious words you were speaking yesterday?"

In other words, my unmindful, ugly words were as doggy do to her sensibilities.

Anyhow if the purpose of the article is to eschew thoughtless decor and extol the benefits of a "mindful aquarium" as you put it, I wouldn't have anything bad to say about airstones, UG or box filters (or heaters, of course) because they are mindful considerations for the fish, and do ultimately contribute to the health and well being of the fish. Maybe I would mention how these are distracting to the aesthetics of an aquarium and every attempt possible should be made to hide them, with perhaps the "gold standard" being one of those Back to Nature modules where all the hardware of an aquarium is behind them

Hmmmmmmm. I think my article needs a single purpose, as you propose. You got moxie, kid! I must rethink and rewrite, maybe scrap the old article for a whole new one. Hmmmmmmm.

 

[platytudes]

Heh! Neat story, thanks for sharing

And thanks for the compliment. I really like how you write, and as a person who writes as well (much more for hobby than for pay) I tend to be rather indulgent myself. Generally I can see clearly in the writing of others (myself...not so much) when things distract or detract, I should say, from the backbone of the piece. Writers tend to get bristly when others suggest we winnow our words. It is often for the best, however...and you are taking it very well, I must say.

 

[dundadundun]

i am glad i was able to return the favor and now have you thinking a bit. i am also thankful i have been able to open your eyes to reflect on yourself a bit.

i do think you should stand by your opinions but that they should be separate from your facts. i think this thread for example could be split in a couple different ways.

i don't think you need to write clearer or dumb it down in any way... just give other options to expand your audience. i believe if you were to ask or pose simple questions prior to writing out such a post as your typical op in your threads you could put things in perspective a bit better before jumping head first into things. i believe allowing yourself to have a better understanding of the topics or community at hand will allow many folks to understand you, where you're coming from and your approach, Q+A, etc. a bit better. i think overall if you were to make the effort to hold back on the lengthy, in depth proportions by posing simple questions and or statements that stand alone in simple threads you'll pull from a larger audience that have different understandings from different situations pertaining to the same idea. at that point i think discussing and/or debating with those who understand better would be more beneficial not only to the readers but to yourself also. basically a simple think tank/Q+A session... or several of them prior to a posting more composed towards being an article or in depth discussion. i have worked for several companies that had people to do specific jobs such as marketing but have delegated a think tank day for their regular employees/factory or warehouse workers/etc. to ascertain certain goals. typically not the people you would ask for marketing but it gets new minds together with different ideologies with new perspective and a different understanding to the table for discussion amongst those that do know better. just one example.

another example... i once worked as a contractor with a guy with a sixth grade education and another guy who finished high school and went on in schooling to become a master/finish carpenter. guess who got the job done faster and better in almost every case? it surely wasn't the guy in the truck for hours on end with a calculator and 12 or so pages of scrap paper. both were excellent at their jobs but one was half finished a days work by lunch time.

there are many, many people out there. most people tend to stick to things the way they understand them, that feed or nurture their strong points or that holds their interest. fortunately many people are interested in arguing and as long as you're posting things that people disagree with you'll get a response either way. however i think you are narrowing your results to people with strong feelings towards or against your point of view, people who don't care if they look like fools, people who are confident enough to reply knowing they may only look like fools even if they're right and those who's opinions or statements cannot be denied. this leaves little room for debate or understanding of simple nuances and bottlenecks the kind of replies you'll get to those that just may be more info than necessary or lack the simplicities that bring everything together. not that that's always a bad thing but there is something to be said about simple common sense thinking in any situation imho.

i wanted to point out that i did not make mention of being published, rather a movement towards that aspect in general in your life or way of thinking/writing.

i have been offered to be published a couple times. frankly i feel it's a slap in the face after being told "wow, this is excellent work" to be told "could you fix this here, and this here, and add a comma there, and re-write this paragraph, and... , and..., and..., ) as if they don't have their own proof readers. then they want you to sign over your rights to your own work. or they want to edit the whole thing and have you sign your work over before they'll accept it for editing. i just don't personally think it's worth it beings it won't be my primary income to be insulted for an article they're only going to pay between $25 and $2,500 for. for all the editing they'd want usually i can make more money in less time with no thinking involved. but then again you can clearly see that writing isn't my strong point anyway...

i am the total opposite. my speaking can and sometimes does completely shadow my writing. i confuse too many people too many times and have to make an effort often to be understood. i do try to live by the motto KISS.

i also think that by visiting the topic on a less technical front prior to bringing it to a full on debate/technical front would help to encourage those that might feel overcome by the topic at hand. maybe if they were to be confronted in a way that they more readily understand or can relate to they'll have something to add to the conversation and most likely it would hold their attention longer for them to gain more from it. like i said... don't dumb it down once it's full on though. that would be lowering your standards as opposed to being more inviting and probably would not do much to move the topic forward to new grounds (which is something i see you like to do, admirably so).

last but not least i'd like to say that your ego seems well deserved and there's nothing wrong with being confuzzled from time to time. we've all been there. if you think writing a thing or 2 with the newb in mind would help, by all means go for it but pushing you in that direction was by no means my purpose or intent... more like opening the field up a bit to allow for more conversing or an easier/better understanding. we surely have plenty of people here who can keep up to par regardless what the subject matter may be. some smart cookies for the cookie monster.

at any rate i've successfully accomplished staying completely off topic throughout my entire posting in this thread. hopefully i can be forgiven. hopefully i have been more a help than a hindrance through all this.

ps. my tanks are all natural-esque at the very least. i don't exactly disagree. clown puke can be an absolutely horrid sight in most cases.

 

[fishorama]

I think there can be a visual balance apart from the choice of decor. I treat my tanks like I do my house & yard with some underlying artistic sense along with random messiness, growth & function. It's often easier to see & comment on someone else's tank than to fix my own, typing is easier than cleaning & rescaping LOL.

I don't think we all need to have the same type of tank but some feeling for design makes for more appealing tanks. Have a neon skull if you want but there can be a more attractive way to display it than plunking in the middle with a rigid row of plants behind, red, blue, red, blue. The same is true of a nice piece of wood or wonderful plant.

It's often difficult starting with small live plants where some grow faster than others, some die, are uprooted or grow hideous algae. Those gorgeous planted tanks are a LOT of work, more than I'm willing or able to do. And they don't always look that fabulous on the way or long after the photo.

But principles of design are similar in all really well thought out tanks. Balance but not necessarily symmetry, a focal point, repeated elements of color, shape or texture, contrast. And of course healthy, happy, appropriate inhabitants.

Geez, a lot of babble without a glass of wine, fine or mediocre. I better go trim plants.

 

[DeeDeeK]

I must retreat to my lair and contemplate all this feedback re. my writing and the reading audience. What will I do tomorrow night? Same thing as I do every night: TRY TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD!

But seriously, folks, even newbies, whatever your approach to an aquarium, let it be mindful and with purposeful intent. If that makes no sense to you, fuggedaboutit, just get started and enjoy despite my lofty words and ideals.

 

[DeeDeeK]

An example previously posted elsewhere I am sure of a tank of mine suiting my personal aesthetic and technical approaches.

 

[12 Volt Man]

it does depend to some extent on what you want to keep.

I love many plant eating fish for example, so I have to have plastic plants in my 150g, but have a fully planted 65g with plant safe fish.

both look good, but different:

 

[fishorama]

Hey 12volt, what that turquoise "design element"? Other than that I see a lot of style similarities: black substrate & background with strong verticals disguising some of the plumbing. Your barb/$ tank reminds me of some of the discus tanks I've seen, though they're usually light colored, with emphasis on just the big fish.

Most of my tanks are similar in ways too, lots of rock/wood for bottom dwellers with floating/bunching low light plants. Can't get away from Stonehenges LOL.

DeeDeeK, That's a very nice pic, plants & fish in a good balance (to me). Is it a full tank shot of a tallish tank or cropped area of something wider? I haven't started to learn tank photography but I can see good areas & less good in most of my tanks...I'm not ready for my close-ups... or any other shots yet although I have a camera now. Glass cleaning is on my list of things to learn...along with focusing & downloading LOL.

 

[DeeDeeK]

DeeDeeK, That's a very nice pic, plants & fish in a good balance (to me). Is it a full tank shot of a tallish tank or cropped area of something wider? I haven't started to learn tank photography but I can see good areas & less good in most of my tanks...I'm not ready for my close-ups... or any other shots yet although I have a camera now. Glass cleaning is on my list of things to learn...along with focusing & downloading LOL.

here's a shot of the tank probably a couple of weeks prior to the cropped one I posted previously. The tank is an Oddysea B9, a tallishly proportioned 9 gallon tank with one 18W PC tube, unfortunately a bit too blue at 10000K color temperature, and a decent (after modding) overhead filter and a small heater. It has a 3" deep DSB. I rarely fertilized it and generally broke the 1 inch o' fish per gallon rule with impunity.