For the most part, I think we do pretty good staying on topic within different threads. We do veer off a little along the way, though, because our dialogue is conversational. But we usually get back on track, or a mod will step in to remind us.
As for the bill now being pushed by some to possibly become law, whether it's a subject of interest to us individually or not isn't the issue really. It is a relevant topic for discussion within this hobby, so we should hear about it and be aware that this is going on. This way, we're kept informed and it allows us to decide whether we want to get riled up about it or just shrug it off and not pay much attention to it.
I wasn't referring to conversational development, as all conversations eventually transition into other topics. I'm talking about immediate derailment of a conversation by people who wish to talk about the topic instead. It's exactly the same as if you walked into a conversation full of people talking about the weather and interrupted someone else because you wanted to talk about politics instead. It's rude and selfish.
As for talking about the bill itself, I have absolutely no problem with it, people can talk about it to their little hearts' content. Just keep it relevant to the topics at hand, and stop forcing everyone else to talk about it.
As for my own dismissive opinion on the matter, that would be largely because I've been keeping fish and other exotic pets for over a decade now, and know a great many people who have been doing it much longer than I, and we've seen several of these "hobby-threatening bills" come and go. Another one pops up every year or two, usually because something bad happened once and a bunch of people who had no idea what they're talking about called their congressman and demanded a bill. (Snakeheads, Killer Bees, Gambian Rats (Monkeypox), being some of the more memorable) Some of them pass, some of them don't, and they almost never have any significant impact on our hobby, so you'll forgive me for not wanting to waste time becomming outraged at yet another paper tiger. When I come on this site, it's to discuss the keeping and breeding of fish, and the propogation of plants, and the building of tanks, and whatever else I like, not to be forced to talk about something just because everyone else wants to. PLEASE READ THIS NEXT PART CAREFULLY, since everyone keeps missing my point:
I'M NOT TELLING ANYONE NOT TO TALK ABOUT IT. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT WHATEVER YOU WANT. IF IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU, IT IS NOT MY PLACE TO SAY IT SHOULD NOT BE. I ONLY REQUEST THAT YOU LET THOSE OF US WHO ARE NOT INTERESTED GO ON ABOUT OUR BUSINESS ASKING AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HOBBY WITHOUT CONSTANTLY TAKING A BREAK TO ENTERTAIN YOUR FEARS.
I really hope I've made myself clear this time.