"It's just a fish..."

[stevetastic]

I have been reading that statement everywhere. Why do people have such a low opinion of fish even if it is someone beloved pet?

What about wild fish? do people care about them at all or are they "just fish" too?

 

[Galapoheros]

I know what you mean I think, I've wondered about it before. I wonder if it has to do with how alien fish are to humans, living in water, not something that can be held and not good for them to even be touched really. No expression in the eyes, like there is nothing there. It's just a shallow appearance thing people are responding to without really knowing it maybe. I like fish though, weirder the better.

 

[stevetastic]

I know what you mean I think, I've wondered about it before. I wonder if it has to do with how alien fish are to humans, living in water, not something that can be held and not good for them to even be touched really. No expression in the eyes, like there is nothing there. It's just a shallow appearance thing people are responding to without really knowing it maybe. I like fish though, weirder the better.

maybe? i feel like T's are pretty darn alien and i'm pretty sure 99% of the people here love em.

I feel like even fishing vs hunting shows disregard to fish. hunting its a quick kill. fishing its a fight then stabbed in the side with a gaff (or net for small fish)then thrown into a bag to bleed or suffocate to death.

 

[Teal]

I think fish are neat! I always had them growing up, and really liked them... mine had personalities, I had bettas and cichlids mostly.

stevetastic - yup, I am sure Ts are "pretty alien" and everyone here loves them... and you can bet there is a fish forum out there, with someone who has a T or two asking the same questions LOL

 

[GiantVinegaroon]

Fish are awesome...especially the North American natives! I got two of my own.

 

[8by8]

I have a 50 gallon fish tank full of all kind on cool stuff. My favorite fish are all the plecos. Got an albino longfin bristlenose that grows like a weed. I do how ever like to go fishing, but only take what I will eat. Got to respect mother nature.

 

[Aurelia]

I've had some really great pet fish in the past. Bettas, plecos, angelfish, even a goldfish! Some of them I would interact with and they would swim up to the glass when I approached and nibble at my finger.

 

[skippy]

i love fish! i like to look at them, catch them and eat them! depending on what kind of fish of course:}:} working on a fishing boat i'm pretty much over the feeling sorry for them thing but i do make sure that they die as quickly as possible. the only reason i don't keep them as well is the upkeep costs in time and money

 

[Shell]

I have always loved fish, however my son's obsession with them has made me appreciate them even more. He is almost 5 and has autism, to him fish (and everything else that lives in the water) are the best things out there. He has a tropical freshwater 20 gallon in his room, and thanks to him I have had numerous Betta's throughout the house. To us they aren't "just fish" but I guess not everyone sees it that way.

 

[Lucas339]

i get attached to my fish so im not one of the "its just a fish" people. i get bumed when i lose one.

 

[Cirith Ungol]

Fish are food to most really. Secondly, fish are wrongfully seen as being very stupid, if you think of the 5 second memory rule for example (which of course is totally false!). Too few people nowadays are keeping fish, compared to the eighties, late eighties, it's just not in the common conciousness how complex, fascinating and very different all types of fish are in all aspects.

 

[stevetastic]

I wonder why the people who have been saying "just fish" aren't coming around this time?

 

[Cirith Ungol]

Why would they? It's just fish.

;P

 

[zonbonzovi]

Why would they? It's just fish.

;P

As a consumerist & pragmatic human/yeti, I am in both camps. On the one hand, my aquatic creatures get top notch treatment & are probably treated better than some human babies. On the other, I love to fish & don't think twice when starting up the grill for a fresh catch or pulling frozen Costco tilapia out of the freezer for a quick snack. That said, I don't use ultralight test line because it could unnecessarily stress a fish that I decide not to keep- you'd be surprised: some of us fisherfolk DO have a conscience about how our game is treated pre-dinner. Anymore, I tend to avoid fishing for natives as their is just too much pressure on their numbers/survival. Bass & stocked trout, though? Limit out & prep the garlic/jalapeno jelly

 

[skippy]

there's 2 lines of thought on the tackle issue:

if you fish heavy tackle- less stress on the fish if you decide to let it go(at least less fighting stress, handling stress is another matter)

if you fish ultralight tackle- the fight will be longer and more drawn out, thus tiring the fish more but it also affords the fish a chance to escape that doesn't exist with the heavier tackle.


i fish light tackle because it's not a challenge otherwise. you might be impressed how quick i can land a 30 lb salmon on 10 lb test though (just over 2 minutes is my record:})



anyone that says "it's just a fish" just hasn't had an emotional attachment to a fish before. nothing more sinister than that.

 

[Rowdy Hotel]

I think fish are awesome, I've kept and bred many species of tropicals in the past and recently got into native lepomis sunfishes, darters, and a few others. I like Tarantulas because they seem so alien, or different, than other animals. I like fish because they're pretty, have interesting behavior, and some (i.e. cichlids) are very smart. Definitely a hell of a lot smarter than tarantulas. I also enjoy fishing but am mostly a catch-release guy, I will keep an occasional bluefish or striper though (striped bass for those not in the know of our New England saltwater fishing vernacular).

 

[zonbonzovi]

there's 2 lines of thought on the tackle issue:

if you fish heavy tackle- less stress on the fish if you decide to let it go(at least less fighting stress, handling stress is another matter)

if you fish ultralight tackle- the fight will be longer and more drawn out, thus tiring the fish more but it also affords the fish a chance to escape that doesn't exist with the heavier tackle.


i fish light tackle because it's not a challenge otherwise. you might be impressed how quick i can land a 30 lb salmon on 10 lb test though (just over 2 minutes is my record:})



anyone that says "it's just a fish" just hasn't had an emotional attachment to a fish before. nothing more sinister than that.

Spot on, sir. I'm always nervous about sharing fishing information because of newb fisherfolk: it's usually unintentional, yet gutwrenching to watch someone: exacerbate a fish fight with light tackle or worse, put a death grip on to-be-released fish or try to save a 10 cent hook by ripping out the gills(often because of not watching their line). 2 minutes is impressive; you must have some beef in those biceps.

 

[skippy]

nah... it's all technique

seriously though, i've spent around 2,000 days fishing in the last 10 years and it's hard to find a challenge anymore

 

[pouchedrat]

I've gone through the same with losing my rats.. "it's just a rat, go get another". You know, people will say the same about cats and dogs even. Hell, my Grandmother told her grandaughter-in-law who lost a baby in labor that she was still young and could always have more. I've heard fairly insensitive comments about a coworker's son who commited suicide recently, even.

I think different people just have different views on life. Some don't seem to have a high opinion on it (or at least, on anyone else's but themselves and close loved ones), while others treasure every second of every creature's life.

 

[Exo]

Anyone who says fish are stupid obviously hasn't been carp fishing....