I've been on reddit for 8 years now, and been a hobbyist closer to 10. When I first joined reddit, it was because of this sub, and the aquarium hobby community as a whole on reddit. It was an absolute inspiration to someone who was new to the hobby, especially before the variety of YouTube aquarium channels existed. Beautiful tanks, knowledgeable hobbyists, and brimming with ideas as to what I could accomplish as I scaled up from the little 5 gallon in my dorm room. But lately, I can't help but notice how drastically different this sub has become over time. I'd like to explain why I'm leaving the space. Feel free to bring on the hate, I think you would only be further proving my point and I'm aware of what I'm inviting by posting this.
Years ago, this sub was very inclusive. It was knowledgeable hobbyists encouraging new hobbyists, showing off their tanks, and overall just enjoying what we had in common. I scoured this sub for hours to get inspiration for what I would be doing next. It was so much fun being a part of this space. But that space doesn't really exist anymore. And sure, I know there are still beautiful full-tank shots, helpful guides, and individuals who truly do want to grow the hobby and help other aquarium enthusiasts. And I see you! I just don't see that as the spirit and the majority of this sub anymore.
Throughout my years of fish keeping, I've come to feel that proper care is a spectrum. You can keep a fish in a Tupperware of mountain dew, and you can keep it in a world-class aquarium. And there are a million and one steps between those two that get you from horrible animal abuse to the pinnacle of fish care. And while I used to see this community always encourage new hobbyists towards the more positive end of that spectrum, the community seems to now been simplified into "acceptable tank" or "How do you sleep at night you abusive monster?" Constantly searching for something to criticize, nitpick, or judge. With insults to someone's intelligence or level of compassion, and discouragement as part of the package. In fact, I've found it challenging to find posts looking for advice or "new tank" that don't have these negative comments. It's become far too binary.
For example, it wouldn't take you long looking through recent posts to find someone looking for advice or just sharing a photo of their tank that is considered sub-par. In the old days of this sub, others would offer advice, perhaps followed up by OP asking clarifying que
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Anyone have suggestions similar to these to keep me depressed?
I’ve really been on a dark, seedy, depressing, gross, semi-disturbing, creepy kick lately. What you got?
Last month the Solana Foundation announced it’s blockchain SOL is carbon neutral, thanks to carbon offsets.
Carbon offsets are attempted reductions in GHG emissions +/ an increase in carbon storage (e.g., land restoration +/ planting of trees). These are done to try to ‘compensate’ for carbon emissions.
But these measures are only bandaids, and not great ones at that. Not even half the average dollar spent on carbon offsets is spent on actual GHG emission reduction efforts - planting trees doesn’t blanket the damage done by fossil fuels like crude oil - and programs like this can incentivize indulgence if one only just has to pay a little more to make the polluting activity ‘carbon neutral’.
Electricity, computers, and thus all of cryptography runs on currently very non eco friendly global power grids. While the amount of power that Bitcoin uses is minuscule compared to central banking expenses and polluting activities; The amount of power anything uses is an important issue we should be continuing to discuss. How can we make blockchain truly more eco-friendly?
I have seen some amazing dexterity online and on instagram with people having intricate designs, but when I do it, it comes out sad and bland… I want to get better! How do you create your eyeliner shapes?
