Erns and Mike,
Don't be so harsh! As a relative newbie myself (not speaking for Hwong who I think is much more experienced than myself), I realize how difficult it is for a normal hobbyist to take that big step up towards being a more discerning serious hobbyist. It's very often so frustrating. When I ask 10 different hobbyists about something, I can receive 10 different answers. Sometimes dealers and even breeders have ulterior motives when they tell you certain things. And occasionally fellow hobbyists let pride and ego get in the way when they pass comments. It's not easy for me to separate fact and reality from myth and dreams. And that's why I'm here. To learn.
There is of course a mountain of knowledge in the archives here and I frequently search to find my answers. But at times the question I have has not been discussed before, so I post a thread to ask. While it may be a basic question to you "old dogs", it really helps people like me in our quest to move up the experience ladder, so to speak. Sometimes it's just to get second opinions to confirm something.
Yes, this forum is famous (infamous?
) for senior posters being (ahem) slightly rude at times to relative newbies asking questions that are too basic. I realise this, but I'm still sticking around because I know this is the best way to learn (other than the long and expensive way of making the same mistakes that every other hobbyist makes). Remember Jackie Chan being humiliated by his kungfu master at the start? Other boards tend to be less serious in nature and many of the posters are small time garden ponders who salivate at slightly colourful mutts. I don't get a sense that I can learn much from them. Here is the best place for serious koi kichi. Hope I won't be chased away anytime soon!
