Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Just so theres no confusion, that quote above was part of a series of emails from Cody in the last couple of days, I only quoted it because he said I could.


http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum ... php?t=2555

He is so philosophical

What a dill I`m glad my spider sense went off when he appeared.

DanG - I should know better - I just wasted an hour reading that - it was like watching a train wreck. You know it is morbid, but you just can't turn away.

Cody was one of those wacky ones that I was talking about.

Its a pitty because he did have a good idea (the cooperating to snag grant money bit). I just wonder why he went so rabid so quickly for no reasonable reason that I could see.

I thought that was from it was cody.

In relation to ganrad I don't see anywhere they claim to be experts, I see them trying to become an administrive/ regulatary Organization which if gets started will be able to draw on the expertise of it's members or direct new members to existing members (who may or may not be experts), they are plenty of existing oranizations/boards that do this in many sporting, commerical fields.
With Aquaponics really starting to get some momentum they are trying to cash in this way instead of trying to cash in as claimed experts ( A much cheaper and less risk alternative).
This will depend on how transparent and honest they are, How much clout/knowledge they have with different sections of goverment to set guide lines, standards and certifications. They could be good for the Aquaponics movement. ( I doubt it as they would have done a lot of this before launching the web site.)
Who knows they might offer EB free membership, a place on the board with his knowledge.

( note: I know I'll never become a member and I am not defending them nor a justification as I don't really like being told what I can and can't do. just giving a different view.)

I might have missed parts of there web site so I'll direct you to my signature.

cheers
Ron

Agreed Ron I don't think Ganrad as an organisation or as the individual members of the board..... claim to represent themselves "directly" as experts.... at least not publically on their website

But their sheer claim of right to certify indivduals, groups etc and to deny without reason membership or certification..... would imply to most people that such an organisation and it's member board were indeed themselves recognised by their "peers" in the aquaponics world, academia, and "industry" as either "experts" at capable of displaying a level of expertise recognised by all.

I think "transparency and honesty" or more particularly the "perceived" lack of one, the other or both seemed to be the gist of the whole concern raised by many in the original Ganrad thread Ron.....

The perceived secretiveness and closed "society" type of approach by anonymous people and entities with a self-confessed desire to be the all powerful "worldwide repository" of knowledge and sole arbitor and bestower of "certification" were the very issues that unsettled people.

Eventually some of the principals/ board members were named and those with prior knowledge recogised at least one as having (in their considered opinion) little, or no direct aquaponics experience, other than a system supplied to a relative....

Within weeks of that system being installed and within the next few months appearances were made at various trade shows, a shop opened (next to (literally adjoining) their previous business (one of many registered), website founded and the beginnings of Ganrad formulated and instigated......

It appears that the individual(s) in question, either in conjunction with or under the auspices of Ganrad have installed a "commercial" system for a client.... one which according to an eminent aquaponicist who had some initial dealings with the individual(s) in the formative days of Ganrad and the indiviual(s) shop front ..... is based directly upon an initial system design he provided but never received either recognition or remuneration for.

Don't think anyone has a problem with people take a business risk and setting up and operating a commercial entity as such.....

I think that people, including Rebecca, are concerned that some individuals with no or little knowledge could however perceive aquaponics as "the newest" craze around and attempt to seize the opportunity to cash in without the will of commitment or knowledge available to support a client further than the initial sale and installation.....

Too many failed operations will leave the "aquaponics" concept and the potential for perhaps a degree of "commercialisation" by genuinely knowledgeable operators compromised and poisioned in the minds of the public.

In a free information society, the 3-11 rule of marketing will apply.

When you have a good experience, you'll tell 3 people

When you have a bad experience, you'll tell 11 people.

So I don't think it's worth worrying about .

[nonlawyer]Also, in the US at least, the truth is an "absolute defense" against libel, slander, and defamation[/nonlawyer]

Even though those who are less than stellar in their business dealings will often threaten legal action - it is rare for them to do so in my experience - the reason is that everything comes out in a legal situation and of course, it can notify the authorities about what slime they are. Rarely do they want this.