Here’s the deal—it is ridiculous to start policing everyone on this forum, requiring them to post in a scientifically sound manner. Most posters here aren’t scientists, and if you maintain the somewhat elitist disposition that you’ve been working with, then, well, you’re just going to drive everyone off.
Simply put, you know what she meant when she said what she said, yet you nitpick about word choice. Right now you’re arguing about the word “soothe” on a forum supposedly dedicated to scientific discussion. Think about how preposterous that sounds.
“Similarly, the word sooth has to have a very specific meaning.”
Nah, there is no actual “scientific” terminology that expressly fleshes out the meaning of the word in the first place, meaning you have no argumentative leg to stand on when you assert that she is misusing the word in an “unscientific” manner—the English language is malleable. You cannot bring unspecified word choice into scientific question because there is no science involved.
But if you really want to play that game—soothe, in the English language (not in scientific literatura) refers to mitigating, assuaging, or allaying some unspecified generally negative perception. As none was specified, we can insert just about anything in here---pain, suffering, sorrow, doubt, etc. Let’s say suffering. While this is, admittedly, a subjective term (just like anything that isn’t specifically designated by your so called science), it seems pithy enough to say that a fish that is currently harboring some form of illness is suffering. By aiding in recovery insofar as to destroy secondarily colonizing microbes (and subsequently speeding up the recovery process), we can say that, theoretically, aloe vera COULD have the potential to reduce the amount of time in which the fish was ill, thereby reducing its suffering, or soothing it, as it were.
“I am also actually very skeptical about Melafix and Pimafix and similar products. Almond leaves and peat moss have evidence behind them that they in fact do do something, so I am not as skeptical about them.”
But by your logic, how can you be? There is no literature backing up your claim. At least not one pertaining specifically to tropical ornamental fish. If you can’t practice what you preach, how can you expect everyone else to follow your guidelines? Fun tidbit—during one of my less productive days in the lab during the dog days of one summer, I applied melafix to 2% Ag complete media plates chock full of actinos (it was said somewhere, I recalled reading, that it wiped out myco, but I don’t really work with those, so something similar was the best I could come up with)—I forget which genera, but it pretty much wiped them out. So, at the very least, it is quite a potent antibacterial agent…which is just about the most that can be said for either peat moss or almond leaves themselves
“The bigger point is that I don't think that they necessarily help or do anything for fish in a fishtank.”
That’s fine. The problem is here not the fact that you challenged the statement, but rather that you refuted it based on semantic nitpicking, as well as the lack of published material on the subject. All I am saying is that this is bad science—that is perfectly within the grounds of this forum, which purportedly cultivates scientific discussion. Also, I should be noted that the good thing about AOB/NOB genera found in freshwater aquariums is that they are surprisingly resilient to antibiotics and the like.
“You know what else has anti-microbial activity? Honey. Maybe we should all be putting honey into our tanks, too. And garlic. And copper. And oregano. And cumin. And chili peppers. All of these also have anti-microbial properties.”
Who’s to say we shouldn’t? Just because there is nothing published on the material doesn’t mean it doesn’t work. That’s a logical fallacy on your part. You can discount these things, but if you’re going to do so, let it be something more substantial and less petty than what you posted.
“Just because adding aloe or any of these may "do no harm" certainly doesn't mean that they will do any good!”
I agree. In fact, in all likelihood, I believe you are probably right in that aloe extract does nothing for her setup. But the way you broadcasted this (in terms of bad science) was hypocritical enough that there was reason to point it out.
“And that's what this section is about, to find out the actual facts and not just accept what has been said before as truth.”
You are just as guilty of doing the latter as anyone here, though. Remember your spiel about almond leaves and peat moss? There’s no actual experimentation done on the organism subset in question (or so I assume. I could be wrong)---thus, by your reasoning, one could argue that there are no factual bases behind your claims, hence, that you’re in direct violation of the nonfactual treason clause you claim others to have perpetuated.
Also, you’re deluded if you think that a fish forum chock full of hobbyists is going to get down to the facts of everything posted here---and in a “scientific” manner, no less. Unless of course you have the means for biochemical analyses of aloe vera extract such that you’ll be able to isolate the aforementioned antimicrobial compounds in these leaves and subsequently publish said data. Just, idk, chill out a bit--this subforum is more for discussing the more technical aspects of the hobby. Not all at what you posted.