WalMart blows....

[Jezah]

Emotion, or lack of, wasnt what made your post so not nice sounding. It was a lack of validation. WM is bad yes, but people really are trying to help when they "rescue" a betta. Yes, some may rescue and not complain to the store...but still...its better then the people who simply walk by the fish without a second glance. You just made it seem like the people who were trying to do the right thing, even if it wasnt the way you think is best, were the enemies...or bad people. Thats what set alot of people off. This is a delicate subject, and you, no offense meant, handled it like a big fumbling giant. You were bound to set people off by the way you worded your initial post. I think somewhere....you were just looking for a reaction. I also think though that your point makes sense...I just must stick with my previous point. We are not talking about boycotting clothes....these are living, breathing, FEELING creatures. Creatures you sentence to death to prove a point.

Anywho, I am just letting you know that YOU may not feel being "nice" is the best approach....but it is the ONLY approach allowed on these boards. This isnt any teenybopper chatroom. These forums were made to be friendly open place people could come to with their stories, or to ask advice, without having to fear being made to look like bad people because of it. Now some newbie who just rescued a fish from WM could have come on here to post his story...and saw your post. Now imagine how the person felt. THIS is why this forum is how it is. One little "rude" post is enough to deter someone with good intentions from ever coming back.

 

[wuvmybetta]

are we still talking about the betta problem at walmart?

 

[BettaMomma]

I'd say I put up a suggestion that this topic be closed.
Just a thought - I think it's run its course.

 

[cation]

are we still talking about the betta problem at walmart?

Appparently not. It's become a "critique Jen's posting style" thread.

Which is a shame, because there has been lots of good input and suggestions so far.

I don't have a problem leaving it open, I have a tough skin.

 

[3fsh]

Whew... *lets out large breath of air* Six pages later and I am beginning to become dissapointed in the members of this website... not that this one post has caused it. I have been reading many posts lately that are extremely caustic and seem to have only one purpose: to rile everyone up and get them in silly screaming, name-calling games.

Everyone has a different opinion on "rescuing" bettas from Walmart. Face it, we will never agree on the subject. It's like when liberals debate with conservatives over gun control, or taxes. NO ONE is going to "win" and it will end up simply causing a lot of hard feelings, bitterness, and anger between all involved.

I, for one, would like to keep this forum a friendly and fun place for fish-obsessed people such as myself.

Both arguments I have heard have valid points, both have clear reasons for why they are doing what they are doing. As long as you have the bettas' best interests in mind, I cannot find fault with what you do. That, after all, is the sign of a good fish-keeper.

I suggest that this thread either be closed or moved to the general chat forum that Sorell has set up. It has hurt more people than it has helped. Please shut it down.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Emotion, or lack of, wasnt what made your post so not nice sounding. It was a lack of validation. WM is bad yes, but people really are trying to help when they "rescue" a betta. Yes, some may rescue and not complain to the store...but still...its better then the people who simply walk by the fish without a second glance. You just made it seem like the people who were trying to do the right thing, even if it wasnt the way you think is best, were the enemies...or bad people. Thats what set alot of people off. This is a delicate subject, and you, no offense meant, handled it like a big fumbling giant. You were bound to set people off by the way you worded your initial post. I think somewhere....you were just looking for a reaction. I also think though that your point makes sense...I just must stick with my previous point. We are not talking about boycotting clothes....these are living, breathing, FEELING creatures. Creatures you sentence to death to prove a point.

Anywho, I am just letting you know that YOU may not feel being "nice" is the best approach....but it is the ONLY approach allowed on these boards. This isnt any teenybopper chatroom. These forums were made to be friendly open place people could come to with their stories, or to ask advice, without having to fear being made to look like bad people because of it. Now some newbie who just rescued a fish from WM could have come on here to post his story...and saw your post. Now imagine how the person felt. THIS is why this forum is how it is. One little "rude" post is enough to deter someone with good intentions from ever coming back.

I totally agree with Jezah.
One other thing though cation, with you being a member for so long on here did you honestly not think people may get angry with the way you treated/worded things at first? I totally agree people should be able to speak their mind on here and not suck up to everyone all the time/kiss everyones bums and make everything all sugery and kindergarden/protected- its why i left my last forum cos it was so much like that. But this is still a forum and everyone's gotta be thoughful and responsable on what they say still though.

Anyways...."sigh".... back to topic

From the looks of things, WalMart will sell and mistreat fish for as long as its around at this point in time unless it gets sued or somthing equally damaging, all people can do is spread the word on how bad it is and which Walmarts are bad in what areas as not every one from what i have gathered is evil or whatever.
Walmart will always sell fish but the people here who save them do make a difference, think about it this way;
You are looking through some papers on what WM has sold in terms of fish and how many and how many died in their keeping- say 3000 fish in a year died from WM's mistreatment; wouldn't it be sad if no 1 of those fish had been saved because nobody wanted WM to make profits from those fish despite WM having plans to sell more anyways?
Even if only one person had saved one fish, they would still had made a difference to that fish's life- even better if that person made a scene of some sort at the store- even more better if they decided to work there themselves and educate people on good fish keeping while they sold fish there and looked after the fish too but its still a difference in a chain store that is unlikely to change at this current moment of time.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Oh and i'd also like to add that what about a thread that can be pinned as a sticky once its finished which basically states which walmarts are bad/have a bad reputation in what towns/areas and which ones are good so people know where to go if they want to save and fish and know where to go if they want to buy from a good walmart to help encourage more good behavior in it?

 

[BettaMomma]

I think I am going to type up a "If you want to rescue a betta..." thread tomorrow when I'm not half asleep.

Maybe, just maybe, that can get pinned and be done with it. With suggestions on what to look for in a fish that may need special care, and if you find one - how to care for it, AND how to handle letting the store know what you did, and why.

I'll sleep on it.

 

[Synirr]

[...]even more better if they decided to work there themselves and educate people on good fish keeping while they sold fish there and looked after the fish too but its still a difference in a chain store that is unlikely to change at this current moment of time.

They won't hire me because I'm not a cog *tear*

Ok, actually it's because they already have people in that department and I'm too small and weak to carry 5038403 bags of pet food from the delivery trucks to the shelves, but whatever

 

[wuvmybetta]

Sorry, I had to make a quick phone call and finish a rack of jars before I could catch up..

Anyhoo, I don't know what all the ruffled feathers over closing the topic are about Why does it need to be closed? It seems to me that everything was going smoothly up until a certain point.
Cation and myself are on opposite ends of the stick on this matter but there's no hard feelings between us. It seems we all need to learn how to become part of a community. We're not all of one mind and personality
But now that this thread has turned into an analyzation and a recommendation to take the TFF proper posting procedure course, I don't even know if it can be repaired or brought back to topic. And that's the only reason I see that it should be closed.

say 3000 fish in a year died from WM's mistreatment; wouldn't it be sad if no 1 of those fish had been saved because nobody wanted WM to make profits from those fish despite WM having plans to sell more anyways?

I'm not arguing your point at all because I agree with your last statements. I just want to widen your eyes a bit. Let's say 5 fish die at each Walmart a week. That seems reasonable,right?
Ok 5 fish X approx 100 WM's per state, X 50 states = 25,000 a week. Is my calculation right? I'm going on two hours sleep mind you ) We can even be more reasonable and say 50 wally worlds per state, that's 12,500.

It's a real problem

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Oh and i'd also like to add that what about a thread that can be pinned as a sticky once its finished which basically states which walmarts are bad/have a bad reputation in what towns/areas and which ones are good so people know where to go if they want to save and fish and know where to go if they want to buy from a good walmart to help encourage more good behavior in it?

What does everyone think of my idea though or is it bad ?

 

[wuvmybetta]

I don't think it's in the forums best interest to pin a topic about bashing a store. Members are welcome to start topics, discuss it,whatever but when we pin it...it's kind of like we're (the forum itself) the one's promoting the bashing (if that's what you want to call it?). Anyway, there's many reasons regarding lawsuits that we want no part of. There's a thread in TCC with a lady who works for WM (rabbitlady?) and she welcomes any and all complaints and passes them along to the corporation.

 

[gaya]

I think it would be a great idea to try and organize some kind of yearly protest. I don’t keep bettas but I’ll protest WM for what ever reason, just give me an excuse; fish, child labor, mom and pops going out of business, what ever. I’m sure I could drag a few people with me too!
As far as Jen’s crassness…eh…the only reason I even poked in this thread is cuz it was hers. always interesting.

 

[eudielynn]

This thread gives me a headache. Every Walmart is different just like every betta and every person. Mine has gone from being a betta torture center, to keeping their bowls clean, all the fish tanks are clean and almost never see a sick or dead fish. I ranted and raved and refused to shop there until I saw the changes made. It isn't the corporation that we should fight, at least not if it's really the fish you are worried about, it's the individual store management that allows these conditions to continue due to not training employees and not hiring enough staff to do the cleaning job that needs to be done and not supervising the departments to make sure it is done.

I have seen awful conditions in Walmarts, Meijers, Petco, Greentree Pet Center (my local fish store that I used to love). But those conditions can and do change on a daily basis. If I had the resouces and space (and my hubby would allow) I would "rescue" whatever creature that was in need no matter where I found them.

I could care less that some people think I am doing a terrible wrong when I buy a Walmart fish. All I have to do is look at Batista know the enjoyment he has brought me and what a fun, lively and playful fish he has become to know I did the right thing.

 

[jols]

These forums were made to be friendly open place people could come to with their stories, or to ask advice, without having to fear being made to look like bad people because of it. Now some newbie who just rescued a fish from WM could have come on here to post his story...and saw your post. Now imagine how the person felt. THIS is why this forum is how it is. One little "rude" post is enough to deter someone with good intentions from ever coming back.

Hi there...
I've just been a ghost here for awhile, too chicken to reply or even introduce myself. After reading though this thread, I have seen many, many, many points...a lot of different view points, etc. That's fine, but the quote in my post really hit home.

I have 'saved' fish from Walmart.
I did NOT make an argument...
I did not realize that telling them what was wrong was what you were supposed to do...I am a person that does not like the idea of 'treading in other peoples' business' I guess....tho I can see from proper 'rescue' techniques, I'm very wrong in that aspect.
I STILL shop there, almost every weekend, as I work at Pamida in my town, basically the stuff they have is worth as much to me as the cow poo in my dad's barn. And for me, Walmart has more options, and is cheaper than Pamida...and right now on my barn paycheck and Pamida's, until I get a job as a cosmetologist, cheaper is better.

3 different Walmarts I've been to, in Decorah, Iowa; Lacrosse, WI; or Praire Du Chien, WI; have not had great fish when I've been there. Since my recieving a tank for Christmas, and my poor luck with bettas in the past, I decided I'd give goldfish a shot. I've had bad luck with them too, but I seem to have a 'thumb of death' to plants and aquatic life. I do have one guy, Eddie, who has decided to bless me with living, and for that I'm thankful...I did something right with him I guess.
Before I ever ventured into all of this, a few years back I found the love of bettas. I was not knowledged in how big of a home they should have, so I had 4 in their individual half-gallon homes. I had good luck for awhile, and one by one they died, first starting with a suicide betta who jumped out of his home. *I left the lid half-on because I thought the 2 holes on top weren't enough to give him all the oxygen he needed* I was crushed...I bawled. The rest, I'm not exactly sure what they died from...One from Dropsy, the rest I'm clueless. Tho my mum had bad luck with hers too, so I wasn't alone. I felt like a failure tho.

So it's been fairly recent since I've started trying my luck at keeping fish again. Not so long ago, after all the goldfish deaths, I decided to get a betta. I bought a little female that I named Fatima. At first she was in a gallon bowl *and amazingly did not jump out* Now she's in a 2.5 gallon home with lots of silk plants, a neon cave, and all the room in the world. No bad luck with her yet.
I was actually contemplating going to Walmart this weekend and getting another 1-2.5 gallon tank and maybe buy a boy betta, or another girl if one struck my fancy.
After reading this thread I guess I feel a bit on the chicken **** side of things. I guess I've done things the wrong way, and feel bad for that. I see that I can fix that if I voice my opinon the next time I go to the fish section, but I feel bad for my past 'rescues.' now because I didn't use the proper protocal
I thought I was trying to give them a good home...to me, that was rescuing, I can see now in the view point of others' I was wrong.

I'm not sure if I will really post here again, I guess if I get a reply I will. I will continue to read though here on a daily basis...I guess I feel kind of 'dumb' about the whole subject. Also, I hope I have not ticked any of you off or anything, and if I did, I'm sorry.
I'm not trying to start a heated discussion with my post, but was just commenting as a 'newbie' who happened to stumble upon this thread and feel kind of intimidated, disheartened, etc. by it.