What’s your opinion on keeping fish in fishtanks?

I’ve gone back and forth in my mind about it. Part of me just feels like it’s unnatural to take something that lives in something as spacious and expansive as the ocean and put it a glass case. Assuming the owner is responsible, did their research, and is properly maintaining everything, the two biggest caveats for me are the space and exposure to other fish.

As far as the space goes it pretty much comes down to the fact that a fish tank can never fully replicate the atmosphere of the ocean or even a lake or pond, not even just when it comes to size but even contents. From towering seamounts and deep-sea trenches to vibrant coral reefs and expansive plains, I feel like a fish in a tank misses out on all of that. More importantly maybe though is just the social life that these environments provide. I’m not a fish expert by any means but one thing I hear a lot is about how social they are. How a lot of these sea creatures live in schools which can consist of thousands or even millions of fish and can become quite stressed when isolated.

Admittedly part of this is me being biased. I’d like to imagine that fish are these majestic creatures who yearn to explore and swim through the vast expanses of the ocean like it’s their own personal wonderland but I could very much be projecting my human emotions on to them. There is a chance that more than anything they just want stability which brings me to the counterpoint, that a fish tank offer safety and security that the ocean doesn’t. Again if the owner is doing everything right then being a tank fish pretty much guarantees free food everyday, safety from predators and other dangers of the ocean. Kinda goes back to the long-standing dichotomy between freedom and security. Just curious if fish could talk which would they choose