What is it with the news and idiots?

[CRAZY]

So, let me start off with saying I don't know exactly what category I should put this in.
So I've been looking at news articles about Burmese and other pythons being released into the wild in Florida. Now, lets face it, these idiots should be shot because they're ruining a good thing for everyone else. But this isn't what I'm talking about. What I'm talking about is the people reading the news articles and saying everyone who owns a snake is a pansy and only has one to feel macho. This TICKS ME OFF. As I'm sure it does for evetyone else.

I was reading one article about a 12 foot Burmese some one had, breaking out of its tank, going into a 2-year-old's room, and strangling her. Now first of all let me say I am not defending the snake, but I'm also not gunna say that the snake did something wrong. He was just looking for a meal, and found a small, living mammal. People started replying to the article as if the snake was hunting for a small child to kill. They were also saying the parents should be strangled.
That made me angry. Because, as most of us know, snakes do not actively hunt humans. They were comparing snakes to guns.

There was another article on the over population of wild snakes in florida, and people started posting the same type of thing. Some one posted a picture of a and a Giant Python (can' remember exactly what it was) curled up in a circle with a little boy relaxing in the middle. They quoted some one saying: "They love each other, the python protects the boy, and is the boys best friend." Then they posted:
"I hope he doesn't turn up missing."
Now I'm not saying this is impossible, crazy stuff happens, but I am saying that this person is an idiot. Odds are slim to none of this happening, and posting it in that news article is just making things worse.
And on top of that, it looked more like they were in Africa than Florida. (The boy was dark and they were in a jungle. And it didn't appear to be a North American Style set-up.)
There's my rant for today. Feel free to continue it.

[Vypyrz]

You must be referring to this video, and it's somewhere in S.E. Asia...


YouTube - SNAKE BOY, HUGS, KISSES AND SLEEPS WITH GIANT PYTHON

[nashveg]

As far as I'm concerned, the vast majority of people who watch any local network or cable news are idiots.

[BabysMomma]

What happened to that poor little girl in Florida was entirely the fault of the parents, even the authorities decided that. Hence, the python got adopted by a loving family, and the parents are doing hard time.

It's when the uneducated public hears these stories from sensationalist news outlets, and gets whipped into a panic by ratings hogs. We have a responsibility as responsible reptile keepers to set a good example not only for each other, but for the general public so we can teach people about our wonderful pets. It's best to start early, I've taken reptiles around to kindergarten classes before and gotten great responses not only from the children who will grow up with a good impression of reptiles, but from their teachers who didn't know how gentle a python could be.

[Dragoon]

Because, as most of us know, snakes do not actively hunt humans. They were comparing snakes to guns.

I'm not sure how to react to that line, guns don't hunt humans either lol.

[CRAZY]

I'm not sure how to react to that line, guns don't hunt humans either lol.

Sorry, that's bad grammar on my part. I was angry at the time so I wasn't paying attention to how I was writing it. The guns part was supposed to be a separate paragraph.

[singingtothewheat]

I'm not sure how to react to that line, guns don't hunt humans either lol.

Ok, so maybe that analogy was wrong but the idea was right.

I did as much research as I could find on the incident in Florida and here's what I found at the time.

The guy that owned the snake wasn't feeding him enough. If you look at some of the pics of that snake he is pretty clearly thin.
The snake was being held in an aquarium. I personally detest aquariums for 90% of snakes. (If not more) And anyone that keeps a big snake in an aquarium is just asking for an escape. Those guys can nose pretty darn hard when they want to and most will be able to escape an aquarium with out much work.
So, this goofball has this annoying problem of his snake getting out of it's cage. What does he do. He does the wrong thing. Certainly he did not really comprehend how badly this could turn out.
So, he puts the snake in a bag and ties the bag and bag and snake go back into the aquarium.
Snake gets out of bag, snake gets out of cage, snake is hungry. He found what he thought might be a meal. It is my understanding there were bite wounds on that poor childs forehead. My best guess is that this was an attempt to eat but the snake couldn't manage that and that is were this horrible tale ended for that precious child.
Was it the snakes fault. ABSOLUTELY NOT! It isn't like a Burmese python that's hungry can differentiate between a bunny and a human. They just don't have the capability to do that.

It wasn't just one mistake that killed this child. It was MANY mistakes. I personally do not keep the giants. Not because I don't want to. But I have children, and my children don't always do what I tell them to do and they frequently do what I tell them not to do. I also do not have a designated snake room (ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh but one can dream)
Keeping a big snake hold special precautions that should always be followed. Every single death I've ever read about showed that the keeper did not follow those precautions. It stinks because it makes it sooooo hard for responsible owners and gives our detractors loads of ammunition!

[docturgonzo]

It isn't like a Burmese python that's hungry can differentiate between a bunny and a human. They just don't have the capability to do that.


I think the case in Florida was a horrific event which unfortunately once again puts the general public into a kind of panic and instantly blaming the snake.

At the end of the day in most of these instances where Large snakes have attacked humans its usually been the owner whos been at fault. The industry is going through some hard times at the minute and with the proposed snake ban in the air , stories like this dont help one bit.

Teaching children at a young age about snakes and reptiles is definately the way forward and also teaching adults that if kept correctly these large snakes are just as safe a pet as any dog you could own, if not safer.

Unfortunately as with any type of industry there will always be those who cut corners with housing (through lack of correct information, money , ignorance etc) and its when this happens that a dissaster like the florida incident occurs.

As more and more snakes are available online its also alot easier for people to buy animals they may not be capable of looking after so its down to the seller to vet prospective buyers and properly inform them of how animals should be kept and not just sell them to any man and his dog in order to get shut of the last few young.

Reptiles have given me many years of enjoyment and hopefully many more to come, i feel more comfortable holding any snake then a hamster, gerbil or rabbit as i can predict there behavior. We need to all do our bit to change people perceptions of Large snakes.

As for the quote above im pretty sure a mammal hunting snake could easily tell the difference between a human and a bunny , just as many know all too well a Ball python can tell the difference between a Rat , mouse , gerbil and so on.

Rant over.

IN SHORT AS USUAL A FEW BAD EGGS SPOIL THINGS FOR EVERYONE

[BPelizabeth]

I agree about the news.....it is frustrating on so MANY levels how they can be bias toward one thing or another.....one political candidate or another....etc. I am not sure what happened to reporting news without having your opinion influence it. But alas......

As far as the little girl in FL...ugh...just terrible....but I am so tired of hearing how it was the snake. This was the fault of the parents who did NOT take care of this reptile. Not feeding any animal/reptile....anything for that matter will cause the animal to act out in a way that it will not be positive. If you are starving...you will pretty much look for anything to eat.

Look at the history with communities going into outlying areas...taking over previously abandoned areas that were thriving with wildlife. You take away their areas that they live in...you take away their food source...and these animals come into the new neighborhoods looking for food and water. Next thing you know...small pets come up missing....ppl get hurt or worse.

Everything in life will do whatever it takes to survive....

Ok...that is my two cents...hope it made sense...its 7am and I am still a little fuzzy this morning....

[CRAZY]

I'd like to thank everybody for saying my words better than I could. The rage over took me at the time.

I think the biggest point was that nobody ever hears about the keepers who do a good job, they only hear about the occasional bad ones.

They'll hear about a story of a dog saving a human from some disaster, and that will also tip the scales. But a snake isn't capable of that high of a thought process. Which will take us right back to the small child/ bunny idea. They will start comparing dogs to snakes and they'll think "Gosh, that's a terrible pet." (I'd like to make sure everyone knows I have nothing against dogs, I have 2 of my own, I'm just using them for an example of the average human drones mind.)

Once again, thanks for the saying of my words.