Time Magazine Blunder

[salt]

I would have thought that Time Magazine had the resources to do a google image search of burmese python.

So I go in the store and see this cover. "oh look a ball python! Wonder what it says?"




I go to the article and see this.




The article itself was about invasive species and seemed to paint the exotic pet trade as a major part of the problem. Funny enough it didn't even mention the domesticated house cat and the problems they cause to wildlife.

[pmarks]

That is hilarious!

[rlditmars]

You think it's a research mistake? I would offer that it was exactly what they had intended. Now the average reader will misidentify the ball python as the invasive and potentially harmful Burmese. Looks like pretty effective fear mongering to me.

[Eric Alan]

You think it's a research mistake? I would offer that it was exactly what they had intended. Now the average reader will misidentify the ball python as the invasive and potentially harmful Burmese. Looks like pretty effective fear mongering to me.

Maybe I'm just that oblivious, but I'm thinking that this is a pretty egocentric way to look at their misidentification. How would they benefit more from a generating fear of ball pythons versus identifying a burmese properly to support their case? I'm having a hard time seeing this as more than a mistake on their part, although I'd certainly love to hear your case.

[rlditmars]

Maybe I'm just that oblivious, but I'm thinking that this is a pretty egocentric way to look at their misidentification. How would they benefit more from a generating fear of ball pythons versus identifying a burmese properly to support their case? I'm having a hard time seeing this as more than a mistake on their part, although I'd certainly love to hear your case.

The idea is to push an agenda to rid us of all exotics. Right now the ball python industry is huge but flies in the face of those who would like to see all exotics eliminated. Why? Because a valid argument can't be made that they are overtly dangerous. However, people who don't know reptiles will read the article, which I would imagine argues the case of irresponsible ownership and the heavy impact it has on the ecosystem, and will see this photo associated with the problem. It plants a seed. Now the next article or segment that shows a raid on a local breeder where they have video of them carting out ball pythons, and the dots start to connect. Remember, the goal is to win the war, not just the individual battle.

Do you really think "Time" magazine doesn't have fact checkers and editors that would have gone over this with a fine tooth comb, especially when it's part of the cover photo? Doubtful. This isn't the "Enquirer", it's "Time", a widely respected publication filled with timely, factual, informative, articles. Google Burmese python and see if a picture of a Ball Python pops up or a Burmese. Even if I'm a conspiracy theorist, that doesn't mean there isn't a conspiracy.

[Daniel.michelle]

I think that it was intentional at first, with the intent that the editors etc. would not catch that they are different species of snake. What I think happened was the main author people did it on purpose and the editors did a Google search and said "close enough".

Not to change the topic a tad, but the news is always out to try and spread fear... Especially about things people don't know.

http://www.local10.com/news/girl-bit...davie/27095208

[Joe balls]

You think it's a research mistake? I would offer that it was exactly what they had intended. Now the average reader will misidentify the ball python as the invasive and potentially harmful Burmese. Looks like pretty effective fear mongering to me.

That's too men in black for me. I think it's like a lot of things people have no idea what they talk about and take a stand on the issue. If you could convince them to hold a Bp they would be shut up instantly. But there is no convincing ortalking sence too stupid closed minded people and unfortunately for us they have the majority.
I wish that there parents would have let they have the pet they wanted instead of being a bunch of haters as adults.