Facebook friends and family getting on my nerves

Pointlessly killing animals/or abusing for pleasure can, in fact, can be a very troubling behavior and be a sign of something being very wrong in a young child. However, animals are not humans. A child killing animals for pleasure does not automatically mean serial killer or human abuser. It is something that requires close monitoring, and possibly professional help.

(http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...als-when-worry)

An adult killing animals for pleasure is not one step away from becoming a serial killer. Heck, I'll admit that I enjoy hunting, but I would never hunt an animal for the sole purpose of killing. (there will always be another factor, usually food or population control)

It disturbs me to hear of a family teaching young children to kill pointlessly. Animals may not be humans, but they're certainly worthy of our respect. You will catch more flies with honey, though. It's easy to go on the instant defensive of something we love and are passionate about. But you must understand that most people view venomous snakes as monsters who are out to get their family. They think they're teaching a valuable lesson.

Instead of instantly involving our emotions, we want to calmly educate people, and bring honor to our hobby, you know?

Not everyone will listen even after that. But that's okay. It's also the time to walk away. (And unfriend their butts!!)

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Originally Posted by treeboa

Another thing is that 99% of the time these "poisonous water moccasins" that people are so proud of killing are actually harmless water snakes. I know a lot of people that live in the South and it always amazes me how a lot of them think they are experts and really know very little about their local wild life. They think any snake they find in the water is a water moccasin. It doesn't help that lately there's a trend for celebrities, especially athletes, to kill snakes and show it on social media like they did something brave and honorable.

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On more than one occasion I have seen people that have killed a "water moccasin" that was nothing more than a water snake. Even saw a dead copperhead one time that somehow upon death turned back into a cornsnake.

I wish snakes could show the fear and pain they are in when they are hurt. Maybe so many people wouldn't think it's OK. A dog or cat cries out in pain when they are hurt just like a human. Anyone that sees and hears this and continues to purposely hurt them is twisted and has no conscience. It's easier for people to not have empathy when the don't see their pain. It's still not right, though.

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Originally Posted by treeboa

I wish snakes could show the fear and pain they are in when they are hurt. Maybe so many people wouldn't think it's OK. A dog or cat cries out in pain when they are hurt just like a human. Anyone that sees and hears this and continues to purposely hurt them is twisted and has no conscience. It's easier for people to not have empathy when the don't see their pain. It's still not right, though.

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Even in reptiles, pain is displayed. Roughly a week ago, when I contradicted myself and killed a local blind snake, aside from permanently scarring my conscious and adding to my life regrets, I saw its dying body writhe in pain. Maybe it's just because they are blinded from prejudgment and the hatred they learned. What I saw was a suffering being that was dying, even though it was a simply blind snake- a few steps up from the earthworm I thought it was- and in seeing that, I blamed myself and learned a valuable lesson the hard way. I vowed not to kill any animal just out of prejudged disgust or hatred, but to respect them. They did not choose to be born that way, and from killing them just because their genes say that they have to be that way, is simply prejudice. People are blinded from the hatred of other's hearsay, and in being oblivious to the pain of another being, they share the thoughts of other's who developed the historical autrocities upon mankind, only it isn't noticed, because these are just animals.

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Originally Posted by pythonminion

Even in reptiles, pain is displayed.

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This^
I've had to give 2 snakes injections a couple times a day for a couple weeks on separate occasions. They CLEARLY feel pain. Sticking them was not easy, I felt so terrible. To make it worse, both were young, small snakes.

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My point though is that non-reptile people don't see it because the snake can't cry out and look you in the eye with that "why are you hurting me?" gaze. Those of us who know and love snakes recognize their pain and fear(trying to crawl away or bite), but others don't get it. Look at the tape of that officer on COPS that bashed that Black Rat snake's head in on camera. He never even noticed or considered that snakes suffering. It is definitely fromm prejudice and fear.

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Originally Posted by treeboa

My point though is that non-reptile people don't see it because the snake can't cry out and look you in the eye with that "why are you hurting me?" gaze. Those of us who know and love snakes recognize their pain and fear(trying to crawl away or bite), but others don't get it. Look at the tape of that officer on COPS that bashed that Black Rat snake's head in on camera. He never even noticed or considered that snakes suffering. It is definitely fromm prejudice and fear.

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That is very true as well. Non snake ppl will take a snake flinching due to being headshy as an aggressive motion.

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