cruel world

Sorry I meant hear not here.:rolleye2:

We will never change the opinions and fears that people have about snakes. We won't "educate" them, or "change their minds"

I think the safest thing we can do as snake keepers is to "keep" them to ourselves. My neighbors don't even know I keep snakes. Someone once asked me where all the used bedding in my mulch pile was coming from and I told them I was babysitting a friends hampster. The less your community know about your addiction the better off we will all be. Whenever I see someone out in public with a snake I am reminded that snakes have no ego.

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Originally Posted by West Coast Jungle

What we are saying is what is best for the pet and the OP. If you want to share your passion for reptiles then do it with people that accept reptiles, for example here on this forum or in person with other reptile lovers. Forcing people to be around animals they hate is not the way to "share your passion" but most likely to get people to want these animals banned because they feel threatened. There is a time and place for everything. I like to listen to loud hardrock music so that does that mean I can go around blaring my music in a music store(since they sell music) because I want to share my passion? No of course not. It is about being considerate of others, not imposing our hobbies on others and causing negative feedback to the reptile community.

What we are saying is being a responsible reptile owner and not a "hey look at me reptile owner". That gives us a bad rap.

In other words share your passion responsibly.

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yes I agree with this line of reasoning wholeheartedly, while I sympathise somewhat with the way they were treated ( sorry forgot the names) I also see the other side of the coin in that people do not want to feel something is forced upon them.

It is hard to educate people that dont want to be, especially when there is fear and loathing involved.

I dont know what the pet stores are like in the USA but here in the UK the stores I frequent or have visited are pretty cramped for space so even taking a pet in there would force people to be uncomfortably close to them.

I take my snakes to schools and cub scout meetings etc to focus on the youth growing up and try to educate them, although I have not done any this year due to various reasons.

You could arrange an open day and hand out leaflets for example to show or teach people about your snakes, just an idea.

Personally I dont think its a good idea to take your snakes out in public just to take them out or in the hope to educate those thatt will listen simply because you are whatever way you dress it up forcing your animals within proximity of those that will not appreciate it and as has been mentioned the possibility of damaging your pets health inadvertenly.

I am not criticising the people who do this just offering my view.

I think teaching people is excellent and worthwhile I just dont know that doing like that is the answer. I would rather stick with the schools and such like or arrange open days yourself for people to come to you and see what amazing animals you have and the knowledge you have to pass on.

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Originally Posted by Jenn

We will never change the opinions and fears that people have about snakes. We won't "educate" them, or "change their minds"

I think the safest thing we can do as snake keepers is to "keep" them to ourselves. My neighbors don't even know I keep snakes. Someone once asked me where all the used bedding in my mulch pile was coming from and I told them I was babysitting a friends hampster. The less your community know about your addiction the better off we will all be. Whenever I see someone out in public with a snake I am reminded that snakes have no ego.

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Same here, my neighbors have no idea because I don't think they would understand. They would think that the snakes were going to escape & eat them while they slept. Sad, but true. I am slowly educating my family & co-workers about them, but this has not required that I take my snakes out in public at all. & I don't expect any of these people to go out & now get themselves a pet BP. But at least they also know that they are not 'killer' snakes.

There are things that can be done to educate some of the public (to a degree), but it does not need to endanger the animals.

Everybody that I know on a personal level knows that I have pet snakes. Most are surprised, some and interested, some thrilled, and some repulsed. There's no reason to hide it- just don't go and shove em in people's faces. And whether you want to admit it or not, that's what you're doing when you take them out in public.

Again I will say- NOBODY IS SAYING NOT TO TRY AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC! Just be smart about it. Set something up with the local schools or different organizations like Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Brownies, etc. You could maybe even set something up with that pet store you can't seem to keep your animals out of. Set up a date and time and put posters up for people to see. That way, the people interested can make sure to come and the people who aren't can't say they weren't warned! I'm all for education but I just feel that there are better ways to go about it than your current method.

I never said your pet should be 'banned' to a cage. I will say that you need to be more responsible with your pet before your activities effect the rest of the community.

I understand the need to educate. However, most education needs to take place in some sort of controled environment (i.e. a classroom, seminar, etc.)....for your reptile's safety and our hobby's future.

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Originally Posted by nchapa

AGAIN, comparing Burms to Balls, is like comparing house cats to Tigers. Not very good comparison at all. try again.

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Not a good comparision for an educated reptile keeper, but that is not your 'audience' in most public situations.

Your audience consists of the uneducated when you take reptiles out in the public.

Most people do not know the difference between a ball python and a burm. Most people know the difference between a tiger and a house cat. Not a good comparision at all. Try again.

For all you know, that guy was complaining because he thought they were handling a copperhead sabertooth cobra.

I have seen people terrified of corn snakes because they thought they were venomous. All that matters is the 'public perception'....

Please give an explanation why it is not a good comparision in the given situation.

ok for all the people who say im shoving snakes in peoples face, you have no clue what you are talking about i did not go up to people and say look at this i did not enter the store with plans to talk to people i walked in and the workers came running so we stepped off to the side and talked kids came running and their parents followed they asked questions i gave answers. the store is huge plenty of room the stay the hell away from me. if you dont like it like i said get the hell away from me. as for the couple of people who make sure no one knows they have snakes lol thats sad i dont give a rats ass if people dont like what i keep in my house if you dont like it then move!!!! i force nothing on noone. and its not like i live in canada or some place where its cold here we maintain a 60 to 80 percent humidity and about 90 to 95 degrees so im not taking them out in the snow. im not putting them down to play with the other 3 snakes that are in that huge store. so if you dont like the things i do keep thats you i could care less. as far as im concerned i care more what my rats think than most of the people here. have a nice day

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Originally Posted by dmaricle

ok for all the people who say im shoving snakes in peoples face, you have no clue what you are talking about i did not go up to people and say look at this i did not enter the store with plans to talk to people i walked in and the workers came running so we stepped off to the side and talked kids came running and their parents followed they asked questions i gave answers. the store is huge plenty of room the stay the hell away from me. if you dont like it like i said get the hell away from me. as for the couple of people who make sure no one knows they have snakes lol thats sad i dont give a rats ass if people dont like what i keep in my house if you dont like it then move!!!! i force nothing on noone. and its not like i live in canada or some place where its cold here we maintain a 60 to 80 percent humidity and about 90 to 95 degrees so im not taking them out in the snow. im not putting them down to play with the other 3 snakes that are in that huge store. so if you dont like the things i do keep thats you i could care less. as far as im concerned i care more what my rats think than most of the people here. have a nice day

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No one said you are 'shoving snakes in peoples face'. You seem to enjoy taking things personally when someone offers you an opinion.

People are asking you to be a little more respectful...thats all.

Your attitude of 'i dont give a rats ass' is what ruins this hobby.

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Originally Posted by dmaricle

ok for all the people who say im shoving snakes in peoples face, you have no clue what you are talking

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Wrong again. Do you have any phobias? Fears are not always rational. Just because YOU know your snake won't fly 30 feet across the room at them, doesn't mean they're not going to be afraid of the possibility. Just because YOU know your snake isn't venomous, doesn't mean they're not going to be afraid it's going to strike at and kill their child. Just because YOU know that your snake will only ever get 5' doesn't mean that they don't think it's going to grow into a 30' monster with an appetite for little children.

Like I said. Instead of just waltzing in with the snakes, set it up ahead of time. Post something on the door advertising it. That way the people who are uncomfortable with it, can avoid it. It's that simple.

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Originally Posted by daniel1983

No one said you are 'shoving snakes in peoples face'. You seem to enjoy taking things personally when someone offers you an opinion.

People are asking you to be a little more respectful...thats all.

Your attitude of 'i dont give a rats ass' is what ruins this hobby.

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Actually, SOME people are asking him to do something, what I'm not exactly sure.

You see, no one who has not seen how he behaves when he has his snakes in public actually knows any facts.

I say take them out and edumacate the public if you can. He seems to have a place where he is expected, enjoyed and appreciated.

It's a bloody pet shop that carries reptiles. That is one of the best places I can think of to do the showing and telling that he has spoken of. He's not going to the grocery store and losing it in the ice cream aisle, he's responsibly taking it to a place he knows he will be appreciated in.

Lighten up guys.

Having someone who is the ed clark type of person, all bullsnot and lies, doing most of what he does solely for the attention and not to actually be helpful to the public, THOSE are the types who should not be out in public representing those who keep reptiles.

Sounds like this dmaricle guy has a plan and is working to help all of us.

SO, until someone actually sees and has proof that he is behaving in a manner detrimental to the rest of us, pipe down and sit back, I can't see the screen.