Idea to effect good PR for the hobby.

Alright, so here is my idea and please feel free to add on/criticize/ or elaborate on my idea. I have spent at least a small amount of time in learning about advertising, seeing its application and most importantly seeing what effects can be achieved with propaganda/advertisement with out the opposition opinion present.

So as I see it now we have one major advocate for reptile keepers in USARK. Like them or not, feel disappointed in them, but these are guys dedicated to fighting, what I feel, is the majority of people who could care less about any snakes and probably most reptiles. You can guarantee that if you have a phobia of snakes which is probably very prevalent, or you are a PETA type person you are totally against snakes if not all reptiles. The key with this fact and why it is prevelant is that there is no effective defense against it.

This is were my idea takes root. The reptile nation is prevalent. We are also largely artistically minded. With that in mind I suggest that we use USARK and maybe some of the larger breeders to host and sponser a video campaign to come up with a very effective commercial to show the true lives of captive reptiles versus the dire states that would be realized via bans. Using USARK as well as trusted individuals in the industry I am positive that we could cut together a very compelling commercial for minimal cost. Then with a viable commercial it can be presented to the hobbiest as to what the cost are to propagate this message, ideally to include print media.

I've heard alot of stuff about donating to USARK to be able to give them the money to combat legislation, but the sad truth is he who is know better and position is better advertised has a greater advantage going into any of these type of discussions. Anyway, Rant off...WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK? iF THIS IS EVEN A HALF GOOD IDEA WHAT DO YOU THINK NEEDS TWEAKED?

I had a similar idea, I've been trying to get some air time on the local news stations in the Central Florida area but I haven't had a huge amount of luck yet.

I had an idea for that, too.
Idyllic family scene, with parent helping child feeding FT mouse to ball python on tongs, then going to sit and watch TV with parents.
Knock on door--it's the cops and animal control, coming to take the pet snake away, because a ban was passed 2 months ago, and the family never knew, and someone reported them.

Harsh, but effective, no?

I'd leave any feeding out of any print/video commercials.

But honestly, unless you have the money to pay for primo spots on national stations, the commercials won't ever get seen by anyone but the 'choir'. The media is not interested in good wholesome reptile owners.

Personally, I believe the major media outlets are firmly under the thumb of PETA/HSUS. It's the only explanation I could see reasonable for why not one media outlet covered the big PETA trial where they euthanized pets in a van outside the places they picked them up, promising good homes. I mean, no one saw this on national TV. Why not? Why wouldn't this be one of the biggest scandals ever? A "animal loving" group proven to be killing the very pets they're taking to 'find good homes for', then throwing the bodies away in a dumpster behind a convienance store.... yet no one covered this?

A couple problems with that. Number one cost. The cost to do a commercial. Number 2 the cost to put it on a national network during a time slot people are actually awake not to mention the cost to run it multiple times. Next you have a time issue. There is no way to get a point across in a 30 second commercial. 30 seconds is enough time to sell a snuggie but not enough time to spread the education on the issue at hand. The reptile community is syruggling to get 150k to have usark file a lawsuit. 150k wont even get you a time slot on primetime tv to air the commercial. The only way to get anything accomplished is to keep lobbying and blowing up the phone lines of politicians and making us be a thorn in their sides daily. Also a bit of misinformation about peta. Its not that they hate any animal. Their agenda is keeping reptiles as pets. The hsus does commercials and they have support of celeberties to give face time. They have the money to run prime time commercials we do not. They have 20x the money to fight for their cause then we do. Getting into a battle with money is a battle we will never win.

If we could get one commercial out there in a good time slot, even if it takes a few years to raise the funds, I honestly think it would be completely worth it in terms of raising awareness an support.

Plus in the mean time is that maybe USARK could get a YouTube channel and like applicable videos and then upload videos. It's surprising what quality of video normal people can put out know a days.


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Heres another thing to consider. With all the national coverage of what happened in ohio with the exotic animal disaster do you think your gonna pull much support from the general public. Especially for snakes? There are 2 types of people. Peiple that like snakes and people that dont. Theres no gray area and the people that dont sure outweigh the people that do. It would cost millions to do a commercial and have it air repeatedly in prime time on national networks. Just not a feasable idea. A youtube channel would be more feasable but whos gonna watch it? Snake people. We already have their support.

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Originally Posted by snake lab

Heres another thing to consider. With all the national coverage of what happened in ohio with the exotic animal disaster do you think your gonna pull much support from the general public. Especially for snakes? There are 2 types of people. Peiple that like snakes and people that dont. Theres no gray area and the people that dont sure outweigh the people that do. It would cost millions to do a commercial and have it air repeatedly in prime time on national networks. Just not a feasable idea. A youtube channel would be more feasable but whos gonna watch it? Snake people. We already have their support.

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But that's the point...Try to make some of the people who dislike snakes and reptiles at least be able to tolerate them or see our point. Aside from the funding, I think it's a great idea.

Could be very effective given a good commercial and correctly timed slot. The question is this if you come up with the cash (the last commercial I was involved with was $10000 an on air second. Say 25 second slot at 1/4 million bucks would that be better than spending the money on legal action? I don't know I think there are very valid arguments to be made for both sides. It is a lot of cash either way.

That's why I think it needs to be grass roots. Get some one to make a video that is funny or entertaining and basically sneak in the snake thing! Let's do the keyboarding python or something. Make an Internet meme then once you get tons of people watching link to other videos, some educational.


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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

I had an idea for that, too.
Idyllic family scene, with parent helping child feeding FT mouse to ball python on tongs, then going to sit and watch TV with parents.
Knock on door--it's the cops and animal control, coming to take the pet snake away, because a ban was passed 2 months ago, and the family never knew, and someone reported them.

Harsh, but effective, no?

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Very effective. If you're peta or hsus.

Come on donna, think before you post. People LIKE little white mice and you want to dangle one in front of a snake with your kid and then have a door kicked in?

No, not a good idea at all.

The plain and simple is, unless and until the public image of snake keepers is changed, snakes will remain demonized.

Look at Harleys and the guys who ride them. The average American is scared crapless of those guys. Why? Because a few morons have ruined it for everyone else.

I don't see much hope.

I like the idea, I don't know how feasable it is. We haven't had our state push against exotics too drastically yet, but I have been trying to think up ways to help the cause. I also have been thinking of reaching out to the media somehow, maybe getting our local herp society involved. They do lots of outreaches in the area. I know it is also touchy with the media because it is so easy to be misquoted and misrepresented. I would like to offer for local politicians to meet my snakes in a controlled environment... I have met quite a few people who were terrified of snakes face their fears and end up loving them. In my head.. if I can just get a politician or person to meet one of my snakes I know they will see them differently... I have done it many times before..... in reality, I know how far fetched this idea seems, and I am currently trying to find steps to make it less so.

Honestly, I feel desperate, and it makes me think up ideas but I haven't been able to really solidify them into reality.

I cant believe im going to say this but i agree with wes. Look heres the thing the people that dont like snakes have the feelings cause they scare them. Your not going to get a person to like em based on a 30second commercial. Hell you probablly couldnt do it with 3 months of therapy lol it would cost millions to do a commercial and airing it a number of times in prime time slots. MILLIONS. Even if usark or whoever had that kind of money it would be a huge waste of time. The money would be better suited for a legal fight or maybe padding the pockets of some lawmaker.

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Originally Posted by wilomn

Very effective. If you're peta or hsus.

Come on donna, think before you post. People LIKE little white mice and you want to dangle one in front of a snake with your kid and then have a door kicked in?

No, not a good idea at all.

The plain and simple is, unless and until the public image of snake keepers is changed, snakes will remain demonized.

Look at Harleys and the guys who ride them. The average American is scared crapless of those guys. Why? Because a few morons have ruined it for everyone else.

I don't see much hope.

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the harley thing is nothing like it was.. alls i see on harley's now a days is doctors, lawyers, and dudes with shorts and sandles... poor Harley:rolleyes:
spooky

We need like a real simple cute snake/reptile sticker we can put everywhere!


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Well, ok, give the snake a dish of water then, scratch the mouse, lol. (You have a point).

The best thing we as keepers can do is call out the morons who make us look bad. WE need to be proactive, not reactive. Even then ....

The only thing that I think might work is to go to war against hsus and their ilk. To constantly call them out, point out there flaws, question them relentlessly about what they do and what their true objective is. To NEVER let up at making them look like the lying sacks of crap that they are, to call attention to WHERE the money they're donating came from and what they actually promised to do with it. To make is SO uncomfortable to be associated with them that people actually stay away.

It could be done, but not by anyone currently in the spotlight. USARK, while they are fighting the good fight, aren't fighting it in a way that will win for our side. Nice guys finish last. Want to win, put people like me out there with asswipes like percell.

HumaneWatch is doing a good job of pointing out HSUS's double-standards and hypocrisy. They even have fliers you can download and print up to spread around everywhere. If you have local stores, you can take those fliers and facts in and ask them if they support HSUS and WHY they do, if they do. If they don't, show them why they should oppose HSUS in their AR crusade against pets.

It's hard to fight against a group with millions of dollars, the media in their pockets and decades of propaganda on their side. Some days I start to wonder why I'm even trying at all. It'd be easier to get rid of all the critters and just give it all up now.

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

HumaneWatch is doing a good job of pointing out HSUS's double-standards and hypocrisy. They even have fliers you can download and print up to spread around everywhere. If you have local stores, you can take those fliers and facts in and ask them if they support HSUS and WHY they do, if they do. If they don't, show them why they should oppose HSUS in their AR crusade against pets.

It's hard to fight against a group with millions of dollars, the media in their pockets and decades of propaganda on their side. Some days I start to wonder why I'm even trying at all. It'd be easier to get rid of all the critters and just give it all up now.

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If you give up then they win. Thats what they want. And i tell ya people get out of my way when i blow up behind them in my harley. Just sayin lol

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Originally Posted by wilomn

The best thing we as keepers can do is call out the morons who make us look bad. WE need to be proactive, not reactive. Even then ....

The only thing that I think might work is to go to war against hsus and their ilk. To constantly call them out, point out there flaws, question them relentlessly about what they do and what their true objective is. To NEVER let up at making them look like the lying sacks of crap that they are, to call attention to WHERE the money they're donating came from and what they actually promised to do with it. To make is SO uncomfortable to be associated with them that people actually stay away.

It could be done, but not by anyone currently in the spotlight. USARK, while they are fighting the good fight, aren't fighting it in a way that will win for our side. Nice guys finish last. Want to win, put people like me out there with asswipes like percell.

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Well then Wes... Go make a Youtube Video. ;) Just make sure to keep it around the R rating...lol


Personally. I see NO point to broadcasting a commercial, waste of money and time... BUT.. I do say Youtube does a good job. Look at SnakeBytes, they have what, 2 million views? Yeah it's low, But how many views do you have?

If not Youtube, we need to do what Wes said... Call them out.. Eventually they'll dig a grave even money can't pull them out of..

A youtube video will get views. Alot of views. But it will be viewed mainly by snake people leaving comments like good job or great video. Its not going to be viewed by the general snake hating public. Wes is right. We do need to be proactive. afterall thats what they were and look where its gotten them. I think usark doesnt have the resources behind them to do what they want and the worst thing any of us can do is think they do and sit back and hope usark will be the saviors. Its not going to happen. We need to go on the attack. Blow the phone lines open to politicians that are supposed to be helping. We need to lobby, we need to fight. Sitting back doing nothing but talking about it on forums will do nothing. I make calls every day to the same people here in virginia. As a matter a fact one lady in richmond knows me by name now lol. Its going to get worse before it gets better you can bet on that