The Stereotypes

Stereotypes for Reptile Keepers? Want to know of any good/funny stereotypes that you have heard of or witnessed about our community of people! Do you think some of these are true, or blown out of proportion?? Let me know what you think, as well!

Well, this is what one of daughters thinks of her Dad thst lives alone with his animals. She gave me this shirt.

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I've heard people who like reptiles are recluses lol

Warning: long rant :D

People who find interests in things that are outside of the norm are looked at as "weirdos" and "odd-balls" and sadly reptile keepers tend to fall into that category for a great many of the general public. One of the stereotypes that surrounds us reptile keepers is that most of us are either hippies, drug dealers/addicts, or tattooed and pierced all over their bodies and worship Satan, too bad i did nothing of this :D . Many people think we are monsters who sadistically love to offer live preys to their horrilbe reptiles and enjoy seeing them dying in a slow and painful death (according to ignorant people), of course there are bad apple but due to these people all reptlie keepers are put in bad light. The truth is different, the truth is that reptile keepers are a wide and varied bunch, there's greater diversity between the types of people who keep reptiles. Reptiles are different from mammals due to their evolution that influenced their intelligence, emotional sphere (reptiles are not emotionless creatures, their emotions are different though) etc. and each species fits a specific niche in the ecosystem and they have specific biological traits which enable them to survive in that environment. Not all "pet" really require interaction opportunities with playing, fetching balls, cuddling on the couch and teaching tricks infact even if i love dogs, cats etc i prefer reptiles because i don't have to teach those stupid tricks and i like and animal that is not clingy (of course there are some dog breeds that are less clingy than others as well as there are some cat breeds that are very clingy, not to mention all individual differences). Reptiles offer little in the way of affection, but they do make up for it in interesting habits and behaviors which make them fun to observe and learn from, for example reading your experiences in keeping reptiles, i have noticed many personalities in your reptiles.

Poorly educated people or worse think "reptiles= danger" but they ignore the fact reptiles come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. Most species are smaller and really aren’t capable of inflicting any serious wounds. Some can attain quite large sizes and under the right circumstances are capable of inflicting serious injuries or even causing death. However, the same goes for those who keep horses, cattle or even some larger breed dogs. Human deaths have been attributed to each of those mentioned annually but no reptiles are dangerous animals independentely from the fact they are responsible for a very small number of deaths and when there are incidents most of cases are people who jumped into keeping more advanced reptile species before they are ready and the most dangerous part of this is the hype they get from the media. Organizations such as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Born Free USA, and a number of others (like in my country) fight against the private possession of alternative pets. They greatly exaggerate claims of deaths due to the more challenging species and even when they’re being honest on the numbers, they do their best to make it sound like an astronomical number. They take isolated cases of unscrupulous dealers who have been caught illegally importing species and blow them out of proportion to sound as if it is the common practice of the reptile trade, i call this attitude cherry picking and it is very annoying since it is the act of pointing to individual cases or data that seem to confirm a particular position while ignoring a significant portion of related cases or data that may contradict that position.

Sometimes i try to ignore these behaviours but there are times where i get really mad and not because i, as future reptile keeper, can be put in a bad light (i don't care about what people think of me) but because reptiles are the one that get to lose. Reptiles are so valuable and the reason is: education. People have feared snakes and other reptiles since our origins, most of this is due to the unknowns. Natural fear of what we don’t understand has perpetuated a hatred for reptiles, especially snakes, by mankind for as long as we can remember. People having the ability to experience these animals up close and personal has opened many eyes to their plight and has gathered more support for their conservation efforts. The ability to connect people with these animals and understand them better makes all the difference in the world. Reptiles can help us to expand our mind and people may have snake to thank for our acute vision and brain evolution since a new study of the monkey brain suggests that primates are uniquely adapted to recognize the features of slithering threat and react in a flash. The results lend support to a controversial hypothesis: that primates as we know them would never have evolved without snakes. http://www.pnas.org/content/110/47/19000

I know it is a controversial study and i find it very interesting, but i wonder if there are grounds for any claims that evolution has given us snake-detecting pulvinar cells but besides this i think people should stop to "think" with other people's minds and should start to educate themselves.

I'm a tattooed, pierced, tree hugging, athiest, who has been known to self medicate from time to time....

I'm also a Veteran, father, and responsible for over 2 million dollars worth of small business invetory on a daily basis....

I love stereotypes :D

That T-shirt pretty well describes me.

Most people would probably be very surprised to learn that I keep snakes, but unexpectedly, I've found (within the small sample of people I associate with) that it is other women who are the most curious about them. One visiting woman was pleased to briefly hold one, and yet another woman had numerous intelligent questions about their care. Both these ladies were elderly.

I enjoy talking snakes and feeder rodents with one of the neighbours. He is a church-going Christian, but also a science teacher at a private school. He keeps them for his classes.

Haha! I love dispelling these myths. I enjoy watching people's jaw drop when I tell them I keep the amount of reptiles I do. Most people have a hard time understanding when I tell them that I'm Jewish, a powerlifter, a vehement republican, and a scientist that also breeds species of giant snakes.

I'm getting a kick out of this. Keep em coming

I am a clean cut Christian. I have been a fireman for 20 years. My wife is a real estate agent. Our daughters (who wanted the snakes initially) are 8 and 10. They are princesses and Tom boys. The paint their nails, do crafts, play with dolls, shoot Archery, run track and field, ride horses, and do anything else that sounds fun. They really get a kick out of the responses they get when people see two prissy girls carrying snakes. To be honest I think that is half the fun for them.
I think some stereotypes exist may have had merit when they originated but it is up to the individual to choose whether or not to allow it to pigeon hole them. If you don't want to be stereotyped, don't be stereotypical.

WASP Female
Right wing Christian conservative gun nut
I work in FedGov IT by day, and do paperwork at night for the home biz (custom firearm manufacturer)
Never smoked or done drugs, and I'm a lightweight with alcohol; one per night on the weekends is my limit
No tats

I'm a pierced, tattooed, tree hugging, prep cook. My roommate and best friend for 20 yrs, is a veteran, metal head, auto mechanic. I have a pinstripe ball female, and plan on getting a male for her to start breeding in the future. He has 2 leopard geckos and a bearded dragon. I'm quite the science nerd and animal lover in general. I enjoy watching their behaviors. Even as a kid when we went to the zoo, I was always drawn to the reptile exhibit. Being from Southern Louisiana has always given me a great respect for them.

+1 on the conservative gun nut.

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Originally Posted by JoshSloane

+1 on the conservative gun nut.

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I'm afraid of guns! :sarcasm:

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I guess my tattoos and braided beard make me fall right in huh. Now I just have to develop a drug problem, go to prison, and obsess over gg allin.

When people hear that i have snakes they freak out :) and its hilarious. I guess i am one of those girls you would expect to have a tiny dog and to be living in a hair/nail salon half of the time. The most common reaction is "but you're cute little asian girl why would you have snakes?" well.... because snakes are cute too, and then they find out i don't just have one but 4 snakes ;D people are funny, up until the point where people take stereotypes seriously and think snakes=evil. As someone said, some uneducated people can be very offensive.

I do wish we could do something about stereotypes though, i wish i could show the world just how amazing snakes can be. But i guess they will stay an "aquired taste" for now.


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We cuddle when we can :)

I think 'right wing' or republican is a reptile keeper stereotype. It seems the majority of folks are on most forums I visit so I would say that one is true.
I am not but I do fit the 'tattooed loner' part of the general stereotype.
:)

I work in an office 4 days a week, 10 hours a day... I play board games and Minecraft in my (incredibly shrinking) spare time... no piercings, no tattoos, no strong political or religious opinions.

Husband works from home in IT... likes nerdy T-shirts, is developing a computer game... he has one tattoo (it's binary code), and buzz-cuts his own hair... not into politics but into political opinions.

Sort of your run-of-the-mill suburban nobodies, lol.

I truly enjoy smashing all the stereotypes to the first place down below. I'm a little blonde, preppy dressing lady. Who bow hunts, knows both karate and tae kwon do. I ride horses and motorcycles, and am a vet.

i also spend evenings sitting in a rocking chair, knitting with a blanket over my legs. An avid reader of classical novels, and a manical video gamer.

Hubby is .... Well he fits the tattoed pierced long haired rocker/biker guy stereotype to a t.

I like blowing sterotypes out of the water.

Sounds like I need to meet you all in person

I am a tattooed metalhead but my hypocrisy knows no bounds. I listen to all sorts of music. I enjoy hunting. I drive a big diesel truck and a motorcycle, but I am aggressively liberal and progressive. Science is my church and that is probably why I love snakes so much. Stereotype that.

I have a story of stereotyping from within the hobby... LOL.

At the Reptile Super Show last year, I was looking to buy a young adult Dumeril's Boa. The first seller I saw who had a young adult dum was this big burly dude, and I asked if he can take out the dum for me to handle.

He looked me up and down and asked in a totally dismissive tone, "Are you interested in buying?" To which I said, "I'm considering." And he immediately replied, "Because if you're not, taking out the snakes stresses them out." And turned away from me right then, basically blew me off! I apparently do not look the type to keep snakes, I guess?

So he lost a sale from me for his Dumeril's Boa. I went to a different seller right afterward and bought Vigil! I kinda regret not coming back to him and showing him that I got another seller's dum. aaaahah.

Photo for reference. (This was in a photobooth with a green screen)

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lol Im happy I started this thread. I myself have a half sleeve w/ a couple chest tats and gauges (somewhat fits the appearance aspect of the stereotypes). I do smoke cigarettes, I am somewhat of a loner. Never worshipped Satan, and don't plan on doing so.

Im currently enrolled in online university and I mentioned that I keep reptiles in one of the introductory forums. I got ALOT of replies on this forum. Most were actually good, and some people even kept snakes/lizards themselves. However There were three or four that were downright ignorant. One reply brought up the book of Genesis in the bible and that's when I stopped reading lol Another person went out of their way to insult ME because I keep reptiles in cages. It turns out my professor himself keeps reptiles (how about that) and roasted these individuals and deleted their comments. This was probably the only stereotypical nonsense Ive witnessed so far

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Ok I can show myself. I get mistaken for a dead head stoner all the time[emoji33]

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Have tattoos, never smoked, never done drugs, more liberal, gun nut, medieval recreationist, who fishes(has hunted), nearing the 50 mark fat woman. I do pottery and shoot guns. I groom pets and breed pythons. I knit and do my own carpentry. I have cute little yorkies AND work on my truck. I commercial fished for 20 years, trained horses, worked in a lumberyard and groom pets... I've never worked in an office and frankly am fascinated by what actually happens in one because I don't really know! I'll bake you a cake in a heartbeat, as long as you're not too picky on quality!

I skew the grade curve.

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Originally Posted by Reinz

I'm afraid of guns! :sarcasm:

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I like the cut of your jib sir!

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

I think 'right wing' or republican is a reptile keeper stereotype. It seems the majority of folks are on most forums I visit so I would say that one is true.
I am not but I do fit the 'tattooed loner' part of the general stereotype.
:)

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Seriously? Where do you get that from? I'm no where near "right wing". Confused?

I'm a conservative pearl-wearing "preppy" christian sorority girl, no tattoos, no piercings, no hair dyed, no drugs/smoking.. etc. The stereotypes are blown out of proportion IMO. Lots of different types of people from opposite ends of the spectrum own snakes. People are surprised when I tell them I own a snake and love snakes, but are usually more curious about it and how I got interested in them. My bp Pascal is a big hit with the girls :oops:

I'm a left-leaning peacenik, classical musician plus entrepreneur. No tattoos, never smoked anything, but do enjoy craft beer more than I should. I'm also a city-dwelling bicycle nut, have never owned a car, and like bike rides that take all day and all night. I've been happily non-married to my better half for 12 years. I also have always loved snakes, and have had pet snakes for 20 years since saving up my allowance for my first one as a teenager.
I don't know about snake owner stereotypes, but I'm probably not it.

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Originally Posted by xcjumper

Seriously? Where do you get that from? I'm no where near "right wing". Confused?

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It seems the majority of folks are on most forums I visit so I would say that one is true.

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Simply that. Most reptile forums I've been on over the years, the majority (or maybe most vocal) seem to skew right.

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

Simply that. Most reptile forums I've been on over the years, the majority (or maybe most vocal) seem to skew right.

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I vote for more vocal.

I do not believe in politics (i gave up many years ago), no tattoos, never smoked anything, Red Cross volunteer, strong passion for swords (especially the medieval and renaissance ones) and swordsmanship, i do vegetable garden and gardening, i'm buddhist, i like videogames and drawing.

Idk if I fit into a stereotype I'm kind of all over the place. I'm a OIF combat vet yet I'm a liberal democrat and an atheist, I'm a great father a skilled technician and a gym rat, but I spend most nights on my couch playing video games and reading. Oh and I keep snakes too.


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Middle aged overweight liberal Lutheran who works for the phone company. No tats or piercings, I do have a buzz cut, but that's only because I don't look as gray that way. :rolleye2:

I am really enjoying these!

People think I am brave for having a snake LOL I don't think holding a baby snake that could never hurt me is brave. :rolleyes:

We're all blowing stereotypes out of the water!! Especially the women I think people are so shocked when they find out that Valentine was a requested present from my BF. I do not discuss politics, I don't have tattoos, I do have a belly button piercing lol

By day I am a full on secretary - heels, dresses, hair and makeup. I'm about 5'2 and try to smile at everyone I encounter and be happy most of the time. So not your typical reptile owner. By night I am a juggler, hula-hooper, fitness enthusiast, classic rocker/raver, out door adventurer, gardener and now a snake handler lol There are no bounds to my interests, I do whatever keeps me entertained. I love having fun. My snake brings me so much joy, she makes us laugh everyday, the little goofball. <3

The stereotype that irks me is when people think people who are '420' friendly are all bums with no jobs and no ambition in life. This couldn't be farther from the truth!! Luckily in Canada marijuana is becoming as widely accepted as alcohol. <3 Everyone needs a vice ;)

Thanks for a great thread !

i always thought that reptile keepers esp. snake owners fall into the stereotype of the sexiest people.

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Originally Posted by Ax01

i always thought that reptile keepers esp. snake owners fall into the stereotype of the sexiest people.

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rawr because we're so dangerous ;)

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Originally Posted by Ax01

i always thought that reptile keepers esp. snake owners fall into the stereotype of the sexiest people.

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Originally Posted by Snoopyslim

rawr because we're so dangerous ;)

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especially us secretaries. ;)

did your office celebrate Secretaries Day/Administrative Professionals Day yesterday? all of our bosses took us out to a long lunch and did nice little things for us. :)

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Originally Posted by Ax01

especially us secretaries. ;)

did your office celebrate Secretaries Day/Administrative Professionals Day yesterday? all of our bosses took us out to a long lunch and did nice little things for us. :)

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Aww that's so nice glad you are being appreciated!! Hope it was a delicious lunch. You must have deserved it for being such a great secretary =)

LOL at my old job we used to get taken to lunch every year. My new job is the bomb all the time - today is free lunch that I ordered for everyone and last week we got a production bonus wooohoo and $250 for a fancy spa =) I love the company I work for haha It's just myself and another women with all men so we get treated like gold.

I'm just a Canadian girl who loves reptiles in genreal, married, 2 kids, full-time job as a manager for a big box store, tattoo-ed, horror movie freak, sports, not really into politics, love to bake/cook, love spending time with family and friends.
Think that sums it up.

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Originally Posted by Ax01

i always thought that reptile keepers esp. snake owners fall into the stereotype of the sexiest people.

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Well that goes without saying lol

People are usually grossed out or surprised that I own snakes but that's a pretty common reaction to any pet that isn't a dog or cat I think, judging by the reactions I get to most of our animals. I'm a liberal atheist who loves animals and loves to read. I'm pretty friendly and almost always in a good mood, married, couple tattoos (one's a frog). I don't wear skirts or dresses or jewelry or makeup. I hate shopping. I hunt (and gut/skin/chop up), watch a lot of movies, work a lot to pay for my animals. I listen to a variety of music but mainly hip hop/rap, punk rock and anything that makes me laugh. I love to learn and investigate more in anything that interests me. I'm short 5'2", mixed race with long dark curly hair, no kids and don't want any. I work at the post office hence the screen name.

How's this to crush one? I'm watching Tanked on Animal Planet and Dwight Howard, the NBA player, has a breeding pair of red tail boas and a baby lavender retic.

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Originally Posted by NOLAcuber

How's this to crush one? I'm watching Tanked on Animal Planet and Dwight Howard, the NBA player, has a breeding pair of red tail boas and a baby lavender retic.

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I saw that, his tank came out great!