Wow. Some people's fear/ignorance.

Hi everybody,

I was doing a random Google search for Ball Pythons and came across the following post. Yes, this is a real post from another message board. I will post a link to the original in a moment.

ROS777
I've always wondered what the motivation is behind keeping a snake for a "pet". Usually the snake chosen is a poisionous or otherwise dangerous variety such as a python.
Is it to feel powerful over family, neighbors, enemies. Unless some one is acting like a kenite, or one live in a dangerous ' hood, I see no reason to need that much feeling of power over others.
People that own a python or some other dangerous snake, do act irresponsible when the snake becomes too expensive or too much to take care of. They just let it go; either flushing it down the toilet or dumping it out in the yard or woods.
Then it does become dangerous for everyone else and it is very evil.
Too many people have dumped pythons and other dangerous snakes in Florida after they've grown bored with them and now they're a threat to everyone that comes in contact with them including our wild life.
Yeah, it's evil to dump a snake out into the enviroment that can hurt others.
I also believe that this is a gang type activity; keeping a dangerous snake.
Why should a Christian be a part of a gang?
How would you feel if the neighbor next door had a snake?

Amazing, eh? The original post can be found here: Are Snakes Evil? (Post #6)

The poster has more to say in another follow-up post. I've always understood that there are people who enjoy speaking with authority about subjects on which they are completely ignorant, but... wow. At least somebody on the boards tried to set him/her straight but... again, WOW.

What is the worst experience any of you have had in dealing with uneducated people's ignorance?

wow i would love to have one on one conversation with him and i assure you it would have well chosen words which im not allowed to say seeing as this is a family oriented forum:D

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Originally Posted by NightLad

Hi everybody,

I was doing a random Google search for Ball Pythons and came across the following post. Yes, this is a real post from another message board. I will post a link to the original in a moment.

ROS777
I've always wondered what the motivation is behind keeping a snake for a "pet". Usually the snake chosen is a poisionous or otherwise dangerous variety such as a python.
Is it to feel powerful over family, neighbors, enemies. Unless some one is acting like a kenite, or one live in a dangerous ' hood, I see no reason to need that much feeling of power over others.
People that own a python or some other dangerous snake, do act irresponsible when the snake becomes too expensive or too much to take care of. They just let it go; either flushing it down the toilet or dumping it out in the yard or woods.
Then it does become dangerous for everyone else and it is very evil.
Too many people have dumped pythons and other dangerous snakes in Florida after they've grown bored with them and now they're a threat to everyone that comes in contact with them including our wild life.
Yeah, it's evil to dump a snake out into the enviroment that can hurt others.
I also believe that this is a gang type activity; keeping a dangerous snake.
Why should a Christian be a part of a gang?
How would you feel if the neighbor next door had a snake?

Amazing, eh? The original post can be found here: Are Snakes Evil? (Post #6)

The poster has more to say in another follow-up post. I've always understood that there are people who enjoy speaking with authority about subjects on which they are completely ignorant, but... wow. At least somebody on the boards tried to set him/her straight but... again, WOW.

What is the worst experience any of you have had in dealing with uneducated people's ignorance?

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I don't know about anybody else here, but I definitely keep my ball python to sic on rival gangs up in my 'hood...

okay, that whole post is rediculous but this:

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Originally Posted by NightLad

I also believe that this is a gang type activity; keeping a dangerous snake.
Why should a Christian be a part of a gang?

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made me laugh out loud! snakes? gangs? huh??? evil Christian gangs threatening people with snakes? i don't get it....

*walks off scratching head*

Oh the humor that can be found in the ignorance of others! LOL!

I dunno if this is qualifies but ill go.

Upon leaving the pet store with my lot of 4 mice for my two Ball Pythons I pass two very plump ladies. The leader of the two notices the small cups in my hand and with a high pitched voice screeches. "ARE THOSE FOR YOUR SNAKE. YOU SICK MINDED PERSON. HOW COULD YOU BE SO CRUEL?!" and a few other thing to that extent.
I held my tonge knowing that any retribution on my part would be useless. But, its a shame that they could be so ignorant as to scold me for feeding rodents to an animal that globaly fills a rodent control niche. I also wanted to tell her about the food that cats and dogs eat. Processed Chicken, fish and mystery meats sold in a Fancy Food can.

Lol, and the fact that I wanted to tell here how cruel it was for all the pigs and cows that died for her to obtain her vast plumpness.

See none of us need alarms on our homes or dogs, since they are filled with evil man eating BALL PYTHONS! LOL

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Originally Posted by Sparky1

See none of us need alarms on our homes or dogs, since they are filled with evil man eating BALL PYTHONS! LOL

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that's the REAL reason i got mine! not cuz they fascinating animals like i pretend...

My ball python gives me protection in my hood... A town ye yeah!

:D

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Originally Posted by Kathleen

I don't know about anybody else here, but I definitely keep my ball python to sic on rival gangs up in my 'hood...

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Yeah, I feel very well protected. I was told my rat snake is indeed a rattlesnake because it does the tail rattle. So I have 2"rattlesnakes" and 5 pythons. By the time they get done with the intruders I fear there will be nothing left for my killer borzoi!!:rofl::rofl:

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Originally Posted by Bobsean

Lol, and the fact that I wanted to tell here how cruel it was for all the pigs and cows that died for her to obtain her vast plumpness.

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Ohhh snaps. :rofl:

Actually, I plan to use a similar line if I'm ever confronted on feeding rats/mice. I mean... its just meat. I'd explain that I buy the food pre-killed and frozen in hot-dog like containers, just like the person judging me/Salzedo most likely buys hot-dogs. The feeders are bread and raised for the purpose of filling a food-role, just as pigs and cows are for humans.

Because we are talking about an animal (the snake), and not a person who can choose to control/modify their diet to exclude meat, I suspect that not even a Vegan could argue against the logic. Okay, some die-hard ones might try to argue that raising any animal for the purpose of food is a form of 'slavery', but than again, any such die-hard vegan would also argue that owning a pet is a form of 'slavery,' so the argument would be circular.

A couple of my friends are Vegan, although not the rabid kind. ;) (I say with love!)

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Originally Posted by Kathleen

I don't know about anybody else here, but I definitely keep my ball python to sic on rival gangs up in my 'hood...

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Cool I taught mine to attack door to door sales men and any one else who shows up before noon! You guys should see the evil looking spiked collar I just got her.
As far as having a story of ignorance; my mom will not come in my house because I own a snake (which is a good thing). My brother complains about her trying to move back with him and our uncle, I just tell him to chain up a couple of anacondas in front of the door. Problem solved:D.

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Originally Posted by Thunder Kat

Cool I just tell him to chain up a couple of anacondas in front of the door. Problem solved:D.

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Love it!!!!:):rofl:

haha! my sis doesn't like snakes (not scared tho) but she's considering allowing her hubby to get some so his mom won't come over! i said go for it!

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Originally Posted by python.princess

haha! my sis doesn't like snakes (not scared tho) but she's considering allowing her hubby to get some so his mom won't come over! i said go for it!

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My inlaws would come over and would take over the house for a week or two at a time. I always ended up put out of my bedroom to avoid a fight. I bought a 4 1/2 ft ball python, set it up in a 55 gal. tank next to my side of the bed. They said they were not coming back to visit till that vile creature was gone! Did I mention they were now my ex inlaws?:banana::banana:

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Originally Posted by NightLad
I also believe that this is a gang type activity; keeping a dangerous snake.

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Well geeze OF COURSE I'm part of a gang!

We call ourselves the "Wipe Your Shoes, I Just Washed This Floor" gang and we are very scary! You might be approached on the street by us and handed $20 in case your date gets fresh, or reminded to get your homework done (in a very FIRM SCARY voice mind you). Yep we're mean. Get out of our way, we're on the way to volunteer at the library, take the dog to the vet, pick up 6 kids to haul to hockey practise and we're all hopped up on midol and estrogen suppliments!!!!!!!!!!!

Be afraid...be very afraid! (and get that homework done or they'll be no xbox for you!)

P.S. We all drive very cool minivans that still smell faintly of baby vomit! ohhhhh scary stuff!

All jokes aside though folks, we do have to be careful we don't walk over a line here with regards to our TOS. Specifically this part.....

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12. Links or text with the purpose of recruiting members to competing sites are not allowed. Linking to other sources for the purposes of sharing something unavailable at BP.net and/or for the purposes of promoting reasonable and appropriate discussion are allowed. However, links to other forums for the purposes of slamming the site, an individual, or other inflammatory action are not allowed.

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While we know the truth about snakes and it's almost funny how some view them, in the end we don't want to slam another site or it's members in a place they aren't aware of and therefore cannot defend themselves or their viewpoint in.

the worst thing is, that whole OP post is a product of media misinformation and fearmongering, that person must watch and believe everything she/he sees on cnn!!

Every time I go out with one of my bp's people stop and ask if it's poisonous and I tell them " Do you think I'll be holding it if it was "poisonous"? " Or sometimes they ask "Does your snake kills people?" I'll just keep a blank face and tell them "Do you think I fit in this little belly?" and one time my grandmother , who is an absesive christian, told me how could i throw a rat/mice into my snake's cage and let it die and I told her the same way you used to "break" a chicken's neck to eat or when you shoot a rabbit.... It's the circle of life....

Thank you so much for sharing that with us. Oh my gosh that was so funny.

Thank god the christians are protecting us from the horrible snake gangs!!!

Oh, by the way, if any of you want to drive to Florida to dump off your snake... Let me know, I'll take it.

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Originally Posted by Jenn

Oh, by the way, if any of you want to drive to Florida to dump off your snake... Let me know, I'll take it.

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I have one that I was planning to smuggle down to miami to release, but not until after I use him to get a violent revenge on a rival gang. I'm planning to use his tail to try and poke them in their eyes. Maybe see if I can't get him to expell some urates in their general direction.

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Originally Posted by PythonWallace

Maybe see if I can't get him to expell some urates in their general direction.

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:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

The strangest thing that ever happened to me was when I told someone I owned a ball python. Her response was "Aren't those EXTREMELY poisinous?" I said that they are constrictors. Her response: "Whats a constrictor???"
Some people......
:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

While we know the truth about snakes and it's almost funny how some view them, in the end we don't want to slam another site or it's members in a place they aren't aware of and therefore cannot defend themselves or their viewpoint in.

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frankykeno

Thanks for that reminder. I’m unsure if your post was directed at me personally, but since I started the thread I feel a need to reply.

I did not quote that post, nor post a link to the other site, with the intention of mocking them. If anything, my only reaction when reading that post was… amazement. I hope that feeling came through in my original message. As for my comments about the poster in question being ‘ignorant’ or ‘speaking with authority on a topic they know nothing about’, I just viewed that as a factual statement, not a mockery. If it was taken as mocking him/her, I apologize.

The link was provided to 1) prove that the message was real, and 2) to allow members who felt compelled to reply directly to the poster(s) via the original forum.

I was spurned to create this thread after reading that post, yes, but also with the intention of asking other members what type of experiences they have had when dealing with uneducated/ignorant people.

As for my comments on vegans; I was not embellishing. Hard-core vegans do view pet ownership as being on par with slavery. This includes; guide-dogs for the blind, K-9 police service units, airport drug/bomb-sniffing dogs, etc. This form of ‘logic’ has been explained to me several times IRL by self-described “hard-core vegans,” although you can find statements to this effect online too.

But as I said, a couple of my good friends are vegan, and totally cool. I guess you can find extremists in just about any belief system – it can’t taint the whole bunch.

Jo, you crack me up, girl! :D

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Even when I was deathly afraid of snakes, I didn't care if other people had them as pets; I just didn't want them near me.

Now, of course..."if you've got a snake, please let me see the cutie!"

What this repost from the other forum reminds me of is a revelation I learned recently. When my parents found out I keep pet snakes, my step-mother made joking comments about how she was never coming to our house. When I was home last month, I got a little information from her as to why she dislikes them so much. Much to my surprise and dismay, my step-mother said because snakes are evil creatures as God cast them down to crawl in the dirt after being a part of the deception in the Garden of Eden.

...

Personally I think she has other reasons for not liking snakes and is just using that an excuse. She's my mom and I let it go...'sides, my Dad *LOVES* my snakes. =D

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So, this post about snake gangs*...yeah, pretty uneducated, highly biased and closed minded...or maybe just wants attention. *shrug* I'm glad I know better.

*My snakes have formed a gang. It's called "How about you get off your fat butt and feed us NOW?!" gang.

I still dont know where those christians are reading that the snakes are evil? No where does it say that God cast them down, and that they are evil.

It's them reading about the devil taking the form of a serpent, and now associating any serpent-like creature as evil. I think it's been taken way out of context. I think Genesis is the only book where the Devil took on the serpent form. (I could be horrible wrong)
Oh well... They are all God's creatures, respect them.

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

I still dont know where those christians are reading that the snakes are evil? No where does it say that God cast them down, and that they are evil.

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To answer your question, Genesis 3, verses 14 and 15:

14 The LORD God said to the serpent,
"Because you have done this,
cursed are you above all the wild beasts
and all the living creatures of the field!
On your belly you will crawl
and dust you will eat all the days of your life.
15 And I will put hostility between you and the woman
and between your offspring and her offspring;
her offspring will attack your head,
and you will attack her offspring's heel."

It is sad how uneducated people can be. That original article literally makes me want to cry. And THESE people VOTE! Ignorance is sad.

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Originally Posted by cassandra

and dust you will eat all the days of your life.

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Funny, mine eat rats...didn't know I was supposed to offer dust. Who knew?

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Originally Posted by cassandra

15 And I will put hostility between you and the woman

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Ain't that the truth!



I'm assuming that this was coming from a religious-based forum; I've always found it ironic that people who are so devoted to a religion that is based on love for all can have such a divisive and close-minded attitude towards others. I truly feel sorry for those people...

That person really needs to check this site out to disprove all that junk: http://www.bluegorgon.com/FAQ.htm

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Originally Posted by cassandra

To answer your question, Genesis 3, verses 14 and 15:

14 The LORD God said to the serpent,
"Because you have done this,
cursed are you above all the wild beasts
and all the living creatures of the field!
On your belly you will crawl
and dust you will eat all the days of your life.
15 And I will put hostility between you and the woman
and between your offspring and her offspring;
her offspring will attack your head,
and you will attack her offspring's heel."

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The verse "And dust you will eat all the days of your life" is not meant literally. It means everything they eat will taste like dust and that their food will be so common (mice are pretty common) that they will no longer have help from G-d.

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Originally Posted by cassandra

To answer your question, Genesis 3, verses 14 and 15:

14 The LORD God said to the serpent,
"Because you have done this,
cursed are you above all the wild beasts
and all the living creatures of the field!
On your belly you will crawl
and dust you will eat all the days of your life.
15 And I will put hostility between you and the woman
and between your offspring and her offspring;
her offspring will attack your head,
and you will attack her offspring's heel."

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See, what I was taught in catechism was that God was talking to Satan himself. Not to the serpent, but to satan in the serpents form.
Of course, us rebellious Lutherans are known for stirring things up a bit. :rofl:

lol, I just reread the chapter, and the use of serpent is in the context that the serpent is satan. I can see where people would misconstrue the serpent part meaning God was actually talking to a snake. I think the context of the chapter is denoting that God was (again) talking to satan and referring to him as a "serpent".

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

lol, I just reread the chapter, and the use of serpent is in the context that the serpent is satan. I can see where people would misconstrue the serpent part meaning God was actually talking to a snake. I think the context of the chapter is denoting that God was (again) talking to satan and referring to him as a "serpent".

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I agree with this. I think that God is actually talking to Satan who is in the form of a serpent, not the serpent itself. After all, God made snakes. Why would he make something evil?

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Originally Posted by LGL

I agree with this. I think that God is actually talking to Satan who is in the form of a serpent, not the serpent itself. After all, God made snakes. Why would he make something evil?

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Why did God make Lucifer? I do agree, I mean, snakes don't speak English, much less Aramaic or whatever the spoken language of Eden was. :D

If I had a mind to, I'd have mentioned the various cultures, societies and religions throughout time that revered the snake as a symbol of health, wisdom, immortality, and even Divinity. Several deities had the snake as a patron symbol, and a few even took the form of a snake themselves.

Check out this Wiki article about Snakes in Mythology

Actually, one of my best friends is completing his PhD in Theology at a Christian University on his way to becoming a Priest, and he mentioned the quote about serpents crawling on their bellies after I introduced him to Salzedo. He said it as a joke, and we have that type of good-natured 'ribbing' humor with each other. He afterwards explained that the word that was translated to Serpent in other parts of the Bible could equally be used to describe Nile crocks.

We had a lenghtly discussion about mythology, spirituality, and the ancient world from which such things originate. My friend mentioned that fear of snakes would have been common in the ancient mid-east, at the time of the OT, as many were to be rightly feared. The Asp, for example, is frequently mentioned. The OT contains a large collection of ancient Jewish tribal laws from the period designed to keep people safe. In addition to instilling a fear of snakes, it also warns against the spread of dark spirits if sick people are housed with healthy. Today we call it quarantine to avoid the spread of illness.

HAHAHAHA I CREATED AN ACCOUNT ON THAT SITE LABLED PYTHONTRICKER. it askes my reason for sighning up and all and i said i own pythons and other herps and im a proud christian. i have no shame in owning snakes and they are not evil.:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::ro fl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:now im going to sign in and just verbaly beat the crap out of that guy!!! hahahaha

Maybe post some facts for the guy and tell him he's grossly misinformed, but I wouldn't blast him. Might end up making him look like the good guy.

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Originally Posted by NightLad

What is the worst experience any of you have had in dealing with uneducated people's ignorance?

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THATS by far the worst Ive ever seen!! EVER!! My aunt hates snakes- but still she's not like THAT. She just doesnt like them, but doesnt think that I own them to feel 'powerful' or because I'm in a 'gang'.... Wow.. Thats unbelievable...

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Originally Posted by PythonWallace

Maybe post some facts for the guy and tell him he's grossly misinformed, but I wouldn't blast him. Might end up making him look like the good guy.

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oh of corse. but if he starts saying things like "the power of christ compells you" or "the devil has possesed you" or some crap then ill blast him! hahahaha. PWNAGE:8:

argh it wont let me post anything.

I just posted a response to this guy's wacky theories.

"Ros777, where are you getting your information about snakes from? Most snake keepers absolutely DO NOT keep venomous snakes. They are illegal to own in a lot of places without a permit or license that requires a lot of hands on experience with a professional venomous snake keeper, such as in a zoo. And very few people even consider ever owning a venomous snake. Also, most python and boa species are completely harmless to humans and any animals larger than a rat. On top of that, there are only a couple large, non-native snakes that can survive in the Florida Everglades. While it is horrible to just dump a snake into the wild, It's not as common as it's portrayed to be, and it's not as dentrimental to the environment as say, Asain carp species which can survive in most of the fresh water bodies in the U.S., and destroy the area's natural ecosystem. Basically, it comes down to the fact that a very miniscule percentage of snake species can be dangerous to people or pets, while an overwhelming majority of snake owners wouldn't even want to own these. I have also never heard anyone use the term gang activity when it came to owning snakes. I am a Christian, and I have 18 pythons in my house. The largest one is about 4 feet long, and I've never been bitten by any of them, even though I handle them on a daily basis. I have been bitten by a 9 foot python, and I've been bitten by an 18 inch kitten, and I can tell you that I'd rather get bitten by a huge python than a cat, dog, or even a mouse. When you realize that a large snake has the same size mouth as a cat, only with much smaller teeth, you start to understand that they really aren't dangerous at all. Instead of slamming snakes and people who own snakes as evil, I suggest doing a google search for ball python morphs and corn snake morphs. You'll quickly discover that most snakes, especially 99% of the ones making up the pet trade are some of God's most beautiful and amazing creatures."

Only a little BS. :)

Bravo! :gj:

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

Bravo! :gj:

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Thanks. It looks like a lot of people on there liked it. I've been a member for an hour and a half with only this post, but I already have over 120 rep points.. I mean Blessings for it. A guy above my post has 47 posts with less rep.. err Blessings than me. Looks like not all Christians are ignorant and unreasonable. :)

Dang! Go you! 120 reps in less than an hour, that has to be a record! :D

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

Dang! Go you! 120 reps in less than an hour, that has to be a record! :D

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I doubt it. I have a feeling they hand out Blessing points like it's going out of style. The mod on there has over 300,000 Blessings. :rofl:

Guys this is why we as a site strive to help every herper better understand their pets and hobbie. The better educated the genural public is about our hobbie the less and less of this kind of thinking we will see. :D

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Originally Posted by PythonWallace

I just posted a response to this guy's wacky theories.

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I saw that I wish I could post a reply as well :D

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

I saw that I wish I could post a reply as well :D

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I think I was the second person from this site to reply. If we get a bunch of first time posters over there, does that actually make us a snake gang? :rofl:

I think that a few educated non rant reply to his questions will be of great value. :D

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

I think that a few educated non rant reply to his questions will be of great value. :D

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Agreed.