Everyone is beautiful, there are no losers.

[Alice]

I guess I'm not still pretty young LOL because I come from a time and place where the word "brutally" didn't always seem to go with the word "honest". This really is a soapbox thing for me, Brandon, so bear with me and please don't take this personally but I really don't get this sort of mindset.

When did being tactful, kind or non-judgemental turn into sugarcoating? When did it become okay to say anything that pops into a person's brain and justify it all by using "just sayin'"? When did we lose our internal filter that says "maybe in this case I should just keep my tongue behind my teeth and my opinion to myself"?

I guess the way I see it, when it comes to photos here, is that, for me anyways, any well kept snake that a person shows us is a gorgeous animal because it's able to live it's life well under that person's care. No one is asking us to stand judgement on whether the animal is the best example. This is not some sort of online snake show, nor are the majority of us qualified to give that kind of expert opinion anyways (no matter what our ego's would like to tell us). It's a different matter if a person is showing a photo and asking for an opinion on the quality of the morph in order to purchase it but even then, it's an opinion - your opinion, my opinion, not something written in stone by our egos. Personally I think it should be expressed as an opinion and done so without the big stick of "brutal honesty" swung so quickly all the time.

As for the non-snake rest of it, I don't think it would kill society to be just a tad less self-serving and immature. Manners are something that have gone out of vogue it seems in this world of "I call it like it is". I for one am very sorry to see them go by the wayside.

I couldn't have said it better!

[Wh00h0069]

I would honestly rather have sugar-coated responses than nothing at all. I hate when I post pictures of my snakes and either no one responds or just a few do.

Now one thing I do hate is when a daily poster posts a picture of one of their snakes and they get tons of responses, but when a newbie post, they only get a few...

[frankykeno]

I would honestly rather have sugar-coated responses than nothing at all. I hate when I post pictures of my snakes and either no one responds or just a few do.

Now one thing I do hate is when a daily poster posts a picture of one of their snakes and they get tons of responses, but when a newbie post, they only get a few...

I think Eddie that just due to people noticing threads from folks they know faster than a newcomer. It is a good point though that we need to remember that a kind response to a newcomer leaves a good impression of this site. That good impression translates often into us being able to accomplish one of our main goals in helping newcomers become confident, knowledgeable snakekeepers. Thanks for the reminder, Eddie.

[Slim]

Brandon, have you ever known me to sugar coat anything?

[Wh00h0069]

I think Eddie that just due to people noticing threads from folks they know faster than a newcomer. It is a good point though that we need to remember that a kind response to a newcomer leaves a good impression of this site. That good impression translates often into us being able to accomplish one of our main goals in helping newcomers become confident, knowledgeable snakekeepers. Thanks for the reminder, Eddie.

You're welcome, and I do see what you mean about noticing post from people that they know quicker than others.

[mak2266]

Well..... This came to mind. My grandmother was born in 1908. She saw both World Wars, the great depression, Korean war, Cold war, Vietnam, Iraq... governments fall, death, fear, despair, and an alcoholic husband. After everything she has lived through she would still say to me, " IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANTHING NICE TO SAY, DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL." Smart words from a smart woman.

[Garlascop]

Show me a picture of an ugly snake. I've never seen one.

[muddoc]

Well..... This came to mind. My grandmother was born in 1908. She saw both World Wars, the great depression, Korean war, Cold war, Vietnam, Iraq... governments fall, death, fear, despair, and an alcoholic husband. After everything she has lived through she would still say to me, " IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANTHING NICE TO SAY, DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL." Smart words from a smart woman.

I ask myself the words of wisdom your grandmother shared almost everytime I post on a forum. With that said, I can say that I agree in large part with the OP's evaluation. I know for a fact that every Ball Python I have BOUGHT, is an exceptional animal. I know this because I searched high and low, and in most cases, paid for the best example of a trait that I could find. Now, I have produced some animals that are better looking than my founding stock, and obviously some animals that are less than desireable for said trait. In other words, I don't think that every Pastel is "great looking", and I normally don't say it is if it isn't.

Now, I have read all of the posts in this thread, and have to agree with all of the people that think every snake is beautiful. If someone posts a picture of their "ugly" (insert morph here), I will either keep my mouth shut, or comment on the beauty of their snake, animal, Ball python, etc., but won't say that that is a beutiful (said morph here). I think Jo said it best when she said that you can still post, but do so in a tactful manner. I still believe that one should go back and reread their post before hitting the submit button, so they know it is worded correctly, and makes sense.

That's just my take on the subject, and I do still think that every animal is an amazing creature.

[Malpaso]

ugly/pretty is so subjective... talking about snakes there are some morphs i do not like (visually). But this just me. Anyone else may have different opinion. That's why I never post: "What a ugly picture" or "what a disgusting snake". However when I see good picture or beautiful (for me) snake I make comment. Of course.

Different thing is when beautiful = expensive. That means you cant make beautiful picture just because you have normal BP. You do not get it? let me give you an example... posting pictures of Panda-pied. Pics should be blurry, ugly, common as usual... but still it's $23k snake (as noticed in other post in forum) so it's beautiful. My point is I have that feeling sometimes from some posts...

note:
Another example... I have just one snake at home and it's normal. Sometimes I have feeling from some posts like: oh... one snak only? what a looser... and... and... he has normal!!! looser of losers...)

[Freakie_frog]

There's really not much that hasn't been said here that I don't agree with. Jo and Tim hit the nail on the head..

I can tell you that when a person gets a new snake morph or not they are stoked, I am every time I get one in. I have normals that I show off as much as my morphs. So if someone gets an animal that I might not find attractive I might tell them congrats on the first morph or to watch out their addicting.

I'm not however going to be an ass and come down on the quality of their animal because its not what I could have picked up or not the quality of animal I own or produce. Their happy, they like it and that's whats important my opinion don't mean and shouldn't squat. They spent their money on an animal their excited about it, so I'm excited that the hobby has another enthusiastic member. So I congratulate them and encourage them. Being a wet blanket is what runs people out of the hobby.

I can remember when I got my first morphs I remember the encouragement I got from people I look up to in the business and still do. It really was a boost and still is. I like hearing people like looking at my animals it means that I have something to offer. People like to know that their new addition makes them one of the group. We don't need or want people in this hobby that have no qualms with belittling someones animals. You should want to encourage people and let them know that there room at the table for everyone not just those with the best looking animals.

Please people remember. Just because you can say it doesn't mean you should.