Originally Posted by womsterr
While I agree that shows like this are National Inquirer level crap-fests, it should give you an indication of where the sensibilities of most people lie.
The general public doesn't want documentaries about black mambas, they want sensationalistic shows that haver an element of over the top danger. These shows are in the same vein as programs about the Kardashians or Ice-T and his giant-knockered barbie doll wife.
Animal Planet is doing what Animal Planet needs to in order to sell advertising space. They can air programs educating the public about the many subtle yet fascinating differences between BCI and BCC and go out of business, or sell sensationalistic shows that John Q. Public wants to watch.
We're blamed away the burmese python issue on Mother Nature - yep, the Reptile Nation had no hand in that.
What about iguanas?
What about white lipped pythons?
What about rock pythons?
What about varanids?
What about the 45 bother non-native species populating Florida?
Were those all from acts of Nature?
There would be no rock pythons to write shows about if people in THIS hobby had acted more responsibly. Why do we so blithely ignore our role in the problem yet flip out every time AP airs one of these shows? If they bother you, don't watch them.
Oh, you can write them, you can write their sponsors, but if you really want to address the ISSUE, rail against the idiots who created and are still contributing to this problem. Find a way to support the fight against releasing pets into the environment. Find away to come up with a strategy to deter morons from being able to own these pets in the first place.
I swear, there are five threads bashing these programs to every one examining how the Hobby played a major role in the real problem. How about one examining ways in which we can stop this non-native species proliferation from occurring in the first place?
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