Disturbing

[L2.BP.Plox]

I have not been active recently because I have been quite busy, but I have read the occasional forum. Unfortunately, what I used to regard as a place to trade ideas and thoughts about ball pythons has become something distasteful. I see more and more things that only entice anger and argument, rather than informed discussion. Recent ones have sparked my need to express my opinion; although, there are others as well.

There was a picture recently of a King Cobra eating an Albino. Well, I understand quite well that this is a natural phenomenon for quite a few of the snakes of the world. However, is not naturally occurring for a King Cobra to eat an Albino, they live other regions. I read that it happened because the Albino had died and was being maximized as a resource, I suppose. Out of death came life, but I not see the need to make into a joke. Death is not something is funny. It is not something should be taken lightly. Even in regards to animals especially by people that love the animals. I do not see it happening very often in any other trade. I could be wrong, but I think that respect of death is something generally accepted by people. The issue that bothers me most is that the people that spoke against the photograph were quoted in a mocking manner. It is highly disrespectful, in my very honest opinion. I understand it is debatable by taste/values. But, I do not see the need to mock people for expressing their opinions.

Then there is a more recent one about freezing baby normals. I understand this topic is sore because it is offensive to those that do not freeze them. However, think it is necessary to understand that in all trades there are people that do not do good things to their animals. My opinion on it is that freezing is not humane thing, as someone had stated. However, I disagree that there is a humane way to take life from a being. Being humane is to invoke compassion and sympathy. To kill a creature in a swift, less painful manner that is dying, so long as they approve, I suppose is humane. However, anything capable of living is not. Regardless of how normals are killed, if they are healthy, it is not humane. My issue here is privacy. People are entitled to privacy. The person that referenced a colleague of his/hers that freezes the baby normals has to respect the privacy of said colleague. It would be entirely out of place to say the colleagues name because it would defy their privacy. They did not say they froze mice on the forum, and I do not see why they would after reading some of the replies. I have said that I understand the need to trade ideas. But, I am a firm believer that it can be done in a calm and collective manner without any snide remarks or privacy infringing statements.

It is not so much the topics that bother me, if they are appropriate. I feel that most have been, but there are a few that have not. It is the behavior of the people that saddens me. As a thriving and expanding community of breeders I expect more. A community does not grow in a healthy manner when its people are war-torn, so to speak. The manner of discussion has become a war with words rather than an enlightened collection of ideology.

[kitedemon]

There was a picture recently of a King Cobra eating an Albino. Well, I understand quite well that this is a natural phenomenon for quite a few of the snakes of the world. However, is not naturally occurring for a King Cobra to eat an Albino, they live other regions.

Personally I am not going to comment on ethics but this comment bothers me Albinism is simply a genetic flaw it occurs naturally in every species. It is noting more than a lack of melanin in the chromataphores of the skin. It is in no way regional at all. Rare yes but if a wild king came across an albino snake it would be food just the same as any other snake. Kings eat snakes and although they can be switched to rats it is a long and difficult task. I know someone whom works for a zoo and has been working on one king for 3 years now and still isn't there yet.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

So are passion, debate, and difference of opinion wrong?

Is what is going on here any different than having a difference of opinion with people in real life?

Should a forum only be about complimenting pictures and giving a few husbandry advice without ever discussing serious/sensitive subject?

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

What has been called mocking, was humor meant to lighten the mood of the thread and show those that threw a fit over the photo before knowing the story, or thinking about it completely (non hypocritical) how silly they were being...

No one was actually putting other members down with the joking comments in that thread. You are reading too much into it.

I don't think the OP should have put an "lol" under the picture but I have no problem otherwise with the post.

[JulieInNJ]

It is not so much the topics that bother me, if they are appropriate. I feel that most have been, but there are a few that have not. It is the behavior of the people that saddens me. As a thriving and expanding community of breeders I expect more. A community does not grow in a healthy manner when its people are war-torn, so to speak. The manner of discussion has become a war with words rather than an enlightened collection of ideology.

I have to disagree. Coming in as a relatively new collector and hobby breeder, I have found this community to be nothing but welcoming and friendly.

People will always be passionate and fervent about what they believe in. In all forums (even the ones with heated discussions), I've found that members understand that a difference of opinion is in no way a personal attack. Frequently I've seen members even apologize if their words were taken personally.

And always remember, written word is a lot harder to interpret then spoke word because there is no tone. And if we worry to much about who we're offending...well, there goes your enlightened discussion right out the window.

[Alexandra V]

I personally didn't see the topic about freezing baby normals, but I have to say that I personally don't agree with it. I'm sure the people that do it have their motives, and there is no way of controlling people simply because your opinions differ. There will always be people who will do things that you don't necessarily agree with.

That being said, I did see the thread with the cobra eating the ball python. I think personally that it may not have been in the best of taste considering this is a forum full of people who love ball pythons, and the OP should have at least thought of that before posting. However, I wouldn't have a problem with something like that being posted if they had offered a fair warning in the title (I.E. "Warning - Graphic"). I think what happened there was that people were lured in by an ambiguous title and then taken completely off-guard. I personally don't expect to see a ball python being eaten by a cobra when I click on a thread title like that.

But once everyone got over the shock and the context was explained, what happened? People got over it. And that's how it goes with tough subjects. Yes, people may get their backs up about it, but the road to opening up a soft subject is just dealing with it and finding out the context, trying to understand other parties. If you ask me, that's part of being a social being.

[PythonOutlaw]

You think the culling is bad with pythons, you would be horrified what happens in some of the other animal hobbies! I think some members are overreacting

[Ezekiel285]

I have not been active recently because I have been quite busy, but I have read the occasional forum. Unfortunately, what I used to regard as a place to trade ideas and thoughts about ball pythons has become something distasteful. I see more and more things that only entice anger and argument, rather than informed discussion. Recent ones have sparked my need to express my opinion; although, there are others as well.

I have only been a part of this forum for 2 months but i rarely feel that there are "angry" threads. Argument is going to happen where there are differing opinions and this argument can be healthy or unhealthy. However, i do not feel that these arguments are malicious or mean spirited but rather simple discussions of differing opinion, such as what is going on now. I do not agree with you, but i am not attacking you personally.

[VEXER19]

Wow, I think it is time for you to grow a pair. Things happen in every aspect of this world that you can't control. So you need to except that you can only control yourself and understand that people are going to do what people are going to do. In another view you are intitled to your opinions but so are the rest of us. You shouldn't take thinkgs so personally. There are many foods out there in which animals are tortured to make, whales being killed and a thousand other problems in this world that are going to happen whether you protest it or not. As far as this forum goes. There are a lot of classy people here that are always there to support you in help you in the blink of an eye. And for some subjects it does take a little tough love to get you point across. But this is a food chain type of world in here and sorry the little guy just get the crap end of the deal. Oh and you as a human are no different. Just be thankful that your on top of the food chain. Peace.

[MidSouthMorphs]

I was one of the ones that reacted to the photo of the Cobra eating the Albino Ball Python, I found out the story behind it and got over it. PythonOutlaw is right though, culling is much worse in other species. But I do think that people do not react enough when it is brought into the light, to many get away with it.

I am pretty passionate about the species that I keep and pretty much all animals, I think many of you witnessed that. But I do understand the circle of life, sometimes my passion interferes with that. I do think many had a negative attitude towards me about sharing a different opinion, but hey that's life. I have thick skin from being in the Marines and I don't get butt hurt over stuff like that. Anyways, friendly debate over any topic is welcomed. It is refreshing to hear different opinions.