I've got a moral question

[rlditmars]

In a perfect world, you could report him and then spin it where the reptile hobby community is policing itself and trying to do the responsible thing. Unfortunately we don't live in that world and so the media would spin it sensationally, which would not reflect well on the hobby.

I do like the analogy about the drugs though. When you consider you can sit there sipping a martini, but would report the drug dealer next door, that about sums it up. They are both mind altering substances but one is legal and one is not. However, we need to remember that when you turn in the drug dealer they don't try to take your gin away.

Quite the conundrum.

[mr.spooky]

Do the right thing...................... stay out of his business.. Remember, thats what got us in this mess that were into today. A bunch of people trying to tell us whats right for us. Morality is when you see someone kicking a dog, thats when you intervene. The police arent gonna give you a metal, nor are the politicians gonna say "you know what, maby those big snake keepers are moral people, maby we should change the laws". All thats going to end up hapening is some guy is going to loose his pets. Now, if the animals are living in filth, he dosent deserve them.

spooky

[wilomn]

I hear a lot of speculation and not a lot of factualization.

Do you KNOW he didn't get the burm legally? If he's grandfathered in, does it make any difference that he got a baby for xmas when come summer time he could have dozens, all legally?

Are YOU so superior that you feel comfortable turning him in? Already the answer to this is no as you have already tried to get someone else to do your dirty work for you.

Get some facts, real actual proven facts, or sit the heck down and shut the heck up.

[mainbutter]

You have no duty to report any crime unless it is a felony.

My personal ethics dictate I would act in the best interest of the animal. If it is well taken care of, but would be destroyed if turned over to the authorities, I'd probably leave the situation alone. If the animal is not being well taken care of, AND it is against a local or state code/law to keep them, I'd probably point the authorities to the facebook pictures.

If I know nothing but the fact there might be a burm in captivity in a state where there is some legislation preventing most of it, I'd say it's none of my business.

[toyota89]

As far as I know any snakes bought after 2005 are illegal. I won't call. I don't think I could have anyways BC I would hate anyone who did it to me.

Sent from my Droid RAZR M using Tapatalk 2

[wilomn]

As far as I know any snakes bought after 2005 are illegal. I won't call. I don't think I could have anyways BC I would hate anyone who did it to me.

Sent from my Droid RAZR M using Tapatalk 2

Your moral compass may be in need of a tune up.

[rlditmars]

Do the right thing...................... stay out of his business.. Remember, thats what got us in this mess that were into today. A bunch of people trying to tell us whats right for us. Morality is when you see someone kicking a dog, thats when you intervene. The police arent gonna give you a metal, nor are the politicians gonna say "you know what, maby those big snake keepers are moral people, maby we should change the laws". All thats going to end up hapening is some guy is going to loose his pets. Now, if the animals are living in filth, he dosent deserve them.

spooky

I believe the OP is trying to do the right thing. The debate becomes exactly what that is. Would reporting a crime be "the right thing"? Should someone "stay out of a persons business", if that business is child pornography? Webster does not refer to kicking dogs but rather defines morality as "conformity to ideals of right human conduct." That would be both reptile and non reptile owning humans.

I am not taking a side. I have my opinions but have not expressed them. I neither encourage nor discourage the OP to act. I am simply contemplating the "what ifs". Your response seems to be more of a blanket statement that will serve your/our interests but may or may not be factual. There are many facets that have put the reptile hobby in the mess/predicament it is in. "A bunch of people telling is whats right for us", is the result of that, not the cause.

[mr.spooky]

I believe the OP is trying to do the right thing. The debate becomes exactly what that is. Would reporting a crime be "the right thing"? Should someone "stay out of a persons business", if that business is child pornography? Webster does not refer to kicking dogs but rather defines morality as "conformity to ideals of right human conduct." That would be both reptile and non reptile owning humans.

I am not taking a side. I have my opinions but have not expressed them. I neither encourage nor discourage the OP to act. I am simply contemplating the "what ifs". Your response seems to be more of a blanket statement that will serve your/our interests but may or may not be factual. There are many facets that have put the reptile hobby in the mess/predicament it is in. "A bunch of people telling is whats right for us", is the result of that, not the cause.

So your compairing child porn to a snake,,, REALLY? And my "blanket statement" as far as Im concerned is factual. People need to keep their nose in their own business. PERIOD. A fine example, Mayor Bloomberg. Just because he feels like those poor New Yorkers shouldent drink a large soda, does that really give him the right to make that call? The OP wasent trying to do the right thing, the OP was wanting someone to tell him/her what the right thing was. Maby the OP should seek the advice of Bloomberg.
spooky

[OsirisRa32]

Personally I would keep my nose out of other people's business...especially if you and he had a falling out....it could very much make you look like the bad guy trying to seek vengeance on someone you are no longer friendly with.


If they are on FB with pictures then obviously they have accepted the risks of law enforcement seeing the photos and taking action.

Are they allowed with state/ federal permits in NY? Maybe the dude has the correct permits or has been grandfather claused in? (kinda hard to fill in the blanks without knowing more about the person with the snakes and the state laws).

[TessadasExotics]

WOW. Wonder if anyone here would report the rest of us, if or when ball pythons become illegal to own? And comparing owning a snake to owning child porn is pretty ludicrous.

I guess it was alright with you that he owned the Burm when you were friends, but now its not?