Some Snake News out of Southern California

[Andys-Python]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Misha gave his(corrected ) opinion, you gave yours and I gave mine.

No. Anybody who would equate Animal neglect with child molestation is woefully ignorant and I'm frankly appalled that anyone would make this association.

I stand corrected then. Nobody is entitled to their opinion on this forum if YOU find it appalling. This will then make it OK for you to attack them on a personal level.
It is my opinion that everyone here should be aware of this hypocrisy. But that is my opinion. Which you can now find appalling and attack me some more.

By the way, I find it appalling that anyone would NOT want to see justice done in this case. Although I would not attack someone for their opinion (no matter how outrageous it may be), I can bet I would be kicked off this forum for doing so.

I have said what I have to say on this subject.

Please forgive me. Since I was being quoted and further attacked on a personal front, I feel I should respond – least, I be made out to be ‘ignorant’ or non-compassionate.

Sham, you make a good point:

Had this been the molestation of a child, my reaction would be VERY different. To me, neglect of an animal and child molestation are on completely different levels.

I respect your opinion that they are on two different ‘levels’, but I don’t attack you on a personal level because my opinion is different than yours.
My reaction to both crimes IS the same. I find them both offensive and criminal. This was the point I was trying to make with MarkS who wrote:

Well I’m NOT glad that their pressing charges

.
I might add that MarkS felt it necessary to single out one individual and quote him with his response, instead of simply stating his opinion. It seems to be Marks M.O. to attack people on this forum when they have an opinion different than his.
I will also point out that child molesters are charged, arrested, convicted, ‘treated’, and released back into society. The same will probably be true of this guy. So in this respect, the two situations are also quite similar. Granted, the difference may be that a child molester may serve time.
Do I hold the value of a snakes life over that of another human being? No. Do I feel the same about the perpetrators of each crime? Yes. That is the way I feel and my opinion. Attacking me personally does not help to change that.

BrandiR:

You said that it takes (in all caps) MONTHS AND MONTHS for this to happen. If you don't know what it takes to neglect a snake to death, you shouldn't have been so all-caps-adamant about it.

This is what I believed at the time. I expressed it in all caps to emphasize the horror. I am also man enough to admit when I am wrong and if your read further, you would have seen that I admitted my IGNORANCE. Yet you felt it necessary to chastise me further. I can only surmise why.

Who are you to determine how one person's loss compares to that of others? I've seen people go bat crap crazy over the death of a dog while I've seen others shrug off the death of a family member.

I am a logical, rational human being (most of the time) – trying to rationalize what has happened here - Like everyone else. That’s ‘who I am’.
First, we must understand that the press is putting the idea out there that he did this because he lost his mother, father and grandmother within the last 5 years. I don’t buy this as an ‘excuse’ for doing what he did. Hence My comment and some rational behind it. Here is some additional rational: This has been going on for well over 6 months during which time, the man has had the capacity to go to work every day and function ‘normally’. (and I put ‘normal’ in quotes for a reason). Nobody was aware of what was going on except for a neighbor who smelled the stench next door. It’s not like the guy suffered a nervous breakdown and was huddled in a corner somewhere due to some tragedy. This, I could understand. He was cognizant of other responsibilities in his life. Why not his responsibilities to his wards? It has been further suggested by others outside the press, that this may have been the case of an ‘animal hoarder’. I will admit my ignorance on this subject and just say that the situation fits the profile as it was explained to me. I don’t except this as an excuse or reason not to prosecute. Do I think these people need help? Yes. Do I think they should be allowed to own another animal? No. These are my opinions. You (should) have a right to voice yours. It’s called freedom of speech.

Some people are stronger than others and can handle a lot more than most people can. Some people are emotionally fragile and what seems small to you is insurmountable to them.

I DO understand this. I also will add that I have a great deal of compassion for these people as well as those who seem to handle it better than others. I also understand that not everybody copes with these tragedys the same way.
When someone exhibits anti-social behavior, at what point do you stop excusing it? Does one crime trump another? Does one tragedy trump another? I submit that every person decides this for themselves for every situation they assess. This is exactly what is being discussed here. Some in a more mature manner than others.

You aren't required to choose a side here, man or snakes. You can have compassion for both.

I agree 100%. As I have stated before; this guy needs help. This doesn’t change my opinion that he should be prosecuted, punished and never allowed to own another living animal. It is MY opinion that he has lost that privilege by what he has done.

Let’s see if we can have further discussion without the personal attacks and hostility.