**GRAPHIC** Reminder to always monitor live feedings!!!

[zina10]

I think the issue with pictures such as that, is that the actual "message" gets lost in the sensationalism.

I'm going so far to say, that whoever let this happen AND took the picture did not intend that picture to be "educational". It's more about the "shock" and "ew" factor. The fact that pictures such as that spread like wildfire. They do very little to actually "teach" anything.

That said, I'm SURE the Original Poster (in our forum) only meant to post this as a warning and did not have any other motives. But I really, really question the motives of whoever took and shared that picture originally.

Its like this. We "could" put pictures of dead children that were "forgotten" in cars and overheated. Would it be shocking? Yes. Upsetting? Yes. Would it actually prevent that from happening again and again? I doubt it seriously. In theory you would think so. But the entire "shock" factor is why the pictures would circulate. People have to look, even at gruesome stuff. The whole fascination with ghoulish images. If they are bad enough, there is no message, there is no learning. There is just "shock and awe".

Granted, a Ball Python is not a human baby. But us reptile people do care about these animals. This picture is upsetting, shocking and really terrible. Not something that is easy to look at. And I doubt that it is sending the "right" message to any of those keepers that simply are to lazy or to un-caring to do things the right way.

So in my opinion, the intention of highqualityballz was good. No doubt in my mind whatsoever.

But pictures such as that do not truly educate or teach anything, also in my humble opinion.

[highqualityballz]

I think the issue with pictures such as that, is that the actual "message" gets lost in the sensationalism.

I'm going so far to say, that whoever let this happen AND took the picture did not intend that picture to be "educational". It's more about the "shock" and "ew" factor. The fact that pictures such as that spread like wildfire. They do very little to actually "teach" anything.

That said, I'm SURE the Original Poster (in our forum) only meant to post this as a warning and did not have any other motives. But I really, really question the motives of whoever took and shared that picture originally.

Its like this. We "could" put pictures of dead children that were "forgotten" in cars and overheated. Would it be shocking? Yes. Upsetting? Yes. Would it actually prevent that from happening again and again? I doubt it seriously. In theory you would think so. But the entire "shock" factor is why the pictures would circulate. People have to look, even at gruesome stuff. The whole fascination with ghoulish images. If they are bad enough, there is no message, there is no learning. There is just "shock and awe".

Granted, a Ball Python is not a human baby. But us reptile people do care about these animals. This picture is upsetting, shocking and really terrible. Not something that is easy to look at. And I doubt that it is sending the "right" message to any of those keepers that simply are to lazy or to un-caring to do things the right way.

So in my opinion, the intention of highqualityballz was good. No doubt in my mind whatsoever.

But pictures such as that do not truly educate or teach anything, also in my humble opinion.

I agree the person who took the picture most likelikely didn't do it to educate anyone. But I think that the picture can open a lot of people eyes to taking it more seriously. You can tell people what can happen and it can easily go through one ear out the other, but I think with this picture there is a better chance of that not happening. I know the picture is beyond graphic and I looked it once and got chills and never looked at it again. Again I'll say for the 1000th time I feed live on occasion too and am in NO way against it!

[AntTheDestroyer]

I think the issue with pictures such as that, is that the actual "message" gets lost in the sensationalism.

I'm going so far to say, that whoever let this happen AND took the picture did not intend that picture to be "educational". It's more about the "shock" and "ew" factor. The fact that pictures such as that spread like wildfire. They do very little to actually "teach" anything.

That said, I'm SURE the Original Poster (in our forum) only meant to post this as a warning and did not have any other motives. But I really, really question the motives of whoever took and shared that picture originally.

Its like this. We "could" put pictures of dead children that were "forgotten" in cars and overheated. Would it be shocking? Yes. Upsetting? Yes. Would it actually prevent that from happening again and again? I doubt it seriously. In theory you would think so. But the entire "shock" factor is why the pictures would circulate. People have to look, even at gruesome stuff. The whole fascination with ghoulish images. If they are bad enough, there is no message, there is no learning. There is just "shock and awe".

Granted, a Ball Python is not a human baby. But us reptile people do care about these animals. This picture is upsetting, shocking and really terrible. Not something that is easy to look at. And I doubt that it is sending the "right" message to any of those keepers that simply are to lazy or to un-caring to do things the right way.

So in my opinion, the intention of highqualityballz was good. No doubt in my mind whatsoever.

But pictures such as that do not truly educate or teach anything, also in my humble opinion.

I disagree, people should know the consequences of irresponsibility when feeding live and this shows that perfectly. The original intent of the photo taker is immaterial as the OP placed it here with a pretty clear intent. I have seen this pictured posted several times now, mostly as non live feeding propaganda. In this case it was posted as a reasonable point that you need to be careful when feeding live. Which situation is more accurate and helpful?

Just to counter point your shocking images rant how much money do you think aspca or child hunger campaigns bring in by posting sad starving animals/children? It is by no means a small amount. I see these type of photos as reality and think it is good we do not ignore the consequences of our actions or future actions. I think it is easy to say a snake is a predator and it will easily take care of its prey, but in nature this is not always true. Usually the snake wins, but sometimes the rat wins.

[zina10]

I disagree, people should know the consequences of irresponsibility when feeding live and this shows that perfectly. The original intent of the photo taker is immaterial as the OP placed it here with a pretty clear intent. I have seen this pictured posted several times now, mostly as non live feeding propaganda. In this case it was posted as a reasonable point that you need to be careful when feeding live. Which situation is more accurate and helpful?

Just to counter point your shocking images rant how much money do you think aspic or child hunger campaigns bring in by posting sad starving animals/children? It is by no means a small amount. I see these type of photos as reality and think it is good we do not ignore the consequences of our actions or future actions. I think it is easy to say a snake is a predator and it will easily take care of its prey, but in nature this is not always true. Usually the snake wins, but sometimes the rat wins.

You know it is perfectly alright to have different opinions and to disagree.

Nowhere did I "rant". But I guess that too can be disagreed upon.

By the way, there would be a difference between pictures of starving children (that can be helped) and pictures of dead, dismembered and ripped to pieces children.

[AntTheDestroyer]

You know it is perfectly alright to have different opinions and to disagree.

Nowhere did I "rant". But I guess that too can be disagreed upon.

By the way, there would be a difference between pictures of starving children (that can be helped) and pictures of dead, dismembered and ripped to pieces children.

I apologize if that came off as more than just a difference of opinion. I think rant was a bad choice of word. There is a difference between dismembered children and a dismembered snake as well.

[zina10]

I apologize if that came off as more than just a difference of opinion. I think rant was a bad choice of word. There is a difference between dismembered children and a dismembered snake as well.

Absolutely!!!

And that is why I said that snakes aren't human babies, and that this was just meant to be an example why "shocking" images are rarely learning tools. In my opinion. Because of human nature..

[JodanOrNoDan]

I disagree, people should know the consequences of irresponsibility when feeding live and this shows that perfectly. The original intent of the photo taker is immaterial as the OP placed it here with a pretty clear intent. I have seen this pictured posted several times now, mostly as non live feeding propaganda. In this case it was posted as a reasonable point that you need to be careful when feeding live. Which situation is more accurate and helpful?

Just to counter point your shocking images rant how much money do you think aspca or child hunger campaigns bring in by posting sad starving animals/children? It is by no means a small amount. I see these type of photos as reality and think it is good we do not ignore the consequences of our actions or future actions. I think it is easy to say a snake is a predator and it will easily take care of its prey, but in nature this is not always true. Usually the snake wins, but sometimes the rat wins.

While I may not agree with how this was said, my experience says Ant is 100% correct. Pictures, not matter their original intent, do work and can be used for good or evil to sway peoples decision making. If this was not the case there would not be so many news organizations that are clearly slanted in one direction or another and so many people that buy into the BS regardless of what the facts really are.