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

[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.