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Why I hate the press.
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by sceniccityreptiles on June 28, 2005
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Amy Pollick from THE DECATUR DAILY called me on Monday. I was very busy cleaning my snake cages, but I took about 15 to 20 minutes to talk to her. Some stupid redneck in that area had killed a “velvet rattlesnake” near his house and he wanted an article in the paper about it. I tried to discourage her from doing it, but when I seen she was determined to do it, I gave several usable quotes to discourage people from killing indigenous snakes. So as to make sure there was no misunderstandings, I told her that I wanted some quotes in the article describing the actual nature of the snake and not what these morons were spouting out. She ran the article with no true information about the animals and even quoted a fool who said these snakes will not wait, they come and attack you. I have included her email, if anyone else is as troubled by this as me by this, please drop a line and let her know.
Link to the article: http://secw.bravepages.com/Chuck/pics/decatur.JPG
This is the email I sent to Amy and the author.
TO: Amy.Pollick@decaturdaily.com rthomas@decaturdaily.com
Amy, I could not be more displeased with your article. Why did I take time out of my schedule to explain why snakes should not be killed, just to have you print an article praising the actions of the man killing a snake? The information was inaccurate. The snake was not coming for the girl and the comment by the neighbor was complete ignorance. The snake had ample opportunity to bite both children and instead left them in peace. You choose to print a quote from someone who has never studied snakes and omit all comments from me, even though I have 15 years experience with the animals. Articles like this are the reason we hate to work with the press. I wish you had not sent me this, I would have been much happier never knowing what was written. ----Chuck
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RE: Why I hate the press.
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by sceniccityreptiles on June 29, 2005
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Ok, I think we should call the dogs off Amy, but don’t let up on Ronnie. In fact, I will try to get his home number so we can call him…..very late at night.
link to email she sent me: http://secw.bravepages.com/Chuck/pics/decatur_1.JPG
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RE: Why I hate the press.
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by Phobos on June 29, 2005
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Hi Chuck:
Thanks for posting that and taking the time to try to get the truth out. I'll write Ronnie a bit later today. >:-(
Cheers!
Al
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RE: Why I hate the press.
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by fizzbob7 on June 29, 2005
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i'm sick of that game......what is written first is what sticks.......if i throw a name out there as a child molester, without any proof whatsoever, that person will forever have a halo of suspicion around them NO MATTER WHAT.......just like the AL story, these people honestly think they're smarter....they think that they can say what they want the first go-round, then "fix" it later.....but they know just like i do, the first go round is worth about 100x more...that's why they do it......they know the business......they want a sensational article......99.9% of them do not care about anything except how far they can get in the press world.....whomever is at fault, the fact still remains, someone IS at fault.....i simply don't trust any of them......don't like them, and don't believe anything they say anymore.....barry bonds has the right idea, the media are just horrible people.......they are the bad guys in any situation.....the only way they'll help anyone out is if the story itself is already sensationalized......thing is, the only thing sensational to the media in the herp world also happens to be extremely negative in nature......
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I will reply as well .but I may not be as polite..
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by MattHarris on June 29, 2005
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..in telling that what pathetic journalists they are. I will send them the link to a FACTUAL article on timber rattlesnakes. Huh...funny, it was actually written by a biologist, and not a journalist....Makes me wonder, if the curriculum for journalism majors isn't just rubbish???
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/sections/environment/stories/en042504s1.shtml
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RE: Why I hate the press.
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by walterD on June 29, 2005
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A lesson learned; Never talk to the media in any form. I hang up in their face or walk away when even asked the most simple question.
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RE: Why I hate the press.
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by Crotalus_Catcher on June 29, 2005
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Being in college to become a member of the media (well techincally a videographer, but anyway), the advice I can give is DO NOT TALK TO THE MEDIA, or if you do, do it in writing and make a copy so you have PROOF that you said what you said. I attend a Christian instituation and even there, we are told how to twist quotes and to write stories that people will want to hear, even if the facts are far from correct. So if you are called to be interviewed, think long and hard before doing it, unless it's an informative documentry about the good you're doing or something of that nature....
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RE: Why I hate the press.
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by ALA_herp31 on June 29, 2005
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Here is the Mail I wrote to her, thing is I am not very good with words....................... I am a Snake Keeper of 14 Years, I saw your Article on the Rattlesnake. First, I would like to ask why you didn’t listen to a 15 Year, Experienced Keeper of Venomous Reptiles? I know Chuck Hurd to be one of the most Knowledgeable Reptile Keepers in the Southeast USA. It is truly Damning to our Community for the Press to show Reptiles in such a Bad Light. If you would have bothered to do just a small amount of research, on your own, you would see that these Animals are not the Awful Monsters that People make them out to be. I know that you probably wanted to make sure your story sold, but doing so could very well kill more Snakes. It would be very much appreciated, if the Press would do their Home Work, before making such unfounded comments. I have worked with Venomous Reptiles Most of my Adult Life, in those 14 Years I have never known a Rattler or any other of our Native Species for that matter, to Chase a Person. Remember, Snakes Keep to Themselves, They try Their best to avoid contact with a Human Beings. I have heard a lot of People say that they were chased by Snakes, but in all my Travels, I have never had a Snake chase me and I have Handled well over 500 Snakes. I would ask you to please write another Article and explain the Facts, the Facts are that, Snakes do not chase People, they Keep as fare away from People as possible. Thank you, I hope that your selling a story, is not more important than saving some of the Worlds most Important Creatures from being Killed for no reason what so ever. Sincerely: Wally Vickers
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RE: Why I hate the press.
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by Snakeman1982 on June 29, 2005
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Last night I wrote a letter as well. I am proud of everyone for joining in on this. Hopefully we can all continue this trend with each bad article we see in any newspapers that we find.
Robert
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RE: Why I hate the press.
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by fizzbob7 on June 29, 2005
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the bottom line is still this: the first story is all that matters....if they say all snakes are evil, then in a later story tell all their good qualities, then people still see the "all snakes are evil" article as being definitive.......i'm a rather violent person, and i don't choose to take the "high road" in situations where people are being deceitful....i just do not like the media.....anything that can be open to any opinion is usually closer to false than truth......it's sad....everything is a tabeloid now.....i'm sure chuck will handle it in the best way possible though....you can only do so much.....
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