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A parody on televsion induced batesian mimicry
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Anonymous post on June 29, 2005
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People sometimes bash the Croc Hunter for going on camera and teaching kids how to do unsafe things with unsafe snakes. I don't think this is so much the case. It's not that he is setting a poor behavioural example, but instead, he's inspiring a peculiar type of batesian mimicry.
If you want to know what I mean, go to a herp show or look at various amateur websites. These young'uns want to wear the khakis and be "just like Steve" when they make their public herpetological debut. They all want to be little zoo curators instead of kids.
Guys, it's not necessary to don the Aussie garbs. You don't have to look like an employee of Australia Zoo in order to capture Steve's passion, nor to have a good time herping. Dress down a bit, put on a T-shirt, some jeans, and some good footwear. Most of all, don't forget to breathe! Just have fun and be yourselves.
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RE: A parody on televsion induced batesian mimicry
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by bush_viper17 on June 30, 2005
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I dont dress like Steve Irwin or anything but I agree with you and disagree. I think that if they are so into it that they dress like Steve, thats a good thing. Its actually very good. They have the passion and hopefully they will keep it. Thats their hobby and they finally fit in somewhere. I love when I see new reptile/wildlife lovers with so much passion that they dress like Steve Irwin. That lets me know that the message that people like him spent his whole life trying to get across works. When you start racing dirt bikes you dress like evil kinevil(spelling?) When you start playing guitar you grow your hair out and where ripped up jeans. Its good to be into something that you really love to do. Its even better when you have an idol and have a goal to work for. Its even better to know that they made a very good career out of what they are doing and to know that you could be in their position one day. In this day and age, its neccasary for as many as possible to be extremely passionate about wildlife. Whether its a casual facination or if its a career, let the fire burn. I dont idolize Steve Irwin or anything but I do have alot of very good memories of coming in at night from a long day of herping, taking off my boots and my shirt, turning on the television and watching Croc Week and waiting on the hamburgers to get done on the grill. It kept the fire burning in me and I would give anything to go back to them days. The days when nothing mattered but finding first venomous. The days when going to somewhere as exotic as the old crumbling barn beside a creek was more precious than a 10 day vacation in Paris. It was good growing up with Steve,Jeff,Oshea etc on T.V. It was real good. Seeing the Croc Hunter in the Glades or somewhere like that while you plan out tomorrows adventure. I have never understood why people say that the herpers on Television are bad news. They start a fire that spreads through people and it burns for the rest of their lives and gives them good memories. Sure a few people will take the wrong message and do something stupid, but whos fault is that? This is off topic, but we need to stop arguing with eachother. Im not sure if it is just because I have gotten older, but it seemed like a few years ago, everyone was friends and noone pointed fingers. Lets treat everyone like family. The herp community as a whole is strong but their are too many little "groups" of people who try to call the shots. Look at the Jim Harrison post. Although I dont agree with what he is trying to do, we need to talk to him personally and try to figure everything out. We dont need to give people the cold shoulder and they dont need to give the cold shoulder to us. It seems as if their are 4 types of herpers. The older "better" herpers. The younger "steve wannabe, ruining the hobby" herpers, the "experts" and the "class clowns" Does everyone else see these groups forming? This is the only hobby that I know of where you can invite someone off of the computer into you home without ever meeting them and not worry about them stealing or hurting someone. It feels good to have that security and I just want the hobby to return to the good old days. Well, I dont know where this long post came from but I feel as if I got something off of my chest. THanks. Jeremy.
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RE: A parody on televsion induced batesian mimicry
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by elapidking81 on June 30, 2005
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Very well said Jeremy, I agree two years ago we wernt arguing about trivial stuff we were talking about what we love to do.
shane
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RE: A parody on televsion induced batesian mimicry
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by Coralsnayk on June 30, 2005
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I don't feel that any TV Herpers are doing a bad job or getting an irresponsible message to youngsters.
Jeremy seems to have thought the matter through and come to some good conclusions. I remember the old days. I wasn't as young as Jeremy and such when I got into hots, but, I can relate to the times he's talking about.
Jeremy, it would be great to meet you one day! I don't care if you wear Irwin clothing or not. To me, it's immaterial. It's no more harmful or offensive than people going to Star Trek Conventions in a Captain Picard uniform (I have done this, so I KNOW!)
On the other hand, I thought the parody was kind of funny. I don't think it was meant to be offensive.
I met Phillip Higgins at the show in Greenville last year, and he was wearing a herping outfit, and my thought was that it looked very comfortable and I wanted one. And then, when I heard him talk to me and some of my friends, his level of interest and passion were all too obvious.
My Vote: Nothing wrong with the Aussie drag.
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RE: A parody on televsion induced batesian mimicry
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by formosa77 on June 30, 2005
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I understand what you mean. Appearance counts for something, but not all. Most people look at experience as a prime factor. The cliques you mention are ultimately destructive to our hobby as a whole.
I think what you need to get across is that people, whether they are newbies or not, or whether they dress like their idols, or not, should be careful and put across a message of wisdom and restraint. When someone sees a person with less than a year of experience swinging a large cobra, or otherwise handling it in what is not necessarily the best way (I'm not talking about your pictures, I'm speaking hypothetically), then it raises some flags. That said, I was pinning large kaouthia when I was two weeks into my herp training. I simply didn't publish photos.
The gist of what I'm saying is that no one should come on line and claim they are experts, when they are still quite clearly new. (I'm not referring to anyone in particular.) When someone says, "I'm an expert, don't try this at home!" below their handling photo, and they are unseasoned, amateurs, then it is painfully obvious that THEY are the ones who should be heeding their own admonition! On the other hand, I've met a few 16 year old kids who I'd rather have backing me up with large elapid handling, than some people in their early or mid twenties who think they have something to prove.
To Anonymous:
I thought your post was funny. If we can't laugh at ourselves, what can we do? Well, we can laugh at others! I think that what you said was just some gentle hazing for the newcomers. I doubt it was enough to discourage any of them. I used to read the posts on another site in which the "seasoned" herpers would trash any newcomer for asking an honest, even if naive, question. That is the kind of thing we want to be careful of too. Seriously, some of the people I talked to made this hobby seem to be exclusive and uppity. Only the ones who didn't get discouraged, or into raging arguments, and persisted for more than a few months, were finally allowed into the fold. Luckily, I found someone local to teach me.
Jeremy: I enjoyed your reply. The long windedness of it made no difference. Lengthy expression shows passion, too!
Here's to keeping the fire burning.
Formosa77
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RE: A parody on televsion induced batesian mimicry
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by Snake18 on June 30, 2005
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Man...I guess you guys allready figured everything out...:) I have nothing to add to this subject other than the fact that I completely agree with Jeremmy. I coulnd`t have put it better, realy...Take care guys.Happy Herping ! Alex S.
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RE: A parody on televsion induced batesian mimicry
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by bush_viper17 on July 1, 2005
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I didnt take offense to the post at all. I understood where he was coming from and I saw the humor in it. For some reason I just got in the mood to say some things. I want to point out the flaws in the community that I am sure most of us already see and stop the bad seeds from growing(I just came up with that phrase lol.) I have herped with Phillip several times and he has an extreme passion for what he is doing. I also notice that Phillip gets bashed alot and is frequently a scape goat. He definetly has more passion for wildlife than most people that I have met. Its good to see that. I honestly think that he will go far in the community. I know that when youve been into any hobby for years, you automatically build some kind of ego. Thats just the human nature, but when it gets to the point where you critisize and make fun of someone just because they are younger and have alot of passion, you need to take a step back. I personally dont have a problem with anyone in the community and would like to go herping with anyone.(if I had the time)I just want people to listen more to what other people have to say. If you dont agree with someone, tell them your side of the story. Dont argue. Dont point fingers. Dont critisize. I am no expert but I know how to get the job done and for right now, thats all that matters. Yes, I have in the past posted pictures and wanted people to think that I am brave. I wanted all of the attention and I got it but I was a bad kind of attention. To all of the new herpers:TO get respect in any community, you will have to impress people with your knowledge and skill rather than your bravery. I should have been bitten plenty of times. Why wasnt I bitten? It surely wasnt because I am invincible. Luck I guess, but luck runs out sooner or later. Freehandling doesnt make anyone more important or a better herper, it just puts them at a higher risk of a serious injury. (Here comes the cheesy part) We need to drop all of our problems and actually think about why we love these animals. We need to work together and get the real job done. I think that alot of us has forgotten what the purpose is all about. Changing peoples bad views about animals that are in a bad light, Saving wildlife and their habitat,and for yourself:making good memories and having good times so that when you are old you will have many stories to tell and you can live your whole life happily. What would be more constructive? Talking about ways to save the animals and change peoples minds, answer questions properly,etc. or argue about anonymous posts and point fingers at our friends? Do you want to see peoples minds change in your lifetime? Why are we sitting around arguing all the time then. Some people tell me that there is no way that anyone can change the publics mind. Thats a lie. All it takes is a community of dedicated members. Young herpers, let the fire burn. Old herpers,let the fire burn. The next time you see a new herper, before you assume anything sit back and think, "Well,that same kid could be killing snakes and teaching his kids to kill them." By keeping his fire burning, that will in return save many snakes by his efforts alone. He will pass that on to his friends and family. They will pass it on to their friends and family,kids,grandkids etc. With the right way of thinking and everyone working together, who says that the publics minds cant be changed? If people see the beauty in the natural environment and the natural animals, who will want to destroy it? If we teach others to love something, they will fight to save it. I am working on a guy at work right now. he called me the other day and told me that he just killed a king snake. He said that it rattled its tail in the grass and he thought that it was a rattlesnake. The next day, I brought my photo album to work and had a talk with him. I saw it in his eyes that he had second thoughts. If someone sees how passionate you are about something, it will make them sit back and think about what they are doing. To say it simple:We all see the flaws in our community, when are we going to change them. When you see a bad anonymous post, just think of it as someone who is bored and is trying to get to you. DOnt let them get to you. They arent cowards, it is just easier to make someone mad without them ever knowing who it was. Well...that is kind of cowardly. Ignore it. It is simple. Actually its very simple to ignore it. Thats the first step. We need to bring the fire back also. Its July 1st right now. We still have a months ahead of us to do some serious herping. Lets make more good memories this season and come out safe in the end. Lets spread the word to everyone. Everyone can do something to help out. Dont look at the community as several groups. Look at it as a whole. Look at every single person in the community as a friend. Even if I said bad words to people before, If you need my help I will be their. I want to know that you guys would be their for me also. I know that this is cheesy, but someone needs to say it. The bans have turned up the heat, alot of things are going wrong but which one of you are going to let a few bad things ruin everything for you? I have been out of the snake catching world for a while because I have a full time job(we have now worked for 28 days straight for 8 hours a day without a day off) but Im not gone. I need to save up money and do some things. We need everyone to come to some kind of agreement and keep the community healthy.
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RE: A parody on televsion induced batesian mimicry
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by bush_viper17 on July 1, 2005
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Oh yeah, I would like to say that, I am not posting all of this because of the anonymous poster. I actually enjoyed his post alot and I got a good laugh out of it. This just seemed like a good place to post it. I didnt take offense to anything said by anyone on this topic. Just wanted to let you guys know :)
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