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Something to think about........
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by jared on September 30, 2002
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I know that there have been discussions of this in the past, but I am curious to hear some responses when i am ever so blatent. For most, is this a hobby, or is this part of your life? now before you jump up and say hobby, realize, if in fact you do view this that way, then you have possibly the most deadly hobby in the world. Personally, i consider myself a professional, though i have not produce tons of offspring (but not all people that do are professional, as rattler wranglers often produce offspring but never feed there snakes)l. I Just sometimes feel alot of people dont realize what they are getting into when they view this as a hobby, IT ISNT A JOKE. You ARE dealing with life and death and i dont think alot of people realize the consiquences of this. I am no trying to scare people off, but i kept everything imaginable before hots ( i also worked for a huge reptile distributor since i was 14) and i dont think it is necessary, but it definately gives you a better feel for different snakes, as many are nothing alike. Overall maybe this is just a rant, but when i see that people cant even spell monocled cobra or egyptian correctly, that makes me VERY nervous as to actually who is selling snakes to these people. I am concerned because as i have stated, MY SNAKES=MY WORLD. I have worked with everything (sharks,inverts,crocs etc etc) and prefer the snakes and despite any uninformed government officials law, I WILL NEVER give up my animals. And for those who seem to say they would give them up on a whim, then why are you choosing to keep animals which can easily kill you if you dont have the passion to fight for there rights to live and your right to keep them? Oh well like i said maybe a rant, but I will continue to help these animals move safely (with stable populations) into the next century so that maybe my great great grandchildren can have the same joy i had when i lifted my first board, and yelled SNAKE!!!
jared w
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RE: Something to think about........
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by fizzbob7 on September 30, 2002
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i agree 100%...im in this for the long term...i dont cry and eat ice cream when one of my snakes dies but it definitely puts a damper on the day.....i dont refer to them as my collection either...thats weird...you collect cards or antiques...not animals that dislike your presence and, if forced to protect themselves, will bite and kill you....they have to be respected more than anything else you do...they arent grateful for anything done for them and they will never, in most cases, allow themselves to be held and cuddled like a kitten or puppy...i keep them because they are one of the most interesting things i can think of and its highly rewarding when i can change the mind of someone who previously thought of snakes as worthless and evil.....its hard for people to understand that they dont like you to interact with them.....some might but its a huge risk every time you try....thats how it is supposed to be....they arent kept so that you can wrap an 8ft edb around your neck and show it off to the neighbors...they might think its cool to do that but those are the people that make it where i cant legally keep a king cobra....i hate those people....they need to find something that IS a hobby, like video games
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RE: Something to think about........
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by wls967 on October 8, 2002
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"now before you jump up and say hobby, realize, if in fact you do view this that way, then you have possibly the most deadly hobby in the world".
Jared, I wouldn't even consider my participation a hobby, more like a pastime, something i do to "KILL" time. I volunteer my service, as an experienced snake catcher, to three police departments (to remove problem animals). I have done this for 20 years.
"IT ISNT A JOKE. You ARE dealing with life and death and i dont think alot of people realize the consiquences of this".
I fully realize the consequences of what i do. I encounter Canebrake Rattlesnakes (Crotalus Horridus Attricaudatus) more than anything else. They are very common here. I know that many people have been surprised by the effects of envenomation. Even to the point that they had to be put on life support. (it's becoming understood that "Caney's" are becoming neurotoxic, or so it seems). Do I stray away from them because of this, NO! I have collected four this summer. Here is the kicker, I don't even have medical insurance right now.
MY SNAKES=MY WORLD. I have worked with everything (sharks,inverts,crocs etc etc) and prefer the snakes and despite any uninformed government officials law, I WILL NEVER give up my animals. And for those who seem to say they would give them up on a whim, then why are you choosing to keep animals which can easily kill you if you dont have the passion to fight for there rights to live and your right to keep them?
I live in Alabama, and used to have a C. Atrox.
In July of 2001 (i think) my hot became illegal. I found another home for it. Was I pissed about the law, YES. I hated that I couldn't even keep a native Crote. But I couldn't change the law alone, and regardless of my beliefs, I didn't want to be illegal.
I am fully aware of the law, and will abide by it, even if I don't agree. Is my "Hobby" or participation dangerous? Damn right it is, but I grew up with vens, I will grow old with vens and I will die with vens. Maybe even because of one.
WLS
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Hobby and why...
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by Buzztail1 on October 8, 2002
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I have thought about this since you posted it and have decided that for me it is a hobby.
My actual job, for which I get paid, is very dangerous. But everyday, I get into my gasoline-powered projectile and weave my way through the multitude of dangerous projectile operators to get to that dangerous job.
When I come home, I like to involve myself with the animals that I have loved since I could focus my eyes. Are they dangerous? Sure! So is getting into my car and driving to work. I have been working with snakes a lot longer than I have been driving. I have been working with and studying snakes a lot longer than I have been working at my job. Does that make me an expert? Hardly! But it does make me safer and more cautious.
So I have a dangerous hobby that can kill me. I would much rather lose my life doing something I love than something I get paid for. However, for what it's worth, I intend to die in my sleep...carefully!
Karl
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RE: Hobby and why...
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by sierra on October 8, 2002
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Jared and I had this discussion back and forth in emails, and I thought we had settled it, but a week later this post was placed, and I wasn't even gonna respond and besides I've been too busy to respond(right Karl?..LOL.. I've been driving him buggy with an article.) I guess you saw my post about children and hots, where I used "hobbyist" again. But I agree totally with Bill and Karl, for me and 90% of the people in the forums and even purchasing and keeping hots, are the average hobbyist doing it because they enjoy it, the other 10% may take it further, and that incudes you Jared if you work in a lab and do DNA research, then for you it is more than a hobby. For me it is a passion and a way of life, but alas I dont have any delusions of what my contributions to the field really are...a few small tid-bits here and there, and maybe some conservation. Many people have dangerous hobbies, skydiving, white-water rafting, bungee jumping...etc. And I suppose there are some far more dangerous than handling venomous snakes properly. I dont feel that the word hobbyist is derogatory in any way....Its a petty difference in wording...lets move on.
How about about if I call myself a herpetoenthusiest? Will that make you feel more comfy? and on some word play..how about Amphobbyist cause I like frogs too...Bill had some good ones too..What were they Bill?
Sierra "the hot hobbyist"
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RE: Hobby and why...
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by wls967 on October 8, 2002
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frog-ologist, amphibi-ologist. that's all i remember. I can't repeat what people call me regarding snakes. i do have a favorite dart frog, Dendrobates azureus. one person called me Dentureplates A$$wholeus. that wasn't fair. well, you can't blame the ignorant can you...
later,
bill
p.s. picture of dendrobates found here http://www.saurian.net/azureus_adults.htm
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RE: Hobby and why...
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by wls967 on October 8, 2002
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oh yea, sierra, you had the best one......venomous practitioner....i liked that one best..
wls
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I left this alone so that everyone would have some
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by jared on October 9, 2002
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to reply. Now, I have read the posts, some are relative. But saying that people have other dangerous hobbies one would need to consider how many people participate compared to how many are injured per year to see which was really that dangerous. Comparing it say to driving a car is no compariosion at all. MILLIONS and MILLIONS put thousands of hours behind the wheel, how can that be compared to the few hundred people who keep hots? I would say they would actually be pretty close in fatality rates. Again, I do view this as a lifelong process and consider myself much more than a hobbiest. I do research, document animals field collections habitats etc etc etc. I spend an average of at least 2 hrs per day in the snake room, whether i get off work at 3 or at 8. I do see the hobbiest point of view, but I also know that there are many researchers out there as well who until the data is finalized, everyone will consider to view them as hobbiests. As far as "other" dangerous hobbies, compare how many people skydive compared to keeping hot snakes, heck we are less than 25% of the herpetological community to begin with, I would estimate that hot herp keepers are somewhere next to elephant trainers as far as danger in a "hobby". As my daddy said, an opinion is like an @ss$%^#, everybodies got one. I guess I just feel that the herp community should be more organized, but due to so many varing views and opinions it is hard to get everyone focused on what the main goal is, FUTURE PRESERVATION OF THE SPECIES. In that aspect, we will NEVER be as known as say the equine industry or the fish industry until everyone gets focused. I appreciate your imput, and sarcasm was noted ;) I hope I can further discuss this matter in columbia when it is my chance to speak, cya there guys,
jared w
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RE: Something to think about........
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by jared on October 9, 2002
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Neuro caneys are now known to be located in the horseshoe between savannah Ga and se SC area. THe neuros are usually located in that area.
jared
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RE: Hobby and why...
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by jared on October 9, 2002
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Oh yeah, Sierra, it took you a while but I was waiting patiently. The hobbiest, Herpeculturist, and the professional would be herpetologist. Petty words, but correct terms. If my spellings incorrect oh well, ya get the drift. Your right, there are other dangerous hobbies, but this is one of the top few, (ratio of those bit/ratio of those keeping, compared to equivalences of other "hobbies"). oh well, done with ranting, these forums have just been so damned slow, later,
jared
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