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RE: religious snake handlers
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by fizzbob7 on January 13, 2003
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TO JACKIE....READ MY FIRST AND SECOND POSTS CLOSELY...GO AHEAD...ONE MORE TIME....the first was me(ricky) wanting to know exactly why they do it, because i thought i had the general idea, but not totally sure, the second was just me(ricky)killing time and sort of replying...i have been to the churches while they were in service, to observe...the stress level on the snakes has to be out of this world......and we all know that stress is as bad as anything for most snakes....i know some actually do take care of certain breeder animals for the sole purpose of handling the offspring in the future....my grandmother is a baptist and even she believes that snakes are a symbol of satan, evil little critters...i think she's ridiculous...i still believe that taking a large group of rattlers, that are already stressed before they are actually passed around, and just holding them, touching them, shaking them, etc, whatever, is just asking for trouble...the odds are against you for being safe....go personally talk to a preacher(if thats what they are called) that is older and has done it his whole life and look at his arms and hands...if he has all his fingers, they're gnarled and the one i met was extremely bad looking as far as his arms, hands, and neck go....no one has more power than others...knowledge is the best thing...knowing when you can or cant take some chances...i feel comfortable doing it, and i'm always attentive to the body language, so where's the harm...at least i'm not hurting the snake...and sorry if i offended anyone who is religious....i'm just not....
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RE: Freehandling religious or otherwise
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by fizzbob7 on January 13, 2003
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"But to do it because it is "cool" or just to show that I can "read" my snakes? The risk of the pain, suffering, possible loss of life, limb and/or all points in between as well as the extensive outlay of cash required for modern treatment make freehandling just as foolish (to me) as attempting to dodge a bullet from a 45 that I fire at my own head"
to do something because it is cool would be doing it for show...i never have anyone in the same room and never tape it so i am the only one that knows or cares...i can definitely tell when a bad time to bother him is....it's not like i think if he doesn't rattle he won't bite....every human takes some type of risk...disagreeing with the wrong person nowadays can get you shot and killed....cutting someone off can get you killed, etc........i doubt i know half as much as most people on here about snakes, but i dont care about that either....i take in info, and in the end determine how i want to do it....does anyone do a 100 point inspection on their vehicle evertime they wanna go somewhere....imagine how many accidents that would prevent....i agree that trying to dodge a bullet from a few inches away isn't smart, but that's a little different than grabbing my snakes tail, putting my hand under his belly, and moving him a few feet...to me anyway
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RE: Freehandling religious or otherwise
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by fizzbob7 on January 13, 2003
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because i have a 3.5ft timber that will crawl around my neck and head if i let him...
i can't find where it says that i DO let him....guess that's why i put that word "if" in there....maybe that just means he is an easy going snake...yeah..that's it....how "compelling"
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RE: Freehandling religious or otherwise
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by Buzztail1 on January 13, 2003
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Well Ricky.
You are right. You didn't say you let it crawl around your neck. You did say that you freehandle and I believe that is what has folks riled up.
You also said: "handling them for the sole reason of proving your faith?..thats dumb"
That sounds a bit judgemental. At least they believe in something and aren't doing it "just because". Most folks here believe that freehandling them at all when a hook is available is dumb.
Beliefs are a funny thing. No two people's are exactly the same and yet various groups are built on the sharing of some of their beliefs. One of the tenets of the SHHS is: "To encourage responsible animal husbandry by venomous reptile keepers." That doesn't mean that others can't participate! That falls under the disclaimer: "The Southeastern Hot Herp Society in no way encourages anyone to keep venomous reptiles. Venomous reptiles are inherently dangerous and a bite / envenomation can lead to permanent injury or death. If a person keeps venomous reptiles or is planning to keep venomous reptiles, the Southeastern Hot Herp Society feels that it is that person's right to do so, as long as they accept the responsibility that comes with it. This includes responsibility for their own safety as well as the safety of others around them."
As far as "reading" a snake's moods, etc:
There was a girl in central GA last year who picked up a snake that was dead and threw it in the back of her boyfriend's truck. She knew it was dead because she ran over it herself. They argued. He didn't want some damn snake in his truck. She went to throw the "dead" snake out of the back of the truck and it bit her twice (and hit a vein). Half an hour later, she was pronounced dead at the nearest hospital. She was bitten by a "dead" "Timber Rattlesnake (Canebrake version)." This was reported widely in the news. The point of this story is that snakes aren't always predictable (even when you know they're dead). And a mistake may not give you time to get care...it may kill you. Thus, freehandling can be as lethal as playing Russian Roulette with an automatic.
Karl
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RE: Freehandling religious or otherwise
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by fizzbob7 on January 13, 2003
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eating cake can be as deadly as playing russian roulette....and believe it or not, i take as much care with a dead snake as i do a live one...it still has venom, and reflexes....i take chances when i handle yes...you implied(to say the least) that i freehandled to be cool...maybe you saw my profile and saw that i had earrings and was 22....because i know a lot of younger people that would make that their sole reason for living, to be thought of as cool....i don't...most people look down on it....i dont really care...i have taken crap because i like exotic mammals too(canadian lynx)...i dont care....the only time i have been seriously injured is when i was shot by a HUMAN....nothing is predictable....all anyone can do is minimize risk.....to me, obviously, a risk for your religion is dumb.....and obviously, to others on here, i'm dumb....i'm fine with that...like i said...i do it for me....can't we all just get along?....and to me, being judgemental isn't that bad....i dont judge based on most outward appearances, but not everything is so different from what it seems....the only time i have seen someone bit in person was a snake handler....and if i were the snake i would have hit him too....he was slinging it around like a sock...i respect my snakes, and i would definitely feel uneasy handling(hook or not) some snakes i have no experience with...like a mamba...but i go by the way i feel...im not supernatural or protected by any higher force...im just using judgement....cuz i be judge-mental...but peace to all of you...its just a discussion...
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RE: religious snake handlers
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by Jackie on January 13, 2003
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Fizzbob,
I have no problems with you not sharing in my Christian beliefs so that part of the discussion is mute.
You go on to say that you didn't call them dumb because they handle snakes but because they handle them for the sole purpose of religion. Then you made reference to your freehandling because it is more convenient than using a hook.
Once again my point is they do handle them for what they perceive is a reason(although I strongly feel it is a misguided one) but you do it out of laziness or convenience.
I would like to say that thus far you have proven by your own words to be a very careless hobbyist and would strongly recommend you reconsider your handling techniques. At the very least you should refrain from "bragging" about your freehandling abilities lest you make us all look foolish.
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RE: religious snake handlers
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by fizzbob7 on January 13, 2003
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moot, not mute...you ARE right...i'm not completely careful sometimes....if i were bit, i seriously doubt it would change anything though....i have broken my right hand into pieces boxing but i still do that...i have a 170 iq, so it's not that i'm not smart...guess i'm just lazy...maybe that'll change with age...but i still think handling snakes as a gauge to your worthiness is dumb....notice how easy it is to rile people up when religion and strong points of view are concerned....hehe
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RE: religious snake handlers
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by fizzbob7 on January 13, 2003
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and one more thing....i will try not to drop any names(shhs or anyone else)if i am indeed bitten....i will take a lot of pics though....and if they'll let me, i will post them all over this site.....so people won't freehandle anymore, ever....
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RE: religious snake handlers
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by Jackie on January 13, 2003
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Woops Fizzbob!
Sorry about the mispelling.
Once again you have shown to be somewhat defensive and judgemental by your replies.
You keep making reference to people getting defensive when religion is questioned yet I haven't read a single post where anyone responded with an even remotely defensive reply regarding this aspect of the discussion.
As far as your IQ goes, Wow your mom must be proud but how does that relate to our discussion? I am not questioning your comprehension or problem solving abilities but your ability to apply a little common sense to your handling techniques.
Take Care
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RE: religious snake handlers
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by fizzbob7 on January 13, 2003
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the same way that a capital g at the beginning of the word god relates...didnt you bring that up...its capital out of respect....comprende chicA...and the reason i brought that up is because some might say i am dumb(the reason for freehandling)...my itty bitty fingers are gonna fall off trying to explain things to you....whewwww....but i love you all as brethren....hehe
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