Posted by:
AustHerps
at Tue Aug 23 08:32:33 2005 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by AustHerps ]
Frank,
Regarding the first point - I think you have misconstrued scott's words in a way not intended by him. He may have meant that it doesn't take years upon years of keeping non-vens before keeping vens. Afterall, just because a person keeps snakes for years doesn't mean they're doing it right, does it? It also doesn't guarantee that they will learn skills well.
And tell me, what does make keeping hots extremely dangerous? Sure, it could kill you. So could so many other things. Tell me, do you know anybody who smokes? If so, do you belittle them? If done properly, no harm comes to anybody. I don't think anybody is talking about taipans here - we are dealing specifically with 'starter snakes'. You drive a car right? How likely is it that a semitrailer hit you? I certainly wouldn't rule it out. Yet, in many places, a person is allowed to drive a car after 6 months of supervised learning. Not 30 years.
I don't think it's necessary to call somebody a 'fool'. And this is the very reason for my original post. You judge somebody without knowing them. You think that because you have read 300 words they've written and 35 years experience under your belt that you can judge them as a person? I think not. The same applies for your inappropriate attacks at Scott's supposed lack of common sense.
I never stated that I can handle a snakes that kill. And i never encouraged anybody to go out half-cocked and buy a ven. I am, for your information, starting with the 'mild ones'. In Austrlia, we don't have a whole lot of options (that are suitable to prepare for elapids). A redbellied black, or collett's, as Scott suggested, are considered mild. They are the two recommended by so many experts in australia. In some states, it is even a requirement that they are the first two kept before any other.
Scott never said that all experts are elitists. But the fact is, some are. I have read posts time and time again that tell people to go away and play with their corns. Some, are granted. Some, are in no way well supported. That is why some people seem to encourage an authoritarian stance. It is those that encourage a monopoly over the status of keeping a ven.
Fortunately, I too have various 'experts' around me who are willing to devote their time and efforts to advise and help me. Thanks to all those on KS that offered advice and appropriate critique of my earlier of posts. It is posts like those that are helpful - and don't scare off newbies to vens. It is, however, rudeness and namecalling that does scare newbies. I would have thought 35 years long enough to learn good manners.
Thank you, and good day.
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I don't think there's any need for such hostility - AustHerps, Tue Aug 23 08:32:33 2005