The problem Aaron is you think there are two sides to this, when in fact, there is only one issue: SAFETY.



From your posts you seem to ignore certain key points that have been made about children and snakes, and have taken others personaly which apply in a general sense rather than specificly to you.



You fail to address the issues of (1) Lack of maturity emotionally in the average child. (2) Lack of body mass which makes ven bites much more far dangerous for children. (3)Lack of experience-which matters reguardles of age.(4) the fact that we do have a responsibility for the advice we give.



Maturity comes (occasionally) with age. There are many adults I have met who are too egocentric or just plain bull-headed to safely keep the animals they long for. Really good examples are the Animal Precinct, and Animal Cop shows which spotlights animal abuse as well as Venom ER. They have no shortage of stories. There is an amazing amount of people out there that are idiots, abusers and self proclaimed "Experts". Many of these drive cars (lol).



Maturity Aaron, is the ability to look beyond our personal desires and detach our opinions from our ego's. By so doing one can look at things as they are rather than through the veil of what we want it to be.



I have spent quite a bit of time on this because I think you have the potential to be a good keeper. But I have also spent a lot of time because in your "opinions" you have said things which were wrong and encouraged dangerous behavior-telling kids to go ahead and keep hots if THEY feel they are ready-disreguarding responsible advice.



Before you get on my case for the above statement, keep in mind that the average wannabe reads only what he or she wants out of these threads. They glance through these posts looking only for reasons to back their wants. Give a dozen opinions against what they want vs one for and they will defiently hold up the one exception. I have seen this behavior even on this thread.



That is the nature of kids.



Finally, this started because you wanted a Death Adder for your first hot and resented early advice to start simpler (It is all here printed on these forums). That you changed your mind proves the value of what we write. That you can consider yourself expert enough to give advice on keeping venomous (which you have here) frankly does not speak so well for your maturity. Good advice comes from experience and yours is minimal.



Much has been said about the resentment younger herpers have for those of us with decades of experience. One day you will look at this from the eyes of age and you will appreciate that we wrote here--not because we wanted to put you down, but because we all know the price inherent to this field. That is what maturity is about.



Finally, there is no law saying we have to write or give of our time. That we donate it free of charge should be appreciated-even if the advice is not something you want to hear.



Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

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