Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all, my wife went to a doctors appointment (her first check up for her current pregnancy) and she was wearing a shirt with AirCapitalConstrictors.com on it (one of my buddies websites) with a pic of a snake on it. Well the Nurse that was doing most of the check up looks at the shirt and says "Oh my god, is that a snake on your shirt?" my wife replies why yes it is and explains the shirt and how we have some snake of our own (stupid mistake on her part.lol) and the lady then looks at my wife with what she described as disgust and began explaining how stupid me and my wife are for owning such a terribly dangerous animal and how a woman in Wichita (KS) had a boa constrictor she kept in a bedroom of her house, and didn't lock the door one day, and the snake got out (apparantly the snake can open doors) and the lady found it with her three year old half way down the snakes throat. And the best part of this all is now I am expecting Social Services to beat down my door to inspect my den of evil animals.

Later Randy T.
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You never experience life until you have kids..then you realize what you should have done rather then what you did do

One person made that mistake with me once. Never happend again. I dont tell people that I have snakes, but if they find out that I do and try to lecture me on something they dont know about they get the treatment.
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"Victory is reserved for those willing to pay its price"

I hate that for your wife! ANY nurse working in an Obstetricians office should know better than to even think of upsetting a pregnant lady! If someone had tried that with me, I would have ranted or cried!!(mood swings--aren't they wonderful!) My son is 7 months now, and LOVES to watch all of our reptiles move about in their cages, though he won't be allowed to touch them until he can understand "gentle!" My dogs currently wish he wasn't allowed near them until that time!!

And Randy, Congrats on the baby!!!

What a cutie your son is. He looks a lot like my 7 week old son. Please be carefull with the herps around your kid (i.e., Salmonella, bacteria, etc.).

Thanks! He's such a sweetie too, and I'm very careful around the reptiles and him. He can watch them, but I have their cages blocked from him getting to them, so he can't touch them (and the cages have key locks on them, should he get past the barriers.)

When he's old enough to touch the reptiles, he'll be supervised of course, and have his hands scrubbed afterwards.

Thanks for the warnings though!

that baby is adorable. aren't kids wonderful

my son (who will be 4 in Nov) and my daughter (who will be 2 in Dec) love my reptiles as well, my son even insists on helping with feeding, cleaning, getting in the way.lol.

I think the part that upset my wife the most is she is an LPN finishing up her last year to get her RN, and she knows it is proper etiquette in the medical work place to not insult or belittle patients(isn't that proper etiquette in all work places?). Oh well, maybe next time I will go with her and bring my biggest boa and let it swallow her head like that "true 100% authentic Fabrication" she lectured my wife about.lol
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You never experience life until you have kids..then you realize what you should have done rather then what you did do

When people try to tell me how "stupid" I am for keeping snakes I tell them how stupid they are for speaking on a subject they nothing about. Then I educate them about snakes. I don't hide the fact that I keep snakes from anyone and I don't think you should either.
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JMHO, FWIW, YMMV.

there you go dude, i'm with you

thanks for your words on the other post..

take care, Joe Rollo
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'Tis not the stongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' CharlesDarwin
Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo

...what people 'think' they know, out in the world. This woman probably saw an article in "Enquirer" or one of those rags, and figures it's gotta be true (probably believes in the fish-headed human boy too!). When people confront me with drivel like that I ask them where they got their information. Nine times out of ten it is some erroneous source. Then I proceed to enlighten them a little about the 'real' world.

Uuugggghhhhhh...too bad common sense isn't common!

Steve
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Nature - the original Master Planned Community!

Unfortunately people love to apply fiction to reality when it comes to subject they know nothing about. Maybe it was the movie "Anaconda", or "King Cobra" that gave her ideas about snakes. Apparently snakes are the only animals, or "things" that injure or kill people. Maybe she should read the stats on dog bites or mutilations. How about knives or guns that seem to end up injuring people as well. Anyone own a motorized vehicle? I heard that they have been known to "harm" people from time to time. I also once read that "germs" or "viruses" have caused foul play among humans. I would figure if she is a nurse that she may have read that in some medical journal somewhere.

People like that nurse, who basically called you an idiot for owning reptiles, are idiots themselves. She was probably told from birth that snakes are evil (thanks, Bible) and are all poisonous or hell-bent on killing everything they come in contact with. When WE know the opposite is true. When dealing with people like her, just let her know that her loving dog or cat has just as much or more of a chance of harming someone as a reptile. If that doesn't work tell her you hope she doesn't get hit by a bus on the way home and have a nice day. Sorry for the rant, but stupid people make me ill. Derek

For the most part I meet ignorant people who aren't so hostile. Thank goodness. 'Cause it is said that you have to be a butthead avenger for this hobby.
My sons each have a T shirt.....says:
"I got a snake for my brother. Good trade huh?"
Maybe that brings out the sense of humor. Maybe too, people just think we are nuts. 'Don't aggitate the crazy people'.

I had a receptionist at the pediatricians ask me about 'the pets' and then said, "Snakes! Are any of them poisonous?" "No, none are venomous" "How do you know?" "Well, there are only certain ones that are venomous and none of mine are...." "But how can you be sure??" Scary. Guess I am glad the nurses are brighter.
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Sonya

See, here's how I'd handle that scenario:

"Are any of them poisonous?"
"Yeah... just wish I knew which ones!"
:walks away

This is mostly because I would not want to go into the real answer with them.

irresponsible snake owners who create a bad image for legitimate and responsible snake owners. Snakes and reptiles may always have a bad reputation but it doesn't help when people buy a baby burmese at their local pet shop because it was cute, then end up keeping it in the bathtub when it gets older and it ends up killing their dog and then being euthanized. Those people are a thorn in my side more than people who believe snakes are killing machines, at least i can rely on those people to be afraid and stay away from the animals rather than have some dumbass end up getting an animal killled.

n/p Derek