Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just wanted to thank everyone on this forum for all the thoughtful, respectful posts. I was just over at the ball python forum and they are name calling and coming to blows.
Thought you should know.

Mike B

I agree. There seems to be a lot of "know-it-alls" on some of the other forums and it really gets distracting. I've been keeping all kinds of herps since I was 6 catching frogs, salamanders, newts, turtles, snakes, etc up in northern NJ. I'm 35 now and have lots of experience with quite a few species and a little experience with even more, but I am by no means any kind of expert, but it amazes me how people who have been keeping this species or that species for 2, 3, or even 5 years act as if they know everything there is to know and really seem to enjoy belittling others. Thankfully, there is NONE of that in this forum and everyone seems genuinely interested in helping. Its' a nice place to "hang out"!

Billy

As most of you know, I keep several different reptiles (1.0 Burm, 1.0 Ball, 1.1 leopard geckos, and of course Little Man Kitty) and so therefore, spend an inordinate amount of time perusing the posts on the various sites here. I too, have noticed the persistent B.S. on the other forums and have come to dread seeing the behavior displayed. Most notably - as Mike pointed out - the Ball Python forum. There is no respect for anyone, absolutely no manners whatsoever and yes - everyone there is a "professional". Newbie questions are mocked and laughed at, never answered and I get the feeling that if you are not the proud owner of an exotic morph (I myself have a beautiful "normal" boy) then you are not worth wasting time on. The Burmese Python Forum is a little better, questions are answered - they usually cause an argument of some sort - but they do get answered. Here, however, the attitudes are friendly and open and helpful. I feel like everyone here really appreciates their own animals simply for the joy and beauty they bring and appreciate other people for the same thing. Here we are not berated for questions and no one person claims superior Tegu skills over any other. I feel like this is more of a team working together to better the lives of the animals we love - our own and others. I think that if this kind of attitude prevailed over the "I'm better than you because..." attitude, there would be fewer instances of the neglected animal syndrome that we see entirely too much of. You all make me want to interact more with my own animals just so I can compare notes. It also makes me look forward to the time when Kitty will be a more active member of the menagerie. You should all be proud to be the good people you are. And thank you Mike for saying what I had been thinking yet unable to articulate.

Although, now that I look back, it seems articulation was not really a problem.

*stepping off soapbox now*

Brightest Blessings to all!
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Lady Stefanie

Life is meant to be enjoyed, not endured.