Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Now that it is time to go public with this fiasco via the media, I feel the need to make a couple of suggestions.

People who frequent West Texas with the goal of observing or catching reptiles and amphibians are as passionate as any people I've met. Easily as passionate (fanatic? LOL) as deer hunters or bass fishermen. Just less in overall numbers. Most people can understand or at least accept why a person hunts deer. Far fewer people can comprehend why in the world anyone would want to live like a vampire for ten days at a stretch, tippy-toeing around western diamondbacks in the dark, to catch a snake. We're just wierd to most people but generally they don't give us a second thought.

This is where we need to present ourselves with some legitimacy. Apparently, some of the people who initially participated in the letter writing/phone calling to the legislators were abusive. That won't fly. So I suggest that a couple of people be chosen to serve as representatives for the rest of us. We will do all of our comunication through them and they communicate directly with the polititions and news media for us. They will do all of the talking and the rest of us will shut up. They will be our representatives and will listen to us.

They should be well spoken, well informed, educated, and comfortable in front of cameras and formal commitees.

Slang terms such as "alterna, pics, subocs, leps" and "herps, herpers and herpin'" should be avoided like the plague. The public doesn't have a clue what a "pic" or a "herper" is and this practice is as alienating as using scientific names at the Rotery Club luncheon. People don't like, are uncomfortable with it, it and often feel like they are being spoken-down to. Frankly, using jargon in public is unprofessioinal and tacky. Among ouselves it is okay but otherwise stick with Graybanded Kingsnake, Trans-Pecos Ratsnake, hobbyists, amateur herpetologist, etc.

It is very important that the public's perception of us is one of normal everyday people enjoying nature. When the news cameras show up at a reptile show, who do they interview for the six o'clock news? They gravitate to the people with the most skin art, least clothes, metal implants, and a big Burmese around their neck.

I really like to idea of a defense fund to aid our buddies who get busted. I'll gladly contribute.

Cheers,

Terry Vandeventer
Mississippi

or even look among the Herpetological Societies for a well spoken and presentable President.

At any rate, your thoughts are right on and we need to do just that.

Thanks for the vote of confidence Joe. I'll be glad to help however I can. But, I'm not exactly photogenic or comfortable with public speaking. Also, my herper and naturalist credentials are only a tiny fraction of just about everyone else in this fight and infinitismal compared to Troy's. Also, he could pose with an entire family of herpers who double as well adjusted, accomplished, and respectable citizens.

I haven't seen you in 30 years so I can't speak about photogenic, but you do have a keen grasp of the legislative process and the key points that effect our hobby.

That's ok though, it doesn't have to be you, as long as you are with us helping to organizing our thoughts we'll be well represented.