Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just posted this in the Herp Law and Cites forum, but since I spend most of my time here, I'll go ahead and cross-post...

With friends like these, who needs enemies???

There is a link to this message from Jeff B at the top of every page on KS

So much for being polite and professional.
We are now being encouraged to engage in threats and scare tactics.

“I say that if Congress wants to deal with the python issue, let them deal with the pythons too.”
“And to emphasis the point that you are serious, I am asking that everyone mail a letter to this effect
along with a shed snake skin to their congressman and senators, and especially to the members of the
Environment and Public Works committee listed below:”

If this is done, anyone in congress who is undecided will be turned soundly against us. In fact some on our side may turn against us.

We are battling against people’s emotions that snakes are dangerous and disgusting, and that those of us who own them are not the most upstanding among our citizens.

You’ve seen how they like to roll out that python skin to show everyone in the committee how big and dangerous the animals are.

Now they’ll be able to show a bunch of threatening letters and disgusting snake sheds that their aids have potentially been traumatized by. Not only will they dislike our animals, they will strongly dislike us.

This is by far the most ill-conceived call to action I’ve ever heard of.

Paul

It is already being widely talked about in our capitol that the people representing our cause by making the phone calls to the offices of elected officials have been rude, insulting, threatening and just stupid. That is being spread by several staffers who have had to field the calls. You are not helping us but in fact killing us. Politics "works" the way that it does and that is by making deals and being cordial with people you do not like and do not agree with. By being so rude and stupid the people who have engaged in this behavior are just helping to load our enemies with firepower to use against us. The public already has a low opinion of us that is why it is so easy for the government to push us around. Why would you want to make things worse. Nobody is going to have any sympathy for us.

Aren't these the same people that are saying there are 130,000 - 150,000 Burmese in the Glades? I'm not saying it's a smart thing to be rude but even if people aren't rude...they will probably say they are just to further their cause.

I can tell you that not only myself but two of my friends were also treated with great disrespect by people in Senator Nelson's office today. Out of all the times I called to get the Senators thoughts on the situation I was only in a true conversation 1 time. the rest of the times I got through once they knew what I was calling about...they hung up on me. I even had a buddy tell me that when they say 'hold on' they disconnect you...and I got that too. And...I was completely polite and professional.

You have politicians lying about why they are trying to pass the bill and they will lie as much as possible to try and make us look bad too...why wouldn't they.
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Matt Lerer
Ghi Reptiles

You've got to be kidding me. I can't think of ANYTHING WORSE to do than that...thanks
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

I agree, what an idiotic thing to do. It may even be illegal. I don't know about you, but when my snakes shed they often take a dump and often get some of it on the shed. Some snake feces have been shown to contain salmonella bacteria. Better wash those shed skins really really well or someone might show up on your doorstep claiming that you were sending disease organisms through the US mail.

I'm just agast at how stupid this idea is.

FYI... I'm referring to the link in blue near the top of the page titled "Send A Snake To Congress For Christmas!"
Paul

Nothing like sabotaging our cause...

I'm just going to hope they meant it as a sarcastic joke.
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Tosha
JET Pythons

nihil facimus sed id bene facimus

a lot of people from various ages look at this site as an educational tool and take what they read as either truth or guidance.

Look at all the newbies that ask questions all the time looking for guidance. Heck even long time hobbiest look at this site for guidance as well.

Now what if some of them took this as serious (presuming it is currently a joke) or even worse he is serious. One of those "not thinking of the ramifications of a joke" issues. With the crap they just aired in my state about the lady held captive by a snake, you can bet the media would run all over this, not to mention fuel the fire that is burning against us.

In my opinion it is not a "good" way to lead or guide....
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Kevin Earley
Gila Monsters - Beaded Lizards - Ball Pythons

It sure doesn't look like it was written as a joke to me. If it was, I'm certainly not seeing the funny here.

that all of their stereotypes about reptile owners are true.

How much time and effort have all of us spent trying to educate the public that snakes, and reptiles in general, are not "evil animals"?

Are you sure you are on the right side of the fence? This sounds like something a PeTA person woudl do to try and prove a point. So you send a skin to some one who potentially gets startled by it when they open it. Good job proving a point.

All that would do is that we are just as irresponsinle as they think we are. It's just embarassing, please remove it.

Just my opinion...........

Kevin
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Kevin Earley
Gila Monsters - Beaded Lizards - Ball Pythons

I know things are getting desperate-but c'mon!
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

"Some things are flat impossible-until they're done."
Robert A. Heinlein

..link is up there to FakeBook.......

that's what it said.......

......not good idea

....
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.

...(______________________)

And while we're at it, let's wrfite the letters in crayon, or better yet, cut out letters from magazines and glue them to paper. Everyone is angry, but threatening the government is the exact opposite of what we need to do.
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Snakes:
1.1 gray banded kingsnake
1.1 california kingsnake
1.1 kenyan sand boa
1.1 western hognose snake
0.1 albino checkered garter
1.0 florida blue garter
1.1 het anery red sided garter
1.1 reverse oketee corn snake
1.1 blood red corn snake
0.1 amel striped corn
1.0 amel 66% het striped corn
1.1 het albino ball python
1.1 het ghost ball python
0.1 spider ball python
1.0 pastel ball python
1.1 mojave ball python
1.0 butter ball python
0.1 ringer ball python
1.0 African dinker ball python
0.3 normal ball python
1.0 piebald ball python
0.1 het piebald ball python
0.1 Genetic Stripe Ball Python
1.0 Het Genetic Stripe Ball Python
0.1 Mystic Ball Python

Turtles
1-eastern box turtle
2-spotted turtle
2-eastern/midland painted turtle intergrade
1.0-common musk turtle
1-Pink bellied sideneck
6-Northern red belly

Invertebrates
0.1 southern black widow
1-Tanzanian Giant Tailless whipscorpion

Amphibians
0.1 Ornate Horned Frog

Birds:
1.1 red avadavit
2-blue breasted cordon blue
1.1-black cheeked waxbill
0.1-star finch
1.0-Java rice sparrow
2.0-owl finch
1.0-hybrid munia
0.1-White bellied caique

Fish
2-corydoras cats
1-African upside down cat

normal stuff
0.1 black lab