Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What does everyone think? Have we already lost the war on public relations with regards to this hobby/industry?

I ask this because it seems we are seeing an increasing, if not never ending surge of biased, one sided sensationalism from the news media, and television programs. First it was MonsterQuest on the History channel, then it was "Python Wars" on NatGeo, and now I have received word that Animal Planet will be airing TWO programs, one called "Killer Aliens" and the other "Fatal Attractions of Exotic pet ownership" back to back. It seems that every major TV network is against us now. Quite frankly I am getting weary of seeing/hearing all of this crap. So far I have not seen any press releases or other official statements made by PIJAC, USARK, etc countering what is being put out their by these major TV networks. Are they just going to hide their heads in the sand about this?

USARK, PIJAC, NatPet, and all of the other groups may be working behind the scenes to fight legislation (and don't get me wrong, I commend them for all of the hard work they have done thus far), but I have to ask how much attention is really being paid to PR? That seems to be a battle we have already lost if things have progressed to the point of federal legislation being proposed and when these types of programs are appearing out of the woodwork and are now running rampant like a plague of locusts, IMO.

I apologize if I seem angry and frustrated here, but quite frankly I am, and I have had enough of these programs already. When is enough enough? IMO, the sensationalism is getting out of control. These programs are inevitably spreading out alot of lies and damaging misinformation since they are major TV networks watched by many people who are unfortunately going to buy into it all. I have already had some non-herp people ask me if I had seen the show and how they will be spreading north to NYC. I'm not sure how much of this topic will be addressed at the summit in Tinley, but what should we be doing to better counter all of the media garbage being spewed out there? As I mentioned before, I haven't seen any press releases/statements made by USARK or PIJAC on this to counter it. I am not sure how effective posting about these programs on here or other reptile boards is, since I am probably preaching to the choir there. And I am not sure how effective contacting these networks really would be, since, like I said before, seem to have predetermined stances against us as well. I am open to any discussions on this topic.

I forgot to add a point at the end, that perhaps we as viewers and as an industry should be holding these networks far more accountable for and more closely scrutinize what they are saying and/or airing. As I said earlier, airing such vast quantities of damaging LIES and outright MISINFORMATION is blatantly irresponsible, especially for channels like AP and NatGeo, which have been formerally well-respected in my mind.
As CCF says about HSUS, where is the "watchdog" for these TV networks?

Eric,

Yep, I’m with you regarding this madness…It’s called propaganda and it’s the preferred method of disseminating information in both socialist and communist countries…

From the Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary…Note the last two definitions.

Main Entry: pro•pa•gan•da
Pronunciation: ˌprä-pə-ˈgan-də, ˌprô-
Function: noun
Etymology: New Latin, from Congregatio de propaganda fide Congregation for propagating the faith, organization established by Pope Gregory XV †1623
Date: 1718
1 capitalized : a congregation of the Roman curia having jurisdiction over missionary territories and related institutions
2 : the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person
3 : ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one's cause or to damage an opposing cause; also : a public action having such an effect

Note who some of NatGeo’s “Board and Staff” are…They're from the Conservation Fund, Goldman Sachs, the WWF and the USEPA and they even have a major TV host!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/foundation/staff.html

They’re a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization…
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/donate/questions.html#nonprofit

It appears as though even NatGeo has partaken of the “green” tea...
http://www.pageturnpro.com/user/uploaded_books/128989800471608750_NGS-AR08_PTP-1.pdf

Later,
Jim.

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CSRAJim

I never took them too seriously, what with Steve Erwin and all the other sensationalist nut-jobs portrayed as normal. Who's the South African guy that just loves to play with deadly African serpents in such an unsafe manner? He actually got bit while filming. That is just no standard to represent. I'm sorry.
You see, they've really never represented the hobby accurately. No money in normal. Too pedestrian. Too mundane. Just not enough sensation/sizzle to sell.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

We have to keep fighting. I refuse to surrender a portion of my life due to the sales standards of American media.
Perhaps NatGeo could report on the large number of endangered sea birds in the Pacific.
Perhaps History could report upon the loss of an individuals personal rights during that individuals life time.
Perhaps Animal Planet could embrace a position reporting responsible pet ownership.

Nope, never gonna happen. We have to fight this thing every way possible. Everything portrayed in the media these days has to have an "extreme" larger than life presentation. The South African dude is just one example. Government agencies are biased, the media is biased and we are going to pay the price. Unless we fight.

"The Last Snake Man", as his shows and books say. What an idiot.

I get offended whenever I hear him use that phrase. I think he is one of the worst people on tv right now. His over the top antics give all of us a bad name. I can't stand when people say "oh so you work with snakes like that Austin Stevens guy" after they find out i'm a zookeeper. I usuially say yes I work with snakes but NOT like him! If he is the "last snake man" then we are doomed.
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"We don't inherate the earth from our parents, we borrow it from our children"

My own training is as a biologist, with a minor in Journalism. If anyone would like to check the archive ways back when the first burm stories started to appear. you'll find that I was saying then the same thing I'll say today-we will lose this war and lose big.

The public does not like nor understand snakes, especially 20-foot potential pet and child eaters. The media, when it comes to this subject, is no different from the public-in fact perhaps worse in that it is made up of largely urban "liberal arts" types who have even less understanding of science than your average educated person.

Finally (and the last nail in our coffin) sensational stories sell to the public and deliver a larger audience to advertisers. What could possibly be more sensational than giant snakes slowly crawling toward Washington D.C.?

Against these basic facts of human nature, we have no chance. Our only chance in the beginning was to try to keep this as quiet as possible-once it bacame a "big story", we had already lost. I guess when this is over we'll at least have the small consolation that we were right.

One basic truth we should be stressing that we generally are not, IMO, is that the Everglades were, unnoticed by the media, RUINED many years ago, by a combination of Mercury contamination and a plethora of invasive plants, fish, birds and insects. Where were they then when a few of us were trying to get their attention??
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

Breeder of:
Green Tree Pythons
Jungle Carpet Pythons
Pastel, Pinstripe, FIRE, Piebald, Clown, Lavender Albino, Leucistic, and Spider Ball Pythons
Striped Colombian Boa Constrictors
Kenyan, Rufescens, and Conicus Sand Boas
Red Phase Western Hognose Snakes
Spider Western Hognose Snakes
Albino Western Hognose Snakes
Locality Trans-Pecos Mexican Hognose Snakes
Southern Hognose Snakes
Eastern Hognose Snakes
Tricolor Hognose Snakes
Hypo Checkered Garter Snakes
Eastern Blackneck Garter Snakes
Stillwater Hypo Bullsnakes
Patternless Bullsnakes
S. GA Eastern Kingsnakes
Locality Desert Kingsnakes
Albino Desert Kingsnakes
Hypo Desert Kingsnakes
Mexican Black Kingsnakes
Desert Phase, Striped Desert, Newport, and Coastal California Kingsnakes
Locality Mexican Milksnakes
Spotted Mexican Milksnakes
Tangerine Mexican Milksnakes
Locality Alterna
Abbott Okeetee Cornsnakes
Mexican Baird's Ratsnakes
Cape Housesnakes
Tangerine Albino African Fat -Tailed Geckos
Locality Spotted Turtles

Brad, what about all the snakes already in Washington D.C. To me that is much more terrifying and certainly more real.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

>>Brad, what about all the snakes already in Washington D.C. To me that is much more terrifying and certainly more real.
>>jsc
>>-----
>>"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
>>John Crickmer
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

Breeder of:
Green Tree Pythons
Jungle Carpet Pythons
Pastel, Pinstripe, FIRE, Piebald, Clown, Lavender Albino, Leucistic, and Spider Ball Pythons
Striped Colombian Boa Constrictors
Kenyan, Rufescens, and Conicus Sand Boas
Red Phase Western Hognose Snakes
Spider Western Hognose Snakes
Albino Western Hognose Snakes
Locality Trans-Pecos Mexican Hognose Snakes
Southern Hognose Snakes
Eastern Hognose Snakes
Tricolor Hognose Snakes
Hypo Checkered Garter Snakes
Eastern Blackneck Garter Snakes
Stillwater Hypo Bullsnakes
Patternless Bullsnakes
S. GA Eastern Kingsnakes
Locality Desert Kingsnakes
Albino Desert Kingsnakes
Hypo Desert Kingsnakes
Mexican Black Kingsnakes
Desert Phase, Striped Desert, Newport, and Coastal California Kingsnakes
Locality Mexican Milksnakes
Spotted Mexican Milksnakes
Tangerine Mexican Milksnakes
Locality Alterna
Abbott Okeetee Cornsnakes
Mexican Baird's Ratsnakes
Cape Housesnakes
Tangerine Albino African Fat -Tailed Geckos
Locality Spotted Turtles

And even harder to eradicate than pythons, I'm afraid.
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

Breeder of:
Green Tree Pythons
Jungle Carpet Pythons
Pastel, Pinstripe, FIRE, Piebald, Clown, Lavender Albino, Leucistic, and Spider Ball Pythons
Striped Colombian Boa Constrictors
Kenyan, Rufescens, and Conicus Sand Boas
Red Phase Western Hognose Snakes
Spider Western Hognose Snakes
Albino Western Hognose Snakes
Locality Trans-Pecos Mexican Hognose Snakes
Southern Hognose Snakes
Eastern Hognose Snakes
Tricolor Hognose Snakes
Hypo Checkered Garter Snakes
Eastern Blackneck Garter Snakes
Stillwater Hypo Bullsnakes
Patternless Bullsnakes
S. GA Eastern Kingsnakes
Locality Desert Kingsnakes
Albino Desert Kingsnakes
Hypo Desert Kingsnakes
Mexican Black Kingsnakes
Desert Phase, Striped Desert, Newport, and Coastal California Kingsnakes
Locality Mexican Milksnakes
Spotted Mexican Milksnakes
Tangerine Mexican Milksnakes
Locality Alterna
Abbott Okeetee Cornsnakes
Mexican Baird's Ratsnakes
Cape Housesnakes
Tangerine Albino African Fat -Tailed Geckos
Locality Spotted Turtles

This has nothing to do with facts, propaganda, conspiracies, or anything else. It's simply about TV ratings, with a good bit of sensationalism thrown in. I spent 12 years in television at the local level. Facts aren't necessary, nor is the truth...all you have to do is get people to watch your station and buy the sponser's products. That's all there is to it. And a good puppy story makes a better lead story than a fire or murder...or political story. Most writers are taught in TV to write on an 8th grade reading level. TRUE. It's all part of the dummying down of this country. As the late George Csrlin once said.."If you think the average person is stupid, remember that 50% of the population is dumber than that!"

George, though I love him, was technically confusing "average" with "median". His point was still funny and very appropriate for these times....
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

Breeder of:
Green Tree Pythons
Jungle Carpet Pythons
Pastel, Pinstripe, FIRE, Piebald, Clown, Lavender Albino, Leucistic, and Spider Ball Pythons
Striped Colombian Boa Constrictors
Kenyan, Rufescens, and Conicus Sand Boas
Red Phase Western Hognose Snakes
Spider Western Hognose Snakes
Albino Western Hognose Snakes
Locality Trans-Pecos Mexican Hognose Snakes
Southern Hognose Snakes
Eastern Hognose Snakes
Tricolor Hognose Snakes
Hypo Checkered Garter Snakes
Eastern Blackneck Garter Snakes
Stillwater Hypo Bullsnakes
Patternless Bullsnakes
S. GA Eastern Kingsnakes
Locality Desert Kingsnakes
Albino Desert Kingsnakes
Hypo Desert Kingsnakes
Mexican Black Kingsnakes
Desert Phase, Striped Desert, Newport, and Coastal California Kingsnakes
Locality Mexican Milksnakes
Spotted Mexican Milksnakes
Tangerine Mexican Milksnakes
Locality Alterna
Abbott Okeetee Cornsnakes
Mexican Baird's Ratsnakes
Cape Housesnakes
Tangerine Albino African Fat -Tailed Geckos
Locality Spotted Turtles

Yeah, but George was saying that for the "50%" under the median, which is why he said it that way.

I've seen it less than that level a few times, I'm afraid.

I rarely reply to forum comments since most of what I would say has already been addressed. I made a comment a few years ago and will restate it since I think it applies to what has been happening.

It seems that most herpers associate only with other herpers as they seem to think that everyone else in the world cares about our hobby-interests... Pay attention to the average Joe who does not own reptiles or just has a few for pets and you will find out that most could care less about laws regulating reptiles. All, and I mean all, of my family, friends and relatives feel that reptiles are wild animals and belong there. Even though they know I love the hobby and they have known what I do for over 40 years they still have absolutely no idea what I find so appealing about reptiles. I am not sure how many people in the USA are die hard herpers but I am certain that we are outnumbered many times over by those who view cats and dogs as the only pets we should keep.

Most of my non-herper friends who see the articles and shows simply take what the media shows them as fact. They listen to my reasons exposing the flaws about the media's "facts" but I guarantee that 2 minutes later they forget it and are moving on with their lives.

One other thing. My brother went to an NARBC show a few years ago and also visited a local reptile shop. He commented to me that he was surprised how much a lot of the snake morphs sold for and I told him to go on KS to see more. He wondered how regulated the sales were and said that the fed gov would eventually figure a way to regulate it. I laughed and said that no one would ever find a way to regulate the independant reptile industry. He reminded me how the feds got Al Capone.

As I said a few years ago, hear me now, believe me later. Can you hear the tsumani that is coming to wash us away?

My family is the same. In fact, I believe one brother will probably leave most of his accumulated wealth to the other side when he dies.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

You're exactly right-most will applaud our demise and feel just a tiny bit safer to boot. We could deal as long as this stayed out of the media, but now I fear it's too late.

Nevertheless, we still have to fight to the end. What other choice do we have?
-----
Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

Breeder of:
Green Tree Pythons
Jungle Carpet Pythons
Pastel, Pinstripe, FIRE, Piebald, Clown, Lavender Albino, Leucistic, and Spider Ball Pythons
Striped Colombian Boa Constrictors
Kenyan, Rufescens, and Conicus Sand Boas
Red Phase Western Hognose Snakes
Spider Western Hognose Snakes
Albino Western Hognose Snakes
Locality Trans-Pecos Mexican Hognose Snakes
Southern Hognose Snakes
Eastern Hognose Snakes
Tricolor Hognose Snakes
Hypo Checkered Garter Snakes
Eastern Blackneck Garter Snakes
Stillwater Hypo Bullsnakes
Patternless Bullsnakes
S. GA Eastern Kingsnakes
Locality Desert Kingsnakes
Albino Desert Kingsnakes
Hypo Desert Kingsnakes
Mexican Black Kingsnakes
Desert Phase, Striped Desert, Newport, and Coastal California Kingsnakes
Locality Mexican Milksnakes
Spotted Mexican Milksnakes
Tangerine Mexican Milksnakes
Locality Alterna
Abbott Okeetee Cornsnakes
Mexican Baird's Ratsnakes
Cape Housesnakes
Tangerine Albino African Fat -Tailed Geckos
Locality Spotted Turtles

To quote a line from a recent movie, "It's time to nut up, or shut up!" Know what? If the Big Dogs go tuckin' their tales when the fight comes, it is all over. Don't let a bunch of people that say you can't do (insert ANYTHING) tell you you can't live your dream, life is too short, and by damn, that's what life is all about, pursuing your dreams and goals, isn't that what we tell our kids? What are they gonna think about that if we let them steamroll us into submission? Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, if you don't believe this now, you never did.
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Todd Hughes

Let's see if I get this...giant super charged man eating pythons headed towards Washington DC??? Hmm...that sounds like it might be the "solution" to the problem...and "not" the problem!!!