Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I think there is value in changing the language we in the herp-keeping community use--this may seem fairly minor but it helps frame our hobby in a more positive light.

It's simple: change "in captivity" to "in the home" or "domestically" and "captive-bred" to "domestically-produced." We don't hear of people keeping dogs and cats, or even fish, "in captivity." "Captivity" has significant emotional "baggage" associated with it and I think it unfairly colors our argument.

For example, "the popularity of herps in the home is increasing" sounds a lot more agreeable to the unititiated than "the keeping of herps in captivity is increasing."

I think it would go a long way to changing the mindset of people who are otherwise neutral towards herp-keeping, and might help sway these "undecided" to our message vs. those of the anti-herp crowd.

Thoughts?

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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

Agreed. Many people are businesses not just hobbyists. We need to do as you suggest but also cement our national platform. We need better leadership with this. I think USARK is overwhelmed with the python ban and that's just one thing. There is a lot to get reversed or eliminated at the state level.

We also need to define terms as well. The word "commercial" always seems to be used negatively. Everyone buying or selling herps (whether wild caught or captive born) is engaged in a commercial activity. We also need to establish what this national platform and language is more effectively. We don't need hobbyists not understanding/accepting the commercial realities or where their animals originally came from (the wild). We need to educate much of the industry itself. Instead of saying you don't support commercial collection you should say we don't support over-harvest.

We have much work to do. We need to agree on a national platform and get to work.

Welkerii

whether wild caught or captive born

You mean "free range or domestically produced."
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

Very good points, Chris. I prefer "Non-traditional Pets" over "Exotic Pets", myself.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

Chris,

How about Change Road Cruising to "Life saving missions to rescue herps from traffic fatalities" Just a thought...
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HCU
Snakes of Hudspeth County, Texas

>>How about Change Road Cruising to "Life saving missions to rescue herps from traffic fatalities" Just a thought...

Now you're just being absurd.

But come to think of it, "Road Cruising" sounds more like something teens in small towns do for Friday night socializin' than going out looking for snakes.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

It really does sound like what teenagers do in small towns.

Road herping is what I call it?
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We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.
6.6 African House snakes
3.2 reticulated pythons
.1 corn snake
4.2 Florida Kings
1.2 speckled kings
1.2 ball pythons
0.0.1 Argentine boa

How about;
"preventing roadkill"

Derelict Reptile Recovery, Roadkill Mitigation,...
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

roadkill avoidance, highway mortality interdiction, wandering herp assistance, beneficial human interaction.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

S.Op.Suicidal snake pervention and rehab unit.vm

I kinda like the term "Safeharboring" for any human activity that removes any Herp from immanent danger.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

How about "Operation Highway Herp Hazard Aversion"?

The anti asfult goodyear rollover revenge group known as Black Herp Down Peace. CAUTION VERY AGRESSAVE EXTREEMEST Group that if seeing you run over a reptile,will retreave the bloody mess you left and follow you then put the dead animal up under your front seat while your at work. Carl Hussane

That's a group I can support!
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

then you would enjoy Stormy Weather and other books by Carl Hiaasen. There is a guy in this book that does this kind of stuff and more to people he sees littering the roads. VM

John, He also has one called Sick Puppy that is kinda part 1 of Stormy Weather. He also co-wrote with Warren Zevon. VM