Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Listening to the show, and it needs to get better.

Why are we getting lumped in with tigers and chimps, and why are we letting that happen ?

we got killed

I am a huge supporter of USARK now and forever, but scientific study results are of no concern to the listeners , and allowing reptile keepers to be lumped in with lions tigers and bears has my blood boiling. It was never mentioned that the population is established already and the laws do nothing to solve the everglades problem. He didnt address that boas and pythons pose little to no threat to humans. He didnt mention that most boas are captive born and bred and eventually could be 100% captive born and bred. Quoting a scientific study from Texas tech does nothin ! They shock with lies and we need to shock with plain truth, but that didnt happen. Not one call from anybody that supports reptiles ? Maybe he was ambushed about the agenda, but that was awful. I understand that it is the research and letters that help us , but we could sure use a silver tongued spokesman.

I too have a difficult time getting down on Andrew, but i am extrememly dissapointed in his debate skills and seemingly unprepared dialogue for this broadcast.

I called non-stop, but only got busy signals, never did get a person. They only took 3 - 4 outside calls it seemed, other than that nut Tim Harrison.

Mark

For those who could not catch the show, this is what Harrison said pretty much word for word:
http://www.humanesociety.org/about/departments/hollywood/ace/tim_harrison_062308.html

It was a dissappointing show with pretty much the same rhetoric being thrown around.

>>For those who could not catch the show, this is what Harrison said pretty much word for word:
>>http://www.humanesociety.org/about/departments/hollywood/ace/tim_harrison_062308.html
>>
>>It was a dissappointing show with pretty much the same rhetoric being thrown around.
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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
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The problem is that Pacelle raises his voice and talks over Andrew while Andrew is making a good point hitting the facts
and debunking Pacelle and his rhetoric.

The Host of this show is doing a piss poor job of moderating, she lets Pacelle talk over Andrew.

She gives Pacelle more time and the last word.

Andrew did a great job in this completely unbalanced format !

. . . Lar M
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Boas By Klevitz

I Support USark.org

Good Points Larry. Andrew did great considering that format. Of course we would have liked him to have more time to get points across, but he was not allowed the time. It should be a Wake up Call to all the Reptile Nation of what we are really up against, and how they can win a war with PR... We need to make sure we all do what we can to support Andrew and USARK.org If we don't, our voices shrink.

Can you believe those Calls? That was nonsense.. J Stone

Absolutely Jeremy, I agree that's exactly how this works in the over all scheme of things.

The media will and basically has made a choice of a side to support.

We have to convince the Media as well as the General Public that
we are not a bunch of incapable trash with no compassion
for the animals we keep.

We can and need to polish our image and continue to educate the public and media as best we can.

We all need to continue to support U.S.A.R.K. and Andrew . . . our very intelligent and capable leader !

. . . Lar M
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Boas By Klevitz

I Support USark.org

I agree that Andrew did his best, but I also believe that he could have been more prepared. I knew that HSUS would speak over Andrew, but we cant let it happen. My point is that NPR listeners arent interested in science. They want to know why we would keep snakes. When doing this type of interview , we are hoping to shed light to people who think we are freaks. Changing public perception will help us. Wayne P is a polished well versed speaker. We need a well versed speaker for our public discussions. I think Andrew is a hero , but we brought a knife to a gun fight.

Dan I understand your concerns, the format this show presented was us was far less than optimal.

Also this type of format for speaking definitely isn't easy to adjust to.

It's more like political debate, a person needs to be exposed to
to this format on frequent basis to learn how to respond and
how to twist your opponents words to favor your agenda.

Many Attorney's are extremely good at this format , I believe classes in Debate can be helpful.

Plus certain people have a knack for this.

I believe Andrew can and will continue to improve his method,
after all practice makes perfect.

We all need to stand strong with Andrew & U.S.A.R.K. , don't pull the QB out just yet

We all need to continue to support U.S.A.R.K. and Andrew . . . our very intelligent and capable leader !

. . . Lar M
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Boas By Klevitz

I Support USark.org

Agreed, and in the end this doesn't hurt the overall effort.

...if we don't let it hurt the overall effort.

Dan's right. He and Lar really seem to embody that spirit that I believe will carry us through.

They are positive, but still taking action. Lar is constantly posting practical Action Items on multiple forms while not succumbing to anger or despair.

We need be in this for the marathon and not the sprint. It has been 4 years just for this round alone already.

Things are getting nasty, but we need to persevere. Forward is the only way to go.

Brandon Nixon had a great post that I have taken to heart:
Get in your snake room. Play with your animals. Remember why you started doing this in the first place. Then bring that passion to the fight.

Lar has also posted something very valuable as well:
Be informed and keep checking emails and forums BUT make sure that you don't let it discourage you. If you find yourself feeling defeated, turn off the computer for a little while. Take a little break and come back refreshed and ready to fight. (See Brandon Nixon's advice.)

When we are angry, tired or sad, we make mistakes. Our passion should drive us, but cool, calm, relaxed, well thought out and well executed battle tactics will see us through.

Let's do this!

Aaron
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Aaron Houts
www.voodoomagicboas.com

andrew is short handed right now and is the pitcher, catcher, and shortstop. and USARK had no one else that could of done this show. i would like to see in the near future a "delegated" person for many of the tasks of our organization to more specialized people. This HSUS person is specialized in these talks, perhaps his key role in the HSUS cult. where he will never do a good job vs andrew at what andrew has done, but he will outshine andrew however in talks. talk is cheap, and i'll take andrews set of skills of being a DOER over a person like this character of being a good talker. my idea stated here entails i hope we find a "spokesperson" that does only this sort of stuff and is 24/7 all over the media blabbering away on behalf of our cause/message. A person with a mouth that should be put in the circus. Steve Irwin was great, not cuase of all the animal hijinks, cause many can be wakcy that way, but moreso cause of his quick wit and never said "uhhh" or "um" just had diareah of the mouth and that is hard to teach/learn. we need a person for just for that stuff and we will him/her soon...

I would like to see JB or Dr. Booth as our public spokesperson.......

Joe

As much as I appreciate the nomination Joe, it's not something I'd be very good at, nor would I have time for it. That's a job, not a volunteer effort. And I'm sure Warren wouldn't have the time for it either.

Besides, I think Andrew is doing a fine job. I feel like Andrew could benefit from being able to hire additional staff, but the money USARK brings in just doesn't allow for additional staff. It's up to us to be able to improve USARK and make it's voice louder, not Andrew.

jb
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What's written above is purely my opinion. In fact, MOST of what you read on the internet is someone's opinion. Don't take it too seriously

Jonathan Brady
DeviantConstrictors.com Site received a complete makeover! Check it out!

Agree. that is a full time job and i agree that it is ALL our jobs to voice the efforts of our hobby too. we have to do as the disciples did for those of you that are christians out there, or those who arent, i think you may of heard of them.

last and AGAIN AGAIN AGAIN, voicing an OPINION of Andrew getting outdone on the radio is not a great post. unfortunately you never know how this is taken, and if you just need a few people to say oh-oh we dont have a chance let me give up now. when all this is is a stupid radio show and nothing more. you can talk about sports on the radio and trash talk the other team and in the end what happens on the court is all that matters, and on the court andrew is hall of fame legend! i'll take that over a critic every day of the week and twice on sundays. it takes no talent to be a critic.

I dont think their is anything wrong with constructive criticism. I think Andrew is a hero. He will get better , but to ignore what we are up against by acting like yesterday did not happen doent make sense to me. I mean no harm , and in the end < it may help to make USARK stronger. Maybe Im wrong on this , but too late to pull my comments now.

There's comments you make public and some you don't. You're constructive criticism is best done via email, a blast on front street just doesn't make sense. my point AGAIN is if it doesn't do better for the cause on a whole, be descreet. If you were in a conference in a room for 1000 people would you do it on the floor in front of the room or on the side on 1 on when Evernote cuts for a break. How would you want it done to you.

Maybe one on one is fine, but I meant no harm as far as hurting the cause. I don't think the cause was hurt at all. Andrew was put in a tough spot and I may have reacted too harshly, but I don't have a one on one relationship with Andrew. I look at it like doing a peach in high school or college. We get critiqued by our teachers in a public forum. This is not so much of a knock as much as it is an opportunity to improve. I do apologize if I was too critical.

As I mentioned on another forum, this is a great compliment, however I have no time for this. This is a full time job. In the last week I have just accepted a tenure track Assistant Professor position at the University of Tulsa, therefore my time would certainly not be available for what is a full time job. My role is best suited to science and research, and with this new position I will be in a stronger position to contribute to that role.

Andrew Wyatt was born for this role. He above anyone else knows his stuff and I am proud to have him as our President of USARK and spokesman.

Warren
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Dr Warren Booth / Director USARK
North Carolina State University
Department of Entomology

>>I agree that Andrew did his best, but I also believe that he could have been more prepared. I knew that HSUS would speak over Andrew, but we cant let it happen. My point is that NPR listeners arent interested in science. They want to know why we would keep snakes. When doing this type of interview , we are hoping to shed light to people who think we are freaks. Changing public perception will help us. Wayne P is a polished well versed speaker. We need a well versed speaker for our public discussions. I think Andrew is a hero , but we brought a knife to a gun fight.

I feel the worst thing that occurred in the whole conversation was when Rexano replied to the why question with Why Not. WRONG! We need to humanize the keeping of our pets to get ANYWHERE
My answer to why

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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
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I SUPPORT USARK , and always will.