Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Lots of flames on this forum lately, and those of us who are VOLUNTEERS who moderate this forum are a bit tired of having to sort it all out. We've all got regular jobs and households to deal with, in addition to this.

Some reminders:

1) Posts that just say "look at this website" are not allowed. This doesn't mean weblinks aren't allowed - we just ask that it be a PART (meaning not the whole darned thing) of the conversation, and that it's relevant to the topic. For instance, this would be fine: "Hey, I was over at www.blah-blah.com and it says that whatchamacallits can't be bred to thingamajigs... what do ya'll think?" However, this wouldn't be OK: "Look at www.blah-blah.com, it's great."

2) Certain topics have proven to be volatile on this and other forums. You know what those topics are if you've been here on a regular basis. Those topics aren't necessarily removed, but tread carefully - if it becomes a flame, we will remove it, and may terminate your account.

3) Name-calling, even if it's a new "creative" name that is created here, is not allowed. The spirit of the guideline here is to refrain from personal attacks, even if your words by themselves are child-friendly. It's the intent, and the entire message that we look at. (That means that friendly kidding is just that - friendly kidding, and we recognize it. It's quite different from a schoolyard word brawl, such as calling someone a "poo-poo head", or taunting "Your mother wears combat boots." Yeah, I'm exaggerating a bit here, but I think you all are able to understand what I'm getting at.

Please folks, play nicely. Debate the subject, not the person. If you don't like Joe Blow because he breeds something and calls it a Copper-headed rattle Boa, that's your right to not like it. But keep your discussion on the SUBJECT, not on the PERSON.

As always, you're welcome to e-mail me directly for direction and guidance. But, due to the 50+ spams I'm getting each day, I've set my filters to block anything that doesn't have a reptile-related word in the subject - so please mention boas or snakes, or something along that line in the subject. If you write me, and don't hear back, try again.

Thanks for listening to me while I'm in "teacher" mode. I now return you to your regularly scheduled Boa discussions...

--Bonnie Keller
PH Scales

>>Please folks, play nicely. Debate the subject, not the person. If you don't like Joe Blow because he breeds something and calls it a Copper-headed rattle Boa, that's your right to not like it. But keep your discussion on the SUBJECT, not on the PERSON.

Well, that poses a problem, in that, often times the person IS the subject. There seems no reason to me that we cant discuss issues regarding people/brokers/breeders.

Understandably mudslinging for the sake of mudslinging is inappropriate, but i think we should be able to discuss out opinions on the actions on individuals who make their actions for all to see, As they ARE pertanent developments in the 'world of boas'.
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recycle your pets

Sorry, but whether or not you understand the reasons why, the fact is that the owners of this website have spent considerable time and money fighting legal battles because of scenarios such as this. For this and other reasons, we are limited to debating the ISSUES. As I explain to my students: "Just because YOU don't understand the reason for something doesn't mean it's a poor decision, or is 'stupid'. It just means you don't have all the information."

So, OK, Joe Blow breeds Copperheaded rattle boas, and you don't like that he took that name from someone who has Copper-sided rattle boas - rather than calling Joe Blow a theif, coward, idiot, or whatever, a simple statement that you don't like the fact that the names are too similar is enough. The fact is that debating on this forum won't change Joe Blow's mind, and only serves to start a flame war. If you want to debate Joe Blow directly and tell him he's the south end of a north-bound mule, then do it via private e-mail, not here on the Forums.

Regards,

Bonnie (who would love for someone to breed Copper-headed Rattle boas)

.......

I am sorry, I got a bit out of hand. I am here to make allies, not enemies. I will remember that, I am not trying to make it hard for the admins. Apologies to Rainshadow as well.
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Jeremy J. Anderson
No one in the world ever gets what they want, and that is beautiful. Everybody dies frustrated and sad, and that is beautiful.