Snake Educators: Stop Saying “Herp” and Preach Beyond the Choir

[Nightflight99]

Snake Educators: Stop Saying “Herp” and Preach Beyond the Choir
(https://medium.com/@bryan.hughes/snake-educators-stop-saying-herp-and-preach-beyond-the-choir-7e78a1afcf9c#.uqm7plgrj)

A worthwhile read. From both a conservational and a legislative perspective, we are not doing ourselves or the animals any favors by using trade lingo when communicating with the general public.

[Minkness]

Thanks for that read!

I always found calling reptiles 'herps' uncomfortable and as such have never used that slang myself. I always say 'my reptiles' when talking about my scale babes.

Interested in seeing more comments about this though!

[Sylphie]

Oh, I didn't know that there is other meaning to "herp" being non-native english speaker... But in that case I totally agree with using only "reptiles" with non-reptile people. I mean cmon, we want people to start liking our pets, not making them more afraid or more disgusted.

And good point with "you can't convice anyone with only facts". I can relate to this as I'm having arachnophobia, and people always thinks that I'll stop being afraid of spiders if they tell me that they can't hurt me, or that they are small. I'm always like "I know this already, right? And this doesn't make me less afraid of them".

[Nightflight99]

Personally, I cannot stand trade lingo. These animals have evolved over millions of years to become incredibly well-adapted to a host of environments, and thus deserve a lot more respect than to reduce their entire existence to them being "hots" or "balls." The general public is already suspicious people of people who like reptiles, and there is no need to further exacerbate the problem by using weird lingo, regardless of how endearing we think it might be.

[sirtalis]

Same, I cant stand leo, beardie, crestie, ball, ackie, etc

[Minkness]

I admit to typing out their shortened 'nick names' but usually I say their full names when speaking to others. It comes more from the desire not to be misinterpreted by onlookers or bystanders. Just think "man, my balls are growing like weeds!".....yeaaaah....lol.

I may never get my brain around their scientific names, but in a way, those are just as much of a turn off to some since it makes that person seem like a know it all. (No offence to those who do it). I usually get a good response when talking about my reptiles in that 'medium ground'. Like saying Crested gecko instead of rhachsidkfnd whatever.... or just a generic name like just calling my hypo brooks king a kingsnake. That actually opens people up to more questions too to learn more. "I thought kingsnakes were all black and white?" Then relate it to more common mammals. "Nah, there are some that are, but kind of like dogs and cats you can have different colors of one thing. Like a chocolate, black, yellow, lab" whoch then leads them to asking more about my specific snake. I have had hour long conversations with strangers using that method. =)

[Sylphie]

^Exactly like Minkness said. I use "short" names when I speak with a fellow reptile lovers, but I use the "common" names when I speak with someone who has little knowledge about reptiles in general. I mean when I'm introducing my snakes as a "Russian Rat Snakes" it tells people from where they come from, and it's often the first question like "oooh, so they live in Russia?". If I told them "it's elaphe schrenckii" people are just like "eee, okay, whatever".

[Nightflight99]

I may never get my brain around their scientific names, but in a way, those are just as much of a turn off to some since it makes that person seem like a know it all. (No offence to those who do it).
Agreed. I'm not sure why anyone would want to use scientific names with the general public. Hell, even a lot of keepers struggle with them. As a biologist, using scientific names is standard and precise, and it thus makes communicating with others more efficient. With the general public, it would have the exact opposite effect.

[Minkness]

Some people use the scientific names as standard due to one human condition..... Ego.... They feel empowered that they know something someone else may not and by saying it to that person is proof that they know more. It is also a status symbol. If they meet someone else that also uses the same latin names for everything, they are now part of a small, elite 'club' of sorts.

Luckily I don't think there's too many like that in the hobby over all, sincemost 'hobbiests' are really just pet collectors. (Like me...Lol!)

[Nightflight99]

Some people use the scientific names as standard due to one human condition..... Ego.... They feel empowered that they know something someone else may not and by saying it to that person is proof that they know more. It is also a status symbol. If they meet someone else that also uses the same latin names for everything, they are now part of a small, elite 'club' of sorts.

That is an interesting interpretation. Since scientific names are used for the purpose of precision and classification throughout science, I've never considered the possibility that anyone could possibly "abuse" them for some sort of narcissistic agenda. And where is this elite club? Is it full of nerds and guys with thick glasses? LOL. I guess this a good example of how perception can differ, even when the conversation is entirely benign.

[Minkness]

I knew a few local guys like this actually. They were not biologists or venomologists (lol) but worked at retail stores and other such jobs. They probably used the scientific names to feel more empowered or entitled. I never asked them specifically but just stopped hanging out with. Got tired of being talked down to because I didn't know a python regious was a ball python, ect.

I have a deep passion for psycology. Always wondering what people are thinking and WHY. So I have done alot of independent study and such. People are very complicated mental beings.

If I could have any super power...it would be to read minds lol.

[Nightflight99]

If I could have any super power...it would be to read minds lol.
Now this I could get on board with! :)

Yeah, there are always going to be snobs in any circle. Most of the time, people who are condescending toward others are doing so because they have low self-esteem, and acting that way allows them to feel superior.

That said, the magic of social dynamics is largely based on perception, so it is nearly impossible to make it through life without meeting at least a few people who think that you're snobby, condescending, elitist, etc. Sometimes you just have to shrug and keep on trucking. Or herping...I mean reptiling...you know what I mean...;) :D

[Minkness]

Lol yeah. I have been accused of being 'all about the title' at my job because I do focus on the chain of command and believe in titles for clear definition of responsibility. In my mind, titles help things run more smoothly. But to the people in my management program, I came off as 'wanting to be high and mighty'. Lol.

[pet_snake_78]

In my short 40 years on the planet, I do believe less people want to kill snakes on sight. Education has certainly played a role there, but now there is far less habitat than ever so total numbers continue to go down at an ever increasing rate. Amazingly, the overwhelming evidence that habitat destruction is to blame has been ignored and I now see an ever increasing mass of people who think that the reasons snakes have declined is because pet keepers caught them so fast they could not rise back to carrying capacity, an idea that strikes me as plain crazy and if were true in specific regions could only be caused by a kill trade (food/skins), so are we truly educating anyone? I am not so sure in the end? The public cannot and will not support high priority initiatives for conservation if they believe that you can fence off 40 acres and just keep everyone off it and the snakes will be fine.. bulldoze away!

[sirtalis]

True... one of my dads coworkers learned that I kept reptiles, eventually he asked me what I had, when I asked him what he had he told me their scientific names, at the time I tried to play it cool, but I had no idea what species they were, since then I've tried to learn both common names and scientific, the scientific is also useful when speaking with people from another country imo

[KrokadilyanGuy3]

This have always been my idea on the word, even I think herpes when someone says herp. I don't think I've ever said the word herp in person and only use it and "herping" on reptile forums.

[PatrickT]

Some people use the scientific names as standard due to one human condition..... Ego.... They feel empowered that they know something someone else may not and by saying it to that person is proof that they know more. It is also a status symbol. If they meet someone else that also uses the same latin names for everything, they are now part of a small, elite 'club' of sorts.

Luckily I don't think there's too many like that in the hobby over all, sincemost 'hobbiests' are really just pet collectors. (Like me...Lol!)

that is not true. I always use the scientific names for the plain reason that it is the only way to communicate through various cultures.

Im german, we call the animals totally different. Do you know what a "Königspython" is? In english would be kingpython...you call it ball python? Do you know what a Strumpfbandnatter is? Its our name for Thamnophis. Or a Bartagame" (bearded dragon).

[Tsubaki]

I Agree with Patrick, if i see how many different 'common' names there are to describe one snake around here, some even share the same one.. Latin / scientific names are the only sure-fire way to guarantee you're discussing the same animal. And i am less prone to do it in English, but in Dutch i always use scientific names unless we have already established what animal we are discussing.

For example: Pantherophis guttatus: Rattenslang, Korenslang, Maïsslang, (Zuid/Noord) Amerikaanse Rattenslang, Rode Rattenslang.. Etc Etc.. all different names for one and the same snake..Then someone comes along, who says 'Rattenslang' But is actually speaking of a Russian ratsnake.. or a Thai ratsnake.. a Black ratsnake.. Etc..

I once went to pick up a lizard people were threatening to throw in the trash if not picked up before they went on holidays, their Dutch description would make it an Iguana.. it turned out to be a bearded dragon.:rolleyes:

[Minkness]

But we aren't talking about usung such language with other knowledgeable enthusiasts. We are talking about using 'poor' language with the general public. Of course I don't know the german or durch names for things. I only know one language unfortunately. And if I ever did speak with someone from the 'general' public, I would use the American common names. If that animal is present for the conversation, then that eliminates any confusion. And if that foreigner knows other names for it, they can teach it to me.

I'm not saying that the latin names don't have a good purpose, but for the general public, they are intimidating and come off poorly.

[Tsubaki]

True, i barely ever talk with the general public about my hobby though, the name the hobby has here is not a good one. There is one colleague of mine, who overheard me and another colleague (Who also keeps snakes) talking.. And now won't stop saying 'i wouldn't piss her off, she will feed you to her scary boa's'...... there's just so much wrong with that statement,... I can't even.. If i do end up discussing my animals with someone who does not know much about them, i try to use as least intimidating names as possible.. I actually call my boa Constrictors 'Keizersboa' ('Emperors boa'), because 'Boa Constrictor' here have such a bad reputation just by name, they perceive them a lot scarier than retics haha. They think they grow big enough to swallow a rhino...yes i actually met someone who was convinced about that.. She also said cats are a normal diet for snakes, and after 3 cats going missing she was sure there was a snake-keeper close to her house (The fact that she lives next to an unlit highway apparently has nothing to do with it).. Humanity's stupidity knows no bounds.;)

i Also call my reticulated python by their latin names, because im tired of the joke 'Fake pythons? Oh yeah i got one of those! called a garden hose!" (Retic in Dutch is NETpython, Fake in dutch is NEP.. And Gardenhoses are called 'Tuinslang = gardensnake') They think they're original telling me that joke.. they couldn't be more wrong..

[Nightflight99]

Tsubaki raises an interesting point: there are situations where mentioning the scientific names can establish a professional status that may (in their mind) distinguish you from the stereotypical reptile keeper, which may be a good thing in some cases. I've done quite a bit of outreach work and presentations over the years, and your ability to establish that you are sincere/professional/etc. can be quite important if you want the audience to consider any appeals to conservation, etc. As mentioned in the article that was linked in the first post, marketing is extremely important, and sometimes we have to resort to social engineering to achieve our goals.

[PatrickT]

I always use the latin names. I see no sense in using common names. Its just fail prove

[DollysMom]

I'm with Patrick and Tsubaki. With some species, scientific names are pretty necessary. I have a house snake, for example. What that is exactly can be confusing. If I say African house snake, or Cape house snake, or Cape African house snake it helps. But if I say Boaedon capensis, there is no mistaking which snake I have. While I have no problem using common names I believe that knowing the scientific name is necessary. Any seller and buyer need to have a proper identification and scientific names to avoid confusion. For the general public there is no reason not to give both common and scientific.

[sirtalis]

This have always been my idea on the word, even I think herpes when someone says herp. I don't think I've ever said the word herp in person and only use it and "herping" on reptile forums.

Lol first time I heard helping it brought up some pretty funny thoughts, here have some herpes lol