I know it's been beaten to death but...

[CamHanna]

I would like to address this experience thing once more. A link was provided recently in two rather high traffic threads that I think presents a very good idea. Just in case you weren't one of the 1000+ collective views in these two threads I will provide the link again... http://www.vpi.com/9VPITipsAndTechs/TheMeasureOfExperience/TheMeasureOfExperience.htm

On this site the unit of 'snake-years' is put forth to measure experience. A snake year is the number of years you've been maintaining snakes times the average number of snakes you've maintained at any given time; for instance, if you've kept 6 snakes for 5 years then you have 30 snake-years, if you've kept 1 snake for 5 years followed by 5 snakes for 5 years then you have 30 snake-years again. For a more complete explanation of the snake-year and it's purpose see the link.

Post Script - This post isn't directed at anyone in particular so let's try not to bicker, it was simply made to make those who weren't involved in the other threads aware of the snake-year.

[bistrobob85]

Wow, i have 12 snakes years and 5.5 lizard years at the moment! The only thing i wish now is to survive and get tons of snakes and lizard years!

phil.

[CamHanna]

Yah, I feel pritty lowly with less that one snake-year and only about 7 lizard-years.

[corr]

That seems like a more accurate gage Cam. Let's see, that would make my snake years somewhere around 10.

[Matt]

MY number is around 61 or 62

[Tim and Julie B]

Hmm...I guess we have somewhere around 70-75 snake years then:D

JB

[Kimo]

hmm 50 snake years and 12 lizard years...

intresting way of gauging someones experience, but to me i don't feel this is very acurate...i mean 50 snake years? Peh! makes it sound like i have more "experience" than what i feel i really have!

Josh

[Dom]

With only my animals i guess its around 250 years but Can i count the animals i work with at the zoo .. we have over 200 snakes I have been working there full time for over 3 years... so i have lol

That would put me at hmmm 1250 years lol to me

I have 2 years of succesfull python breeding and a little over 6 years of keeping snakes..

This is ridiculus but interesting

[DiamondDave]

Yeah this doesn't sound quite right. Some reptiles are harder to maintain than others correct? It's interesting but hardly accurate.

[tHeGiNo]

Diamond Dave, I was thinking the exact same thing. If my snake collection consists of fifty three BCI, and I have kept them for ten years, then I have 520 snake years. I hardly would find that comparable to someone with a more varied collection.

[jjnnbns]

But, you would have a lot of experience in BCI, and that would show through your snake years...

Of course it would not mean anything for other snakes perhaps... but I don't think that thats what it intends to mean.

The reason for it is that some people can claim that they have had over a hundred snakes, but maybe only had each for a month or two before selling them... this way instead of saying that they have experience keeping over 100 snakes (which sounds impressive) they can say that they only have 10-25 snake years of exp. (which is still an overstatement!)

Its definitely interesting... and what I do like about it is that it can somewhat weed out people who give out TONS of advice on things that they have NO experience with.

I would rather trust the guy with a thousand snake years in carpet pythons over the other who has kept 2 ball pythons and a corn snake for a year... (3 snake years)

[CamHanna]

It seemed great when I read it, I mean, pilots record airtime and the link brought up the example of falconry, why wouldn't something similer work for snakes? I suppose that it's not entirely accurate. Some more difficult species could accumilate snake-years faster, but that becomes very complicated.

[tHeGiNo]

JJNNBNS, I see what you are saying but that is not exactly what I meant - my point was that ones' 'snake years' could be a misrepresentation of how much they actually know.

Of course it would not mean anything for other snakes perhaps... but I don't think that thats what it intends to mean.

Being that your 'snake years' are one big number, your right it shouldn't mean anything for other snakes. However when it is just a blank number, like I said it may be a misrepresentation.

Its definitely interesting... and what I do like about it is that it can somewhat weed out people who give out TONS of advice on things that they have NO experience with.

True, but then we go back to my little man with experience limited to BCI however has a big 'snake year' number example :P.

I would rather trust the guy with a thousand snake years in carpet pythons over the other who has kept 2 ball pythons and a corn snake for a year

Me too, and again I just meant that your snake years could be a misrepresentation as to your overall experience. Its like saying because someone has been driving a car for thirty years, they are capable to ride a motor cycle, or drive a large truck.

[Dom]

Think about it though .. How often do you see HORRIBLE advise on this site?? When this site started there were a few members and you knew who to trust and listen too .. It was nice that way ..

Now .. Its pretty bad .. I have about 20 ppl on this site that there opinions I value. All others are usually diregarded or re-verified as there is no way u can trust there knowledge.. There is ssssssoooo many wanabes and Mr. Know it alls..

Now this idea is warming up one me .. lets say that we all had to give ouselfs a signature like ..

25 snakes years (mainly corns and balls) or
1000 snake years (venemous and pythons) ..

IF and that is IF ppl were honest about it, it would be easier to figure who has a chance of having real knowledge or not.

Don't get me wrong .. you can have a 100 snake years and still not know how to probe a snake or that you should not house a ball and a cornsnake together but usually .. the more and the longer u keep the more u learned .. Think of all the mistakes you have made and all that u learned from each of them..

I keep learning everyday wether it be at work, a friends house or with my own colloction .. I like this idea now ..

What's your oppinion ..

Dom 1200~ snake years
(mainly boids and some venemous and collubrids)

lol Its defenetly an interesting way of describing our self

[CamHanna]

I like the Sig idea. It would be especially helpful for those that are new to the hobby and have no Idea who is knowledgeable / experienced and who likes to pull a million answers answers off the top their head. You certainly can't judge by the number of posts, right now I have more than BGF.

[mykee]

Depending on which forum you post on, should represent the species you have "racked up" time with. Example, if I have 600 snake years with Bp's, and stick mainly to the BP forum, then I'm a God, but if I wander into the Morelia forums and start spewing off info, then I would be taken with a grain of salt. Point; just because you know how to properly handle, feed, probe, breed and maintain one species, that knowledge doesn't necessarily 'parlay' to different species.