My small rant...

[drewlowe]

Today like most days i went out and did some shopping, but this time for my herps food (insects). I breed mealies for some of my guys as most of you know it's cheaper that way when you have more herps.

So i'm there in the isle where the oats are and i'm getting what i need, 8 of the big containers. as i'm getting what i need i'm met with some strange looks from the people near me. I felt like saying "i like oats got a problem", But i didn't i just keep on shopping (cause i'm pretty used to the strange looks i get by now). I finish my shopping picking up a few more things for the meally bins. Then some great spotting by me, YEAH baby food on sale (even though i don't have kids, but my cresties need it). So i picked up about 20 more jars of baby food.

I get up to the register and great an old couple in front of me, nothing against old people i just know they aren't afraid to ask anything, so i'm thinking what kind of questions are they going to fire away at me. As i'm prepairing myself for the questions, here goes the lady with her questions. As i answer her questions all i get from her, her husband, and the checker are blank stares and looks of disbelif. Then the lady had the nerve of asking, "What is a pretty girl like yourself keeping "THOSE" kind of disgusting creatures"?.......... UGGGG it took alot not to get pissed off and just be like WTF. I didn't i stayed calm and just simply answered "because i like them and i don't hurt anyone with the animals i choose to keep as pets". Do you have to have a certain "look" to be interested in and keep herps or is it because i don't look scary enough in her mind to keep these "highly" disgusting creatures.

Then the next question that bothered me was "Why would you willinly bring in nasty insects to your house"? I just answered her as nice as can be "at least in know where the NASTY insects are and they're not running around free in my house."

99.9% of times i just let it roll off and just see it as ingnorance, but damn it still gets to me sometimes. Why do people have to criticise me for the animals i choose to keep, specially if they don't know me and will NEVER ever be at my house to see them. Why dont' they just keep there mouths shut if they don't like it.

Sorry for the rant it just got to me today, maybe it's just been a long week and i'm irritated.

Jamie

[Corey Woods]

I dont' like telling the "commoners" that I keep reptiles. USually when people ask questions like that I usually don't respond.....or if I do I usually say "it's none of your business" and mind my own business. I usually get questions like that when I'm buying 50-80 rubbermaids with no lids.

Corey

[mykee]

I'm with you on that one Corey. As for answering questions (however stoopid they may seem) from people who are either ignorant or plain old nosy, I wouldn't go into a schpiel on your life story. Tell them you have a "thing" for oatmeal and baby food.

[BoidKeeper]

What bugs me is when I go to the hardware store to buy some thing and they ask me "Well what are you using it for, or what do you need it for?" I feel like saying none of your business. For example I was buying 2"x4" for a BP rack and they didn't have enough of the good ones and the guy was like I have these lower grade ones left. I said to him no those won't do for what I want. So he says to me well what do you want them for? I was going to telling him that I wanted them to make tooth picks out of and only straight ones would do but I thought what was the point. I hate it when you know what you want but they insist on sticking their nose in and trying to sell you something else. Like I was going to tell the guy it was for a BP rack.
Cheers,
Trevor

[Invictus]

I don't mind answering people honestly, but for some reason, I'm not met with the same responses. In fact, most people think it's really cool that they have actually met a snake breeder in a checkout lineup at Walmart. Maybe it's because looking at the likes of Erin & I, they aren't the least bit surprised. Sometimes when we tell people that the stacks of rubbermaids are for snakes and spiders, they kinda get icked out, we just say "Yeah, they're not for everybody, but we love them." That seems to satisfy most of the commoners here.

[chong_python]

How did she know that the oates and baby food was for meal worms, why didnt they think you had a baby?

[joey]

I like it when people ask me about my 'critters'. I usually get interesting responses. I't's funny how many people either think snakes are very cool or it brings out the 'phobia' in them.

[Yve]

Jamie, next time you're riddled with such annoying questions just tell them you breed the mealies cause you have an insatiable appetite for them...that'll shut them up and move them along faster than you think!:D

[AtlanticReptile]

I can't stand people like that, instead of asking you sensible questions about why you keep certain animals,they have to make stupid comments and make it sound like people who keep reptiles are crazy( mind you thats not all people, the minority are actually interested or curious ). I am more than happy to talk about reptiles with someone that is actually interested in listening and not criticize me for my interests, anyway i have gotten myself in the habbit of not talking to about it to anyone that i know will give an ignorant response.

Nick

Atlantic Reptiles