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

Nightflight99 · 03-17-16, 09:31 PM

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

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** · 03-17-16, 10:22 PM

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 · 03-18-16, 02:36 AM

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 · 03-18-16, 07:56 AM

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 · 03-18-16, 08:22 AM

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

**Minkness** · 03-18-16, 08:46 AM

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 · 03-18-16, 08:57 AM

^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 · 03-18-16, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minkness

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** · 03-18-16, 09:14 AM

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 · 03-18-16, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · 03-18-16, 10:17 AM

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 · 03-18-16, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minkness

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...

**Minkness** · 03-18-16, 10:47 AM

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 · 03-18-16, 01:07 PM

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 · 03-18-16, 10:32 PM

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