Serious Problem Here... - Page 2

concept3 · 10-20-04, 11:14 PM

Hooter I dont want to offend you or I dont want to start an argument.......... with that being said. If It makes you mad to answer newbies questions dont! Your on here getting mad at people because they dont know any better? Its a community forum where everyone is allowed to come and ask questions, no matter how ignorant or stupid they seem to you. If you dont like that idea then you do not belong on a COMMUNITY forum. That last post of yours was a low blow. Desperate words from a desperate man......................

Matt_K · 10-20-04, 11:30 PM

Simply.. But we're not going to be simple, we're going to be difficult right?? So just forget it..

Thanks for the spelling lesson though..

Quote:

Last edited by hooter on 10-20-04 at 09:43 PM

Guess im not the only one who makes spelling errors now, am I???

HeatherRose · 10-20-04, 11:37 PM

*sigh*

I think what Matt means is, just because someone does not know the basic husbandry of snakes does not mean they are STUPID when it comes to other aspects of daily life.

You can know reptiles are cold-blooded, but does that mean you know they'd need a cold spot and a hot spot? Common sense might tell someone that a big, roomy enclosure would be better for a snake. Common sense might also tell us that live food is better for a snake because they can hunt, like in the wild...

This is all stuff I would have thought when I first got on this site. Mind you, I didn't keep any snakes, just geckos that I knew how to care for. This is NOT the case with everyone, some people ARE impulsive.

But this does not mean they're not university grads with engineering degrees...get it?

bistrobob85 · 10-21-04, 12:05 AM

Yeah, some people defenetly are impulsive and that's not gonna change... Still, i think we should not openly blame them for it, we should offer them a hand to help them with their animals... It's not worth trying to prefent people from buying impulsively, they're too many yet... sad. The forum at least helps them out a little with some human touch. It's also true that if you don't want to answer the newbies' questions, you don't have to...

phil.

10-21-04, 12:44 AM

I'm going to get scorched here, (especially since spelling counts apparently), but I totally agree with hooter. Before typing this response I took 10 minutes to look for the FAQ area of this site, and couldn't find it. Not to say it doesn't exist, as I've never looked before now, but it sure didn't leap out at me or anything.

And it's not like I joined yestarday, I've been here since before there were 1000 members, even though I very rarely post.

Sure there are "newbies", they are the lifeblood of our hobby. I mean, come on, where else are you going to sell your pictus, leos, or ATF's to? Hell we were all one once ( I kept my first snake (1982), on pennies 'cause I thought it looked cool), but they need more direction? When I started keeping there were virtually no books on captive husbandry, let alone the internet. Google Ball Python and tell me you can't find a care sheet.

I'm probably making arguments for both sides of this "debate", but in the end I'm with hooter, we need a well defined and easily found FAQ sheet for those who have some very basic questions. Things like NO you cannot keep your new Red Flame Garter Snakes in the same enclosure as you Desert Kingsnake, because..... well it's simple division, 1 divided by 2 = 1 kingsnake!

Hooter was not looking for a flame war, as he so stated. I think he was looking for a solution to the traffic of posts. And I really don't understand why some people are getting so upset with this.

BTW (or, by the way, for you newbies) my personal opinion is that this is the best webforum on the net. The moderators are "supermoderators", and I very rarely go to kin...anke at all anymore. Maybe that's why i'm getting a bit pissy.

Thank you Ssnakess.com

Matt_K · 10-21-04, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jason Wakelin
Before typing this response I took 10 minutes to look for the FAQ area of this site, and couldn't find it. Not to say it doesn't exist, as I've never looked before now, but it sure didn't leap out at me or anything.

They're posted at the top of every forum.. Well, not every, as some are still being written.. But for instance, the top of the BP forum, Boa Forums, Corn forum.. They're all labelled as 'Important' so they should jump out at you! LOL..

hooter · 10-21-04, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by HeatherRose

I think what Matt means is, just because someone does not know the basic husbandry of snakes does not mean they are STUPID when it comes to other aspects of daily life.

Wow thats totally distorting what I said lmao I cant believe someone can take the word *uneducated* and turn it into *STUPID*. If you want to interpret my words to your favoring then go right ahead but I already showed you the dictionary definition of the word uneducated.

I am in no way trying to put people down because they have questions. We all have questions and we all have to start somewhere. I dont understand how I come here and offer a suggestion and almost EVERYONE takes it as im being mean. If I wanted to be mean I would say *wtf why all these noobs posting this stupid noobie threads omg i hate noobs wow* thats more like a mean thread.

All I was saying is for people that lack knowledge which doesnt make them a bad person could have a thread to go to with answers to their questions. Yes I see a FAQ thread but does it have everything in it? NO. I know more could be done and thats what I was trying to point out.

I dont even care about the topic at hand anymore, you people cant read or do not interpret words right or something. I see NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING, in my first post to in indicate im being mean or even trying to be mean. Go ahead and quote me on this thread to and change my words around a bit more I love to play scrabble with people who cant read clearly.

Matt_K · 10-21-04, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hooter
All I was saying is for people that lack knowledge which doesnt make them a bad person could have a thread to go to with answers to their questions. Yes I see a FAQ thread but does it have everything in it? NO. I know more could be done and thats what I was trying to point out.

The point of the FAQ is to answer the basics.. I think the basics are covered in those threads, if they're not, by all means, send us information to add to them and we gladly will!

RepTylE · 10-21-04, 08:31 AM

People don't get jumped on in the threads just for asking newbie questions, they get jumped on for coming off like twits about it. Good example is the one where the guy wanted to get a snake to *quote " watch it choke and eat something". That was a disasterous thread from line one and I seriously doubt that it accomplished a thing.

There are blowups all the time in these forums, who knew that reptile enthusiasts would be so emotional, lol.

Dark_Angel_25 · 10-21-04, 08:41 AM

Is there not a way (and this is just a thought) To add a main button for FAQ at the top of the home page, and have that page lead to a link that would take people to the FAQ sheet on the forum of that choice? This way they are all together, and right therre on page one. Putting them at the top of each forum is a good idea, but as someone mentioned, if you are looking for FAQ's in general, and you dont see it on the homepage (which is where I usually found them on other sites if I was looking for them) then the people tend to just post the question..
I know we will still get people just posting and not looking for the FAQ anyway but it may be reduced, AND then people with Hooters mentality could just post
" Check the FAQ section on the Homepage"
and be done with it... Just a suggestion...

**********************************

Tracy

HeatherRose · 10-21-04, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Wow thats totally distorting what I said lmao I cant believe someone can take the word *uneducated* and turn it into *STUPID*. If you want to interpret my words to your favoring then go right ahead but I already showed you the dictionary definition of the word uneducated.

Oh no, not at all. I was just dumbing it down for you, as it seemed you had a very difficult time understanding the concept of 'uneducated'

rwg · 10-21-04, 10:36 AM

I'll jump in here. Many of you have tremendous knowledge on reptiles, but seem to know a lot less about humans. People are fallible. They make mistakes through ignorance, they make rash decisions, they fail to do research up front, they assume pet stores know best. You all know so much about reptile behavior, that I'm sure you're capable of understanding a little bit about humans too. The cure for ignorance is elightenment, not ridicule. A FAQ is a great idea, but it wont be the first place newbies look necessarily. Human nature. People ask questions of the experts as a first resort, not a last resort, because they feel it is the best source of information, and because it is interactive...they can ask followup questions and get clarifications. Why do you think we even have university professors when the course material is all right there in the text book?

I would like to see all snakes kept in proper conditions. I would like to see all herp enthusiasts new and old be knowledgeable and act responsibly. I would like to see as many herpers as possible become a part of this community. When I answer a newbie quesiton, it is to further these goals. If your reply doesn't serve to further some worthwhile purpose, I cant understand why you'd bother to post anything. We get this "snake in a coffee can" post, and it's followed by post after post of "this makes me sick", and "give it to someone else who can take care of it" with only the rare nugget of useful information. If you all claim to care about the animals so much why aren't you trying to help rather than just venting? None of you are any better than this guy...you're just further along the curve. If you're tired of answering the same question over and over, just stay out of the way and let someone else do it. There are hundreds, or even thousands of people on this site who are competent to give advice on a ball python setup.

JonD · 10-21-04, 11:45 AM

I think everyone should give new people credit for wanting to learn more about caring for thier newly aquired reptiles. We are giving them knowledge that will last a lifetime.

It might seem like people are "lazy" to search for care sheets, etc. But the fact that they are actively looking to increase their knowledge is much better than one who just doesn't care.

Breeders should and do embrace newbies, as it was stated before. This is the one of the main ways to help increase customers and also that they will trust and respect you when it comes time to make their new purchases.

I wonder what it'd be like if our schools treated people the way some members do?

Lighten up peeps! Education is the way!!!!!!!!!!!

Will · 10-21-04, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Maybe your perfect but most people went to a petstore and bought a snake not knowing how to properly care for It. Any person who denies that is either a liar or knew someone allready into herps.

That may have been an excuse when you veteran guys got into this way back, but for people like myself who have gotten into it more recently, there is ZERO excuse why you can't, at the very least, spend a couple hours and Google some caresheets. Very few people have NO access to the internet nowadays, If you can't get access for at least an hour or two somewhere, then getting a snake is probably the least of your priorities.

When I got my first Cal King(2001) I had a couple books, printed off almost every caresheet I could find, AND I had the cage ready to go before I ever emailed the first breeder. Hell, I had that sucker up and running 6 weeks before I ever had anything in there.

I agree with Jeff, it's sad how little people are willing to look into this before they make a purchase. Not saying that they all turn out to be bad owners, I'm sure most turn out fine once they get the info they need, but how about some initiative on the buyers' part.

Just keep pushing it on them is about all you can do. A snake doesn't leave my place without at least asking about their setup, and unless it's got a caresheet attached. Other than that, just hope the person is smart enough to take advice(if they need it).

concept3 · 10-21-04, 03:42 PM

what I was trying to say i geuss is most people went into the petstore, the guy at the petstore told them their "ball python" could live in a 10 gallon tank and all they need is a 50 watt heat bulb, and a mouse every week or so.
So this person buys the snake takes it home and in a month it wont eat or has retained eye caps or mites or any number of problems. The people assumed the guy at the petstore new what he was talking about and since he worked at a petstore he knows lots about the animals they carry.
So it is usually not lazyness or the person not caring its misinformation the newbie got, and when they run into a problem they come here to ask us for help not to get flamed or ridiculed or told to give their snake away, but for trustworthy answers from people with experience.