Cobraman out of hospital after nasty bite

[Tim_Cranwill]

Fair enough.

[C.Marshell]

GOOD to see you back man!

[Canadaherp]

did you ever find out the sex of the snake (even though it dont matter really to me)

[sophia]

At least Phillip isn't outright slandering Ray, he makes a very good point about how it affects the rest of us and he's right, it does. On this other board there was name calling, slandering and now add harassment to that tally, so I think it was dealt with pretty well here.

Good thoughts Phillip, heads up!

Tay

[Syst3m]

Glad to see you back cobraman! Good to hear the digit is going to stay! My best wishes on a speedy recovery.

[ElapheScott]

I know you don't know me but I wish you a speedy recovery.
Your photos are what got me to become a member by the way.
Breathtaking.

[Cobra_Fangs]

I am glad you are alright!!!!! Sorry it took me so long to reply!!! I have been busy with the kids activities.
People like that should be hung, plus their reptiles taken from them!!! I did not think you freehandled pit vipers!!! Cobras I can see (to a point). That is the only way to handle that species. Well I hope you all the best in your recovery.
Will W.

[BIG SCOTT]

Phillip I completely agree with you. Ray made a mistake and i'm sure this time he will realize the impact that all this bad press can have. I have only been dealing with hots for a few yrs and only local snakes but you still have to be careful with any venomous snake and treat the situation very carefully. Atleast here in Tx we can still keep venomous snakes. But in all fairness to Ray they do say that there are 2 kinds of venomous snake keepers, those who will be bitten and those who have been bitten. So you see it can happen to even the most professinal of people and the most carefull of people. Lets just hope Ray learned his lesson b/c I sure do enjoy his pics and would hate to not be able to see them anymore.
Scott,

[cobraman]

Thank you again to all you who wished me well. Your kindness is greatly appreciated.
To Phillip, I understand how you feel, because I feel the same way. You can't be silly enough to think that I called the press while on a streatched in the emergency room so I could get this out in the news. I did everything I could to prevent this from hitting the press. The doctors even did all they could to hide the ACCIDENT from the press. Do you REALLY think I enjouy the bad press from this??? I don't belive that you do. When I was in recovery, I declined talking to the press until I was released, and even then only spoke to one writer who said if I did not talk with him he would just print whatever he had which would make it look worse. Instead of attacking me, you should find out who is spreading the article all over the internet and go after him. I damn sure did not want this article plastered all over the internet. I do not get glorification from a snake bite. If there are some out there that do, thats on them. What you need to realize is that in this biz these accidents do happen to even the best of the best. I have yet to read a negative post about Bill Haast and how he is a problem to herpers, yet he has been bitten 173 times. We can and do learn from our mistakes, but does that mean an accident will never occur again in our lives??? I am NOT blaming the accident on a kid, I was simply stating the facts of the incident. My looking up was an instinctive reflex to him banging the door. I doubt you would have responded differently. Another factor in my "track record" is that I handle over 300 venomous snakes daily through either venom production or the import/export and sales of them. I'm sure if I only had 20-30 venomous snakes and only had to mess with them once in a while to clean their cages I could go as long as most of you without getting bitten. But when you have to physically catch and restrain +/- 75 venomous snakes a day, your risk factor is greatly elevated. I'm sure you are able to see that. Before we start blasting each other, we need to look at the whole picture, and find out all the facts. When we take the time to do this, we often find that our *****ing is unwarranted. I don't like the press anymore than you do. I do everything I can to avoid it. Do you think I want to loose my career because hots become outlawed in Florida??? Come on think about it before you go around blasting people. Incidently, your negative remarks in your posts are just as damaging to herpers as the press. Far more people have access to read what you post on the internet than what is printed in a few papers. Sometimes we are our own worse enemies. If you or anyone has any questions or concerns about my work, what I do, or whatever, Please feel free to contact me. I am very easy to access, and am open to any suggestions or comments. Remember I am on your side, even if you can't see it that way.
Be very blessed.
Ray Hunter

Thanks again to all you who have been so kind. This is a good example to everyone on how we all should stick together in good and bad times. Blessings,
Ray

[cobraman]

by the way canadaherp, it was a female (lol). Peace, Ray

[cobraman]

Phillip, not only do I not expect your symapthy, I don't need or want it. You clearly do not have a clue about what you are rambling on about. You don't know me, nor do you know my practices. For your information, I was using a tube to restrain the snake while I probed it. And I DO use the proper safety equipment when handling. You think you can figure me out by a few silly pics on the internet, but you are wrong. Again, why don't you get your facts straight before you make yourself look so silly. I have nothing more to say to you, as you are clearly one of the few people that we just consider the source, and ignore your stupidity. Go ahead and get your last word (that's part of your childish charactor, I'm sure), but I will not be responding to whatever self rightious B.S. you write. and like it or not, I wish you all the very best, and God's blessings.
Ray

[cobraman]

I know I'm breaking my own rule of lowering myself to your mentality, but I wanted to ruin your whole week by informing you that the finger is recovering fully, so once again you have shown everyone with a computer that you truely have no clue about what you are talking about (AGAIN!). I have all my fingers and the use of them all. Sorry to disappoint you. Now go have a good cry, and maybe you'll feel better.

When you grow up a little and learn reading comprehension, go back and read my account of what hapened, instead of being so obnoxious in your self rightiousness. You're fooling nobody, you know damn well that accidents can happen even with the use of tubes and safety equipment. Unless you are perfect (as you are foolishly trying to make out like you are) we make errors, and miscalculations, and in this case I have instinctive reflexes and reactions to external circumstances. I never claimed that the bite was not my error, and that I am perfect. And I am not foolish enough to throw in the towel with my career because I made one or more mistakes in a time frame that is not acceptable to you. To most, venomous snakes is a hobby or extra income. To me it is my career, and sole source of income (and not a bad one). Of course I learn from my mistakes, but that does not mean another mistake can't happen down the road, maybe even tomorrow. I don't see any of your childish posts in responce to any of Bill Haast's 173 bites. He has had more than two bites in a two month period. Go ahead, tell us all how much of a "dumb ***" Mr. Haast is. Theres a hell of a lot more publicity about all his bites than the one written about me (which was not even written in a negative way). Fact is, you don;t know him, and you have made it obvious to all the readers here that you don't know me or anything about me (although as two others pointed out to me in e-mails, you do seem to be over obsessed with me). When I acheive the status of perfection like you, I will not have to worry about ever making a mistake again. Until then why don't you do like everyone else has done, and forgive me for my mistakes, instead of acting like you have some kind of enveyous obsession with me and my work.
All the very best,
Ray Hunter

[Dom]

Alright Ray and Philllip,

Your discution started out great and I was very impressed by how well mannared both of you were but as the replies went on, the discussion got very heated.

PLEASE keep it civilised and refrain from any name calling and profanity. Unless you have construcive critisism towards each other plz don't post again.

This is a community, everyone can read your posts, try not to forget it.

[cobraman]

Yeah, right, phil, you are right, I am wrong, You are so WOW, and I am not. I have admitted my mistake several times in these silly posts, but you don't want to see that. You're perfect, I'm not. You're gold, I'm Dirt. What else do you want to hear. Now how about doing like Dom suggested, and rise above this silliness, and move on. You made your point (even if your facts are not right), You've shown everyone how much more superiour you are compared to us mere humans who make mistakes.

Dom. Thank you for your good imput. I have been getting lots of e-mail from your members telling me to consider the source and stop feeding his sickness. I will heed your advise.
Be blessed,
Ray

[Dom]

NP Ray..

Glad to hear you are doing better.