How do people that keep repiles keep getting a bad rep?

Oh yeah this is why. Don't get me wrong, this looks cool, but come on now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1VPSnkQV7Y

It's the 80/20 rule. 20% of the people ruin for the other 80%. Its sad.

the whole time I was convinced it was going to turn on him.

Guts or stupidity? - you decide

Stupidity and the fact that humans still think they can completely tame wild animals...

Originally Posted by ClickClickClickBOOM!

Stupidity and the fact that humans still think they can completely tame wild animals...

Exactly!!! Perfect response.

Actually we -can- tame wild animals... Dogs weren't always a domestic pet, same goes for cows, horses... anything.
Is it impossible that centuries hence there will be "domestic snakes" with behaviors vastly different than those that exist in the wild?
I don't think it's impossible...
But yeah that's not the topic at hand...

Anyways, I don't think it's exclusive to reptiles... but all animal trade. The news broadcast negative news, that's what makes people watch...
So naturally they will be focusing on the bad things that occur...
Add to that the natural fear of snakes and... tadaaa, drama

One poor reptile keeper is more newsworthy than a million good ones, sadly. People want to see things going wrong.

Originally Posted by Kokopelli

Actually we -can- tame wild animals... Dogs weren't always a domestic pet, same goes for cows, horses... anything.
Is it impossible that centuries hence there will be "domestic snakes" with behaviors vastly different than those that exist in the wild?
I don't think it's impossible...
But yeah that's not the topic at hand...

Anyways, I don't think it's exclusive to reptiles... but all animal trade. The news broadcast negative news, that's what makes people watch...
So naturally they will be focusing on the bad things that occur...
Add to that the natural fear of snakes and... tadaaa, drama

Yes of course domestication is possible *pets cat* but that took a very long time to do. I think it would be possible to domesticate a croc just like any other animal but I don't think you can tame a wild born croc no matter what length of time you spend with it and the same goes for tigers and wolves. To me domestication and "taming" wild borns are two different things.

And yes negativity makes for better TV. Sad to say more people would rather hear about the Pit-bull who viciously mauled a toddler then the rottweiler who save a kitten or child. That's why I usually don't watch the news.

Yes- Domestication is done through generations, not a single life-time. I agree on that.

Remember that guy that wanted to go live with the grizzly bears in Alaska. He did stuff like that. They found some of his and his girlfriends clothing in a pile of bear scat.