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So... I built a new site

Kokopelli

Kokopelli

Resident Boa Fanatic
And NO I am not going to post a link to it or anything... the purpose of this thread is actually to say thanks.

You see, back here, the field has a very different feeling than the vibes I seem to get from this amazing community.

You see... people exploit buyer's ignorance, mass import animals illegal and end up bringing more and more sick animals. For instance, we have stargazers here... but not a single sunkissed- fun eh?

A lot of negative talk is constantly being whispered about people who sell snakes... just to kill off competition.
Me for instance, I discovered not too long a while ago that a person whom I never even met knew me to be gay and demented.
Now... I have nothing against the gay community, nor the demented one for that matter... but why on earth people decide to spread this nonsense?
My example is extreme enough to be funny... but some of the filth that goes on is simply downright disturbing. This tactic of trying to destroy a "threat" someone poses of selling snakes by trying to destroy his image, credibility is so common that it's basically a reality over here.

I have encountered so many obnoxious examples to this that really... I was on the verge of giving up altogether, cause what's the point?

What really turned it around for me is CS.Com, actually.
THIS is how a community is supposed to look like. Sure, there are arguments here and there were times people wanted to choke me... but it never once stopped them from giving a helping hand... and I'd like to hope I gave some of it back.... I know I tried to, anyways.

I want that sort of community, this sense of belonging, kinship, friendship... I want that to be the reality back home too...
So that's what I am trying to pull off... will it work? No idea.

All I know is that this place, and you people, taught me how the herping community SHOULD look like, and I will do what I can to turn this into a reality for us as well.

So... really, you should all realize and be thankful for what you have here- a group of like minded individuals who are willing to help one another without trying to squeeze every dollar out of you. I am not saying this so that you pity me... but rather, for you to know and fully appreciate this... gift, you have here.
Sometimes it's easy to get used to it and take it for granted.

So really, thank you all, every single one of you- in a way, as mushy as it may sound, this community makes the whole world seem like a better place. Keep at it :)

Oren.
 
Wow Oren, what a sweet and wonderful post!!! I truly hope that the site you are creating does turn out to be as wonderful as this one, it sound like it is a much needed thing over there, hopefully it will help bring the herp keepers together and prevent/stop a lot of the in-fighting and spitefulness that it seems you have there :)

Good luck!!!
 
Good luck to you, Oren!

I can't shake the feeling that your post, however, is a "goodbye" letter... I certainly hope NOT!
 
I wish you many blessings on your endeavor!! Overcoming negativity and rivalry is extremely difficult, sometimes dangerous, but I think you can do it.
 
Kokopelli said:
there were times people wanted to choke me
Click to expand...

I'm sure the feeling was mutual at some times. ;)

But seriously, you're right. About everything. Well, I can't exactly speak for the Israeli reptile community, but you're right about CS. It's more like a family than a community.
 
I wish you luck with the new site!

I am glad you are not leaving. That was the feeling I was getting also when I read your post.
 
dionythicus said:
I wish you many blessings on your endeavor!! Overcoming negativity and rivalry is extremely difficult, sometimes dangerous, but I think you can do it.
Click to expand...

Thanks for those words of support, let us hope that indeed it won't be "dangerous".(Sadly it might be... but I am not trying to do anything loud... just open up a different site... I am not advertising it all over the place of anything).

We'll see how it goes :)


RobbiesCornField said:
I'm sure the feeling was mutual at some times. ;)

But seriously, you're right. About everything. Well, I can't exactly speak for the Israeli reptile community, but you're right about CS. It's more like a family than a community.
Click to expand...

Yeah it does seem like a family... makes me want to simply skip town and go live abroad... I have a European citizenship as it is, I imagine I could push and go and live pretty much wherever I feel like.

But... I can't help but feel bad about the concept... it's like I would be turning my back on so many of my family of died during the holocaust...
It's hard to be able to turn your back on that... so at least for the time being, I am trying to do what I can with what I do have.
It's not like there aren't GOOD people here, there are quite a few... a lot of them are simply quiet.
 
Thanks for the kind words.

I doubt most people realize how difficult it is to get a forum based site to be "successful", especially now with the internet as crowded as it is.

Certainly I have no idea why this site has survived the trials and tribulations that have killed off others of similar topic matter. Yeah there were some rough spots that apparently left unhealable wounds in some, but for the most part, arguments don't make bitter enemies out of the participants around here.

Wish I had some advice for you, but to anyone asking I will frankly tell them that I really didn't MAKE this site into anything. The members did. I just keep the doors open and they do the rest. I just try to stay out of their way most of the time.

But good luck to you.
 
What you need is really serious positive thinking people like me to keep everyone in line.

Good luck Oren, really, I wish you best. It is frustrating to have to deal with people sometimes.
 
Thank you very much!
And... you know, though all of us tend to say "it's not us, it's the snakes"... such as the keeper is in-charge of giving the right enclosure, so were you responsible for allowing the right conditions and fertile ground for this community to grow on.

So, again, thanks :)
 
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