Ugh....ignorance just plain annoys me.

[Alli_Draggy]

I was talking to the current snake owner at a Christmas party today about possibly adopting her son's ball python, and I can't believe the ignorance. The number of people who think that ball pythons are the same as Burmese pythons, grow huge, eat children, and so on is ridiculous. It's like being terrified of my tabby cat because tigers also are feline and have stripes! Sigh....

 

[smigon]

Oh, AMEN! Unfortunately, the only press snakes usually get is negative press. This makes people think they are all 13 foot long maneaters with fangs. When people find out at work (I am a pit boss at a casino, so I am in a suit and heels every day) that I have snakes and tattoos they are extremely surprised. Never judge... well, you know.

 

[Lucille]

is ridiculous.

It isn't ridiculous. Misinformation tends to get perpetuated. Think back to when you were young, chances are that friends/family passed or attempted to pass some piece of info however small that contained prejudice, misinformation, and may have done so innocently because they heard it from THEIR family or friends. Some misinformation (the tooth fairy) is fairly innocent, other misinfo like the misinfo about snakes ends up doing damage.

If you can manage to not be annoyed and instead be an ambassador for the snake/reptile community, you would do a world of good.
:cheers:

 

[Eatmice2010]

I don't think the tooth fairy is a good example, because it was just told to the kids so they had fun while learning the value of money and also might be considered a coping for kids so they don't get scared when there teeth fall out. But i still understand the point you are trying to make.

That said, it is surprising how clueless some people can be about there facts. Its especially funny when they start trying to make up examples as if they have seen it be done, for example a kid from school tried to tell me all tarantulas were highly poisonous. So of course as the noble citizen i am i had to in form him of the truth. XD

 

[HerpsOfNM]

Hopefully you said that tarantulas we VENOMOUS and walked away.

 

[Eatmice2010]

More like i started off as telling him "there not highly anything and the term is venomous. and that the only remotely venomous Ts are old world ts and that the most dangerous part about Ts fangs would be the bacteria."

But i skipped a bunch because i dissected his statement. XD

 

[Lucille]

So of course as the noble citizen i am i had to in form him of the truth. XD

The trick is to tell the truth in a way that does not make the other person feel ignorant and clueless, that way they might become interested and 'voila' you've made another noble citizen!!


Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.

William Butler Yeats

 

[Eatmice2010]

I feel like a grass hopper to your truth

 

[Lucille]

I feel like a grass hopper to your truth

No, you are the one to be honored, you are getting out there and spreading excellent information. We will nickname you the Amoeba Warrior, wherever you go, you do battle with ignorance and you do it in a way that like an amoeba, one (good citizen) starts the conversation, and by the end of it, there are two.

 

[TheFrogman]

Things like this don't annoy me, we all started somewhere, the best thing we as Reptile Owners can do is be patient, and educate the unknowing, I knew nothing about Amphibians 2 years ago and now I consider myself almost an expert, I knew nothing about Snakes until I joined this forum, although I am in no way close to an expert, I do know now good husbandry, I thank everyone here and I try to pass on what you all here have taught me to others that don't know.

 

[Lucille]

Things like this don't annoy me, we all started somewhere, the best thing we as Reptile Owners can do is be patient, and educate the unknowing, I knew nothing about Amphibians 2 years ago and now I consider myself almost an expert, I knew nothing about Snakes until I joined this forum, although I am in no way close to an expert, I do know now good husbandry, I thank everyone here and I try to pass on what you all here have taught me to others that don't know.

You are awesome.

 

[daddio207]

My girlfriend is a first grade school teacher and as an award for their good behavior, on Friday, she brings in a reptile to the class. Anything from a 4 foot B&W Tegu to a hatchling trinket snake and the kids love it ! She teaches them to care, respect and not fear reptiles. If someone walks into the class while the reptile is out they always ask " does it bite ?" My girlfriend has taught all 20 kids to say " if it has a mouth then it can bite !! " First lesson taught is respect the pet !

 

[TheFrogman]

You are awesome.

LOL, sarcasm? Ha Ha Ha, no I'm not but thank you, I am just a very patient person.

 

[Lucille]

LOL, sarcasm?

Serious. Approach is everything. Look at Daddio's girlfriend, making the reptiles interesting and a reward, that puts them into a good light from the get go. And when one is patient and goes out there with the thought to be patient and educate as you do, rather to demean or correct, people can't help it, most of them will be interested and it is because of the positive approach. :cheers:

 

[HVani]

I love introducing reptiles to children. I use to work at a pet store and would get out all kinds of snakes and lizards for kids to hold. At first their parents were freaked out by the snakes. But after sharing some information(have bringing out the beautiful and sweet snow cornsnake) they would even come around and ask questions.

 

[Lucille]

I love introducing reptiles to children. I use to work at a pet store and would get out all kinds of snakes and lizards for kids to hold. At first their parents were freaked out by the snakes. But after sharing some information(have bringing out the beautiful and sweet snow cornsnake) they would even come around and ask questions.

That's what I'm saying. Patience. Education. Approach. Perfect.

If you walk up to someone and just tell them they are ignorant and wrong, that will get their hackles up and they will never listen to you. How would you feel if someone did that? But if you show them some reptiles, if you invite them to talk and then you say interesting stuff in return, and accept them for who they are, you might make a difference. It might not be that day, if they have been fed a lot of misinformation, you might have to just let them talk it out, be accepting, and say a few interesting things, and gradually make a difference.