Best handlers?

[ireleana]

I believe there's hope, but I think it's equally likely that their preserved DNA will come with us when we settle other planets. Either way, letting any species go extinct is throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Except worse, because babies are loud and gross.

Not saying to let them go extinct at all. I'm all for conservation but I also look at the reality of the situation. We might not be here long enough to save anything.

 

[Radium]

Not saying to let them go extinct at all. I'm all for conservation but I also look at the reality of the situation. We might not be here long enough to save anything.

We might not. But it's worth trying.

 

[leaveittoweaver]

I don't think wild animals should be pets period. But I have tarantulas and had rats so.. I don't think highly venomous snakes or constrictors should be kept by anyone with out the proper education for many reasons, not just safety. Look at Florida now because idiots let there exotics go because they got big or didn't want to deal with them anymore. I'm saying that these things should not be sold in pet stores and sold to kids etc.. Including potent tarantulas. Especially if people are worried about the hobby getting banned because of a bad bite etc.. Not saying that you or any others who would hopefully be knowledgeable enough to properly take care if them shouldn't but if they are that easy to get, that's part of the problem with the threat to the hobby. Why do people buy alligators or keep cougars etc? It's ridiculous and stupid. These animals never had a choice to be our pets. I get the whole conservation thing but a lot of people throw that around to justify their addiction with keeping these animals. Others are in it for that reason legitimately though.

So you just said that you don't think they should be kept as pets...but your keeping them? Huh?

 

[ireleana]

So you just said that you don't think they should be kept as pets...but your keeping them? Huh?

Omg people. I'm talking like birds, cougars, bears, raccoons, etc.. Get over yourself. I'm done with this topic and this forum. And no it isn't right I don't care how you justify yourself in keeping wild animals as pets or in a cage whether it's a fricken snake, a bird or a dam bear. And no I don't keep them as pets. I have spiders and I had 2 feeder rats I rescued lol! See what I mean? It's like people here are just looking for an argument. Get a life.

 

[Poec54]

And I personally think most exotics should never be someone's pet including most snakes or anything that can kill you or cause serious harm.

Have you read bite reports? There can be a valid claim that a number of tarantulas now in the hobby can cause 'serious harm' (emergency room visits count). We live with the ever-present possibility that we could lose our animals. Some will sit and do nothing as they watch it happen. Others will speak up to try to prevent it.

 

[Poec54]

Omg people. Get over yourself. I'm done with this topic and this forum.

Good bye.

 

[viper69]

I don't think wild animals should be pets period. But I have tarantulas and had rats so.. I don't think highly venomous snakes or constrictors should be kept by anyone with out the proper education for many reasons

Man, I'm glad you aren't in charge of deciding who can own what snakes. You'd ban even a 2 ft python, that is the smallest exotic constrictor. I feel like you're the snake Nazi

I do understand the general idea beyond pets in captivity though, esp the truly exotic and large, like lions! I can see why people would be against that.

I do have another question then. You come across really strongly against owning non-domesticated pets, such as snakes, tarantulas etc.

IF you do feel that strongly, why do you own them?

 

[Poec54]

You come across really strongly against owning non-domesticated pets, such as snakes, tarantulas etc.

IF you do feel that strongly, why do you own them?

A study in contradictions. No wonder why the displays of temper when questioned.

 

[ireleana]

A study in contradictions. No wonder why the displays of temper when questioned.

I'm talking more on the line of things like raccoons, bears, lions etc.. But the irony is, is that all wildlife are wildlife and meant to be wildlife, not pets. It's not that I feel strongly about not owning tarantulas and snakes etc. I was just trying to show the hypocrisy in this whole debate. But apparently I suck at getting my point across or it went over your head. Idk.. @viper69 I'm not against people owning snakes or exotics if you can properly take care of them unlike the idiots that don't know what the hell they are getting into and do it just because it's "cool" My whole point with all this mess was...
People are going to handle no matter what you say if they want to. Like I said, I'm not advocating it but if they are going to do it regardless, shouldn't they have at least the proper guidance to make it as safe as possible and preferably a calmer animal to do it with? You can discourage all you want, that's great. Keep at it. But it isn't going to stop everyone. So instead of jumping down people's throats like I I have seen here before from people, maybe just answer the original question and say you shouldn't handle and here's why... but if you must etc.. Idk it feels like walking on eggshells here and some people are held high up on a pedestal with all their brown nosers below them. My point with the wild animals was that there will always be people who will not see your point of view and just as much as you think handling is wrong (again not disagreeing) there is just as much people that think you're wrong for even owning them. Wild animals are wild animals. Period. Yes I own tarantulas and yes I would have a snake. Like a corn snake not a constrictor. Does that mean I agree with keeping wild animals as pets? No. Yeah it seems like a contradiction but it was a different view point I was trying to get across and apparently I'm failing miserably. Honestly though, most people hate spiders and tarantulas and they don't get the respect they deserve and keeping 100's of them in Tupper ware in your closet isn't really respecting them honestly (not saying you, just an example). But hey we do what we do and yes I am a hypocrit when I say that because I have tarantulas and I do want to breed eventually and help contribute to the captive bred species. But just because you feel strongly about not handling, doesn't mean others don't feel the same way about people even keeping them.

The reason for the anger is because I felt my words were getting twisted and that I had to keep defending myself. It feels like getting attacked when what was taken as my point wasn't what I was trying to get across! I get the whole not handling argument. I really do but I also look at it from a realistic pov. People are going to do it. And they will continue to do so whether you like it or not. Why is it that all these potent tarantulas are available in local pet stores more so then the traditional rosies, etc..? Maybe people should quit supplying them with those and keep them for the more experienced. And yes I do know that there are very potent tarantulas. I have one lol! I have looked up all kinds of bite reports and unfortunately there is a huge lack of scientific study on them. I can't find anything at least. I also am very careful because all though I love my tarantulas, I love my dog more. I am not naive or stupid. Have I been? Of course but so has everyone. Sorry that my points were not taken how I intended them to be. But sorry I stand up for myself. The only reason I'm responding right now. I messaged arachnoboards to have them delete my account. I hope they do, I don't like this place anymore if I feel like people have to walk on eggshells here. The internet is a great way to be misinterpreted and I will just find a local T group or society if I have questions or need help. But everything you read on the internet is true so maybe I'll be missing out..

 

[ireleana]

So you just said that you don't think they should be kept as pets...but your keeping them? Huh?

Just because we do it doesn't mean it's right. I'm talking more on the line of other animals though, not so much the things that most people wouldn't hesitate to smash. A tarantula can be kept more humanely in a cage then say a bear or something. Unless of course you know what you are doing and if you know what you are doing, you would never have a bear as a pet.. I was trying to make a point and failed. Wildlife is wildlife. Regardless of what we think or our intentions.

 

[Pociemon]

The problem is humans are too stupid and very destructive. We can't save ourselves so to think we can save all the animals to re release when they are extinct in their natural habitat is not likely. We need to quit bickering and fighting over politics, energy, religion, war, deforestation etc.. and work together if we have any chance at preserving what we already have left. But I don't see that happening unfortunately. It's sad and makes me sick to my stomach.

Unfortunately this hobby are fighting both eachother, the petstores, anti exotics groups, the state and probably more! Here in Denmark we are totally divided into small groups and doing war against eachother;(
This means we probably will loose the war. We have a guy here working fulltime only to protect us against these challenges, but the rest of the hobby is divided into many small groups instead of one big one. I think these threads with handling issues does more harm than good, many newbies are chased away and with a seroius beating on top of that, but some do stay and follow the rest and never again mention if he/she handles in fear of reprecaussiións. It seems to me people in here likes to use these handling threads to vent and give the hapless threadstarter a good beating into the hobby. Luckyly there is people who can tell them how and why it is not good to handle, but not the majority unfortunately.

 

[The Snark]

Re: should or should not keep (wild) animals.
I'm going to toss some just plain facts into this stupidsoup.
1. There is a percentage of humans that cannot keep their own feces together, let alone keep animals.
2. Another percentage of humans that lack the wherewithal to properly care for animals.
3. Yet another percentage that lack the knowledge.
4. Another percentage that qualify past 1 through 3 but have uncontrolled circumstances that would endanger the animals.
5. Still more. Another group that lacks the mental faculties the properly care for... Hyuck hyuck, gonna get me some pitbulls etc.

You all with me so far? HELLO?
Okay, so everyone who advocates the keeping of any animal by any person is FOS. (Crude term for the condition called impacted fecal material). Go ahead and scream POLICE STATE. 1 through 5 screw animals and there are quite a few million.

Then on the flip side of the coin there are competent, capable persons whose compassion, acumen, knowledge and understanding are preventing animals from going extinct.

In case you haven't the brain cells to do the 1+1 this equates to nobody is going to be entirely right and nobody is going to be entirely wrong with this discussion. Now quit wasting oxygen and go get a life.

 

[Pociemon]

I'm talking more on the line of things like raccoons, bears, lions etc.. But the irony is, is that all wildlife are wildlife and meant to be wildlife, not pets. It's not that I feel strongly about not owning tarantulas and snakes etc. I was just trying to show the hypocrisy in this whole debate. But apparently I suck at getting my point across or it went over your head. Idk.. @viper69 I'm not against people owning snakes or exotics if you can properly take care of them unlike the idiots that don't know what the hell they are getting into and do it just because it's "cool" My whole point with all this mess was...
People are going to handle no matter what you say if they want to. Like I said, I'm not advocating it but if they are going to do it regardless, shouldn't they have at least the proper guidance to make it as safe as possible and preferably a calmer animal to do it with? You can discourage all you want, that's great. Keep at it. But it isn't going to stop everyone. So instead of jumping down people's throats like I I have seen here before from people, maybe just answer the original question and say you shouldn't handle and here's why... but if you must etc.. Idk it feels like walking on eggshells here and some people are held high up on a pedestal with all their brown nosers below them. My point with the wild animals was that there will always be people who will not see your point of view and just as much as you think handling is wrong (again not disagreeing) there is just as much people that think you're wrong for even owning them. Wild animals are wild animals. Period. Yes I own tarantulas and yes I would have a snake. Like a corn snake not a constrictor. Does that mean I agree with keeping wild animals as pets? No. Yeah it seems like a contradiction but it was a different view point I was trying to get across and apparently I'm failing miserably. Honestly though, most people hate spiders and tarantulas and they don't get the respect they deserve and keeping 100's of them in Tupper ware in your closet isn't really respecting them honestly (not saying you, just an example). But hey we do what we do and yes I am a hypocrit when I say that because I have tarantulas and I do want to breed eventually and help contribute to the captive bred species. But just because you feel strongly about not handling, doesn't mean others don't feel the same way about people even keeping them.

The reason for the anger is because I felt my words were getting twisted and that I had to keep defending myself. It feels like getting attacked when what was taken as my point wasn't what I was trying to get across! I get the whole not handling argument. I really do but I also look at it from a realistic pov. People are going to do it. And they will continue to do so whether you like it or not. Why is it that all these potent tarantulas are available in local pet stores more so then the traditional rosies, etc..? Maybe people should quit supplying them with those and keep them for the more experienced. And yes I do know that there are very potent tarantulas. I have one lol! I have looked up all kinds of bite reports and unfortunately there is a huge lack of scientific study on them. I can't find anything at least. I also am very careful because all though I love my tarantulas, I love my dog more. I am not naive or stupid. Have I been? Of course but so has everyone. Sorry that my points were not taken how I intended them to be. But sorry I stand up for myself. The only reason I'm responding right now. I messaged arachnoboards to have them delete my account. I hope they do, I don't like this place anymore if I feel like people have to walk on eggshells here. The internet is a great way to be misinterpreted and I will just find a local T group or society if I have questions or need help. But everything you read on the internet is true so maybe I'll be missing out..

You are right, this forum is nowhere near what it has been, it can be seen in the activity in here, nowhere near what it has been and there is a small group with one selfproclaimed leader and his followers who destroy it... Very unfortunate....

 

[Poec54]

there is a small group with one selfproclaimed leader and his followers who destroy it... Very unfortunate....

Apparently according to you, people can't think for themselves. No doubt it's accomplished thru a combination of mass hypnosis and Jedi mind control.

 

[Radium]

Arachnoboards: where someone disagreeing with your opinion is a conspiracy.

 

[jiacovazzi]

I agree, and he did say "small group" not everyone. Thinking for themselves is something an individual does. Agreeing with everything a pontificating windbag says does not constitute "thinking for yourself." Disagreement is the basis for discussion, not flaming. There is no right answer here.

 

[Radium]

I, personally, haven't flamed anyone in this thread. Disagreement isn't conspiracy; (polite) disagreement isn't flaming.

My opinions on handling were formed before I ever came to Arachnoboards.

 

[jiacovazzi]

Sorry Radium, I didn't mean to insinuate you. Personally, I feel your posts are informative and I share your opinions. I agree, polite disagreement isn't flaming. However, politeness, tact, and etiquette are lost on some members. Which in turn can scare some tarantula hobbyists off, which CAN BE detrimental to the hobby.

 

[Radium]

Sorry Radium, I didn't mean to insinuate you. Personally, I feel your posts are informative and I share your opinions. I agree, polite disagreement isn't flaming. However, politeness, tact, and etiquette are lost on some members. Which in turn can scare some tarantula hobbyists off, which CAN BE detrimental to the hobby.

I agree with you 100% there. Sometimes AB really reminds me of the gaming forums I hung out on when I was 13-14 - lots of self-righteous, very dearly held convictions, with none of the social skills that help lubricate the process of sharing them effectively.

That being said, it's an invaluable source of information, and it's really uplifting to see so many people so passionate about traditionally maligned animals (whether I agree with them on the details or not).

 

[Poec54]

Agreeing with everything a pontificating windbag says does not constitute "thinking for yourself."

So people you disagree with apparently aren't thinking for themselves (how could they, otherwise they'd agree with you!), and are somehow coerced or duped into joining the 'other side'? Weak-willed fools! One would think that if a person's statements have merit, people would naturally acknowledge that. You're saying that's doesn't happen here?