How do you feel about giving unsolicited advice, and how would you approach it?

[Benzen]

You possibly can't save every single T from a stupid owner...so...for your own sanity i would recommend to ignore it. You'll just end up wasting your energy and mood...been there, done that.

 

[nicodimus22]

You possibly can't save every single T from a stupid owner...so...for your own sanity i would recommend to ignore it. You'll just end up wasting your energy and mood

Someone who was going to take good care of their critters would've already done weeks or months of research beforehand, and stupid owners can't even be bothered to spend 5 minutes on google. We're not changing their behavior.

 

[Matt Man]

I speak my peace, my truth, don't care if they have tender little feelings.
I'm worried about the T.
Kinda like "Hey Ma'am, it appears your kid is drowning out there"
If she chooses not to swim out and save them, I've said my piece, that's on her

 

[coolnweird]

I try to give people the benefit of the doubt, but some people are truly wacko in a way I will never understand. Despite the disproportionate amount of people resistant to learning, I continue to offer advice (when I have the energy) because a few times it truly made a difference. And I feel that if I can help even one animal get into better conditions, my time has not been wasted. However, I totally understand why others decide to ignore the issue and not offer advice after so many times being attacked for trying.

Typically my formula for unsolicited advice is the following: compliment, gentle critique explaining the consequences of the mistake, a couple of sources, and then I thank them for taking the time to read and wish them luck

Example: "Hey, beautiful spider you have, I love how colorful the enclosure decorations are! It can be really nerve-wracking when they climb so high, have you considered adding more substrate to decrease the height? Tarantulas are often seriously injured when they slip and fall, and I'd hate for something to happen to your lovely T! I'm linking some videos on the topic below. Thanks for taking the time to to read, wishing you and your spider the best!

***Insert link****
****Insert another link*****"

 

[thedragonslapper]

I would log in and dig in ‘em. If they don’t know any better than to realize their husbandry is wrong they forfeit the right to not be criticized for it. Hopefully there will be more viewers on there that also know better and let him have it, so to speak. The more he’s consistently told about his errors the more likely he’ll heed advise. Still it’s frustrating to see such a perfectly good T ending up in the hands of ill informed keepers as this.

 

[MarkJ]

Unsolicited advice can be tough but if the goal is to protect and safeguard an animal here's what I do;

• Advice not asked for should be part of a conversation as in part of 2-way communication, not a here's my advice take it or leave it.
• Always start out with a compliment to start the conversation, (great looking T, always a good idea to keep the tank clean, love the substrate, whatever you can find that is good...)
• Wait for a reply before you start on the issues, if they don't respond to a compliment they will most likely just ignore your advice anyway.
• Tackle one issue at a time, don't give them a laundry list of things being done wrong.
• Always pick what might be the most important issue and relate it to one of your own personal experiences. In this case maybe you used a chemical cleaning agent that caused discomfort (or worse) to one of your spiders.
• Keep in mind that if what you are seeing is a big enough threat to the animal its more important for your advice to be heard and corrections taken than it is for you to be right and them to be wrong.

 

[Smotzer]

Stop going on social media lol. I rarely have those experiences because I stay away from those other platforms as people don’t care about husbandry they care about views. They aren’t incentivized to change things if they are getting views and likes. But if that can’t be avoided give the advice, if they don’t like what you say I doubt you’ll ever talk to them again. It’s up to them what they do with what you say, it’s going to harm them or you to speak up when somethings not right. We are all ‘that guy’ I’m one way or another here on AB.

 

[Frogdaddy]

Simple. The information is out there. The information is here. Make it a rule to not help asshats. Your life will be better off.