Should Non-adults be allowed to own/care for OW species

[Brian S]

For those who answered yes or maybe. Would your answer be different if the non-adult was a 10 year old child?

Nope! Like I said I kept Widows when I was younger than that

 

[Tasey]

Hmm.. I haven't read the whole thread, but I get the gist... and I think that, while a few species should be restricted to 18 year olds, not all OW species should be included in that "hot list".
Don't get me wrong, I'm a minor too. I consider myself responsible and dedicated. I work, go to school, serve on a township committee, and keep all my critters very well, but that isn't the issue. I still don't think minors should keep Ts with medically significant venom, regardless of a sense of responsibility or experience. Simply because of the legal risk and potential consequences (media coverage, government involvement, etc) the hobby can't afford it. Am I able to handle an H. mac or a P. ornata? Sure. But I choose not to, because I simply don't want to pose that risk.

Something just occurred to me. I've heard many pet stores are restricted in what they can sell, but I guess that's beside the point. Suppose dealers come up with species-specific quizzes for the more dangerous Ts and used that as a basis for selling the species. If a customer wishing to buy a P. ornata only wants it because it is "pretty", and has no idea of the potential risks, should either be educated or denied the T. I dunno, I guess it would be a lot of work for everyone. But something like that may weed out potential problems.

Cheers

 

[T_DORKUS]

Nope! Like I said I kept Widows when I was younger than that

Widows and OW T's- not quite the same is it?
Black widows are common in California. I'd pitch my tent a few feet away from a nesting site and won't even worry about them leaving their nest to bug me at nite. I don't think I would be able to sleep properly if I knew there was a pokie running around loose in my room.

 

[Brian S]

Widows and OW T's- not quite the same is it?
Black widows are common in California. I'd pitch my tent a few feet away from a nesting site and won't even worry about them leaving their nest to bug me at nite. I don't think I would be able to sleep properly if I knew there was a pokie running around loose in my room.

Not the same at all! Widows pack a much meaner punch than any tarantula. No known tarantula has venom that is considered to be medically significant by toxicologists. Hell, they dont even list any spp under the LD50 chart that I am aware of. Sure some bites are painful and perhaps have some effects but its not like its gonna kill you or nothing

 

[T_DORKUS]

Not the same at all! Widows pack a much meaner punch than any tarantula. No known tarantula has venom that is considered to be medically significant by toxicologists. Hell, they dont even list any spp under the LD50 chart that I am aware of. Sure some bites are painful and perhaps have some effects but its not like its gonna kill you or nothing

True. But I would rather blindly wave my fat juicy fingers an inch away from a Black widow than do that to a pokie. Black widows aren't known to randomly bite people.

 

[cmart822331]

i dont know much about T's but ive read a lot of whats been posted on this thread. i see good point on both sides or the fence here. i understand the fear of some kid getting killed and the keeping of T's being banned. BUt whats the difference if the kid bought the T or the kid was a 24 year old uncle joey's house and got into his T's enclosure? the end result would be exactly the same. young life tragically lost, keeping of T's banned! besides the fact that it wouldnt matter if minors couldnt purchase them for themselves. minors manage to get hold of tobacco, alcohol, drugs.... im sure they would find a way to get their hands on a T if they wanted it. i believe it is the dealer's responsibility to make sure anyone buying a dangerous species, regardless of age, knows what it is theyre buying and how to care for it! Period!

 

[hasani1408]

I don't see a problem with minor owning or caring for OW. Being a mother of 3 boys ages 9,11,13 my kids have respect for all animals and if a parent knows the risks involved I am all for it. The youth need to be involved for the sake of the hobby they are the future T keepers.

 

[Aries]

I said "maybe" I think it's a person by person thing. Age doesn't mean anything, I know people in their 50's that are literally brain dead to the reactions of their actions and dull to their surroundings.

I started caring for OW first, I don't like hairs.

 

[Warren Bautista]

Why not? I own an OBT and H. Lividum and I'm only 12.:?

 

[Brian S]

True. But I would rather blindly wave my fat juicy fingers an inch away from a Black widow than do that to a pokie. Black widows aren't known to randomly bite people.

Tarantulas arent known to randomly bite people either lol. The ones that do bite get bit when doing stupid things like messing with them.

 

[somethingbig]

Tarantulas arent known to randomly bite people either lol. The ones that do bite get bit when doing stupid things like messing with them.

or catching escapees...

 

[hinterwelle]

Let whomever keep whatever.

I was collecting black widows in 5th grade and I'm sure many others have been "lifers" as well. Age means absolutely nothing to me. The only rule I think we need would be that no one can tell others what they can or can't do on their own time at their own home. If a parent objects, then so be it. Other than that I think our society has way too many rules for the "protection of others". History says that humans used to weed the dumb ones out. Natural selection you know. Survival of the fittest, that is, both mentally and physically. If someone wants to try and jump 100 ft off of a cliff and land on a wally world trampoline, so be it.:wall: Therefore, I vote firstly for the "who are you to tell me what I can't do? Tell me how me doing whatever it is that i want to do can harm you?" reason. But if that's not enough, then by all means, let them do as they please and we'll at least do the gene pool a favor. Can't people see that we're throwing off the balance of nature here by protecting everyone from experimentation? But we'll see how it goes, nature always has its way. Now a speed limit on the road makes sense. I encounter hundreds of cars in one week that I have to trust to pass by me safely and soberly. I am never forced though, to go over to Little Johnny's house and stick my hand in his cobalts tank. Furthermore, If i happened to be over there screwing his mom while his dad was at work and the little piss of a kid put it in bed with us... then I would be thankful that it was just a tarantula and not a .45 that he was cursing me to hell with. :evil: So I guess the moral of this story is, Let Me Be, Set Yourself Free!

:? hmm, but yeah, non-adults should be allowed to own OW t's.

 

[T_DORKUS]

Tarantulas arent known to randomly bite people either lol. The ones that do bite get bit when doing stupid things like messing with them.

I beg to differ. When a T is walking calmly on someone's hand then decides to sink its fangs into someone's knuckles when it was not threatened in any way, I call that randomly biting people. That case was in the bite reports.

First, I'm not for telling people what they can or cannot do. It does not matter to me if a parent wants to let his/her kid keep an OW T. It is ultimately their responsibility and I don't think I or anyone should tell them how to care for their kids. I agree there are too many rules in society today so much so that I may be breaking a few of them without even realizing it and the last thing I want is more regulation. But if we as keepers do not discipline ourselves and behave responsibly, others will see it as their duty to regulate us. Simple as that.


Let's weigh the pros and cons of this issue:

Pro
Kid gets bragging rights to his friends that he has a potentially dangerous animal

Cons
Kid gets bitten- rushed to hospital
Parents faced with child endangerment charges- claims ignorance(but it doesn't release them from responsibility), parents then throw breeder under the bus to save themselves.
Sleazy lawyer arrives and convinces parents that breeder is liable and tries to sue the breeder on the parents behalf.
Breeder loses suit, goes bankrupt.
Other breeders start buying liability insurance- transfer cost to consumers, prices for every T goes up
Politicians get involved and pass stupid regulations- most breeders go out of business. Years later, the only T's allowed for sale are rosies, pinktoes and smithis.

 

[Arachtis]

I would say that the individual's level of maturity and responsibility matters more than their age, I have seen many many adults who shouldn't care for a T of any kind.

 

[Richard McJimsey]

T dorkus, what people say in bite reports isnt always accurate or true.
When something like that occurs, people are apt to exaggerate what happened.
Also, you're missing a few pros:
-Learning about new tarantulas and their habits
-Having a healthy hobby
-Learning about geography (even though you probably won't notice it)

 

[T_DORKUS]

T dorkus, what people say in bite reports isnt always accurate or true.
When something like that occurs, people are apt to exaggerate what happened.
Also, you're missing a few pros:
-Learning about new tarantulas and their habits
-Having a healthy hobby
-Learning about geography (even though you probably won't notice it)

Can't those things be accomplished with NW T's?

 

[Travis K]

The only rule I think we need would be that no one can tell others what they can or can't do on their own time at their own home.

In a perfect world that is true, with out taking the statement to the point of commiting crimes against others.

BUT!!!

We live in America where in the year 2008 every one knows whats best for you.

 

[Tuwin]

Yes. Why is it up to us or the government to protect people from poor decisions. I think we need to give the power back to people to make decisions for them selfs in stead of letting other people makes laws for them.

should children be allowed to own an Old World speices? yes! should they own one? that's a different question but if they want one they should be able to have one

 

[ThomasH]

I beg to differ. When a T is walking calmly on someone's hand then decides to sink its fangs into someone's knuckles when it was not threatened in any way, I call that randomly biting people. That case was in the bite reports.

First, I'm not for telling people what they can or cannot do. It does not matter to me if a parent wants to let his/her kid keep an OW T. It is ultimately their responsibility and I don't think I or anyone should tell them how to care for their kids. I agree there are too many rules in society today so much so that I may be breaking a few of them without even realizing it and the last thing I want is more regulation. But if we as keepers do not discipline ourselves and behave responsibly, others will see it as their duty to regulate us. Simple as that.


Let's weigh the pros and cons of this issue:

Pro
Kid gets bragging rights to his friends that he has a potentially dangerous animal

Cons
Kid gets bitten- rushed to hospital
Parents faced with child endangerment charges- claims ignorance(but it doesn't release them from responsibility), parents then throw breeder under the bus to save themselves.
Sleazy lawyer arrives and convinces parents that breeder is liable and tries to sue the breeder on the parents behalf.
Breeder loses suit, goes bankrupt.
Other breeders start buying liability insurance- transfer cost to consumers, prices for every T goes up
Politicians get involved and pass stupid regulations- most breeders go out of business. Years later, the only T's allowed for sale are rosies, pinktoes and smithis.

Oh my goodness. I don't think I have the time and enough sanity to argue with you................................:evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

Have you actually owned an OW? Any T? A quick look at your profile shows quite a lengthy collection. It is just too often that adults flatter themselves, thinking they are a million times better at everything than children. YOU AREN'T. Sure blame me for being a mainstream society teen. Whatever. Some and not all adults use that excuse much too often.

TBH

 

[ThomasH]

Are you a parent?

Mr. Travis, you are a smart and experienced adult and I respect you. I think we'll just have to agree to disagree this time.
TBH