JuliusSqueezer

[lockedfree]

I didnt get to say my piece because the thread was locked so I'm gonna say it here.

JS obviously most people that want you to stay want it for selfish reasons (I know I do) but I know that isnt motivation for you. So let me talk about something that IS important to you.

Improving the care of snakes.

People like me who, purchased a snake on a whim, and then ran to the internet AFTER buying it to find some info on how to take care of it. Not only is my boa in great health, but I have been able to share knowledge with others around me who dont have internet access - but own snakes and did not know what they were doing. I was able to improve the husbandry habits of at least 2 other people (to the benefit of twice as many snakes) by passing on info that I obtained here....a large portion of which came directly from you (although you did not realize it).

If I am lurking here, I KNOW there are others like me. People lurking, reading, learning quietly and sharing with others. You complain about people who talk just to hear themselves talk but you need to realize that the ones who DONT do that....well, you're just not going to hear from them as much. Makes sense dont you think?

In a recent thread with the person you, I'll say verbally accosted - he wanted an emerald and you told him to read, read, read...you sent him to corallus.com. Then told him that was just a starting point. You werent only talking to him; I copied every word you said in that thread to my hard drive. I went to corallus that same day and read every article, some of them twice. Then I copied them to my hard drive. Then I read everything you said again. I too, had my eyes on the emerald as my next snake. You showed me that I wasnt ready to take care of it properly.

Because of what I have learned from this site about the care requirements I also have a lot more respect for snakes now. Particularly for aboreals.

Before - they were just snakes. Just something there for our amusment should we find them interesting. If you made a mistake in its care - it was just a reptile anyway right, so who cares? I have had a 180 degree turn around in my attitude towards these animals. Now I'm meticulous about their care because I know how to; and when I dont know how I know where to find out.

Again, I know I'm not the only one.

Sure there are people who fight with you and will argue to the bitter end. But I garuntee they learned a wealth of knowledge in the process. Even if they didnt, you're not here for them are you?

I think the reason you let us know you were leaving the messageboard is because you feel some sense of a responsibility to this site and its members. So that being true why would you let some oversensitive person run you off? Or even two people? Thought you were a little more solid than that.

I'm not going to run to you in email when I have a question. Because I think the information you have to share should be here on the boards, where it benefits everyone.

J

[toker]

Well Said

[NicoleRussell]

This is honestly the best post on this subject so far that I have read.
Put all my private emails, and public posts together and I would say this about covers it.
If animal care is the bottom line for you JS then you need to continue to answer ??'s publically for all the reasons stated above.
There is no more to say---it's all been said already.

[herp_chick]

Well, THAT is exactly what this site is here for. Well said, and Brett, you DO make a difference here.

[louise]

you need to stay if not for us then for the reptiles. look at all the grief BWsmith goes through and he isnt leaving or giving up. look at his rattle snake round up. please reconsider. shoot i got the brunt of your anger lots of times and it helped me. i let you know when i thought you were wrong. the pet shop being the only time(lol). i still need lots of help and so do many others. you cant divorce us! if you do i want child support for my snakes!

[Ed_r]

Ya helped me get my baby ammies to eat.

Sometimes you read too much into everythig, or i should say further than the rest of us look, and thats neither good nor bad. We often don't see the things you do in a photo, and you can pick out something that isn't right.

Hope ya aint gone too long, but I know the feeling you just get tired of it.

[thetupak]

I dont even no what happened lastnight but js dont go cause there is alot of people and reptiles that need your help and even if someone doesnt take your advice all you can do is try
hope you come back soon

[captainmorgan]

who do you think I learned from in the beginning like 3 years ago? It was you, and the other old timers. I know what you're talking about, and I know there's been fallouts between people here. And I happen to like your sarcastic comments, they get me rolling!!! And on the first post, well said! You got alot to offer, but it's still your call. Just keep in touch! You got my email

[KuhnDog]

I'm not sure what all happened either, but...

Lockedfree- Very well put.

JS- I am one of those people Lockedfree is refering to... on the site a lot, but only posts occasionally.
I believe the last couple health-type questions I did post, you ended up answering... and your answers were dead-on (ie; dented eyes). Before you replied, I was freaking out. I did what you suggested, and all is good.

Even when I haven't completely agreed with you on some things in the past (although I did not post), I did learn tons of stuff from reading your posts... and you even changed my opinion on a thing or two.

Lockedfree mentioned that most of us don't want you to go for selfish reasons... I have to agree with that, as that is my reason.

Now, for my UNselfish side:
Where you are, I've been many times (diff. circumstances obviously) so I understand if you need a break.
If you need the break, you deserve it. Relax, let the frustration die down, then... COME BACK!

Not that my opinion will make a difference in the matter, but I just wanted to throw my 2 cents in.

[JuliusSqueezer]

I was directed to this post to read what was being said...and WOW..thanks guys, I feel a bit less homicidal. I would like to make clear that the bulk of the people here and even those who I alledgedly verbally accosted LOL...are not what is driving me out of here. I'm not by any stretch thinskinned where I can't take a little squabble now and then....Heck...Robroy and Louise seem to think they are the cause of this...but what a lot of people don't know is a lot of "behind the scenes" stuff with a few admins that are convinced that staright forwardness, abrasivness, whatever you want to call it is a horrid thing and offends everyone. Ironically, these same admins are just as quick to go postal on something they feel strongly about like heat rocks or no pest strips and the real kicker is that they seem to think that by being patronizing to people they are less offensive and do more good than to just lay it all out. I don't share this theory and will not adjust my personality to blow sunshine up any back orafaces. Sometimes you have to scream really loud to be heard even a little. Pitterpattering around the pansies and afraid to hit on topics that might just step on the toes of some big breeder is not my way of going through life. For the past 2 months, every post I have made has been heckled and scrutinized under a microscope behind my back but forwarded to me by my friends that some people must think do not still exist. Heck..My fiance lives with me and is a mod here and is privy to all the behind scenes stuff and she doesn't even know what's going on in the admin forums and she isn't the one feeding me the info. I could log on as her probably and read it myself but I don't have to. Anytime my name is brought up, I get a flood of emails about it anyway. My point I guess in all of this is this...I'm abrasive, tactless and mean...whatever you wish to call it. I just think I'm straight forward and don't beat around the bush about important issues. I can't help focusing more on the animal than the keeper's feelings. I was never made aware that's what this site was all about. Love me or Hate me...this is who I am and No...I will not change. I hope not to stay away long...or really even at all. I just want some input from Shane (natas) and some reassurance that this site has not gone down the tubes of censorship and ego stroking only like so many other lowely sites with no real purpose or value. If you want Mary Poppins to tell you why you can't keep a kingsnake and a gophersnake in the same cage...go ask Mary Flippin Poppins She will sugar coat it. I will tell you that in a very short period of time you will have a very satisfied kingsnake and no gophersnake. Harsh? maybe but sheesh it's the truth! And a truth you might need right NOW...not after 45 minutes of reading it a nicer put way. Anyway...when someone explains to (man I want to name names) LOL "some of the admins" that patronizing sucks too and they are no better than what they gather around and whine to each other about behind my back...and that I can post here without being slammed by them constantly...then maybe the drama here can disapate. Till then...I'm in chat and email talking crap behind their backs. Fair eh? LOL...come hang out.