spiders

[Chris Sainsbury]

Well personly Roger I think you need a good kick up the backside! Why worry about such stuff. I mean woppie doo the "pet shop boys" think your an amateur so what? Water off a ducks back mate.
It's a hobby yeah nothing more nothing less. If you enjoy it then carry on, to hell what people think off you. If your spiders are living growing and doing the rest of the spider things that spiders do then your doing the best you or anyone else can do.
This hobby is not a competion about who has been keeping what and for how long, who has or hasn't got experince so just forget what a few idiots say and get on with what you enjoy.

If it makes you feel better though get up really early one morning and take a dump on the door step to their pet shop. Don't worry they will be used to it going by the crap you say they talk.
Cheers
Chris

[roger sharp]

thank you for all your kind comments, i will stay in the hobby regardless of what anyone says, if im doing something wrong i will ask advice and im sure i will get the correct answer. it is true that you do learn something new everyday regardless how long we have been in the hobby, to be honest im still learning the scientific names but hey i will get there, again thank you for all your nice comments. Roger

[Richard Gallon]

professional = one who's paid to do a job and rapidly becomes jaded and disillusioned with their initial interest which made them apply for the job in the first place (works 9-5 and goes home dead on 5)

amateur = one who isn't paid and who's interest continues despite the lack of financial reward. Devotes considerable time, money and enthusiasm to their interest after their day job is over; often continues well into retirement

A good amateur is often better than the average professional IMHO

In fact many of the great arachnologists of the past were amateurs. OK they were generally wealthy people who didn't need to work anyway, but their interest and enthusiasm was genuine - not just lip-service to take a wage home - lol.

Vote with your feet and take your custom elsewhere. There are almost certainly better shops with a better attitude in your area (try online).

Cheers,
Richard

[Andrew Ferguson]

Perhaps its time to not use these shops, get your needs from other sources such as on-line and shows.

That was my first thought Mark. If they are happy to take Rogers money and then scoff about him behind his back, I'd be inclined to go elsewhere.
Roger, when you explained what you kept and over the 5 years, I thought "how is this guy an amateur?!" I've been in the hobby as an owner since February and I am an amateur. I like to think I'm mature enough to own something more demanding than a B. smithi. In fact I'm sure I am. I just have a hurdle to cross that's in my way at the moment (you know what I'm referring to Louise ).
So Roger, if I were you, I'd avoid that shop and use many of the recommended and established online shops and breeders.

[Louise~Nichols]

I like to think I'm mature enough to own something more demanding than a B. smithi. In fact I'm sure I am. I just have a hurdle to cross that's in my way at the moment (you know what I'm referring to Louise ).

Andrew, yup I know! Well...I'm only in South Lincs matey, you'll have to have a family visit to my place, it may prove to be beneficial...if not eccentrically entertaining!

[SylviRigden]

Hi Roger , I am amateur and proud of it, like everyone else here...... although I have just had to check back through the thread to see if I spelt it correctly

Don't use the shop if they are being critical and condesending, after all I thought shop workers were there to help and share knowledge. It might be worth looking closely at their tanks, I bet they don't seem too profesional in their T set-ups. I have been dying to ask my local what they think happened to their C crawshayi.............

[Tom Forman]

This thread reminded me of this shop I do not go to anymore cause the owner thought it would be funny to give me an elctric shock for the fun of it one day I was in there.

I ask, is it going to hurt?
Him:" Nah"

Then stupid laughter....
WEll I wasn't laughing

[Andrew Ferguson]

Andrew, yup I know! Well...I'm only in South Lincs matey, you'll have to have a family visit to my place, it may prove to be beneficial...if not eccentrically entertaining!

We may take you up on that offer one day Louise.

[Louise~Nichols]

We may take you up on that offer one day Louise.

And you'll be more than welcome! Spiders and children living in harmony... lol