Can i have a rant?

[Mandy Clinch]

SOrry, but no one else will understand this. I was just looking around at T vids on YouTube (maninly Rob and Jon) but there so many awful videos/keepers out there.

One video was called "Spider V Mouse: Survival of the fittest"
I understand that some spicies can take a small pinkie, but i have always understood, no prey larger than the abdomen. Some of these videos have 4 inch or so tarantulas with mice that are longer and bigger than their whole body.....Obviously the mice are struggling and the spiders are being flung about. Grrrrrrrr, it's so stupid.
On top of the food issue, there are T's kept on shredded newspaper, sawdust, all sorts of weird substrates, no water, tiny enclosures, spiders being handled in a totally stupid way etc...

I don't understand why you wouldn't do some research when buying any pet, let alone a tarantula?

*and breathe*

Sorry for rambling!

[Colin D Wilson]

This crops up very often, and it's primarily the keepers outside the UK that post such vids. The topic causes a lot of ill feelings on many forums as laws of differing countries and attitudes from individual keepers have an effect on whats acceptable to post.

Many people are not impressed by this sort of video etc but as unethical as it may seem, it will still be uploaded.

I think the best thing to do is flag the content as inappropriate and accept that it's as much as you can do.

Most topics concerning this tend to get a bit out of hand so will be watching carefully.

[Mandy Clinch]

This crops up very often, and it's primarily the keepers outside the UK that post such vids. The topic causes a lot of ill feelings on many forums as laws of differing countries and attitudes from individual keepers have an effect on whats acceptable to post.

Many people are not impressed by this sort of video etc but as unethical as it may seem, it will still be uploaded.

I think the best thing to do is flag the content as inappropriate and accept that it's as much as you can do.

Most topics concerning this tend to get a bit out of hand so will be watching carefully.

Ooooh, i didn't realise Colin, sorry.
I understand that there are different laws/practises concerning most aspects of life. From what we eat, to how we wash etc....

There were just a few vids that made me and knew my non spider friends would wonder why i was so bothered, so vented on here. Being a newbie i wasn't aware it comes up as an issue.
Thanks for letting me know!

[Christian Elowsky]

I'll chime in also that the UK keepers, in general, have a less 'disposable' attitude than many in the US, where 90% of those displays of ignorance start. You'll have to trust me that I know of no members of any of the discussion boards who act so poorly, meaning it's those idiots who pick up whatever from a reptile show and do whatever they want. It's horrible, but in no way a reflection of the hobby anywhere. Please let us know if tagging things as inappropriate work out, as we can encourage more people to do the same inside the hobby.

Christian

[Mandy Clinch]

Of course Christian, i would never expect to find such people on any of the boards, BTS, ATS, Arachnoboards etc... It's just a few "bad pennies" i think

[lee benson]

yer i too have seen the vids, there is one that got my back up a bit,( tarantula swimming,) and its only a baby, he puts it in a deep dish full of water, dont think its right, and really dont think the T appreiciate it.

[Christopher Smallman]

I'm very selective when it comes to watching vids on the internet.

But I read a post on Arachnoboards from 2004 which made me cry and to be fair most of the other posters were also upset by it (so not having a go at Americans).

I can sit and watch RobC vids into the wee hours

CJ.

[Colin D Wilson]

Mandy, you started this thread off in the best way...normally we get "have you seen this......." and a link to the video. This is the worst thing as automatically hundreds of people view it and raise the vids ratings and popularity.

There are lots of very informative videos out there (i.e. Rob etc) and these are brilliant for introducing the new keeper "visually" into the hobby, after all you can't get the whole scenario from a book sometimes.

Unfortunately, as Christian says, there's the videos where people are just wanting to shock (whether to make a statement or make themselves look big...i dont know). As the US is huge in population and the access to "hots" is easier there are more videos of this genre posted. This has the knock on effect that people world wide tend to point the finger at the American hobbyist and put them all in the same barrel. This, as Christian has again said, is definitly not true and the small "idiot population" should not persuade us to think differently, after all each country has it's own idiots.

The flagging of a video as inappropriate seems to work as a few "harsh" videos have been cut according to a story in a web-newsletter i receive, though i'm not sure if it's monitored effectively or whether there has to be a certain amount of flagging to get the video deleted. i think if you are of the type to trawl through and watch all these videos then flagging the dodgy ones will have some effect at some stage.

Like i said above (and i'm sure Christian would agree) this topic normally gets some people a little "active to post their feelings" and in the past they have become a little personal and sway off topic thus needing a little moderation. A sensible debate is always good though.

[John chambers]

SOrry, but no one else will understand this. I was just looking around at T vids on YouTube (maninly Rob and Jon) but there so many awful videos/keepers out there.

Sorry for rambling!

Mandy I totally agree and I've seen some sad s.o.b doing evil things and left many a comment.
YouTube should remove accounts that give wrong info.. As for Robc ? and Jon3800 they are good to watch.
Keep breathing lol

[Ryan Pearson]

Video's like that really make my blood boil!
I've seen my fair share of ignorant people amusing themselves by abusing animals.
I can't stand people like that at all!

Edit: Haha, first post. Ive actually been on here and reading for a while! lol

[Denny Teasdale]

Having spoke with a fellow T keeper and friend of mine, this sort of thing is done as a sort of bloodsport...as dog fighting, badger baiting et al are illegal these sick s.o.b's have to get there "kicks" from somewhere else, I even come across a video of G.rosea put in a tank with a P. imperator (emperor scorpion). It's awful that this sort of thing happens but people just think of it as "Well it's only a spider...!" and as long as this attitude is prevalent then nothing will change, the videos will still be posted and people will still get kicks out of doing it. I wouldn't dream of putting "Roxy" my RCF G. rosea into a situation like that...she's far too majestic for that (well in my eyes anyway).

Another video I came across was of a Savannah monitor...beautiful reptile and this one was no exception. The owner starts off with a well informed intro into the reptile and goes on to tell people that it is a feed day and has a treat for him...he then proceeds to throw in an ageing male T. blondi...I couldn't believe my eyes...!!! the poor T was literally thrashed around the cage...!! needless to say as a T keeper and having the T. blondi most definitely in my favourite list I dropped in a comment but as they had to be approved first I don't think it'll make the comments list...!

Now I know it may look as though I've gone searching for this sort of thing but I found the first video just by typing "Chile Rose" into the search and the video popped up as "Chile Rose and Emperor scorpion" I thought great...a vid on Chile rose and Emperor scorpions (I want one but the wife is a little reluctant), I had no idea it was a fight to the death...!!! the second one was found just by typing in "Savannah monitor" and it just came up as "My savannah monitor (name)" so you see it's quite easy to come across this sort of thing quite innocently without realisation of what it actually is.

My Rant over....