Ironic to say the least

[guidofatherof5]

I received an email invite to a local herp society event. At first I thought it was some kind of joke being played on me. Then I realized it was the real thing. I'll let you read it and see what you think.

Mark your calendars and plan to attend the first annual ### fall member event Saturday, November 2nd at Uncle Buck's inside the Bass Pro Shops. ### has reserved the Billiard Room along with 3 bowling lanes 4 - 7pm. The society is providing snacks (including the Alligator appetizer) as part of this event. Attendees are responsible for beverages other than soda and water. Vendors from the sale Sunday are invited attend and network (as well as bowl) with ### members. Please RSVP to me so I know how many to expect and when you plan to arrive.

I wonder if we can get some frog legs or turtle soup with that alligator. Maybe after we are done eating and bowling we can skin a couple snakes and make belts.

Is it just me or does this seem wrong?

[ConcinusMan]

I wonder if we can get some frog legs or turtle soup with that alligator. Maybe after we are done eating and bowling we can skin a couple snakes and make belts.

That's hilarious. You crack me up Steve. You got trolled.


No, they meant appetizers for your alligator.

[EKS56]

[d_virginiana]

Steve, I'm surprised you are opposed to turtle soup.

Turtle Soup Recipe:
2 f/t silversides
1/2 fresh strawberry
5 leaves fresh spinach
1/2 steamed carrot (may replace with fresh portabello)
2 fresh nightcrawlers
-Chop and mix to a near mush consistency and serve.

Seriously though, I'm a member on a couple frog forums, and we constantly get people legitimately thinking they're showing off by posting videos of their frogs eating lizards, or talking about how their frog 'won a fight' with a rat without getting injured (badly). You can tell they aren't trolling too (well, either that or they're all serious psychopaths). I've known a lot of people like that in person too; they'll talk to you about their pet snakes and how much they like reptiles, then segue to a story about this copperhead they killed last week. I just don't get the logic.

[guidofatherof5]

I emailed the guy back and received this in response.

I think a lot of us appreciate herps and have close ties to the ones we keep while recognizing some are raised for food. When I was young I helped nurse some baby cows at a friends farm but I still like to eat steak and I know people with pot bellied pigs for pets that eat pork.

Sorry if alligator offends you. Years ago we encouraged exotic options at the picnic and had items like alligator, rattle snake, grass hoppers and crickets, only those that wanted to tired it (the problem with crickets is their legs get caught in your teeth).

I hope you will still attend the event.

Guess it's best I stay home in my own little world, sounds like this is okay with the society.

[chris-uk]

I can see the other point of view (I have friends that keep chickens and pigs, it doesn't stop them eating either, and in fact "Old Spot" apparently made good sausages). I have eaten alligator (and kangaroo, bison, alpaca, Guinea pig...) and would happily eat any of those meats again (except Guinea pig, it's all skin and bone and very little meat).

However, I would question a herpetological society that puts meat from any reptile on the menu at their social event.

[ConcinusMan]

oh wow

[guidofatherof5]

I emailed the guy back and received this in response.

I think a lot of us appreciate herps and have close ties to the ones we keep while recognizing some are raised for food. When I was young I helped nurse some baby cows at a friends farm but I still like to eat steak and I know people with pot bellied pigs for pets that eat pork.

Sorry if alligator offends you. Years ago we encouraged exotic options at the picnic and had items like alligator, rattle snake, grass hoppers and crickets, only those that wanted to tired it (the problem with crickets is their legs get caught in your teeth).

I hope you will still attend the event.

Guess it's best I stay home in my own little world, sounds like this is okay with the society.

I understand the whole eating exotic food thing but I would think a line should be drawn when it involves the nature of your hobby/passion. I think a herp. society would have a no herps on the menu policy. Go ahead and eat your bugs and mammals but how about leaving herps off the list. This kind of stance would keep others from pointing fingers at the society and keep it from defending itself about this issue.
Considering the plight of rattle snakes, I would think not eating/protecting them would be even more important to a herp society.

I think appearances are important and if you are going to be taken seriously you have to set a good example.
I'm still shaking my head over this whole thing.

[chris-uk]

It is ridiculous... You're best staying home Steve, seems like the herp society won't be a place to meet like-minded people.