This post isn't directed at anyone in particular... Unless you do any of the things that I mention in this post. Then it's directed at you. Right at you. Feel it. Feel it's burn on your flesh.
Now read on:
I've always been someone who frequents forums for whatever thing I happen to be into. Talking to people it seems like I've found two different types: those on multiple forums/messageboards/imageboards and those who don't know what any of those are. I'm most definitely the first type. When I have a particular interest, be it a species of animal or a TV show, I tend to get "really" into it, and to spare my friends and family the unfortunate experience of listening to me tell them stories about my chameleons/favorite tv show/music artist/food, I enjoy being able to find like minded people on sites where the conversation is directed towards the common interest. It's fun.
Out of everything that one could hate about my beloved forums, such as board drama or trolls, my one deepest pet peeve is one that I see happening repeatedly here... and everywhere. I made a comment towards someone a few weeks ago about this as well. My deepest forum hate is the person who comes to the forum asking for advice, and when they don't hear what they want, gets all "LOL wtf that's silly" and disappears.
On some forums this isn't that big of a deal. I was once a member of a dance forum where it was discouraged to buy pointe shoes without a proper fitting, yet people regularly asked for self-fitting advice and were like LOL GUYS I DON'T HAVE TIME TO GET FITTED YOU'RE ALL JUST BEING SILLY. And yeah, that person could hurt themselves by not listening to sage advice, but it's your foot/ankle and if you want to break it by being a numb nut that's really nobodies problem but your own.
I am driven insane on forums like this one (that deals with the care of a pet) when people do that.
"Oh hey guys, I just got these seven chameleons from the petstore last week and they're not doing too good! I have them set up in a fishtank with a 110 degree basking spot and a dogbowl for water and I've been feeding them some crickets gutloaded on sugar cubes and dogfood. One of the females is really fat and trying to dig a hole in the corner of the fishtank LOL. But yeah all of them are like sitting on the bottom all upset and one of the males just ripped the other ones leg off but I think he's ok. Their eyes are kinda sunken in too and their poop has this orange stuff in it. I keep the lights on 24/7. The guy at the petstore said I should poke them with sharp objects every seven hours as well so I've been doing that too. I've been doing everything right why are they being such weirdos!!!?!"
"Hi there new member. I think your chameleons are dying because you're husbandry is all wrong. While I sit here at home, wanting to shove my head through a wall at the stupidity, I have forced myself to be kind, so here is a list of things you need to change... But don't worry, it's not your fault! Let us help you help your chams"
"UM. They've been housed together since birth and they love each other sometimes they hug and cuddle and make sweet tender love and also they like their hot fishtank I can tell because when I stick my hand in they bite me so that means they love it! And yesterday one of them drowned in the dogbowl so obvz they know theres water there to drink but I guess I'll try misting them once or twice. The female is now laying on her side gasping for air wtf?"
"Take them out of the fishtank and take her to a vet before she dies too. Now."
*two days later*
"OMG GUYS IM SERIOUS I THINK SHES DYING SOMEONE HELP!"
"TAKE HER TO A VET YOU TURD"
"She died"
"Because you suck. Are they still in the fishtank?"
"UM I SAID they love the fishtank. Does anyone know where I can get some cheap Parsinz chameleons? Those look so cool to own. These stupid veileds are boring and die quick."
"Now at my wits end, I shall be rude to you. *insert rude*"
"Wow this forum is so lame you guys are too gung-ho about chameleons I'm gonna go now bye. Have fun with your big ugly screen cages lame-o's LOL LOL LOL your chameleons suck EW!"
That's what kills me.
1: Do not ask for help if you have no intention of following the advice.
2: Why did you buy a bunch of chameleons at the petstore without ever having researched chameleons?
3: I know going to the vet with your animals is a REALLL DRAGGGG some days but it's called owning a pet and thats just what you do.
I also hate when some other person bursts forth out of the shadows to mention that they, too, have seventy four chameleons housed in a shoe box with mouse turds for food, and then the clueless OP, despite having four pages of messages to the contrary, proclaims "SEE. TOLD YOU GUYS YOU CAN KEEP CHAMELEONS IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR CAR WITH NO AIR WATER OR LIGHT FOR A YEAR AND THEY'LL LIVE AND RIDE OUT FROM THE TRUNK ON VALIANT WHITE STEEDS WHEN YOU FINALLY OPEN IT."
It just really grinds my gears. Yeah, I bet everyone here is a little weird and in love with owning chameleons/reptiles. We probably wouldn't be on a forum about chameleons if we were super normal. But I really don't care what type of animal you have, if you purchase/adopt/take in another living creature, you are responsible for providing it quality care. Quality food, quality housing, clean water, and you are responsible for maintaining its health and taking it to the vet. I don't care if it's a delicate parsons chameleon, or a hardy former junk yard dog. If you cannot afford/are not able to provide them with quality care, DO NOT GET ONE. It sucks, I understand. But think about them and not yourself. If you don't want to have to drive a sick animal to the vet, or are not going to (for whatever reason) purchase necessary supplies and food to help them live right, then don't get a pet. They are not expendable.
But I guess that in itself is a different issue. Some people come with horrible husbandry and are willing to make changes. Other people are INSISTENT THAT WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS OK because someone told them it is, or because they just feel like it's okay. I have a family member with that mindset and that's just the way they are. "No-the dog is fine chained in the backyard. I feed her once a week. What do you mean you're calling the ASPCA? WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT YOU ASS MY DOG IS OK. SHE LOVES THE BACKYARD.... What? Oh please, all dogs have worms and parasites! NO YOU CANNOT TAKE THE DOG I LOVE HER"...
But yeah. pet peeve right there. Research before you buy a pet. Properly care for your pet. When a large group of people inform you your doing the wrong thing, try to listen.
/end rant.
Now read on:
I've always been someone who frequents forums for whatever thing I happen to be into. Talking to people it seems like I've found two different types: those on multiple forums/messageboards/imageboards and those who don't know what any of those are. I'm most definitely the first type. When I have a particular interest, be it a species of animal or a TV show, I tend to get "really" into it, and to spare my friends and family the unfortunate experience of listening to me tell them stories about my chameleons/favorite tv show/music artist/food, I enjoy being able to find like minded people on sites where the conversation is directed towards the common interest. It's fun.
Out of everything that one could hate about my beloved forums, such as board drama or trolls, my one deepest pet peeve is one that I see happening repeatedly here... and everywhere. I made a comment towards someone a few weeks ago about this as well. My deepest forum hate is the person who comes to the forum asking for advice, and when they don't hear what they want, gets all "LOL wtf that's silly" and disappears.
On some forums this isn't that big of a deal. I was once a member of a dance forum where it was discouraged to buy pointe shoes without a proper fitting, yet people regularly asked for self-fitting advice and were like LOL GUYS I DON'T HAVE TIME TO GET FITTED YOU'RE ALL JUST BEING SILLY. And yeah, that person could hurt themselves by not listening to sage advice, but it's your foot/ankle and if you want to break it by being a numb nut that's really nobodies problem but your own.
I am driven insane on forums like this one (that deals with the care of a pet) when people do that.
"Oh hey guys, I just got these seven chameleons from the petstore last week and they're not doing too good! I have them set up in a fishtank with a 110 degree basking spot and a dogbowl for water and I've been feeding them some crickets gutloaded on sugar cubes and dogfood. One of the females is really fat and trying to dig a hole in the corner of the fishtank LOL. But yeah all of them are like sitting on the bottom all upset and one of the males just ripped the other ones leg off but I think he's ok. Their eyes are kinda sunken in too and their poop has this orange stuff in it. I keep the lights on 24/7. The guy at the petstore said I should poke them with sharp objects every seven hours as well so I've been doing that too. I've been doing everything right why are they being such weirdos!!!?!"
"Hi there new member. I think your chameleons are dying because you're husbandry is all wrong. While I sit here at home, wanting to shove my head through a wall at the stupidity, I have forced myself to be kind, so here is a list of things you need to change... But don't worry, it's not your fault! Let us help you help your chams"
"UM. They've been housed together since birth and they love each other sometimes they hug and cuddle and make sweet tender love and also they like their hot fishtank I can tell because when I stick my hand in they bite me so that means they love it! And yesterday one of them drowned in the dogbowl so obvz they know theres water there to drink but I guess I'll try misting them once or twice. The female is now laying on her side gasping for air wtf?"
"Take them out of the fishtank and take her to a vet before she dies too. Now."
*two days later*
"OMG GUYS IM SERIOUS I THINK SHES DYING SOMEONE HELP!"
"TAKE HER TO A VET YOU TURD"
"She died"
"Because you suck. Are they still in the fishtank?"
"UM I SAID they love the fishtank. Does anyone know where I can get some cheap Parsinz chameleons? Those look so cool to own. These stupid veileds are boring and die quick."
"Now at my wits end, I shall be rude to you. *insert rude*"
"Wow this forum is so lame you guys are too gung-ho about chameleons I'm gonna go now bye. Have fun with your big ugly screen cages lame-o's LOL LOL LOL your chameleons suck EW!"
That's what kills me.
1: Do not ask for help if you have no intention of following the advice.
2: Why did you buy a bunch of chameleons at the petstore without ever having researched chameleons?
3: I know going to the vet with your animals is a REALLL DRAGGGG some days but it's called owning a pet and thats just what you do.
I also hate when some other person bursts forth out of the shadows to mention that they, too, have seventy four chameleons housed in a shoe box with mouse turds for food, and then the clueless OP, despite having four pages of messages to the contrary, proclaims "SEE. TOLD YOU GUYS YOU CAN KEEP CHAMELEONS IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR CAR WITH NO AIR WATER OR LIGHT FOR A YEAR AND THEY'LL LIVE AND RIDE OUT FROM THE TRUNK ON VALIANT WHITE STEEDS WHEN YOU FINALLY OPEN IT."
It just really grinds my gears. Yeah, I bet everyone here is a little weird and in love with owning chameleons/reptiles. We probably wouldn't be on a forum about chameleons if we were super normal. But I really don't care what type of animal you have, if you purchase/adopt/take in another living creature, you are responsible for providing it quality care. Quality food, quality housing, clean water, and you are responsible for maintaining its health and taking it to the vet. I don't care if it's a delicate parsons chameleon, or a hardy former junk yard dog. If you cannot afford/are not able to provide them with quality care, DO NOT GET ONE. It sucks, I understand. But think about them and not yourself. If you don't want to have to drive a sick animal to the vet, or are not going to (for whatever reason) purchase necessary supplies and food to help them live right, then don't get a pet. They are not expendable.
But I guess that in itself is a different issue. Some people come with horrible husbandry and are willing to make changes. Other people are INSISTENT THAT WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS OK because someone told them it is, or because they just feel like it's okay. I have a family member with that mindset and that's just the way they are. "No-the dog is fine chained in the backyard. I feed her once a week. What do you mean you're calling the ASPCA? WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT YOU ASS MY DOG IS OK. SHE LOVES THE BACKYARD.... What? Oh please, all dogs have worms and parasites! NO YOU CANNOT TAKE THE DOG I LOVE HER"...
But yeah. pet peeve right there. Research before you buy a pet. Properly care for your pet. When a large group of people inform you your doing the wrong thing, try to listen.
/end rant.
