Liars, Fools, and Television

I couldn't tell you how long it has been since I have had cable now. 4 years? 5? Maybe 6. As I don't watch sports, or follow any shows it has never bothered me. When I lived at my mother's house if I had time to kill I'd flip to discovery or animal planet to watch whatever re-runs they had playing.

Being as out of touch with the insanity stream as I am it's just sad to start seeing these shows now (mostly through Netflix) that star the world's "deadliest creatures" and people keeping exotics in deplorable conditions. The kicker? There is no positive angle or contrast. By just watching animal planet you would think that anyone crazy enough to keep a pet that isn't a dog, cat, livestock or small rodent has some serious mental issues. The thing that bothers me most and that I have only recently become aware of is that these incredibly negative shows will scout out people who take stellar care if their animals and follow zoo standards as far as safety and health goes, and the show will use editing/staging to paint these people as troubled and unstable. The producers will go as far as portraying these people as putting their families in danger for even owning these animals.

All for ratings. That's it. This garbage is being produced just to get your attention. There is nothing educational, and at this point remotely true about any of the information they are spreading. I am so ashamed of our media for these fiercely anti-exotic keeping propaganda, as if it should be a criminal offense to own anything that isn't fuzzy and domesticated.

Do they ever mention the HUGE captive breeding successes? Outside of zoos? Do they ever show the millions of well cared for reptiles and amphibians? The responsible primate keepers who have amazing relationships with their pets, and even breed because we no longer want animals taken from the wild? The amazingly well socialized and cared for birds bred all over the country, the beetle and invert breeders who are virtual interactive biology encyclopedias? Do they EVER mention that with millions of reptiles in captivity, there have only been 23 fatalities in 30 years contributed to gene outs and constricting snakes? (Your bathtub is more likely to kill you)

No, you see the handful of idiots who have no idea what they're doing, as if that's the majority of exotics owners. Or keepers unwise enough to let these television folks into their homes to demonize and crucify them for the fact they have a passion for an animal that the general public is ignorant about. They take advantage of YOU. They play on the viewer, portraying radical views and cleverly cut video clips as if they are educating or helping you, when all they are doing is filling pockets

I'm just so frustrated. On a channel where I used to watch Steve Irwin and shows that actually showcased these animals as the amazing creatures they are, it just feels like they should call it "Jackass Animal YouTube" now. Surprisingly human is fucking right

On a nicer note, here is a picture of the new tarantula after it caught a cricket.