Herp Terminology - My pet hate - venemous or poisonous

[herptrader]

A colleague asks me at work:

C: "So what sort of snakes to you have?"

Me: "A few different pairs of pythons."

C: "Any poisonous ones?"

... to which my stock reply has usually been along the lines of...

Me: "I don't think any Australian snakes are poisonous and most would probably make good eating if prepared properly. We have some seriously venemous ones though..."

I usually go on to explain how many people confuse the terms poisonous and venemous.

Should this bug me?

The other one that bugs me is the use of the "fangs" when the term "teeth" would be more appropriate. To me if a venemous snake has bitten you and inserted its fangs then the usage is correct but if we are talking about pythons, they don't have fangs any more than people do.

Am I alone in thinking this is poor use of the English language and likely to lead to confusion in the general public, lessen their understanding of snakes and increase the phobia associated with them.

Is this a soap box I should get off?

I think the main reason I am questioning myself is that recently I have heard a number of people who should, IMHO, know better, miss use these terms

 

[serpenttongue]

I agree with you. I get asked exactly the same questions. I also get asked if any of my snakes have ever tried to kill me I also get asked if i ever hit my snakes as a punishment if they bite me :shock: But what can you expect from ignorant people?

 

[serpenttongue]

Oh, and also when people asked if any of my pythons are venomous and i say no, they then say "But they can still make you sick if they bite you, right?" :roll:

 

[soulweaver]

yeah when will people learn that all snakes are poisonous??

 

[diamond_python]

To me, it is just the general public who talk like this. I too, often hear people talk about "poisonous snakes." Those who don't know or understand snakes will on most occasions (in my experience) talk like that.

On the other hand, if someone who should know better i.e. a person who keeps venomous snakes, refers to them as poisonous, then they obviously didn't do their research

 

[diamond_python]

oh, and also, I quite often get asked if my Diamond Python is "poisonous," and that is usually when he is draped around my neck. What, do these people think I am an idiot.

 

[SLACkra]

what a coninsidence(yey crappy spelling). today some one called a pythons teeth fangs. i didnt get all annoyed about it but i said "they don't have fangs they have teeth". next time i might just ramble on about how fangs are a trait of venomous snakes that use them to inject their prey or anything that annoys them with their venom.

some one asked me if my snake was venomous when i showed them some bite marks on my hand and i just looked at them... and they quickly relise that if it was venomous i would probalby be dead already.

oh well, still showing off snake bite marks if fun

 

[alexr]

I also get asked if i ever hit my snakes as a punishment if they bite me

PMSL. - You don't hit a snake jeeze...everyone knows that for "unasseptable* behavour its the naughty chair !

 

[herptrader]

I also get asked if i ever hit my snakes as a punishment if they bite me

PMSL. - You don't hit a snake jeeze...everyone knows that for "unasseptable* behavour its the naughty chair !

Actually one of my Olives regularly gets a gentle tap on the nose to remind him that I am not food when doing things like changing his water bowl. I find it actually works quite well. He does not back away but he doesn't take test nibble either ;-)

 

[herptrader]

On the other hand, if someone who should know better i.e. a person who keeps venomous snakes, refers to them as poisonous, then they obviously didn't do their research

I have wondered a couple of times if they were purposely dumbing down their words to what they think Mr. and Mrs General public understand.

For a couple of people I have been pretty sure they new the difference in the terminology and would definitly have got it right ... say if they were writing in a herp book or journal

 

[munkee]

Snakes in general are not the sort of thing most people ever look into researching.
Most are taught that they in general are dangerous (I suppose I you avoid all snakes you avoid the dangerous ones). My thoughts is that at usually a young age people are told to avoid them (I was).
Sometimes I look at people funny when they don't understand 2nd year (or higher) uni mathematics/chemistry/process modelling until I realise that most if not almost all people would never need or use that knowledge. Same as snakes I suppose. Just the ramblings of a uni student avoiding assignments as best as possible

 

[Guest]

Good point munkee.
Hence, there are no "ignorant" people when it comes to lack of knowledge of herps, just people that dont take the same interest as us.

If i was to ask what the muzzle velocity of an Austeyr rifle is, or what yaw is in the travel of a round and someone didnt know, i wouldnt call them ignorant, i would just think they werent educated in that exact topic.

 

[basketcase]

i just think people should know that venom is injected and poison is ingested...
just wondering is there a technical term for a komodo dragon bite?
ie - saliva kills by bacterial infection

 

[Rossagon]

Sometimes i think the media has a bit of a role to play in this "Mis-information". I have watched many a TV program and cringed at what the presenter has said, and even the so called experts have come up with a few doozies!! Not that this should play that big a role in the population of people uneducated about reptiles because i'm sure these people don't really pay that much attention to what they aren't interested in. But maybe the key is US, the informed to be patient and "educate" those who are eager enough to listen to what you have to say about your snakes, because I know that I get alot of questions asked about my animals whenever they come up in topic of conversation. As has been said, its not their fault that they have been misinformed, just be grateful that they listen to you and soak up what you have to say that is correct.

Cheers Rossco.

 

[peterescue]

Venomous, thats my pet hate, people spelling it venemous :wink:
The arguement becomes redundant if you dont spell it correctly.
I know my spelling isnt of the highest order.
Funny thing is that for years envenomations were listed as poisonings in medical stats.
Dont blame the public, its not their world. Its very easy to feel superior about knowledge when your a "Trainspotter".

 

[Slateman]

Herp trader this things do not bug me anymore. I am use to hear from Australians all the time that I am from Czech Republic. Czech Republic don't exist for more than decade. I giving up on correcting them also, becaose this same people whoo I corrected do say same thing again.

 

[OuZo]

"unasseptable*

:lol: :lol: :lol: God I love that word

 

[FAY]

OK it may annoy you or be your pet hate that they say the wrong word or have been misinformed.......but at least they are interested enough to ask so that you can educate them!!
You are always going to have your smart donkey....or the one's that it doesn't matter how many times you try to tell them they still don't get it, but that is life!!! At lease you have tried!!

 

[olivehydra]

Venomous, thats my pet hate, people spelling it venemous :wink:
The arguement becomes redundant if you dont spell it correctly.
I know my spelling isnt of the highest order.
Funny thing is that for years envenomations were listed as poisonings in medical stats.
Dont blame the public, its not their world. Its very easy to feel superior about knowledge when your a "Trainspotter".

Cheeky, I shall have to watch me spellin two :wink:
The Oxford dictionary defines venom as a "poisonous fluid....", or at least it used to last time I was reading it whilst cataloguing incoming locos at central station whilst on my way to a trekky convention, or was it a philatelic's seminar?? I shall have to check my journal :wink:

 

[peterescue]

"he says knowingly"