Ironic to say the least

[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.

[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.