looks very controversial....

Think of it like this, You found a pub and wander in, it's got some great folks hanging around, great conversations and a welcome to join right in.

then someone says, we only talk about Garter snakes here, you think wow, what a great place! so you walk out front, feed some more money in the parking meter and settle in for the night.

eventually someone says want to see my ball python? (assuming that since you like garter snakes, that you may find that BP more interesting that say aunt Millie would)

Do you tell them, oh no that's 3 pubs up the street from here, they talk about ball pythons there?

This same exact phenomenon has and does occur with nearly any open forum, it's a side effect of human nature.

"We have many common interests, we must be friends right?" we chat more often than I do with my parents, so were friends right?

I just ran a snake over with my lawn mower, aunt Millie does not even care, so I can tell you, were friends right?

Tham.com should be very proud of the people attracted to the forum, regardless of where conversations lead, I see for a good part many people with very big hearts, compassion for others, and plenty of great information and experience to share.

Another very important factor I have noticed, in forums dominated by snooty breeders and self proclaimed experts, if a "casual" garter keeper with an "ordinary" eastern or checker they found in the yard were to ask something as simple as "what do you do when"? commonly the answers are harsh and condescending.

Conversations stay on focus there simply because more often than not, threads are either ignored, or responded to in such a way, that the casual keeper will flee and never return.

But in time, the side effect of that is what was once a "public" forum evolves into a private bulletin area for the same 5 or six breeders to chat among themselves.

The warm responses here only encourage further banter that may seem off topic. Everyone is so friendly, you make users want to show off their puppies and kids, and ponies......

It's going to be an interesting call....

Wayne, "the over thinker"