Hate in the hobby.
This particular blog is probably LONG overdue. Recently (at the time of this post) Brian Barczyk released a video about his experience with Cyberbullying. I’ve linked it here . I have been in the hobby for over 2 decades and Brian’s has been some of the worst targeting. Whether you love or hate him Brian is one of the founding members of the ball python hobby. He actually went to Africa to meet Noah and the people catching ball pythons in the wild. It’s because of him and others like him that we in the ball python hobby have some of the amazing morphs we have. I don’t know how many of you have had the opportunity to tour large collections- 500+ of a species. But I have been lucky enough to be invited into a few. And I can tell you even at 300+ animals there is always some issues- mites, bad shed, tub needs cleaning, etc. But at the 1,000- 10,000 animals of various species that Brian and other large breeders have cleaning and caring for those animals is a full time job for several people. Brian has made mistakes, and he has owned up to many of them. I have news for you, he is going to make more mistakes. Everyone does.
The sad thing is many of those bashing on him have never met him or talked to him. Most don’t know how the bashing starting. Much of the bashing dates back to the early days of the hobby when new morphs could easily sell for $100,000. There were only a handful of breeders and even less buyers with $100,000 to spend on the latest morph. It was not uncommon to go to a show and hear one breeder bashing another so they could make the sale. Even now when most morphs can be purchased for under $2,000 the bashing of their competition still goes on.
Enough about Brain, I want to address the bigger issue. This hobby more than others I have seen tends to be prone to bullying. Keepers with a tiny bit of experience attacking “tankers” or those who bath their ball pythons. We were all new at one time. Rather than bashing each other we need to support and educate each other. No one deserves to be bullied for making a mistake or asking for help. There are entire Facebook groups and pages dedicated to bashing new keepers. A few years ago another new keeper was the target of the same bullying Brian is going thru now. I wont say his name but those reading this may know who I am referring to when I say “apple sauce”. Please be kind to one another. We all started someplace. New keeper or breeder we are all human beings. We all make mistakes. We all need to help one another.
I know I’ve said this before but it bares repeating. Anyone who needs help, advice or tips on how to care for your ball python. PLEASE feel free to contact me. Even if you never buy anything from me. All I ask is that some day you pay it forward and help someone who may come to you for help.
Peace
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I have actually come across a group were he gave sound experienced advice. He didn’t baby anyone or tiptoe and he came across as arrogant but the way people treated him. Now knowing all this it’s even more appalling. They should respect him like they would their favorite sports player or musician
Also, You should post this to the group pythons and pythons only on Facebook. Theyre the WORST! I was new to the hobby and had no idea why the 2yr old Ball python we adopted shed was all shredded. My very first post was asking for advice. I was torn apart. I cried. A kind admin from another group backed me up after i flipped put and invited me to a group were the admins actually pay attention and don’t stand for bullying or even comments that are demeaning. Great post.