BTW...did you agree with what this "herpetologist" was saying?nm

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Posted by JNelson on September 08, 2000 at 10:38:53:

In Reply to: Herpetologist ???? posted by cwatbay on September 08, 2000 at 09:58:10:

: Yesterday, I was in my favorite pet shop looking for and at, all the new reptiles that had arrived. Fortunately, this store does not get new reptiles in all the time, they sell their reps slowly and you have to sign an adult consent forum, reposibilities forum and are given a guide to reptile care.

: Anyway,

: As I am striking some hard deals for a newly arrived, previously owned Golden Tegu, a hear a young women giving unsolicited lectures on reptiles around the corner.

: The head of the reptile department, a friend of mine, asks her if she is a reptile vet. She says no, she is a Herpetologist.

: Now I may just be a "stick in the mud", but, I didn't think that there was such a thing as a "herpetologist". The point being, you can be an amateur herpetologist, but, there is no such thing as a BS, MS, or Phd. in herpetology. You can be a Biologist ( which is generally thought of as having a Phd in Biology ) although a lot of people have a BS in biology and say that they are biologists.

: Going on, I have three degrees: one in physical education, one in psychology/behavioral science , and one in business management. However, it would be incorrect for me to say that I am a psychologist, because that would infer that I have a Phd in psychology, plus, a board certification from the State of CA that I am licensed to practice psychology.

: Could someone please correct me if I am wrong ?? As far as I know, there is no such thing as a graduate degree in Herpetology. You can minor in it, or, you can take advanced studies, but in essence, you are a biologist(BS, MS, Phd ) with specilized studies in Herpetology.

: My concern over this whole thing is credibility. If someone goes into a pet store, like the one I was in, and claims to be a "herpetologist", then regular ol' common folks will tend to believe and give greater credibility to whatever this person says whether it is right or wrong.

: As an example: you go to a reptile show. There are a lot of non-reptile or reptile newbies there looking around. If someone there claims to be an "expert herpetologist" and says that its ok to feed igs crickets, pizza, mice, lettuce and so forth, then a lot of those "regular folks" will take that advice to heart because it came from an "expert herpetologist" assuming perhaps incorrecty that this person has taken formal studies in reptiles and has an accredited graduate degree in "the study of reptiles" (ie: herpetology ). This makes your job as an "amateur" a lot harder because your information and opinions are going against those of an "expert" who is assumed to have a formal advanced education in the subject.

: Anyway, this may just be an exercise in philosophical thought, but it does come up every now and then when I encounter these "street corner preachers". Who seem to be most interested in getting personal gratification from the admiration of other, rather than the dispensing of accurate and truthfully information.

: Again, my 2 cents and more....

: CW

Follow Ups:

response cwatbay 09/08/00 (4)
- Oooooohhhh, didn't I mention I was a Domestic Engineer? Professional ... Thumper 09/10/00 (3)
  - Impressed??? Dunno yet... Dishy 09/10/00 (2)
    - Hmmmm....about fifteen. Master chef, home economics, accounting,... Thumper 09/10/00 (1)
      - Then...Impressed! n/p Dishy 09/10/00 (0)

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: : Yesterday, I was in my favorite pet shop looking for and at, all the new reptiles that had arrived. Fortunately, this store does not get new reptiles in all the time, they sell their reps slowly and you have to sign an adult consent forum, reposibilities forum and are given a guide to reptile care. : : Anyway, : : As I am striking some hard deals for a newly arrived, previously owned Golden Tegu, a hear a young women giving unsolicited lectures on reptiles around the corner. : : The head of the reptile department, a friend of mine, asks her if she is a reptile vet. She says no, she is a Herpetologist. : : Now I may just be a "stick in the mud", but, I didn't think that there was such a thing as a "herpetologist". The point being, you can be an amateur herpetologist, but, there is no such thing as a BS, MS, or Phd. in herpetology. You can be a Biologist ( which is generally thought of as having a Phd in Biology ) although a lot of people have a BS in biology and say that they are biologists. : : Going on, I have three degrees: one in physical education, one in psychology/behavioral science , and one in business management. However, it would be incorrect for me to say that I am a psychologist, because that would infer that I have a Phd in psychology, plus, a board certification from the State of CA that I am licensed to practice psychology. : : Could someone please correct me if I am wrong ?? As far as I know, there is no such thing as a graduate degree in Herpetology. You can minor in it, or, you can take advanced studies, but in essence, you are a biologist(BS, MS, Phd ) with specilized studies in Herpetology. : : My concern over this whole thing is credibility. If someone goes into a pet store, like the one I was in, and claims to be a "herpetologist", then regular ol' common folks will tend to believe and give greater credibility to whatever this person says whether it is right or wrong. : : As an example: you go to a reptile show. There are a lot of non-reptile or reptile newbies there looking around. If someone there claims to be an "expert herpetologist" and says that its ok to feed igs crickets, pizza, mice, lettuce and so forth, then a lot of those "regular folks" will take that advice to heart because it came from an "expert herpetologist" assuming perhaps incorrecty that this person has taken formal studies in reptiles and has an accredited graduate degree in "the study of reptiles" (ie: herpetology ). This makes your job as an "amateur" a lot harder because your information and opinions are going against those of an "expert" who is assumed to have a formal advanced education in the subject. : : Anyway, this may just be an exercise in philosophical thought, but it does come up every now and then when I encounter these "street corner preachers". Who seem to be most interested in getting personal gratification from the admiration of other, rather than the dispensing of accurate and truthfully information. : : Again, my 2 cents and more.... : : CW

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