In Reply to: Misty,and all who really don't understand the issues. posted by Bourbon on April 30, 1999 at 20:44:44:

This is how I see it if someone gets a glider they are going to get it somehow, whether it bee from the ssediest breeder, petshop or whatever to a place you can eat off the floor. I however cannot see who can be the judge of who can and cannot have a glider. I don't care if I offended someone or not but this is how I see it.

: Misty , I am glad you respect what I have to say, But if you give me a minute or so I think I can explain things a little here.
: Jane and I are considered to be two of the most harsh, most inconsiderate and the least compassionate in dealing with kids, teens, fad owners etc.. We do have the same bottom lines even if many times we don't agree with each other. And yes believe it or not we too go round and round. However; she DOES have a degree, she has went to school. We both love the species almost to a fault. Do we treat them as humans? Yes we do, us and many others. In order to really get a bond with your glider, you must get in tune with it first. and the first thing there is not treat it as just another pet. Gliders live 15 years, and therefore will be a part of your life for a big part of it. I agree with jane, that anyone that can't post with their real name is a coward, but those are our opinions. This board is for information, and that is what I did, I laid out my opinions regarding SOSG. My resevations. Other people as well has the same reservations. It is like going to a restauant with a friend and not ordering food, but seeing the cook drop the sandwich on the floor then serving it. I am sure you too would say something to your friend. Well I and Jane worry about gliders, not just ours, but everyones. We love the species. With that love, we accept the slams, and flamming that comes with speaking up and saying it like it is. Many times we have to be harsh (or so we feel), but if we have to worry about hurting peoples feelings, then where would it stop? We all are dealing with huge responsibilities regarding gliders. everything we say can be misunderstood and taken to be used adversly on a glider. That is scarey. The words responsibility comes with accepting that resposibility. Yes. sometimes we all at one time or other has been misunderstood and we have had to go back and explain. But would you please look real close at the posts.. and see it is for the love of the gliders that all this has started. The teens here (some) have taken great offense to some of the posts regarding them, but many times teens have little or no control as to their gliders, vets can't be sought without parents permission and many times that isn't allowed, Or if a vet isn't locally handy, then long distance phone calls to one is not alowed, limited time allowed with their gliders, not being able to take them on vacations etc..sometimes it is even the purchasing of the food..There are a lot of issues regarding the huge responsibility of taking on a rescue that many , teens as well as adults couldn't handle. Jo said earlier that age is a mute issue. BAH.. That if our kids get hurt we find a way to manage.. that is true we as adults do. But what choices do teens whose parents have to pay those phenomona; vet bills, and stop them from caling a vet, have? Age is an issue, maturity is an issue, being able to financially afford vet bills are issues.. Rescues many, many times are not happy healthy gliders. People don't give those away, they don't look despretly for help if the glider is free of illness, injury, or sever behavioral problems. But now that bring to the issue as to what constitutes a rescue? A "rescue" to me is a glider that most people don't find desirable to purchase for the standard fee. If people would be willing to buy them, the owner wouldn't need a rescue. They would just sell it. So the issues that were brought up, has been turned and twisted to start a flam war. I posted that to get Flyte to respond, To let people know that there is a problem in an operation that many trusted to help other gliders. To work on solutions, Why hasn't this turned to a debate , rather than a slam on us because she happened to be a teen. This isn't an anti-teen issue. Shianne suggested we give her the guidance and knowledge that she needed to do this. That would be nice, if there was a starting point to start with. But the fact is she "ran" with this on her own needeing no help from anyone. I wrote a message to her reagrding her diets page. I did that privately, she in turn brought the attitude back here. and told us to get off her back about it. Well she didn't need any help then, she didn't act like she wanted any of our help. Before the new owners slam us for what we say or think, just remember, we have been here long enough to see the abuse come and go, the neglect come and go, people who say their kids develope allergies, asthma, etc.. cause they expect their glider to be automatically sweet adorable and want to hold them. We see so many gliders start to make progress in the bonding stage, then be abandoned to someone else, all because it wasn't working fast enough. If everyone looks at a glider, like that glider has feelings as we do, look at it from their eyes. Then maybe they too would help in the fight to protect and preserve them. Not just to make them disposable pets. I persoanally get tired of seeing those come in and flip off post regarding an issue. The issue was why I was furious. How many people have written in about a pet store that they thought wasn't doing the right things for the gliders? Oh, but, that is different, WHY? because I didn't post it? or Jane didn't post it? It is no different. The people posting them were doing the same as I. Concerned with the gliders. So, my delivery, or Janes delivery isn't exactly as people wanted it to be.. What are we supposed to do? ask if they can handle the answers first? ask them if they are mature enough to be able to take an answer they don't want to hear? I am sorry, I am not going to talk to people as if they were 3 year old kids. I will talk as if they are mature enough to handle the responsibility of a glider. Those of you that seen nothing wrong with what Flyte had done with the inexperienced owner, wait till your glider gets real sick, then hand it over to her, or another "mature responsible teen" that you are defending. I again repeat I think SOSG is too much responsibility for a teen to try to handle. Jo also said education is the issue. Yeah right, lets get real. Gliders are not ALL bought from breeders. Research?? Few really want to research, many want quick answers, quick fixes. Those are the facts. Bottom line. Look how many new owners come here that know NOTHING about their glider. Why weren't they educated? The bottom line is, that those of us who do know about them, remember when we talk about them we give the interested people the REAL facts. Get them to play a game of what if's for 6 months. Flyte claimed herself as an "experienced" owner. Most "experienced" owners wouldn't suggest a rescue for a first timer...I would never send any rescues through her system, for fear of the trauma.. If I offended anyone I am sorry, That isn't my intention. This is only my opinion on this whole mess.

Follow Ups:

• Let me add Cricket 22:44:54 4/30/99 (0)