What do you see happening in this video?
Do you see child abuse? Perhaps snake abuse? Many people commenting here and here certainly think so.
I would exercise caution before coming to those conclusions. I believe this all to be a matter of clashing cultures. In this video clip, I see a curious baby toying around with what seems to be a family pet. It is just a little difficult for those in western countries to watch, due to the wild difference in culture. I would even go as far as to compare this to my eldest daughter’s former habit of trying to pull our cat’s tail when she was still a toddler.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
A cause for concern?
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That was very hard to watch, but considering that the adults in the background sounded unconcerned and were laughing - plus they vidoe taped everything, I would have to agree with your assessment of the situation.
ReplyDeleteI watched with an open mind, due to your comments and saw exactly what you did. I didn't have the sound on, but since it was being videotaped, I assumed the baby was supervised. Obviously a baby should never be left unsupervised with ANY animal. I just wonder how the baby wasn't being poisoned.
ReplyDeleteThat WAS very hard to watch. I'm thinking that the snake has to have had the venom removed somehow for the adults to just be standing around watching. I have to disagree that culture or not you do not allow a baby to play with a venomous creature. Just because it is part of a culture to have a Cobra snake as a family pet does not mean that it is okay to allow a baby to play with it like that. Just like it is not okay to let a baby torment a dog or a cat to the point that the animal is going to maul the child.
ReplyDeleteI did not mean to say that it was okay to let the baby torment the snake, but that I did not see any abuse worthy of calling Children's Aid or PETA.
ReplyDeleteIf I were the baby's parents, I would have said something along the lines like "the snake doesn't want to play so just leave it alone", just like I did with my daughter and old tom cat, Basel.
I get what you are saying. But if a dog were to bite your child or give clear signs that it was going to attack him and you just stood there and watched, even videotaped it, do you think that Childrens Aid should be called if the child was harmed? I guess I am looking at it more as if the snake had harmed the child. I admit I am very unfamiliar with having snakes as pets so I am probably ignorant of their behavior.
ReplyDeleteIn the scenario you described I would, of course, question the parents. I still do not think that was the case in this video, as I do not see how the snake could have bitten the child.
ReplyDeleteI am not familiar with the practice of domesticated snakes either so I, for the most part, am just speculating. The snake seems to not only have its venomous glands removed, but also its two fangs - the only teeth a snake like this has. If I am correct in this, the baby received nothing more than a quick tap - which is probably why the baby looks more pissed off than scared. The snake has not much muscular strength; its strength is in its venom and in its body tension that is exerted once it is wrapped around a body.
it is hard to watch. I agree with you, they have different culture. And likely they have precautions like removal of glands etc.
ReplyDeleteI watched it again. It seems that the snake is the one making backward movement, the child making forward. Snake more afraid than child...or, they are friends (?).
I remember once I said some people were killed by sharks, my sister said sharks were killed by people. Maybe, the baby's parents know more about snakes than those who are afraid of snakes.
For now, I am afraid of snakes, even if I am told they have no venom. But maybe if I live with that child or their family, might learn to love snakes too.
thanks for sharing this.