[Leica] Re: Snakes and security

[jeremy.kime@bbc.co.uk]

>Joe Stephenson
>wrote
>We have a backup system in support of the dogs. All exterior doors have a 
red
>sign with white letters that says SNAKES. It's never been broached. And no 
one
>has come to our door with religious or commercial intent. You can't be too
>safe!
===================================

Joe,
I too saw a sign warning me of snakes on a recent long distance walk I 
undertook this Summer here in England. It seemed most incongruous, the 
largest snakes here are maybe a couple of feet long and not poisonous (grass 
snakes), I'm sure the owner had foriegn snakes but it still seemed unlikely 
that he'd let them be wriggling around, roaming free to attack preditors, 
they're expensive and would easily 'disapear'.

Everyone
After a day or two of reading oblique critiques of my honest response to a 
fellow Lugger's reasonable question, I shall reply.

On this hoary subject of personal security, I have to admit to having a 
burglar alarm but feel that we can get too wrapped up in presuming the world 
to be everything that we've read about in the National Enquirer. I'm not 
saying that there aren't some bad guys out there but I think we need to 
expect more of our fellow men rather than less. If we assume everyone to be 
out for what they can get it leaves us with a lower moral concience, a lower 
self-worth, a more base existance. Sure we can wrap ourselves up in our 
ivory towers and barbed wire or whatever but did that ever advance ourselves 
personally? I rather think not. These cameras of ours are only material 
possessions after all, sure we can enjoy them but I'd rather have a 
relationship with people based on trust and understanding rather than guns.

Jem