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Expose Yourself

© Joe Jeskiewicz

This past weekend I went to the Reptile and Exotic Animal Show at the local fairgrounds. This is the fairgrounds of the capital city mind you and not just some farmer's backyard. So the large Arena building was packed with people set up to try and sell their animals. These animals ranged from Snakes and Bearded Dragons to Lemurs and African Grey parrots. It's just one of the things my wife and I like to do and it happens about twice a year here.

What does this have to do with exposing oneself? Well while I was there I spoke with someone from the Iguana Rescue organization about a couple of Iguanas that had come into my care. I wanted a little information and to see the monsters they were toting around behind their tables. While speaking to the guy I realized that it wasn't just a matter of a different interest in animals as pets but rather a sub culture associated with it, and that I was part of a sub culture I didn't realize, that of Dog Foster Homes.

I was exposing myself to that subculture in some finite way, and not only the Iguana Owner subculture but the whole subculture of reptilian/lizard ownership. The people that packed the thin isles between the tables and selling stands held different views collectively on what was an acceptable or even ideal pet. This went far beyond the days of Dogs, Cats, and Goldfish as the staple of American household pets. Growing up, my mother raised birds (Cockatiels, Love Birds, African Greys) from the egg and hand fed them, so birds, which are considered exotics, was an automatic addition to my normal household pet variety.

But Iguanas, which can grow up to 6 feet in length, maybe more, were not considered as normal household pets, neither were snakes, tarantulas, or scorpions. But, maybe for the bad, we have "tamed" these wild beasts and they become another fixture of the house. I have two iguanas but I am not a part of the Iguana sub culture. I know this because I have done a lot of online reading to find out all that they need, and I am not prepared in space or financially to handle the Iguanas. I will eventually have to give them up to a better home.

But Animal care subcultures are not the only subcultures out there. In fact, there is a subculture for almost everything imaginable. The internet has provided access to the subcultures and the transmission of information between members of subcultures across large distances. Music is one of the most prominent in the media as we see the appearance and behavior of members of Rap, Punk, or Teen Idol subcultures. There are subcultures associated with games (EverQuest, Diablo, AD&D), Hobbies (Model Cars, Civil War Re-enactment, Comic Books), and even with general interests such as education, sports, or movies.

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