People kissing alligators
November 21, 2008 4:35 AM Subscribe
People want to kiss alligators and crocodiles. They do it in Costa Rica and Lousiana and Mississippi. Why do many otherwise normal people want to kiss alligators?
Are they stupid? Because a lot of normal people are stupid. Yeah, I'm guessing stupid.
posted by DU at 4:50 AM on November 21, 2008
posted by DU at 4:50 AM on November 21, 2008
I'm with DU on this one. Chalk it up to dumb.
posted by From Bklyn at 5:01 AM on November 21, 2008
posted by From Bklyn at 5:01 AM on November 21, 2008
I've just spent about 10 minutes searching for that Far Side where there's an old timer missing half his face sitting next to an alligator. This is the 21st century, we need tagged (or OCI'd) comic repositories already!
posted by DU at 5:04 AM on November 21, 2008
posted by DU at 5:04 AM on November 21, 2008
If frogs turn into princes, alligators have got to turn into something wicked awesome.
posted by oddman at 5:09 AM on November 21, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by oddman at 5:09 AM on November 21, 2008 [2 favorites]
Having lived in all three of the places you mentioned, I can say with authority that the people in question are not "otherwise normal."
posted by Pollomacho at 5:11 AM on November 21, 2008
posted by Pollomacho at 5:11 AM on November 21, 2008
I pretty much understand why people love their cats and dogs, but my question had to do with the observed reality of people wanting to display affection for alligators in the form of a kiss. I honestly don't understand this.
posted by twoleftfeet at 5:44 AM on November 21, 2008
posted by twoleftfeet at 5:44 AM on November 21, 2008
Is it really any worse than kissing (with tongue, no less) a snake?
posted by TedW at 5:47 AM on November 21, 2008
posted by TedW at 5:47 AM on November 21, 2008
The Louisiana State Department of Fish and Wildlife is advising hikers, hunters, fishermen, and golfers to take extra precautions and keep alert for alligators while in St. Tammany, Jefferson & Orleans Parishes.
They advise people to wear noise-producing devices such as "little bells" on their clothing to alert, but not startle the alligators, unexpectedly.
They also advise the carrying of "pepper spray" in case of an encounter with an alligator. It's also a good idea to watch for fresh signs of alligator activity and be able to recognize the difference between young alligator and adult alligator droppings.
Young alligator droppings are small, contain fish bones and possibly bird feathers.
Adult alligator droppings have little bells in them and smell like pepper.
posted by netbros at 6:15 AM on November 21, 2008 [6 favorites]
They advise people to wear noise-producing devices such as "little bells" on their clothing to alert, but not startle the alligators, unexpectedly.
They also advise the carrying of "pepper spray" in case of an encounter with an alligator. It's also a good idea to watch for fresh signs of alligator activity and be able to recognize the difference between young alligator and adult alligator droppings.
Young alligator droppings are small, contain fish bones and possibly bird feathers.
Adult alligator droppings have little bells in them and smell like pepper.
posted by netbros at 6:15 AM on November 21, 2008 [6 favorites]
If frogs turn into princes, alligators have got to turn into something wicked awesome.
Lawyers
posted by Kirth Gerson at 6:21 AM on November 21, 2008 [1 favorite]
Lawyers
posted by Kirth Gerson at 6:21 AM on November 21, 2008 [1 favorite]
That way the alligator won't feel the need to kiss you?
posted by srboisvert at 6:27 AM on November 21, 2008
posted by srboisvert at 6:27 AM on November 21, 2008
Not as intense as kissing this or perhaps getting the urge to grab the nose of a great white shark
posted by scarello at 6:31 AM on November 21, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by scarello at 6:31 AM on November 21, 2008 [1 favorite]
They also advise the carrying of "pepper spray" in case of an encounter with an alligator.
you know folks in that area have been doing this for years. They call the pepper spray "hot sauce" though.
posted by Pollomacho at 6:53 AM on November 21, 2008
you know folks in that area have been doing this for years. They call the pepper spray "hot sauce" though.
posted by Pollomacho at 6:53 AM on November 21, 2008
I don't think the folks in "that area" are kissing alligators. I think they are eating them with hot sauce.
(Full disclosure - although I have lured alligators out of their ponds with chicken bones and rolled them over to rub their bellies, have not kissed one. Only small alligators. And I was young. And did this with larger, tastier kids nearby.)
posted by Lesser Shrew at 7:09 AM on November 21, 2008
(Full disclosure - although I have lured alligators out of their ponds with chicken bones and rolled them over to rub their bellies, have not kissed one. Only small alligators. And I was young. And did this with larger, tastier kids nearby.)
posted by Lesser Shrew at 7:09 AM on November 21, 2008
Perhaps now we have an explanation for young Devin Funck.
posted by ColdChef at 7:28 AM on November 21, 2008
posted by ColdChef at 7:28 AM on November 21, 2008
Don't these people know to never smile at a crocodile?!
Jesus, people these days
posted by The Whelk at 7:41 AM on November 21, 2008
Jesus, people these days
posted by The Whelk at 7:41 AM on November 21, 2008
I am of the opinion that anyone who wishes to kiss dangerous reptiles is not "otherwise normal".
posted by tommasz at 8:43 AM on November 21, 2008
posted by tommasz at 8:43 AM on November 21, 2008
This guy and this guy do not appear normal in the least. Based on the size of the crowd, this dude did it to make money.
It's the same guy in the Lousiana and Mississippi links. The rest are of people kissing tiny crocs and gators, which really doesn't even count, in my mind. So the question is, twoleftfeet, why do you want us to think alligator kissing is some crazy phenomenon? Hmm???
posted by nosila at 9:05 AM on November 21, 2008
It's the same guy in the Lousiana and Mississippi links. The rest are of people kissing tiny crocs and gators, which really doesn't even count, in my mind. So the question is, twoleftfeet, why do you want us to think alligator kissing is some crazy phenomenon? Hmm???
posted by nosila at 9:05 AM on November 21, 2008
This was part of a study which included people kissing tigers and people kissing lions, monkeys, and frogs.
The study will appear elsewhere.
posted by twoleftfeet at 5:33 AM on November 22, 2008
The study will appear elsewhere.
posted by twoleftfeet at 5:33 AM on November 22, 2008
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posted by i_cola at 4:44 AM on November 21, 2008