Fl.International Reptile Show?

Thank you for your support Joseph. It's people like you that give us the backbone to stand up for what's right.

I am one of those that opened my "yarp" before knowing the hole situation (I still don't know the hole situation, but I think I now know enough to make my next statement)...
I must apologize to any of you in case I said ANYTHING to offend those of you who are trying to just open peoples eyes to the wrong doing that is going on!
Stay the fight to defend the reptiles & the reptiles industry! we need more people like you guys!!!

Thanks Mary.
You notice I said "don't fret the cowboy"and not the cowboy & Cocheta.

Originally Posted by Ron Billingsley

Honestly, I'm tired of getting all the emails regarding these posts.
Any one can tell me how to un-subsribe to this thread?
It has just turned into a Tony Bashing Thread. Nothing new is being said.
Seems the only people posting are the bashers, and no one is saying anything postive.
I myslef, only have done one of his shows, Last fall's Tampa Show. I seen nothing wrong with it. But then again, I wasn't running around trying to find wrong doings.
Just trying to sell Acrylics.
Not saying anyone has good points or bad points, just personally, I'm no longer interested in reading all the posts that pop up on this thread..........

Ron,
One of my workers knows you and has a lot of respect for you so I must say I'm disappointed in your statement.
What the heck is the Fauna site for but to point out deceptive practices in the industry?
If you don't care, fine. But to criticise those of us who have been victimized by deception for reporting these things I believe goes against the intention of this forum.
I'm sorry you don't believe outright deception, threatening to kill someone or using a person's name and reputation to sell a lie worthy of public debate.
I must assume you had no trouble with Tony using your name as a vendor when I was told that you decided not to attend months ago. Your name was listed as "confirmed" the night before the show.
It's your right not to care.
It's our right to stand up and be counted when we are outright lied to. I have more respect for myself than it appears you think I have a right to.
Shame on you,
Gino

I'm sure there are still plenty of Tony's friends on this site, including me, who will post in his defense, if someone posts something about him that is false. If someone posts something, that I know is a lie, or is just to say something malicious, I'd be likely to jump in and say something.

Good grief Eric. Nobody here has to make up any lies about him. His true actions are much worse than anything we could possibly make up. Have you not been reading the threads? I hate that we have someone like him in the reptile community. You are most likely to find such characters at shady used car dealerships. Most people in our trade are decent people. We have all just been shown what greed & jealousy will do to you.

Jeeze Audrey - think before you type, and read before you think - ain't no way in hell am I defending his recent actions.

What I said is completly trure - and you should agree with it. You must agree that a lie is a lie. No matter what Tony says or does, if someone lies about him, or says he did something that he didnt' do, what's wrong with stepping in and making the truth come out?

In no WAY did I suggest that anything said about him recently is a lie. Stop looking for a fight, I am NOT someone who is going to back Tony up regardless of all the crap he's done - he's my friend, and I want what's best for him. Think about what would be best for Tony, long term - it isnt' reptile shows, it isnt' always getting his way, regardless of his actions. that's self-destructive behavior, and it'll ultimatly be his end. I do not want to see that happen to him.

One of the previous posters complained that Tony had nobody posting in his defense, only people listing all the bad things he's done. I was just MAKING it clear, that if something disparaging was said about Tony, that WAS NOT TRUE, that I would jump in and clear thigns up. As it stands, Tony has not done anything worthy of defense. All the things said were also true.

In other, clearer words, if Tony doesn't do anything good, it sholdn't be a surprise to the poster why nobody's said anything in his defense!

We are all on the same side here: what's best for the industry, our hobby, and our businesses. As one of the few people that have not been Completely betrayed and financially injured by Tony (directly or indirectly), I can also hope for his well being. It is clear that Tony has made to many enemies, and should find another career. Even if he tried to fix things, I believe he's alienated too many people. Other promoters have sized the oppurtunity, and filled the voids. It's cold and unforgiving, but the market works.

I'm sorry Eric. But I am unable to want what's best for him. I just want what's best for the reptile industry. And couldn't care less about him. With him out of the picture, we can all focus once again on making this trade bigger & better than ever before. Of course they'll still be a few bad apples on the tree, but we know who they are.

Well, I understand, of course. Still, Tony's hooked me up - flown me
down to florida to work, introduced me to some cool people, etc. He's
done a lot for me, above and beyond what he needed to do. I really
wish him the best.

Fortunately, I believe what's best for him is what's best for the hobby.
He's gone too far to be involved in it anymore, and it's his own doing.
What is best for him is to try something else, and use the lessons
learned from this.

I'm a firm believer in capitalism and the free market. When it comes to
business, I try to let it go that way. Natural selection for the industry.
Nobody wants to have to choose which reptile show they go to,
nobody wants to choose who they can and cannot vend for. The
public, the paying masses that enable the shows, they don't know
what's going on. That's why a bad show can succeed with marketing -
for a while at least . Vendors will stay away, and then, in time, the
public will grow smart, and they will avoid such shows. It might take a
few years, but the market will rid itself of its problems.

What's done is done. And good riddance to him. People have a right to know the truth, and they also have the right to be treated with respect. It doesn't matter what side of the table you're standing on. The good honest people are what have made this the successful industry that it is today.