Brian Barczyk, keeper of giant snakes in tiny drawers, has died. How should we feel?
I've been asking myself this very question, anon.
On one hand, the man did some really unethical stuff, pushed harmful information that was not correct husbandry, and allowed animals to suffer for his own gain.
On the other hand, he was human, as we all are human: prone to failings, easily blinded by praise, and willing to hide his mistakes in order to maintain a positive reputation among his peers. This is really common among that generation. I see the same attitudes in many big-name reptile keepers, TV personalities, and minor celebrities.
He was curious. He was passionate. He wanted to share his passion with others. I think he really truly did love his animals and the people around him, though that love was not an adequate replacement for proper care. He was arrogant. He was overconfident. He was flawed. But he was human.
He was afraid, at the end. He was in pain. Pancreatic cancer is not a gentle end. He saw his death looming on a fast-approaching horizon, and you could see it reflected in his eyes. Did he have regrets, do you suppose? Would he have done things differently if he had another chance? Did he believe in an afterlife, and did he feel the burden of his transgressions as he prepared to meet his gods?
I can tell you how I feel at this point:
A little sad that a fellow traveler on this Earth died in such an awful, painful way. A little disappointed that he's now a martyr of reptile keeping. A little grateful that he helped to push the hobby into the public eye and out of the fringes. A little hopeful that we'll continue to learn, grow, and do better than he did.
I can't tell you how to feel, though, or whether to feel anything at all. That's up to you.
Regardless, I hope his last moments were peaceful, that he felt loved instead of scared, and that he was not in pain. That's what I want for everyone.
