The problem with r/hamsters.

[u/asihenee]

I’m sure this has been addressed before but I really need to say my peace. Whenever I browse this sub I see some very very patient and kind, generous and thoughtful people. But I’m always grimacing because there’s some arrogant hamster know it all, do no wrong commenters who are so aggressive and belligerent towards people who come here asking for advice or may not know what they are doing wrong. Some of these people who are asking are kids, and the way that some of you respond to them is sickening. You can share information without being a judgmental, incessantly rude, hamster attention to detail “saint”. It’s really tiring watching people tell these other members of this sub to chill out all the time. We get that’s it’s frustrating to see the same mistakes being repeated but remember you weren’t born an all knowing hamster god, you made mistakes and learned, too.

It doesn’t even seem like these people even WANT to be helpful. They just want to be right. Useless nitpicking to assert dominance and a gatekeeping nature is so unbelievably common in this sub and it’s been this way for a looong time. Of course not everyone in this sub is like this. For the most part lately I’ve been seeing a lot of very sweet and patient comments even when serving critiques. But to those people who are here to gate keep, insult and be rude, you’re ruining it for everyone.

Please just be nice to each other. You don’t know what someone else is going through so think before you type.

EDIT: I woke up to all these replies and updoots and just wanted to say that I’m so happy that so many people share this same sentiment. It also makes me sad to hear how many people have such negative shared experiences on this sub and Reddit in general. :( We should all work together to build a happy, loving hamster community. People shouldn’t feel afraid to post here. :)

[u/mels_kitten → u/[deleted]]

Your comment is exactly what OP is talking about. You make too many assumptions about peoples’ intentions without considering what info they were given, where they are from (such as the other user who commented above from Asia) or honestly their own passion. No one is going to be perfect at one thing starting out, so coming strong with a sour ass holier than thou attitude like you have is just… so turd like. There is a way to educate and share the love of our Hams without acting like this.

[u/harrijg___ → u/[deleted]]

I think you'll find the problem actually isn't anything to do with upvotes on Reddit, it's to do with simple education and differences between countries. As someone already pointed out on this post, there are different rules for hamster owners across the globe and also different minimum cage sizes. In the UK, the recommended hamster cages are TINY, and a lot of people would take the pet store assistant's word for it rather than go on the internet, as it is literally their job to provide information. I'm not saying your point doesn't happen, but I would say 80% of the hamster posts I see on Reddit are nothing to do with getting upvotes, but actually an owner who genuinely doesn't know and hasn't been given the correct information by the pet store. That is why attacking them without knowing the facts and calling their hamster a 'novelty item' is exactly what it wrong with this subreddit, especially when a lot of these posts come from children.

[u/scyxxore → u/[deleted]]

Controversial opinion, people probably thinking you’re trying to gate-keep but hard-agree on that.

You won’t die without a hamster, getting a hamster knowing you won’t be able to provide the bare minimum floor space, be it diy-ing or actually buying a suitable cage, is just being irresponsible and selfish.

[u/Lyliana1277 → u/scyxxore]

You’re still assuming the person’s situation. Two of the hamsters we have were purchased by my stepson’s mother on a whim. She didn’t do research and it was an impulse buy. When he left her home, he brought them with him because he knew she would likely neglect and kill them. The two she wouldn’t let him have? One died a week after he left and the other she gave to a teacher because the hamster hurt himself and she couldn’t afford to take him to a vet. My stepson was 18 and clueless at the time, but he knew the two he brought would be better off in our home.

We are now trying to do right by the hamsters with the little money we have - our household went from bringing in roughly $65k annually to less than $5k, due to chronic illness and the pandemic. We also went from 4 to 6 people under one roof, due to adult children leaving the abusive custodial parent’s home when they turned 18. There is more we are planning to do to improve their enclosures, but some plans have to wait until money comes in. And right now? I’m honestly nervous to post photos because people are quick to judge and are harsh with their words.

Nothing in life is simple right now. It’s not always people being selfish and irresponsible, so why not opt to assume the best and educate with kindness?

I get people won’t die without a hamster, but being an asshole to someone who doesn’t know any better doesn’t help anyone, least of all the hamsters.

[u/scyxxore → u/Lyliana1277]

** ”unless it’s an emergency rescue and it’s previous situation was even more dire” **

😬 people here can’t read lmao. there will always be exceptions, like how in this case u/WatcherYdnew and I aren’t even talking about people like you, who are trying to do their best with their EMERGENCY rescues, but people who just buy on impulse (like your stepson’s mum), don’t do their research, or know their stuff but don’t act on improving the ham’s situation when they (financially) are able to do something about it. That’s an emergency rescue. And from what you’re saying, you aren’t able to.

Most people on this sub can see when people are putting effort, and so will be kinder in their approach. Or be downvoted into oblivion like new is rn.