# Check out this whackadoodle apprentice program **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 27, 2013, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-out-this-whackadoodle-apprentice-program/674943 "2013-11-27T19:13:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-out-this-whackadoodle-apprentice-program/674943/1 "2013-11-27T19:13:56Z")
If you want to be an apprentice tigerkeeper,[this](http://www.tigerfriends.com/apprentice.html) is what you’re in for. Pets? No. Friends and family? No. Vacations? No. Weekends, holidays? No. Federally approved work hours? No. Eating meat? No. Living on your own? No. Eating palm oil? No. Neglecting your yoga? No. Shitty movies? Yes! (Seriously, is this not technically a cult?) ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-out-this-whackadoodle-apprentice-program/674943/2 "2013-11-27T19:41:05Z")
do you get pancakes? ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-out-this-whackadoodle-apprentice-program/674943/3 "2013-11-27T19:50:12Z")
Ah, but you get to help conserve some man-made hybrid species! :rolleyes: And I thought I knew some batshit animal nuts… Is that programme even legal? ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-out-this-whackadoodle-apprentice-program/674943/4 "2013-11-27T19:55:02Z")
But wait, there’s [more](http://www.tigerfriends.com/intern/index.html)! “You get a weekly compensation of $100, the occasional use of an insured company vehicle, a place to stay, and exciting new neighbors.” I bet you do. ETA - the funny thing is, I’ve volunteered at zoos - I know they totally exploit young people who really want to work with animals, because it’s an inexhaustible resource. They pay zookeepers peanuts. But this is a new low. In Myrtle Beach, of all places! ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-out-this-whackadoodle-apprentice-program/674943/5 "2013-11-27T19:56:28Z")
**johnpost** , you will not have time for pancakes. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-out-this-whackadoodle-apprentice-program/674943/6 "2013-11-27T20:00:52Z")
No, they pay the elephant apprentices peanuts. Sheesh, get your facts straight. ETA: just read the link. Wow. Just … wow. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-out-this-whackadoodle-apprentice-program/674943/7 "2013-11-27T20:05:41Z")
> [@](#): > > BEFORE you apply, you should volunteer/work at a local: vet, zoo, wildlife rehab center, stables, or farm… > > You must become a vegetarian prior to applying to the apprenticeship program… > > We also require that you do not consume or use any product containing palm oil… > > Animal trainers do not need traditional schooling. We do however require certain studies BEFORE you apply. The study of physical and philosophical yoga(join a yoga class or get DVDs and practice physical yoga) and meditation (we recommend Swami Satchidananda or Swami Rama’s collected works.). I wanna party with these kooks! ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-out-this-whackadoodle-apprentice-program/674943/8 "2013-11-27T20:05:57Z")
I dunno, making it out to be as horrendous as it sounds would be a way to weed out the dew-eyed ‘whackadoodles’ who just want to **play** with the cutesy, cuddly tigers. I’m sure the vast majority of people interested in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation etc don’t actually _think_ about what’s involved, and that page laid it out pretty well really. My concern is that after investing all those years to become proficient in caring for tigers, where’s the paying jobs? I haven’t seen too many ‘tiger keeper’ positions advertised on [seek.com](http://seek.com) lately. 😃 It’s not an apprenticeship, it’s a lifestyle choice, and for those that choose it? More power to them! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Grapefruit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@Grapefruit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grapefruit)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-out-this-whackadoodle-apprentice-program/674943/9 "2013-11-27T20:07:03Z")
Is “apprenticeship” a different category than “employee”? I know labour rights aren’t exactly a big thing in the US but isn’t it blatant discrimination to only hire single people? It’s not even something they’re covering up! And that’s just one of the many discrimination aspects to their hiring process. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-out-this-whackadoodle-apprentice-program/674943/10 "2013-11-27T20:09:56Z")
365 days a year work? One word. Overtime! You will be rich after the labor board cleans their clock. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-out-this-whackadoodle-apprentice-program/674943/11 "2013-11-27T20:23:41Z")
Of course you want to train like an athlete. Not only do you have to deal with large, powerful cats, if you’re tough and stringy, maybe they won’t eat you. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-out-this-whackadoodle-apprentice-program/674943/12 "2013-11-27T20:51:29Z")
[QUOTE=Some Crazy Tiger People] The Devil Wears Prada, Miranda Priestly will embody our senior staff in their pursuit of perfection in the care and cleaning of the animals. This is the center of their universe and they will expect it to be yours. Kill Bill 2, the cruel tutelage of Pai Mei the Asian martial arts master is a taste of what we will put you through to train you to risk your life and others if you are ever in control of a potentially dangerous animal. [/QUOTE] Awesome. If you do it, you can’t say the didn’t warn you. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-out-this-whackadoodle-apprentice-program/674943/13 "2013-11-27T20:53:23Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Of course you want to train like an athlete. Not only do you have to deal with large, powerful cats, if you’re tough and stringy, maybe they won’t eat you. True fact: Tigers always eat the slowest guy. ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-out-this-whackadoodle-apprentice-program/674943/14 "2013-11-27T22:33:49Z")
Wow, it sounds amazing! Maybe I will apply. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-out-this-whackadoodle-apprentice-program/674943/15 "2013-11-27T23:55:12Z")
I showed this to my sister, and her response was: “This is some sort of sex trafficking thing, right? I mean, it’s basically ‘make sure no one will ever come looking for you’.” ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-out-this-whackadoodle-apprentice-program/674943/16 "2013-11-28T02:34:55Z")
Aaand another data point demonstrating that exotic animal ownership should be severely restricted. This kind of “sanctuary” makes me sick. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-out-this-whackadoodle-apprentice-program/674943/17 "2013-11-28T02:54:17Z")
I wonder if they let the animals eat meat? It’d put them at risk for colon cancer too, right? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-out-this-whackadoodle-apprentice-program/674943/18 "2013-11-28T03:00:38Z")
I like their professional athlete standards: 10 push-ups, 5 pull ups, and a twelve minute mile. I am fantastically, _astoundingly_ out of shape, and I can still meet those requirements. Maybe it’s different for vegetarians? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-out-this-whackadoodle-apprentice-program/674943/19 "2013-11-28T03:04:26Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > True fact: Tigers always eat the slowest guy. > [@Miller](#): > > I like their professional athlete standards: 10 push-ups, 5 pull ups, and a twelve minute mile. I am fantastically, _astoundingly_ out of shape, and I can still meet those requirements. > > Maybe it’s different for vegetarians? They’re just making sure you’re the slow guy. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-out-this-whackadoodle-apprentice-program/674943/20 "2013-11-28T03:11:24Z")
This program makes being a C.I.T. at a summer camp look pretty good… the pay’s the same, the conditions sound about the same and you don’t have to worry about getting eaten! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-out-this-whackadoodle-apprentice-program/674943.md?page=2)