Welcome to Otterchat

I've also discovered this, there was actually a newsgroup about otters. There's a lot of spam and nonsense but fun to click through nonetheless.
https://groups.google.com/g/alt.animals.otters

>>3309

One thing I'd like to have more of is all the personal otter encounter stories, but sadly that's a very rare thing and we are only few, so we won't get those kinds of tales often

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>>3309

Sometimes I wonder how much we should advertise Otterchat. On the one hand, more otternons is always a good thing, but on the other hand, rapid influxes of new people always worry me. But maybe I'm just being a Nervous Nancy about it

>>3316

Personally, I think just telling friends about it is enough. Direct advertising usually doesn't work at all, people just need to discover this place naturally by finding something they're looking for in it. The way the internet is right now, maybe that's a little hard for most people, but I think this place is already pretty successful as it is considering how niche of a topic it covers.

At this point I see no problem with advertising the site. We've got a captcha to keep unqualified posters out, so we should be able to advertise as much as we want. We should still be smart about it of course, don't just spam links or anything.

>>2676

Always being curious is a big part of what makes an otter an otter. Even if something seems boring and mundane at first glance, just take a moment to take it in and appreciate it. And maybe it'll turn out to be something fascinating.

>>2652

It reminds me of the Prophet's saying, "The Paradise is surrounded by hardships".

>>3475

The principle of getting in the water also points toward the merits of self-discipline and commitment. The water may not be enjoyable or pleasant. It may be cold and uncomfortable. But the water is rewarding all the same. There is something to be gained from getting in the water. Something that is greater than the unpleasant feeling that comes from getting in it. You may make that leap into the water, and you may catch a fish or a crab, and then eat and be satisfied for the rest of the day. Those few minutes in the water getting over your own aversion to the discomfort of being in the aquatic environment brought you something much better than just avoiding having to endure the water for a short while.
This is a lesson for us, too. When the prophet said that Paradise is surrounded by hardships, he was referring to the trials and hardships a believer endures in this life to gain the ultimate reward in the next. There are unpleasant and uncomfortable things in our lives which we endure because we know that they will bring us to a better outcome.
Why do otters get in the water? To catch the fish. You don't just have to ask yourself what the water is, but what the fish is, as well. Not only what it is you may have to endure, but what you hope to gain from it.

I like this thread
https://ia801604.us.archive.org/2/items/get-in-the-water/get-in-the-water.ia.mp4

>>3487

This is pretty swell, thanks for sharing!

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>>2436

either a fight or very fierce love.

>>2442

Otters love hard and fight hard

>>2453

Passionate otters!

>>1783 (OP)

They definitely do it for fun, playfighting is simply one of otter's many sports.

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>>2436

You just can't tell sometimes.

>>1079

A lot of the great natural processes will involve otters in some capacity

>>1155

In a perfect world.
Dubdubs confirm that's the way it's supposed 2b.

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1000 miles per hour

These are magnificent

Otters are candy for the eyes
>>2351

Sounds like a funny otter picture, can you post it?

I like saying otter
otter

>>2341

I hope you see otters soon

>>2354

>Otters are candy for the eyes

Except otters are good for you.

I've shortened it by now, I just say 'ter

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It's better with friends and family.

>>3371

us

>>3372

as your fellow otterpal, I heartily agree!

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>>1896

Those are defintely his

>>3119

This is so cool! Might pick it up as a Christmas gift to myself.

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A Ring of Bright Water (1960) and its sequels are an amazing set of autobiographical novels about Gavin Maxwell and his lutrine companions.
I recommend them ONLY to the stout of heart, though (especially the latter ones), as they get exceedingly sad.
But if you're into otters (if you're not, why are you reading this thread!), reading (see my previous parentheses), and you don't mind a little sadness, definitely check out A Ring of Bright Water!

>>3379

Thanks for sharing this! How do you think the book compares to the film? I'd love to give it a read if I weren't so lazy about reading heh

>>3389

I think the movie is at least as good for otter enjoyers... perhaps better? But for someone more interesting in Maxwell (or the writing in general), the book is obviously superior. If you're lazy about reading, the movie'll probably be fine lol.

It's more for beginner otterlovers, but there are lots of good testimonials and pics of otts in this. It's by the otter specialist group! https://weloveotterscom.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/the_otter_book_definitivo_web.pdf

>>2754

>>2755

looks like one of those otter cafes, evil places.

>>3402

Nice squeaks. Did you take this anon?

>>3403

Sadly no. A friend sent it to me.

>>2757

The otters are still cute, though.

>>3278

So cool, what an amazing pair of otters! It's lovely seeing them twirl around underwater.

>>3280

I'd bet some of it is that otters check stuff out by sniffing it, and so that's the first part of the otter that touches something with snow

>>3296

That's what I thought too. You stick your nose into everything,eventually something's gonna stick back.

Otters have to work a little harder for their food in the snow but they also get to enjoy themselves playing in it, so it's a fair trade right?

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>>3281

It's true, this is a big issue unfortunately. These kinds of videos lead to the impression that it's as easy to keep a pet otter as a dog or cat. It's made a big business out of poaching. Organized criminals killing otter mums and stealing their pups to sell them off. And these youtubers know this and continue, they keep their many millions of followers in the dark about this and keep up the facade. These people have more publicity than anyone in the otter conservation space could dream to have, but they're just interested in supplying cute videos for the masses. I don't watch any of these pet otter channels anymore.

I wish that I could enjoy these videos. I'll admit it, they are certainly cute, but the fact that they're so cute isn't helping the otters, because it just encourages more poachers to go out and harm wild otters. I've stopped watching them, and I wish that there was some sort of way to raise awareness about how harmful these channels are to otters, but I don't know how we could get that message out to the people that need to hear it

It's unfortunate how popular these videos are. Too many people don't know.