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Bad Publicity for Snakes?

E

Em Wright

The Ice Queen
I know that a lot of non-reptile keepers view snakes as nasty, evil, slimy creatures. It's always been in the back of mind, an ugly truth I never really wanted to face. I had just decided to do my best to show how wonderful they really are to those who don't understand them.

Possible Spoilers::

Well, today my family and I went to see the new Harry Potter movie. And there was a scene where the snake, Nagini, was order to kill someone. It was gruesome. I almost walked out of the movie theatre. The misrepresentation of how a snake kills, of a snake killing for seeming pleasure was painful. Sure the snake is evil, but it just felt so wrong!! How many children have seen this movie and are now terrified of snakes? How many adults have seen it and view all snakes as evil?

Harry Potter isn't the only movie/book/whatever showing snakes as bad, I know and I'm not knocking the Potter franchise or any other for that matter. I just find the whole thing sickeningly frustrating and saddening.

I mean, there are all kinds of movies where mice and rats are turned into adorable characters. But you NEVER see that with a snake. They're always the bad guys, they're always sinister and dark. Conan the Barbarian is another good example, the snakes were associated with the bad guy. Anaconda was a monster film with a giant snake slaughtering people (been a while, details are vague). Snakes on a Plane spazzing out and biting people for no apparent reason. When do snakes get to be adorable characters?!?!

Does this bother anyone else? Am I over-reacting?

Snakes are so misunderstood and they'll never be seen properly if they continue to be associated with dark forces. :mad:
 
I totally agree..
Jackass manages to get away with being cruel (IMO) to snakes in the name of fun, because of this...
My opinion of my snakes (the only ones I have hands on experience with) are that they are shy, inquisitive and timid.......
Certainly not evil.
 
Yes, it is frustrating. As a lover of all forms of story-telling, I do get a little aggravated that snakes are always portrayed as a creature of evil. Its a shame really. There are some cultures where snakes are not viewed as bad creatures. In the Native American tradition the snake is viewed as a creature of transformation. In Vietnam, they have a festival in honor of a snake god. And the cadeus of medicine symbol has two entwined snakes as their logo of healing. So SOMEWHERE some cultures did not always view snakes as evil.

I guess I'm just gonna have to fix this and write a fairy tale type story where the snake is the good guy! And then somehow make this story as famous as "The Princess Bride." Waddya think??

Devon
 
I've not seen Jackass, but the thought of someone being cruel to snakes is highly aggrivating to me. Even venomous snakes deserve respect.

Devon, I was thinking the same exact thing. I'm writing a book atm and I'm using Naga as a race of healers. In many video games, Guild Wars, World of Warcraft, Naga are bad/evil snake humanoids. I've also refused to associate snakes with any evil force and plan on associating one with good at some point.

However, I think the Cadeus of Medicine symbol is derived from the Bronze Serpent in the Bible. Numbers 21:6-9 says:

Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. - The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people. - The Lord said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." - So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.

I could be wrong. But that's what I've always thought. And while this passage shows snakes as instruments of punishment, it also shows them as symbols of healing, too.

I do think a lot of misgivings regarding snakes comes from the fear of venomous snake bites. Not everyone realizes that non-venomous snakes such as Corns, Kings, Rats, Boids, etc can actually be fun and lovable. They're so caught up in the "omg if I get bitten by a snake I'll die!!" that they fear ALL snakes.

But even venomous snakes aren't necessarily evil. They usually strike to defend themselves, just like any wild creature that feels threatened or is startled when people go traipsing through the woods or a field or whatever. Snakes don't bite people for the fun of it and that's something few "outsiders" seem to understand. :(
 
Yes most people have a fear and down right hatred for serpents, and I feel it is up to snake owners to tactfully educate the public about our beloved critters. I also think it is time we stop bickering among ourselves over petty things such as how one feeds or what they feed, on housing, or what ever the latest train wrecky thread is about.
It is time we stand and show the general public we and our serpents didn't make anyone eat an apple. That they are not out to get anyone and that they don't lay in wait for the hapless. The reptile industry comes under enough attacks without us attacking each other. As the old saying says "can't we all just get along?"
As most of you know the fear of snakes is a learned fear, you can see it in a child's eyes the wonder and awe of seeing and handling a snake. And can also see it as they get older and have been taught to be afraid. So why can't we do something to teach them the truth and maybe it will save a few more of the world's snakes.
 
Dreamsnake, that's Legends of the Guardians right? I found it very interesting that the owls were all pretty accurately portrayed but the snake was a jumble of something or other. Great movie example though.
 
Dreamsnake said:
The Guardians of Ga'hoole had a good snake named Mrs. P; she was a nanny for the owlets.
Click to expand...
I loved that movie! :)

crotalis40741 said:
Yes most people have a fear and down right hatred for serpents, and I feel it is up to snake owners to tactfully educate the public about our beloved critters. I also think it is time we stop bickering among ourselves over petty things such as how one feeds or what they feed, on housing, or what ever the latest train wrecky thread is about.
It is time we stand and show the general public we and our serpents didn't make anyone eat an apple. That they are not out to get anyone and that they don't lay in wait for the hapless. The reptile industry comes under enough attacks without us attacking each other. As the old saying says "can't we all just get along?"
As most of you know the fear of snakes is a learned fear, you can see it in a child's eyes the wonder and awe of seeing and handling a snake. And can also see it as they get older and have been taught to be afraid. So why can't we do something to teach them the truth and maybe it will save a few more of the world's snakes.
Click to expand...
Very well put Bob :)
 
Oh really? I was mildly interested in that movie, but didn't get to see it! I'll have to look into getting it from Netflix. I'd like to see the good snake reference! Thanks for bringing that up, makes me happy. :)

Well said, Bob!
 
Soooooooooo if someone...and I'm not mentioning WHO....were to write a story where snakes were shown in a POSITIVE light maybe as main or supporting characters....what would you like to see in it????

Devon
 
crotalis40741 said:
Yes most people have a fear and down right hatred for serpents, and I feel it is up to snake owners to tactfully educate the public about our beloved critters. I also think it is time we stop bickering among ourselves over petty things such as how one feeds or what they feed, on housing, or what ever the latest train wrecky thread is about.
It is time we stand and show the general public we and our serpents didn't make anyone eat an apple. That they are not out to get anyone and that they don't lay in wait for the hapless. The reptile industry comes under enough attacks without us attacking each other. As the old saying says "can't we all just get along?"
As most of you know the fear of snakes is a learned fear, you can see it in a child's eyes the wonder and awe of seeing and handling a snake. And can also see it as they get older and have been taught to be afraid. So why can't we do something to teach them the truth and maybe it will save a few more of the world's snakes.
Click to expand...

Very well said. I would really love to see more "reptile houses" opened up in major cities that are geared towards informing the public via educational shows and demonstrations. I firmly believe that positive interactions at a young age is the only way to overcome the hatred towards reptiles. My dream is to see one opened in Portland (where I live). I'm working on it. :)
 
I've been thinking of putting together a presentation about snakes, specifically corn snakes probably, for schools and maybe small gatherings. I think these sorts of presentations are extremely beneficial to our community in showing that not all snakes are dangerous and are actually quite wonderful. :)
 
In the first book/movie, Harry speaks with a snake and semi-accidentally releases it. It was very friendly and spoke with him politely. It even scared his cousin (I think it's his cousin) a bit as it escaped, if I recall.
 
Em, I was thinking about doing the same thing, but here money is being cut back to the bone for education. And security is tight in schools since the Columbine shooting. You can't get into a school without bending over backwards and taking it up the you-know-what first. They've even cut the D.A.R.E. program, music, art, and P.E.

I'm actually exploring what it will take to open up a "private" school of sorts that will be open to anyone who wants an actual education for their children. I'm in the very beginning stages, so no details yet. The initial idea is providing top education in math, science, languages, writing, health/P.E., basic animal care, and basic "real-life" issues such as drugs, getting a job, and being a good Samaritan.

I've also considered using corn snakes and mice/rats to teach basic genetics. A program like that would be offered to schools, but because of cutbacks, no school is paying for "extras". I'd even written up a huge 60 minute presentation on my computer with visual effects before I learned of the school cutbacks.
 
Ouch the school cutbacks is bad. I had a teacher here ask me to do a presentation, but she hasn't gotten back to me other than to say the principle okayed it. Then again Arkansas is different than Colorado I'm sure. :shrugs: It does suck you can't work out a program with at least one of your schools.

If I did this I wouldn't ask for compensation from schools. If I did it for small gatherings, such as parties, I would have a cost, even if it was just gas money. And I think the rules for that would have to be REALLY strict. I'd have to give it more thought.

I do agree that we need to get into the community more. I know some folks who do, I've been to a few presentations and loved them, I just wish there were more! :)
 
The only thing I can think of is getting a permit to have a gathering. If I remember correctly, I posted last year about coming up with a "snake-nic" similar to a "pignic" for guinea pig owners. We could probably turn it into an educational gathering in a good place. Perhaps downtown Denver. Unfortunately, because permits cost money and getting food for guests costs, there would have to be an entry fee. Unless, of course, we can get a few companies like State Farm, reptile rescues/animal rescues, and similar to buy booths. Just throwing ideas out there.

I hope you get to do a presentation. I wouldn't charge a fee either, but would have to get parents to sign a waiver because of the whole "biting salmonella carrier" aspect. Even if we know different, it's a liability. Which makes me wonder about getting some sort of insurance for that sort of thing.
 
Or you could have purchaseable items... like T-shirts, jewelry, etc that's representative of the gathering (Reptile Education Festival official memorabilia). I think booths are also a great idea... perhaps book people to set up education booths. Genetics, morphs, species, venomous, etc where each person has a focus to their table/booth. Then have scheduled presentations about different subjects, such as husbandry, handling. Even get a photographer to do photos of guests with snakes.

I think to separate it from a show or expo you'd not want to sell any live animals or really any merchandise other than "buy official stuffs to show your support!" to cover permits, etc.

As for food... Maybe work with some place to provide finger foods and drinks as part of a donation, allow them to charge for it (not obscene prices, I've been to sci-fi conventions where a can of soda was $5 that's retarded) or something along those lines. A lot of organizations are more than willing to work toward community functions, awareness, fund-raisers, etc. I've seen that with the 501st - people gobble up a good cause and if you find the right people, they'd seen reptile awareness as a good cause, too.

I think Little Rock for here in AR would be a good place. I think this would be worth working on and putting together. For many areas in the US and other countries.

About a waiver. I understand taking precautions to protect ourselves and the snakes. Makes me wonder if petting zoos and things like that use waivers? They usually have mini horses, chickens, sheep, etc and I think those pose more of a risk than a corn snake. As a child I don't remember there being any need for that sort of thing, but times have changed. It'd be interesting to find out though and to find out what's expected by parents and teachers.
 
I think petting zoos are usually big enough to have good insurance. I know the Denver Zoo has/had a petting zoo and they are obviously big enough to have a couple million dollars of insurance.

We'll have think more on doing an education scene and perhaps stop stealing the thread. Lol :D
 
A good snake I grew up with was the little green snake from Little Bear (books and cartoon)!

I agree the snakes always being portrayed as evil. It doesn't help anyone learn otherwise. I've had a lot of kids (cousins and their friends and so on) come to my house to see my snakes and want to hold or touch them. They always seem curious. But some change their tunes when they see their parents cringe or say something bad about snakes. Then some decide to try and torture their parents with a snake. I take the snakes from them when they do that. But my point is all the kids that I've showed my snakes too were not afraid of them and were really curious and thought they were cool.
 
Piers Anthony had a girl who could change into a snake in some of his Xanth stories. I think she was a good, or at least non evil character. I haven't read anything from him since Junior High. He also had a magic snake ring that came to life in his Immortal story line. The snake ring gave advice by squeezing so it could only answer yes or no questions.

That is all I can remember for now.
 
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