• Hello!

    Either you have not registered on this site yet, or you are registered but have not logged in. In either case, you will not be able to use the full functionality of this site until you have registered, and then logged in after your registration has been approved.

    Registration is FREE, so please register so you can participate instead of remaining a lurker....

    Please be certain that the location field is correctly filled out when you register. All registrations that appear to be bogus will be rejected. Which means that if your location field does NOT match the actual location of your registration IP address, then your registration will be rejected.

    Sorry about the strictness of this requirement, but it is necessary to block spammers and scammers at the door as much as possible.

My own little controversial topic... Just how "weird" are we?!

Tula_Montage

Tula_Montage

It's Jager time!
The general consensus of people who don't keep, or know much about snakes/reptiles is that snake keepers are "weird". Our animals are yuck, and vomit worthy.

On the net, the snake keeper community is HUGE. I never knew a thing about snakes until just over a year ago - and in that time I have gained so much knowledge and met so many wonderful people.

Yet it has come to my attention that some peoples irrational fear of snakes has manifested into a fear of their keepers as well!? I know I have had many comments made about me being devilish and disgusting for keeping snakes. Hell they call me "snake lady" at work - which obviously I have no problems with. I encourage work pals to question me and find out the reality of my hobby, instead of making mindless assumptions.

I have a few close pals in the hobby in my area - Not many but the few are excellent resources. How many non snake keepers would sit through 6 hours of talking about genetics whilst killing/defrosting rodents and cleaning snake poop? I get glazed eyes from most people as soon as I so much as mention snake!

Just how eccentric are we?! To what extent are we not of the "norm"?
 
  • Like
Reactions: SPJ
I don't know, if someone saw any of us on the street, I don't think we would look like snake keepers. I love talking about the hobby, and telling people that snakes are not SLIMY. (They are shocked when they hear that)
 
My boss and his wife are terrified of snakes. When I first started talking about snakes to them, my boss wouldn't even look at the pictures. I have since gotten his wife to pet 2 out of 3 of my snakes, and my boss encourages me to bring them in to work, as long as they don't interfere with doing my job.

I have had a few people look at me sideways when I tell them that my daughter and I keep snakes. It usually is OK until they find out she is 2 1/2, then they think I am some sort of psycho father that wants my kid to get bit by snakes and be cruel to mice. But usually, a pleasant conversation revolving around the benefits of learning the facts of life and death at such a young age, as well as being well-rounded enough to not needlessly fear animals she doesn't understand will end any doubts they may have.

Of course, the questions ALWAYS come down to "What if she gets bitten?" and my standard answer is "Better a snake than a dog.", and that settles it, though they still probably think I am a little wierd. They can't deny how excited SHE gets when talking about her snakes, though...
 
Fenderplayer108 said:
I don't know, if someone saw any of us on the street, I don't think we would look like snake keepers. I love talking about the hobby, and telling people that snakes are not SLIMY. (They are shocked when they hear that)
Click to expand...

Very true... But I think there is a certain look to "some" snake keepers. For example, I attend the Scottish Exotic Animals Society meetings once a month, and most members all have some sort of similar look? I can't pin point it but when you are in a room full of enthusiasts theres an aura :shrugs:
 
When I tell people that I have snakes, I usually get a response something like "YOU? You have snakes?" accompanied by some nasty grimace. I don't understand it. Some cool people out there respond by "Cool." I like those people.

I don't think owning a snake is weird or devilish. A few of my Christian friends think it's pretty cool. But some do look down on me for it.

Some people are irrationally afraid of people who wear black clothes or have ten chains around their oversized black pants. It's nothing more than a stereotype. The same applies to snake-keepers. It's easy to put people in boxes or categories. Due to the most unfortunate event in the garden of eden, snakes and the people who love them got placed in society's evil box.

However, I believe that all is not lost. One day, snake moms and snake dads will be free from the typical stereotype!! And we shall free the gothic emo teenagers as well!! Liberation is nigh!! Good people like you all and several others I know that continue to educate their friends and family will eventually bring us back from the fringes of society.
 
Rarely do I make the mistake of talking about the hobby to those who don't know me very well. But sometimes a friend or close business associate will bring it up in mixed company just to watch me squirm around. Most snake-haters can't be converted, so I don't even try. But I don't come into contact with too many of those. A lot of people seem to think it's pretty cool, and at that point the friend or associate who got me into the conversation in the first place will ask me how many I own. When I'm forced to answer, I'm usually regarded as insane afterward.

Sometimes I'll tell people that there is money to be made in this hobby. This is a half-truth at best, but many people seem to find it immediately acceptable if there's profit potential. :rolleyes:
 
raisingKane said:
When I tell people that I have snakes, I usually get a response something like "YOU? You have snakes?" accompanied by some nasty grimace. I don't understand it. Some cool people out there respond by "Cool." I like those people.

I don't think owning a snake is weird or devilish. A few of my Christian friends think it's pretty cool. But some do look down on me for it.

Some people are irrationally afraid of people who wear black clothes or have ten chains around their oversized black pants. It's nothing more than a stereotype. The same applies to snake-keepers. It's easy to put people in boxes or categories. Due to the most unfortunate event in the garden of eden, snakes and the people who love them got placed in society's evil box.

However, I believe that all is not lost. One day, snake moms and snake dads will be free from the typical stereotype!! And we shall free the gothic emo teenagers as well!! Liberation is nigh!! Good people like you all and several others I know that continue to educate their friends and family will eventually bring us back from the fringes of society.
Click to expand...

I liked your answer...

However thats a big can of worms thats been opened - Christian rejection of snakes will probably always stick. My mother is devout and HATES snakes for that reason. Although she has never been face to face with one she refuses to face up to the fact that its completely irrelevant. Snakes as creatures IMO don't deserve to be symbolised as the epitome of evil - no matter how significant it is to religious culture. But each to his own and EVERYONE has the right to their own opinion.

Of course there are many religious people who do keep snakes - and don't associate them with that kind of ancient symbolisation :shrugs:
 
:-offtopic Tula, you change your avatar FAR too often. Just when I think I can figure out whose "talking", you go and change your avatar, and confuse me all to heck and gone...:D
 
tyflier said:
:-offtopic Tula, you change your avatar FAR too often. Just when I think I can figure out whose "talking", you go and change your avatar, and confuse me all to heck and gone...:D
Click to expand...

Sorry :p I just love the advantages of a bigger avatar size... Means I can get creative :) Bad me is playing in fireworks making another right now :sidestep:
 
People are nervous of me without even having to let them know I keep multiple snakes.

I don't get it. :shrugs:

I'm really a pleasent person as you can see from this picture of me. :rolleyes:
 

Attachments

  • pic.jpg
    pic.jpg
    21.1 KB · Views: 471
lefty_mussolini said:
For some reason, I don't run into that many people that hate snakes at my work. :grin01:
Click to expand...

You're lucky. I have people at the office avoid me and go different ways when they see the "snake guy".

I told ONE perosn and he ended up blabbing it to everyone.

I get tired of the looks and having to explain that they will not kill people.

I made a joke one time when people asked me what I kept.
I named the different types and when I got to childrens python, was asked why they call it that.
I said it was named that because it's favorite food are children.
Did NOT go over like I planned.
 
SPJ said:
I made a joke one time when people asked me what I kept.
I named the different types and when I got to childrens python, was asked why they call it that.
I said it was named that because it's favorite food are children.
Did NOT go over like I planned.
Click to expand...

LMAO I'd love to see that kind of reaction. I haven't been that cruel - yet :grin01:
 
SPJ said:
People are nervous of me without even having to let them know I keep multiple snakes.

I don't get it. :shrugs:

I'm really a pleasent person as you can see from this picture of me. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Sorry, but if you look at that picture of Steve to long..his right hand raises holding a big butcher knife. ...Ooooo :sidestep:
 
SPJ said:
You're lucky. I have people at the office avoid me and go different ways when they see the "snake guy".
Click to expand...
Hehe... well, everyone who works at my "office" owns many reptiles, and so do the customers :)
 
SPJ said:
People are nervous of me without even having to let them know I keep multiple snakes.

I don't get it. :shrugs:

I'm really a pleasent person as you can see from this picture of me. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
No offense, but you definitely look like you should have a profile shot and a prison number in this picture...:D
 
Tula_Montage said:
WELL I think Steve his smiling eyes :grin01:
Click to expand...
Yea...he looks like he's smiling. Only it isn't what I would call a "Hi! Nice to meet you!" kind of smile...it's more of a "I've come for your daughter, Chuck!" kind of smile...

Jeez, Steve...I hope this doesn't offend you. I'm just given you a hard time. Trust me...my pictures are right there with yours, so...I really don;t have room to talk.
 
Lets see the crazy flyfish man then.... :rolleyes:

And now Steve is a happy prisoner... Convicted of terrorising parents with his childrens pythons!!
 

Attachments

  • pic.jpg
    pic.jpg
    14.5 KB · Views: 224
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top