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Snake Haters!

Been there, and I can tell you why.

To be perfectly honest, I used to be terrified of snakes. I never went so far as to tell people that they were evil or wrong for keeping them as pets, or to accuse them of being poor parents to let their children around them, but I could never see why they'd want to. I think perhaps everybody's speculation on this strand is dead on. I didn't like the way they moved at all- it freaked me out to no end. Not so much that they didn't have feet as just the movement of their body. A little disconcerting for me. And the knowledge that snakes bite. Forgive me, I'm new to the snake thing, but I think most (if not all) snakes bite. The severity of the bite wasn't really important, just that they were capable. And lets face it- they get a bad wrap. How many horror movies feature snakes in negative roles?
It wasn't until my boyfriend got a little cornsnake when he was at college (he was in a new city and didn't know anybody, and was looking for a companion. One of his schoolmates' was giving away his snakes' babies) that I came to realize they weren't so bad. Before I saw him again, he had *two* corn snakes, and told me that he would be totally alright if I didn't want to hold them or anything, but that he wanted me to see them. And now, I love them! We have three corn snakes and a ball python (the python I'm not thrilled with. They're a little bigger than I like. I'm still not TOTALLY over my phobia), and the two little ones are adorable! We just got the third, and she's stilla adapting to the new place so I'm not sure what to make of her. However, she seems pretty gentle and sweet.
Unforunately, not everyone will give you the opportunity to change their minds. If they did, they'd find out how sweet and gentle- and, dare I say, cute- these animals can be. I've only been bitten once, and it didn't hurt so much as it shocked me. But some people aren't as able to face their fears. Too bad, too. These animals make such great pets (although I still want a puppy before we get any more snakes. :laugh:
 
Taceas, don't blame snake hate on Christians. I am a Christian and Isaiah 11:8,9 talks about a time to come where children will play with Cobra's. :roflmao: I know, I know, that isn't exactly what you meant. There are just as many ignorant Christians as there are ignorant Snake Haters. It's those old timers that are just so set in there ways. But...for those of you have religiously fanatcial parents/friends that are convinced the Bible says snakes are bad, read 'em Isaiah. It's pretty funny to see the look on thier face after.
Some people can not control thier fear, but shoud be respectful of others views. I hate spiders, but if I went over someones house and they had a pet tarantula, I'd never bring up my viewpoint unless asked. I think some spiders are really beautiful, I even tolerate some in my house because I found out they were making webs and helping me catch ants when we were having a real ant problem. But heck they freak me out.
 
I wish some people were less judgemental of snakes - they don't have to like them, just.. not be such assholes about their dislike.

It's not just a Christain fault for the bad wrap snakes get - but I do know a lot of older christians that believe the snke is a manifestation of the devil. Not a belief all christians have, to be sure. It's more of a Western culture that hates them so much, I think.

Obviously snakes have their good history : even hospitals still use the Snake emblem that comes from the greeks and romans, who believed snakes wree mystical and a symbol of fertility and healing.

In the Ancient Mesoamerican beliefs, snakes were seen in visions and said to have been portals between different worlds and that gods could be seen through their mouths.

I've always thought this stuff was cool, so if someone gives me **** about it I tend to tell them how wrong they are, responding appropriately to the rudeness level of their comment of course :)
 
I also think its the lack of knowledge and education of snakes. :) My dad simply despises all snakes and anything that even resembles one, and has never give a single reason why. That just lets me know that he hates them because he doesnt know anything about them. Yet my sister has a kitten that has bitten the s*** of of me and actually drawn blood! But my sweet little corn has never even attempted to strike at me! :crazy02:

When people begin to research their fears the world will be a better place.
 
MegF. said:
That's very interesting. I wonder why that is? I've noticed the same response to dogs as well.
Click to expand...

Maybe it has to do with the fact that African nations tend to be more tropical and therefore have larger quantities of venomous snakes?? Maybe it is something that has become ingrained in their psyche. Fear and avoidance of snakes = staying alive longer.

Caucasians, who lived in the far Northern areas, would not have come into contact with as many snakes PERIOD, especially venomous ones.
 
it makes me mad as well when people complain about why i love snakes so much. mind your own damn business and grow some balls!!!!! seriously, the people i find scared of snakes sometimes, makes me laugh! i work at a pet store and whenever i handle them some people are either interested and wanna get their paws on one, or they run away to the hamsters and bunnies! babbling on about how snakes are discusting the whole way. i now just ignore those people.
 
People are just afraid of what they do not understand.. Fear is a big driving factor behind a lot of people.. Its really is sad.
 
Now my mother has a fear of snakes. She doesn't even like snake jewelry or pictures of them. She was taught this fear by her father because I remember her writing about it in one of her newspaper articles. But then she married my dad who is a wildlife biologist and always promoted the truth about animals. ( He hates the spin Disney has put on the natural world! ) She understood that her fear of snakes was irrational and tried very hard to make sure that she did not pass it on to her three kids. In this she was very successful and I am grateful to her for that.

I have noticed that where I live, its harder to find shows like Crocodile Hunter and Jeff Corwin and easier to find shows like "Fatal Attractions". This does a great disservice to any herpers. It teaches the general public that all snakes are venemous and will eventually kill their stupid keepers and that there is no particularly good reason to own a snake of any type. And people watch these shows because they want to see something dramatic happen. They want to see someone get bit. This doesn't help!

Instead of complaining and rehashing the same thread over and over again, maybe we should DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT?!!! Like write the producers of A.P. and explain---RATIONALLY---the harm they are doing and then encourage them to promote some shows in a different vein like shows about RESPONSIBLE reptile ownership? Maybe this has been done and I'm not aware of it. But maybe if we got enough people to do this, they might even pay attention? For half a second at least. I prefer progress to stagnation and I believe this topic is so stagnant, it reeks!

In closing I have one ironic bitch. I think its amazing that a snake and a horse are equally the same. Both can KILL YOU in a variety of ways. But we idolize the horse and villify the snake. WHY?????

Devon
 
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