Plain Stupidity

[Diamond_1028]

I dislike how people say dumb things about snakes.

My cousin and I were talking about my snake today and I asked why she was scared of snakes and she said theyre poisonous for one. I tried to explain to her not all snakes are poisonous but she kept insisting and I wanted to punch her lolz yes violence dont solve anything.

Than this little boy seen my snake the other day and asked what it ate and Im like wow kid, youre like ten, watch some animal planet and he kept insisting for me to put it on the floor and let it go under the couch to scare his mom..umm weird, Im not guna let some lady g stomp my baby.

Oh and my cousins wife told me to get the snake away from her because they bite. I know everything that has a mouth could bite but Ive never had a bad experience with my snakes biting just for the hell of it.

Today my auntie told me she had mice and to let my snake loose in her kitchen, oooh no. I am not stupid and that sounds stupid.

My moms husband jumps and runs away when the snakes by him and I ask him why you scared of it? He said he aint scared he just dont like them. Thats clearly not a reason why youd run but okay but dont it offend you when people make stupid remarks about your snake or ask dumb things? Ugh I hate it already. I protect it like its my kid haha I know, ridicolous but what has someone done that bugged you about your snake if I can make it any clearer?

[unspecified42]

A lot of people are ignorant about snakes, but I know I'm pretty ignorant of a lot of other things, so I guess I just take it with a grain of salt. A lot of people I run across are afraid of them as well, so I just avoid the topic around them. Snakes have a bad enough rep without me pushing them on people who just plain don't like them!

[zantedeschia]

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My cousin and I were talking about my snake today and I asked why she was scared of snakes and she said theyre poisonous for one.

This is one of my pet peeves.

NO snakes are poisonous. ZERO.

[BPelizabeth]

lol...its called venemous!! When I hear things I just take it as a chance to educate ppl. I work at a school so I hear it ALL. 99% of the kids think its cool...most of the adults are on the fence but at least they listen to reason. I never try to push it on anyone.

I am actually having a reptile expo for all of 2nd and 3rd grades at my school. I have hired a company to come in to bring in tons of different reptiles. We will do a half an hour of education and a half an hour of interaction. I am actually doing research on all of the different reptiles and creating a powerpoint presentation. Egads...I am giving the presentation...lol But I am very very excited to educate children and their parents (if they choose to come) about reptiles. If I had more money to pay for the company....I would do it for all of the grades. But I have a child in third grade and then I am an aide for second.....soooo...that is all that I can do at this time.

[kitedemon]

Why do people think snakes are slimey? SLIMEY!!! I keep responding with suede-y no slime mucus or other slippery stuff just smooth and soft. I'll offer my guy to touch if they would like, sometimes they will sometimes they won't, their loss.

[Kaorte]

lol...its called venemous!! When I hear things I just take it as a chance to educate ppl. I work at a school so I hear it ALL. 99% of the kids think its cool...most of the adults are on the fence but at least they listen to reason. I never try to push it on anyone.

I am actually having a reptile expo for all of 2nd and 3rd grades at my school. I have hired a company to come in to bring in tons of different reptiles. We will do a half an hour of education and a half an hour of interaction. I am actually doing research on all of the different reptiles and creating a powerpoint presentation. Egads...I am giving the presentation...lol But I am very very excited to educate children and their parents (if they choose to come) about reptiles. If I had more money to pay for the company....I would do it for all of the grades. But I have a child in third grade and then I am an aide for second.....soooo...that is all that I can do at this time.

Dude, that sounds awesome! I remember doing something very similair in elementary school. It is one of the few things from primary that I actually remember!

I would really love to use my animals for educational purposes but I don't know how I would go about setting up something like that :/ blegh

To the OP: When I meet people who are afraid of snakes, I do my best to keep the snake away from them. I usually do ask why they are afraid and sometimes they are afraid because of false stories that they have heard. It actually gives them comfort to know that their fears are based upon something that is entirely untrue and they usually then feel comfortable enough to look at or even touch the snake.

That being said, you should respect peoples wishes when it comes to phobias. Give snakes a good name by respecting those who don't fancy them to much!

Why do people think snakes are slimey? SLIMEY!!! I keep responding with suede-y no slime mucus or other slippery stuff just smooth and soft. I'll offer my guy to touch if they would like, sometimes they will sometimes they won't, their loss.

I get this all to often. I simply offer a snake for them to feel and 9 times out of 10 they are completely surprised by how soft their skin is. Then they usually take the snake from me and hold it for a few hours Its pretty amazing that something as simple as skin texture can make people un-easy.

[Aeries]

Don't worry, I feel you, it's very frustrating, and it doesn't make us feel good when people are disgusted or fearful of something we love. That why I use my animals for education. I have the firm belief that A fear of snakes is a sociological construct. I very rarely ever meet kids who are afraid of them. If the kids have a chance to interact with them hands-on, and learn to put aside some of the worse myths, then there's a much greater chance that they won't grow to fear them in adulthood. I've turned many an adult as well. There's nothing more rewarding than that, even though I admit I do get a little peeved about constantly answering the question about if they're 'poisonous'.

[TJ'sHerps]

This is one of my pet peeves.

NO snakes are poisonous. ZERO.

Mine as well. No matter how many times I explain this to people they still refer to them as Poisonous.

[photoman100169]

I have to say that up untill about 10yrs ago I didn't like any reptile at all. I didn't mind them but there was no way that I was going to touch one. Then my g/f at the time (now wife) decided she wanted a snake for her b-day so I HAD to get used to it and now I love them. Point is most people are scared of things that they don't understand. Everytime I bring up my snakes in front of my mom she asks "aren't you afraid one is going to get out and get the baby" I just laugh at her and let her know that my cat has more of a chance of hurting the baby then any of my snakes.

Some people will get over their fear with a little education and some people never will

[BPelizabeth]

Thanks Kaorte.....I am so excited!!!! I work at the school and often refer to my snakes in teaching. (Im not a teacher just an aide but I do teach them a few things) It just gets the kids attention. So it was easy for me to ask to do this and I had all of the teachers support. I am bringing in a company and all together we should be showing over 40 animals. OMG...I am so excited. I am sure I will probably be doing this each year as my son goes into another grade.

I also thought of a really cool thing to do as well. You can talk to science teachers and when they are doing their genetics training you can do something with your balls. This is an amazing way to teach kids about genetics.

I have had a friend approach me in regards to starting a company that does travels around and does expos for schools. I think it would be such a cool idea...but I don't have the reptiles myself to do this....and my hubby would kill me if I started a zoo at the house....lol