family members who don't like snakes........

[snakemomma77]

So I noticed that a couple of my friends (cousins) deleted and blocked me from FB. No biggie IMO. So I told my brother and he was like hum, I wonder why? I said IDK, really don't care. So my brother called me the other day and told me that our mom saw these (cousins) in WM and they said that they deleted me because of my snakes........crazy I know...They told her that everytime they went to my wall, they saw one of my snakes. ROFL. They even said that I sould not have these snakes in my house with my kids. I have 3 BP, 1 corn, and 1 KSB. Eat my kids, yea right.

So Im on the phone with my dad last night and I told him about what happened, he really did'nt say too much about it. My dad usually has a fish fry at his house every summer and invites the whole family, I told him that when he has a fish fry, that I was bringing two of my snakes and they were going to get SCHOOLED IN SNAKE AWESOMENESS! He just laughed a little. I think its time for some education to say the least.

I guess when you get exotic pets, you find out who your real friends are.

[Trochu]

I guess when you get exotic pets, you find out who your real friends are.

More likely, you find out who really doesn't like snakes. I've heard of people who won't read/touch/allow it to be face up, a book because there was a picture of a snake on the cover.

I don't think friendship has anything to do with it......

[Wes]

My girlfriends retarded step father just told her today that he was going to call DSS on us because it wasn't safe for our 4 year old to be in the same house as my snakes..... GOD I HATE STUPID PEOPLE SO MUCH!!!!!!!

[snakemomma77]

My girlfriends retarded step father just told her today that he was going to call DSS on us because it wasn't safe for our 4 year old to be in the same house as my snakes..... GOD I HATE STUPID PEOPLE SO MUCH!!!!!!!

That's RIDICULOUS!!!

[satomi325]

Honestly, it may not be as personal as it seems. I would ask your friends(cousins?).

One of my best friends messaged me one day and told me she blocked me on facebook because I posted snake pictures all the time. It's not that she thinks they're gross or slimy. She's terrified of snakes and has a real phobia of them. I totally forgot about her phobia and apparently she freaked out every time she saw a snake on her computer screen.

I eventually just blocked her from seeing that particular snake album and she unblocked me. All is well.

My girlfriends retarded step father just told her today that he was going to call DSS on us because it wasn't safe for our 4 year old to be in the same house as my snakes..... GOD I HATE STUPID PEOPLE SO MUCH!!!!!!!

Tell him that the common family dog has a higher chance of attacking a child.
I don't have the exact statistics, but something like 20 children die each year from dog attacks. The humane society states that pet snakes have been responsible for only 12 deaths in the US in the last 30 years. (These were larger breed snakes that were most likely not housed correctly too)

[Kodieh]

Many of my relatives ask me "Why?" about my snake and leo's. I just tell them it's my hobby; why does my step-dad make medieval jewelry? Why does my mother bake and decorate cakes? Why does my grandmother paint? Those are usually my responses and I say it's what I love to do just the same as anyone else who has a hobby. It's just that my hobby is living.

My step-dad who used to say "I'll kill a snake if I see it" has moved from that into telling me about a guy at his work who usually is hatching snakes out. I've heard some GREAT deals, just don't have the room or money right now.

[Don]

I understand your urge to educate your cousins in how awesome snakes are. However, I hope you think twice about forcing it on them at a fish fry. If they are so afraid that they unfriended you on FB, then they may have a real phobia and exposing them to a surprise snake show at the fish fry, may just make it worse. Not to mention, create more hostility in the family.

I have family members who do not like snakes. The way to convince them is to allow them to become accustomed to them on their terms. When these people come to my home, they don't even see a snake, unless they ask. If they are comfortable with seeing them, I take them to the ball room (what I call my snake room). I will pull out a small very pretty one, like a pied or spied and handle it so they can see it. Then maybe go to a larger adult. I will hold the head and allow them to touch the tail, if they want to. Many people like the feel of the bellies.

The whole time I'm doing this, I talk about how cool they are and how they are cared for. Normally, before they leave they not only hold one, but seriously think of owning one. Bring people along at their pace. Sometimes it takes two, three or four times visiting the ball room before they will touch or hold one.

Of course, some of my phobic family have still not seen them and that is OK. We progress their education at their pace, not mine. It is your job as a snake owner to make sure your snakes and guests are comfortable and safe.

[Wes]

That's RIDICULOUS!!!

Tell me about it! Especially since he has never been to my house or seen any of my snakes, and is proud of the fact that the only snake he has ever held is a dead one and that is the "only way he would ever hold one" as he so proudly likes to brag about... I have met a lot of people who have a irrational fear of snakes, but this guy takes the cake.

[DooLittle]

How sad. Thankfully, all of our family has come around to at least not thinking they are evil. Some of them even enjoy them, now having been around them. Kinda hard to be terrified of them when the small child is holding them, lol.

[Jazi]

I have family that truly believes that all snakes are venomous and that if Quetzal should ever bite me, my skin will turn black around the area and fall off. They also believe that he's completely capable of constricting me to death at his current size of 2ft and that in a few years he'll grow large enough to eat my cat and their dogs (all breeds that are 50+lbs). They're positive he'll grow to be large enough to swallow me whole and that it's a good thing I have locking clips on my tank as otherwise he'd get out and make babies in the wilderness of Pennsylvania. It's not phobia but misinformation spurring their fear and, quite frankly, rudeness. I have no separate snake room so when they're visiting my apartment they're going to see the tank on the now-defunct dining room table.

On the other hand I have friends that are absolutely terrified of snakes remarking on how calm and laidback Quetzal is when I take him out even though they won't get near him, touch him, or even look at him. They are truly interested in the way he's kept and the way we interact, even though they say they could never do it themselves. When they say something spurred on by misinformation and myth, and I correct them, they're always interested to know how they might be wrong and adjust their knowledge accordingly, even though they don't want to have anything to do with snakes.

There's a difference between the two and I think finding out which one your cousins side with should be first.