This question crosses my mind once in awhile so I figured I'd ask. Does EVERY BP hate being "petted" or stroked? It seems to be instinct for a few people who've held my snake, and when I first got him and he stayed mostly balled up around me (new environment + not used to people) I could stroke his back lightly for half a minute and he'd unball. It was the only thing that got him to pull his head out back then, actually, and then he would relax and start flicking his tongue a bit. He still flinches if anyone touches near his head, of course, so I know what he looks like when he's trying to get away from something.

Anyway.

I was at a reptile store a few weeks ago and was handed a nervous BP, and he had the same reaction to gentle touching. However, the... "reptile attendant" saw me do this and said BPs hate it. Do you ever sort of pet your snake? Am I wrong in assuming that if they stop tensing up when they're touched, these two snakes in particular don't hate it?