Why do people have so much hates for snakes.

[InquisitorXIII]

So today I was picking my kids up from the In-Laws and they found out that we are getting two more ball pythons this month. One is a lesser pastel and the other is a bumblebee but I got yelled at for getting two more she went off telling my that they will hurt the kids and she was going to call DSS on me just because I have a few Ball Pythons. I know if she calls DSS they won't do anything because they are harmless but has anyone gone through something similar?
P.S. I know there is a typo in the title I just saw it after posting XD

[CitricPrincess]

Wow, that. XD People who freak out that bad amuse me more than anything. I don't have a story nearly so bad, but when I got Nagisa, I was with my cousin who had just had a baby not long before, and she also obtained a ball python. Making far more use of Social media than I do, she posted it on facebook. It didn't take long before our beloved grandmother posted "A python? Aren't those the ones that eat babies?" ... No grandma. The baby is safe from this itty worm of a snake. Don't worry.

Not a snake, but that same event, I held a baby caiman that was at the expo. My cousin posted this pic with the news of her snake, and said that I had bought that at the show, just to see what reactions we'd get, even stating it's name as what I had named the ball python that I actually did bring home. Well, a few hours later when we had half forgotten about it, I got a call from Mom and as soon as I answered the phone the first thing she said was "Am I still talking to you?" Appearantly she had looked up what that creature was, and was not thrilled.

My mom is afraid of snakes, though, and the first time I told her I got a corn snake she didn't want to see it at all, but then I showed it to her and of course, 'cause it was a tiny baby cornsnake, her reaction was "That's a snake? No, that's a worm. I can stand a worm."

So yeah, no story quite so extreme as yours, but they are pitifully misunderstood and unloved critters.

[redshepherd]

Snakes are so misunderstood, it's a shame. :\ I find that just showing them your smallest, calmest ball python in person and having them hold it in their hands always helps the most. People are always caught off guard and surprised by how harmless they are.

It's almost always myths and sayings that create the average person's perception of "snakes = dangerous", when they've never actually met a pet snake in person.

[sneakysnake611]

i think it is a media and society issue.

ive heard that the only natural fears that people have are falling and sudden loud noises. all other fears are a result of being learned. such as guns, bugs, snakes, spiders.

its not politically correct to like snakes in the average majorities opinions now days, and apparently they are all "poisonous" as they all say. I like to correct people and tell them that their is no such thing as a poisonous snake, and then explain to them that there are VENEMOUS snakes. and then they get a dumbfounded look on their face.

same thing with gun "clips" people call them when they are called MAGAZINES in real life. its all fed from the media. lots of wrong information out there that gets jammed into peoples brain and they become brainwashed cause if they hear it on the news or read about it than it must be true.


I'm a gun enthusiast and a snake lover so that puts me as a black sheep to others.

[amrakweno]

Sounds like the problem might stem a little deeper than the snakes but that's just my opinion... Also I have not discovered hatred but fear mainly. Majority of people don't see them as say a dog or cat. While they are largely different, it's no different. They are our beloved pets rather they have limbs or not, cold blooded or warm. Most outsiders of this community I've found as a new owner from my mom , grandma , fiancé ,and co workers. It's the unknown and lack of knowledge.

[redshepherd]

I thought I'd add- I find it horrible and hilarious how an average person is scared of a ball python with just hearing the word "python", but is totally fine with iguanas, and have no idea how much more risky an iguana is to a child than a little python. An adult iguana bite can do some REAL damage!

[voodoolamb]

I always figured it came from them being cast as the "bad guy" in that whole Garden of Eden story.

Plus a little smudge if genetic fear.

[redshepherd]

I always figured it came from them being cast as the "bad guy" in that whole Garden of Eden story.

Plus a little smudge if genetic fear.

You know, what's interesting about the Garden of Eden story is that the "serpent" was not even specified as a snake. In fact, it was only AFTER the serpent fooled Adam and Eve, that it states God "took away the serpent's limbs and cursed it to crawl on its belly forever" or something like that. I hope these people can stop using the serpent in that story as an excuse LOL!

I do believe that a fear/disgust of snakes seems to be somewhat inherent in some people... Definitely not all. And "hate" definitely isn't inherent either.

[Sallos]

People are probably genetically programmed to fear things that are potentially dangerous. Then add to that media and cinematic sensationalism, folklore saying they are evil, and general ignorance believing they are slimy, creepy, or all venomous, and you end up with snakeists.


It's like this sad story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1zLX01X4ow

[LightningPython]

We have a natural fear of the unknown, and not being used to snakes makes you fear them as you don't know if it can kill you or not. Knowing that some snakes have venom can make it hard for someone with little to no experience with snakes to actually identify the ones that can do damage over the ones that can't, which in turn may cause a fear for all snakes in general

But education is key, and knowing which ones are harmless and are somewhat docile towards people can soon give them the understanding they need to get over the fear