Coping with Closed Minds

Hey y'all. I came across a situation recently that I thought I would share and see if anyone ever had the same. After I got my spider last week I was so excited I took a bunch of pictures and posted them on facebook. I got a close friend of mine commenting that she was super excited for me, even has a boy of her own she's had for a couple years and now she's interested in getting more... she's even gonna go to the expo with me in November. My concern, however, wasn't from my friend.

My cousin responded to one of the pictures I posted, "Ew gross, kill it". My first reaction was just rage. I can't imagine anyone telling another person to kill their pets. Like them or not, that's an animal that matters to another person. I told her fairly calmly that I didn't think it was appropriate. That I never say to kill her dogs or lizards, so I find it offensive that she would say that about my snakes. She apologized but quickly followed with a snake is not like a dog or lizard, that anything that crawls doesn't belong in a home, especially something that can hurt people.

To me this seems incredibly close minded and judgemental. Has anyone dealt with this kind of behavior before? It seems to me the opinions people have of snakes simply isn't fair. My aunt even told me I was being a careless mother for bringing a snake into my house with a young child, that I wasn't thinking of her well being. I mean... come on. Neither of my little girls could hurt my baby unless she tried to swallow them and choked. (Which by the way would never happen as they are out of reach of her and never, ever, has she even touched them without me holding them.)

This just frustrates me to no end. What would you do? What have you done? How do you cope with people being so blind to how truly great these animals are?

The only way to combat ignorance is with education. I am dealing with the issue now with family and coworkers, but I am bringing them around with snakes. Now, getting them to agree with me about how great pitbulls are, is another battle.

Honestly, I was petrified of snakes up until very recently. My fiance had a ball python, and I wouldnt go in the same room with it. I held him once on my own before he died and the idea of getting another one was only appealing because it would make him happy. Ironicly enough I was the one who saw my little girl at the pet store and begged to get that one specifically XDD.

Even when I was scared of them though(which that fear is LONG gone:rolleyes: )
I never wished harm on them. I just didnt want to be around them. Some people just think because a snake can get six feed long it will turn into a bloodthirsty monster and swallow your kids. Unfortunately because of all the demonization snakes have experienced in, the christian cultures more than any other, people just wont accept them. I actually know a woman who considers snakes the incarnation of satan and goes out of her way to run them over with her car if she sees one on the street. You need to really experience what having a snake as a pet is like in order to feel what we feel for them I guess.

Id say your best best is to grin and bear it. It sucks, but no amount of talking will change a stubborn preconception. And getting mad will only push the ignorant further away. Im really sorry youre meeting so much opposition = (

Been there.. Am there.. I have certain members of my family that will no longer come to my house because of my snakes. Its an irrational fear, but a fear none the less. Some will come arround with a little education. My best expierence is letting them ask all the questions under the sun and having good quality answers for them.

If you know lots and can pass that info on. Then it is easier for them to feel comfortable.

I knew going into snakes that they aren't for everyone. It's something that gets easier to deal with the longer you your in the hobby.. Just smile and ignore them..

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Originally Posted by Riv

I actually know a woman who considers snakes the incarnation of satan and goes out of her way to run them over with her car if she sees one on the street.

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Not to dive into the religious angle too much, but I find it pretty ridiculous that she uses death and destruction as her defense of good... Does she support the Crusades as well? ;)

I knew that there were people out there who do not like snakes. I even knew that some of my family doesn't like snakes. What I wasn't prepared for was the level of hatred they have for them. To mention killing them or to tell me I'm putting my daughter in danger just boggles me! :rolleye2:

You will never change the minds of everyone. there will always be those that have a fear of snakes.educated them is not going to help.ignoring them is the only option

To be completely honest, when people tell me that "I better get rid of my snake before I have kids" or something like that nonsense... I kinda breathe a sigh of relief. I know for a fact that there's no danger, especially when considering the amount of harm an angry bp would do vs an angry dog. But that irrational fear on their part just means I'll never be asked to babysit, or deal with their kids coming over :D

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

Not to dive into the religious angle too much, but I find it pretty ridiculous that she uses death and destruction as her defense of good... Does she support the Crusades as well? ;)

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Haha. Well in her defense, she kinda went bat poop crazy. Her daughter was born with diabetes and scoliosis, then after they finally thought they had that under control she had her first signs of Multiple sclerosis. By the time they had it diagnosed she was CONVINCED the devil was out to get her and her family and went on a psycho religious rampage running over snakes and trying to expel demons. It was a little nuts XDD I no longer go to that church though so I cant really say how she is these days.

But either way, blaming the snakes aint the way to go here.