Whenever people find out that I keep turtles

Sounds like plenty of great opportunities to educate some folk for our members. Not taking things personally is the key I've found; at least they're interested enough to comment. I kindly answer any questions and dispel some common misconceptions. Haters will hate and trolls will troll. Just so, there are often genuinely interested people on the sidelines so it's always good to keep your cool and strive to make it a positive learning experience.

It's funny, here in AZ I get a lot of curious people who ask a lot of questions (Little Dude even has a fan club with the neighborhood kids). But the DH says that in VA/WV/KY (where he's currently working) when people find out we have snakes the most common response is "but why?" As in true, genuine confusion that reptiles could even be kept as pets.

My coworker just told me a few minutes ago that his friend's gf said we should kill the snake we just rescued (and the other one I own as a pet) because they're evil and the form of the devil in the Bible. She also claimed it would kill us or our cats if it had the chance. Naturally, debating the point with her did no good.

I guess she's as entitled to her beliefs as I am to mine, but God help her (no pun intended) if she ever tries to hurt one of my critters.

Whoops, meant to say my bf* just told me that. He works with the couple I mentioned.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Artemille

I hate when people see a full grown smallish snake and go, "Well, it's only that small for now. What are you going to do when it's thirty feet long?"
"

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Lol,people are just stupid..they think they hear the word python or boa and automatically the snake will be a 20 foot long man eater