Vote for BP.Net for the 2013 Forum of the Year! Click here for more info.

» Site Navigation

» Home
 > FAQ

» Online Users: 735

1 members and 734 guests
Most users ever online was 47,180, 07-16-2025 at 05:30 PM.

» Today's Birthdays

None

» Stats

Members: 75,909
Threads: 249,108
Posts: 2,572,142
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
Welcome to our newest member, KoreyBuchanan
  • 12-09-2006, 07:53 PM
    wolfy-hound
    Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
    I took one of my ball pythons around the christmas festival. Every time there is a festival I take one around. Drape him(or her) around my neck, put the dog on a leash and off we go. Mostly I got people who go "Oh look you have your snake!!" And they come up, ask to touch him, etc. Little kids come right up to pat him. This time I had approximately 6-7 people who went "EWW!! Is it poisonous? Is it going to bite you?"
    You have to understand, when I FIRST did this about 2 years ago.. I got half the people making disgusted noises, saying that poor Blackback was poisonous, saying it would bite you and kill you as soon as look at you. So the small town has come a long ways. Now I have people who tell OTHER people that "Oh that's a ball python! He wouldn't hurt anything."
    Educating is a wonderful thing. Even have one mom who can't stand snakes, but she lets her 3-4 year-old girl come pet him. "Go pet the nice snake.. yes.. no mom doesn't want to come over... you pet him for me.."
    Short form, I REALLY enjoy taking the snakes around. I enjoy talking to people about the snakes, and showing them how harmless they are. There is always one that has to be a total butt-wipe and yell that it IS poisonous and one day it WILL choke me to death and swallow me! Doesn't everyone remember seeing all those 20 foot snakes in the Everglades???
    I usually show them up as ignorant, I kiss Blackback's head gently and roll my eyes at the people. "Yes, he is vicious, a killer, monster.. could take out a battalion of marines and an elephant.. all before brunch." That usually makes the idiot stalk off to shout about keeping the dog in "captivity, and treating it like a slave."
    Crackpots exist. Don't bother shouting back, just mock them. Its loads more fun.
    Wolfy
    *ps, I am aware the term is 'venomous' and not 'poisonous', but that battle isn't even halfway over yet.
  • 12-09-2006, 08:26 PM
    Reediculous
    Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
    i wouldn't even respond to anything that she said........she is too annoying for me!!!
  • 12-09-2006, 10:44 PM
    Kojak
    Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
    I agree on educating people whole heartedly. A word of warning however. Make sure that before you go out walking around, especially at public events, of what your local city codes are. I know for a fact that in Virginia Beach they passed an ordinance banning "exotic" pets on the boardwalk. You can ride a bicycle with a dog on a leash, potentialy clothes-lining a pedestrian, but a snake draped over your shoulders is punishable with a fine. I'm sure in many places there are no exsisting laws, but usually all it takes is one or a couple of complaints from someone who has no clue, and then you can't have your leggless buddy out in public. :salute:
  • 12-09-2006, 11:06 PM
    wolfy-hound
    Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
    This is such a tiny town, they don't have the budget for the Bic pen to WRITE up laws.
    But thanks for the warning. Most places don't care unless they get a complaint, then they tell you "Take it home"
    Wolfy
  • 12-10-2006, 01:37 AM
    Rascal
    Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
    Very funny, but oh so frustrating! People are afraid of things they don't understand.

    i thought this was the funniest..

    "sigfreed and roy.....and tigers......and the sting ray guy..."

    Yah, that was really horrible when Steve Irwin's pet stingray stabbed him through the heart. Wheres the love?

    btw, good luck trying to get this girl into the same room as your snake!


    edit: Kojak.. that law was probably made so people don't go walking their giant lizards and giant snakes around the boardwalk. stupid if you ask me. My freind who lives in Berkeley was walking her 4ft Tegu monitor lizard down the street and someone called the cops.

    So you can walk your killer pitbull down the street, biting peoples necks off, but you can't take your lizzy for a walk!?!? (or your snake for a slither?)

    I'd like to see someone make a snake leash. =-P
    However that would work!
  • 12-10-2006, 02:04 AM
    sweety314
    Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
    I'm like Wolfy....We also had a visitor when my roomy was selling the Chihuahua puppies....the mom came w/the buyer and the little girl wanted to see Baby. Mom was afraid of the snake, but didn't say anything to negate my suggestion / question if the little girl wanted to pet and hold Baby. Pretty cool mom....got the little girl to understand that Baby wasn't dangerous.


    Just Thurs. was giving a looooong discussion c. our snakey pets, and the venomous/poisonous came up. Person didn't push it when I explained it's venomous, not poisonous. It was nice.

    It's ALWAYS a good feeling when I can take out the snakes to show little kids, or adults and help educate someone as to the animal's importance and specialness! :love:
  • 12-10-2006, 02:21 AM
    recycling goddess
    Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
    i love educating people. during the summer i take a snake with me to the petstore so people can see them, touch them, hold them... it's great :)

    cause i used to be absolutely terrified of snakes... which is why i got my ball actually... to get over my fear!
  • 12-10-2006, 02:34 AM
    West Coast Jungle
    Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
    My wife used to be petrified of snakes, even have nightmares about them. I was very suprised when she was in favor of getting our first BP. Now I have 15 and my wife doen't have the nightmares anymore? She's not crazy about holding them but is waiting for the day we get a pied. Everyone loves the pieds! Once she got to understand and appreciate them she isn't afraid. I think once you get over the ignorant fear it changes to amazment! They are fascinating creatures!
  • 12-10-2006, 02:40 AM
    Slithers
    Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
    they call it a snake for a reason! ROFLMAO

    you could scent my hands with rats and let my balls tear me to pieces and they arent going to kill me.

    my 8 foot boa is just a pleasant reminder of what a large snake is like. no giant pythons for me! :)

    There are people that wont enter my house because of the snakes in the locked herp room.

    My mom actually thought all pythons were like burms and wanted me to get rid of the ball pythons when she read a horror story in the news about a burm. now that she knows the difference...she is always begging me to bring them out to 'play'.

    here send her this picture of 'your' kid taking a bath. :)
    http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...ers/th_135.jpg
  • 12-10-2006, 02:41 AM
    Sausage
    Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
    My snake's a ham and loves to be around new people. The only odd thing I've heard from people are "EWW! Is he slimy!" which can be answered pretty quickly.
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.1