cruel world

i know it happens it always does and normally i just laugh it off but tonight it was just a little much. im not really mad and i will go back because the people there that do like them always have so much fun looking at them. i know its a risk to take snakes into the public but we are very careful when we do so.

"Your ignorance is amusing"... I like that one! I'll have to use it myself.

Sadly yes, those people are out there...too many if you ask me, and they are very rude and insulting.
My approach is this: A first rude comment gets a corrective response. In the case of what the old man said, I would tell him that's virtually impossible. If it was left at that, fine. If the person, or persons with them, continued the insults or rude comments, I would get a bit snippy with something like: 'I would get some proper education on snakes before saying something like that again.'
If I really wanted to get uppity, I would say 'Oh, are you a Biology major? I am.'

I like to keep things civil, even if those speaking are not. It does no good to sink their level, they'll just beat you with experience. Rather, you should try to raise them to yours. :)

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Originally Posted by Argentra

"Your ignorance is amusing"... I like that one! I'll have to use it myself.

Sadly yes, those people are out there...too many if you ask me, and they are very rude and insulting.
My approach is this: A first rude comment gets a corrective response. In the case of what the old man said, I would tell him that's virtually impossible. If it was left at that, fine. If the person, or persons with them, continued the insults or rude comments, I would get a bit snippy with something like: 'I would get some proper education on snakes before saying something like that again.'
If I really wanted to get uppity, I would say 'Oh, are you a Biology major? I am.'

I like to keep things civil, even if those speaking are not. It does no good to sink their level, they'll just beat you with experience. Rather, you should try to raise them to yours. :)

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I'm going to major in Zoology! That would almost work better I think?

:) I wanted to do Zoology...but that school is 50+ miles away.

i mainly just laugh and go on about my bussines. i think its funny when someone like 40 feet away freaks out and runs off, because your like wtf can this snake fly or something.

It's a superfast ball python, and it will sqiurm it's way along the slick floor after them, doncha know?
I'm sorry to hear you had to deal with idiots today. Sometimes it's just too much, and you gotta vent about it. I certainly understand.
The people with german shepards and pit bulls also get the "Your dog is gonna turn on you and kill your whole family" comments.

I'm glad to hear you do the education. That's what will help the next generation not have to deal with as many ignorant idiots.

I'm stealing the "Your ignorance is amusing." comment too. Being mildly amused by stupid people is usually a hobby of mine too.

I would have educated them that it would take a much larger snake, instead of not informing thease people I would have let them know that this species of snake doesnt get large, they dont kill people..

Honestly thier fear can be backed up with some evidence, In a town near where I grew up in Arizona an 11 year old boy was killed by a large reticulated python that the family owned and when he was discovered the snake had the boy up to his knees in his mouth....

My point is they didnt know that snake was "large" for the species, they probably thought this was going to be a 16 foot snake one day...

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Originally Posted by Mochelem

Honestly thier fear can be backed up with some evidence, In a town near where I grew up in Arizona an 11 year old boy was killed by a large reticulated python that the family owned and when he was discovered the snake had the boy up to his knees in his mouth....

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I don't recall ever hearing about such a thing. Can you provide links or verification please?

Thanks.

when you transport your snakes from your home to petsmart/wherever, how do you transport them?

personally, my snakes for the most part do not leave my home. they sure aren't going to a place like petsmart where they could pick up mites or something else.

i am very curious as to what motivates you to take them out into public?

Most likely the same things that motivate people to take their dogs, cats, ferrets and such: Education and a love of the animals.

I know that if I had the time, I would SO take my big female normal out. Heck, I want to make a career of taking my animals out to places to educate people! There are too many folks out there whose ignorance is simply from lack of education. When you tell them the truth, their eyes light up. Naturally there are those whose ignorance comes from stubborn, superstitious, old-fashioned beliefs which are so wrong. Those people...you can't do a thing about.

But, most people just don't know and really appreciate the education. I run into people all the time who don't know a single true thing about snakes, and thank me for clearing things up. In fact, some of them continue to ask me questions...like a certain bus driver from India who thought all snakes were poisonous and, since I corrected him, has been asking me more questions every time I'm on his bus. :D