How to deal with anti-snake people?

I hear a lot of ewws and shakes of heads. A few of my coworkers ask about my snakes everyday. They like to hear about them but they still don't like them :confused:. My snakes are harmless they never have stabbed me in the back like some of my so called friends.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JulieInNJ

The other response that I get is, "Oh my god, you have to feed it MICE!". *sigh*

---

I get that one too! "That is so cruel that you have to feed it mice!" I admit that I don't actually like to watch the killing part after having picked out the little rat to feed Jackson and then holding it the whole way home- they are pretty cute. But that's what they eat, so I just think of it as a chicken or something that I would eat, and not as a cute little fuzz.

I don't respond to people like that. If people want to be ignorant and condescending than I don't need to talk to them, or at least about that topic. As a general rule people are very opinionated - a lot of the time there is nothing you can say that will make them change their opinions. I would drop the subject so to avoid the confrontation. There's a lot of stupid people out there and trying to educate them all is a losing battle. :P

I just respond with logic and facts. The problem I see working with rescues is that people are poorly informed and let their fear think for them. Logic makes more sense than some of the idiotic ideas that get presented (a ball python will eat you... I mean really) and calm and gentle treatment respecting their fear often will have the person trust you, and sometimes the trust the place in you will out weigh the fear they have or *think* they have of the snakes.

I went on a course with a woman 'terrified' of snakes during the class I asked lots of reptile questions (advanced animal first aid or disaster responders) She and I talked on breaks and over lunch during the two day class and she started asking reasonable questions, she has since emailed a few times with how to care for snakes during an emergency and asked I have offered to have a talk at my house (where the snakes live) and she has been over and asked to see where they were so she saw the enclosures and rack. The next week she was back asking to see the snakes them selves and we did that and before she left she was sitting with one on her lap.

'gee that are not cold and slimy'

Calm logic and calm treatment has always worked for me. I have never met belligerent people I think I'd just walk away.

Luckily, because I'm a mental health therapist, a lot of the people I interact with on a daily basis are very understanding and like to learn new things..so they're pretty open to my hobby. I had one of my coworker's daughters (5 years old) over to my apt to administer an IQ test (for practice only) and upon finishing early, decided to get the snakes out to play. She loved them so much, they now have 3 snakes of their own. Even my coworkers that shiver a bit when I mention getting a new snake always ask how my snakes are doing, esp if I've mentioned one not eating, having a piece of stuck shed, etc. However, I try to be respectful of everyone's opinions. No one has to like reptiles, and I would not try to convince them otherwise. I would not want them to dislike reptiles for unrealistic reasons (e.g. they're going to eat your kids), but if someone is just plain "creeped out" by them, that's fine by me. I myself have a legitimate phobia of a certain animal that I will not mention, and I would not appreciate it if someone told me that I had to like this particular animal. I do not have any unrealistic beliefs about this animal..I think they're just creepy to look at. I also know people that like wild snakes but do not understand why I would want to keep on as a pet, which is fine...I don't understand why someone would want to keep a tiger for a pet, but some people have done so.
Another story that is funny/scary...One of the secretaries at the clinic I work at told me that she had been talking to someone that used to have a snake that slept in their bed with them (clearly a bad idea). This person had become concerned when the snake refused a meal and positioned itself in a stretched out position, rather than in a coil, for a few days and decided to take it to the vet. They reported that their vet had told them that the snake was sizing them up to eat them and was fasting in order to be able to have enough room in its stomach. The vet suggested that the owner have the snake destroyed in order to prevent the impending situation. I did educate her after this story, and she seemed a bit relieved, but I'm pretty sure she is still concerned for my safety.

I've mostly had people say "eww" or "they aren't meant to be pets", but I refuse to argue with people. I just say how much I love mine, that he's very gentle and you just need to do your research on the species of interest before you purchase so you can avoid problems like the snake getting way bigger than you anticipated. If someone continues to express how wrong they think you are, just walk away and let them have their negative thoughts! I actually have a friend who, despite her fear of snakes, wanted to hold Enzo and while that didn't last long, she seemed to appreciate the brief experience. At least some people try to be open minded :)

It's so true - once people are more familiar with the truth of bp's, the more curious they become! :gj: