How do we show people that snakes aren't what they are often portrayed to be?

What works for me 90% of the time to at the very least give the other person some perspective, is stating "What's actually kind of silly about ball pythons specifically, is that they are generally very shy, and especially as babies, will hide their head with the rest of their body. They're great for people who are afraid of snakes because people start off hyperventalating or very anxious [I will mime or act out these behaviors] and then ask me if the snake is ever going to DO anything, because the person's adrenaline runs out before the ball python could work up the courage to even see if it's safe to move around again!"

I've used this story God knows how many times. I play up the anthropomorphism, so that the individual, without intending to, develops a sense of empathy towards the "sad, scared little helpless animal" while simultaneously connecting their feelings to a reptile. I have a friend at work who is phobic, and used to say 'SICK.' and visibly gag when I would mention snakes. I can tell her sad stories now, and she'll say "I don't even like them, but that's sad" or "awww :(" in response.

Depending on the individual, I've also used stories of my children's python that was a total jerk... constantly trying to murder me. You'd think this would be counter intuitive, but when I explained to people that he was thinner than a pencil, while also laughing at the absurdity of such a tiny animal incapable of doing me any harm but still being full of fire, gets people laughing with me, asking questions, or adopting some of the same sense of absurdity, therefore reducing any feelings of disgust, hatred, or fear they held previously :)

Working up to people who have heard the 'easier' stories, I talk about my ex's Dumeril's... who was 6ft... to which most non-snake people, even the somewhat initiated, might gasp (they still don't realize that the 'big' dumerils is still not a real danger to me). I tell them about how we could put her on the bed, or couch, and she'd just... not move.. for hours. That she was perfectly content to just hang out for a while... or that we could squish the mushy bits on her face and she'd continue to just sit there. I'd also tell people about how she was the most lethargic f/t rat eater out there.. that we would put rats on top of her hide, and she's just slug-roll her way out (in conversation with people, I'm miming/acting and completely playing up the slooowness), and just swallow the rat as if "yeaaaah oooohh kaaay, I sssuuuupppose I'll eat". ... Again, playing up the humor, and giving people a sense of personality and individual character, that they can relate to.

I know many people are anti anthropomorphism with their pets, particularly snakes.... but if I can get people who are fearful of snakes or who don't understand them, to connect on an emotional level, so that they are more receptive to the education that follows, I've made a giant step forward. I hear all the time on this forum about people who have encounters all day long from people who hate their snakes and openly express it.... I work in a corporate insurance environment... believe me when I say it is censored and coated with a nice layer of big-brotherness. I interact with people from all walks of life, and I FIND reasons to bring up my snakes to strangers... in the elevator or hotel lobby I just stayed at for work, on the airplane going to visit my family (or even to the TSA agents!), in line at the grocery store, you name it. I rarely have many of the reactions I hear about, and when I do, I'm quick to intercept and redirect the feelings in the ways noted above, and I've been pretty successful.

I try to engage their emotions, and I'm always enthusiastic, but not obsessive. Don't go over people's heads with terminology... learn how to simplify your language so you don't sound prudish. Don't be shocked or angry when people don't give the reaction you want.. it only turns people off. Fight fear and ignorance with charisma and charm ;)

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Originally Posted by LLLReptile

The biggest thing that I've seen personally is that removing any pressure to like, hold, or touch the snakes is what helps most. I've seen parents force their kids to hold or pet the reptiles and the kids end up crying, screaming, and running out

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THIS. Don't force people to like snakes. You can't. I hated working at a pet store when parents would make their kids do it. I had one dad even threaten a daughter with grounding if she didn't. With children (and even some adults), I've done the exact same thing I do with my bird when he's afraid of a new toy... I intentionally don't allow him to play with it, while showing interest and [controlled] enthusiasm towards the object. I describe the texture in detail, or point out unique patterns, that tend to make the person/child lean closer, or volunteer to touch the side. If the situation is right, I'll offer to contain the head (not holding tight, just directing it's path) and allow the person to hold just the back end, ensuring their safety.

I always loved parents that were gently encouraging, and not forceful :)


Sometimes toilet humor works too.. actually... my carpet is scary for a lot of people to handle. She's much different from the balls and much more stringy and flighty. People loosen up a little bit when I inform them that she is considerably more likely to poop on them than to bite. She hasn't bit in two years...but she poops about 2/3 of the time I have her out (oof).

Getting people who are scared to anything to turn over a new leaf is often a difficult task. Irrational fears of different things, whether living, or inanimate are tough to overcome. People who are scared of snakes are often determined to remain scared of snakes, just like people who are scared of guns are often determined that they will remain scared of them. In both cases we're often dealing with a lack of exposure and education about the subject at hand. It doesn't help that the only exposure most people get on such topics (especially the two I've referenced thus far) is the medias spin on the animals or objects. I have snakes in the classroom I teach in, and every year during open house, when the parents come to meet their kids' teachers, etc, I have at least one parent flip out on me about how I'm endangering their kid by having "deadly" pythons stalking their every move.

With the snakes it's a little easier to address peoples' fears of them because they can see how other people interact with the animals and how the animals don't go for the kill on any of the other peoples' children. Just seeing other people interact with the animals will often spark conversation which opens the door for a lot of the advice that has already been given. For some reason it is different for a lot of people to see someone else that is new or skeptical about snakes take the plunge and actually interact with one than it is for them to see you interact with the animal in a similar manner.

Of course, picking the right animal to introduce people to is a big part of the puzzle as well. I have a female ball that thinks she is a rattlesnake. I typically don't even mention this animal to people who are leery of snakes because she is everything they fear about snakes (except for the part about being too small to eat them) all rolled up into one little package. She hisses, strikes, and is just plain ole nasty to anyone that messes with her. On the contrary I have a male fire ball that is the most tolerant animal I've ever seen. He is inquisitive, but extremely calm and docile, and he isn't at all head-shy, so he never makes any sudden / quick movements. He's a great animal for getting people over the hump if they're at least willing to watch others interact with him.

In the end, there are some people who are set in their opinions and you're not going to change that. My wife is coming around, and may eventually not hate my snakes, but my mother won't even come in our house because of the couple that I keep at home. As the old saying goes "you win some, you lose some".

Easy to show snakes aren't monsters, I've shown exactly this to my friends and family.

I don't have any adult snakes at the moment. But I borrow a Bothrops asper and a Naja kaouthia, take them out of the box and walk away.

See what the snake does, and it will always try and find somewhere to hide.

Even the Bothrops which is an absolute nutcase, it strikes like crazy initially with typical flying Bothrops behaviour. But as soon as you back off it calms down.

Any animal will be defensive if they feel uncomfortable, different animals have difference tolerance levels with regards to how close they will allow you to come before defending themselves.

The reason I use venomous snakes is because they have the worst reputation of possibly any animal in the world. Due to showmen on TV, purposely teasing them and making them seem overly aggressive, when actually if you watch the program the snake is trying to flee!

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Originally Posted by Poseidon

This has been on my mind for a while now. I've always had an interest in reptiles and I think they are amazing. I haven't always been comfortable around them. I grew up with a mother that put it into me that all snakes were spontaneous and they didn't make good pets. I remember having small red ear slider turtles (2) as a youngin (too young to do any research on the animal myself; I think 3-4 years old) and we found out they needed a special type of lighting. My parents went to a special reptile store to find that out. The lady we talked to (she had gauges which I thought was cool) had a pet snake. I remember her talking about how the snake wasn't that bad to my mom while my mom had a bad reaction to it.

I got really into snakes last year. I was obsessed with snakes. It like sprung out of nowhere. I simply find them amazing. I found out about ball pythons and found this site and all. I got my snake on May 30th, 2012. 80 grams of sweetness (okay, she was a little feisty than that). I had never held a snake before. I had touched them before on the side. But I somehow found myself scared of holding a snake with a snake in a box from the mail in front of me with nobody else in the house that was going to pick it up. (I just ended up putting the entire bag in the cage! LOL!) I created a thread here talking about it and the replies were that I just needed to pick her up. I grabbed my trusty gardening glove, made sure I was alone, and picked her up (after the allotted settle down time of a week.) My hand was shaking THE ENTIRE TIME.

Now I realize my ball python is the sweetest thing ever. I feel confident handling her. I held a small boa recently too. I didn't really know how to deal with its activity at first, but the second time around was much smoother. So I've held two snakes in total. I'd feel okay about handling more/different species now.

What really spurred this post though was something that happened recently. I was on the floor with my ball python (she loves to find cracks and crevices in the couch) and a customer walked by [home business]. She didn't notice the snake but her husband did. I heard later ask him "AND IT WAS REAL?" I overheard and came out to where they could see me and I said, "She's real sweet. Do you want to touch her?" She declined rapidly. I don't think that was the best way to show her that my ball was not a monster. When walking back she walked around the perimeter of the living room.

Additionally, almost every one of my friends/family has been all "Snake! Ekk! Keep it away!" when I even mention her.

tl;dr
How would you suppose would be the best way for a common person to open a dialogue with people that snakes aren't monsters?

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im exactly the same!! im 26 and grew up liking snakes but never held one and barely touched any...there was a guy who has been living on my street for two years that i never spoke to until he realized i ride motorcycles and we started talking...well he has snakes and i always asked questions about them and i finally seen them (still wouldnt hold them) finally a reptile expo show came around and he invited me and i ended up buying two small ball pythons...i figured i could get comfortable with my own snakes and get more familiar with things as they grow!!! so now ive gotten much better with handling them but im still nervous alot when their heads start comin to my fingers or something...i just always think they can bite me out of no where so i try to just hold them from the middle of the body!! and sometimes im a coward and pick up gloves myself!! overall though im in love with snakes and really hope i can break out of my fear 100% its been 2 months since i had them so im still learning!!