whats with the concept of manliness in letting snakes bite you? LOL

I've seen that attitude a fair amount. I don't generally wear gloves but if it's an animal that can cause damage absolutely. I had a very grouchy iguana and you bet I put gloves on if I grabbed him. My snakes usually it's more to prevent a bite, as they are less likely to strike a glove than my hand if they seem grouchy and once out of the cage they are just fine.

So I am a man, I grew up on a farm. I raced motorcycles as a kid and broke femurs, collar bones, elbows. I was the test pilot for new horses and as such landed hard more times than I can remember. As a result of my childhood I have a stupid tolerance for pain and refuse to take pain meds following everything from a vasectomy to tonsillectomy as an adult. I requested to be awake when they did surgery on my wrist so I could watch. I have been a firefighter for the last 22 years. My wife refers to me as a "man's man".
With all that said anyone who says you should "man up and take the bite" has never been bitten by a 10' scrub python. I took a friendly bite in the forearm from one and had nerve damage for months. It was a full year before I could feel my entire hand again. "Taking the bite" from any snake opens the door to injury and infection by both parties unnecessarily.
As for gloves, i don't like them. I like the dexterity in my hands. Often times i can tell what my snakes are going to do based on how tense their muscles are. If i have a snake i question at all i prefer a hook. With a hook I can control the head and feel the torso. To me it seems better for predicting their behavior and they seem more calm with the hook than gloves.
Keep in mind I am not working with hots and I am talking about working with larger pythons. With smaller stuff hatchlings and smaller species too small for a hook, I can usually prevent a bite with a flat palm.
Hope this helps and dispels any myths about "gloving up"

P.s. this does not mean I will not poke fun and a 350 lb body builder wearing welding gloves while holding a baby corn snake. We all gotta have our fun.

IMO alotta these men are just projecting some insecurities when they say stuff like that. like who are u trying to impress? or are u (over)compensating for something? lol. just keep doing u boo!