How to deal with anti-snake people?

So I'm finding out more and more that I get some pretty wild responses when I tell people that I have a snake (and that I intend to get more). Everything from the normal 'I hate/am afraid of snakes' to 'Snakes are associated with the devil'. Have any of you found a tactful way to respond to these people?

I am a devout christian and my husband and I even live in a monastery. My snake is not associated with the devil, he is one of God's beautiful creation. That is just silly...
I've just had alot of people say something along the lines of "you'd better be careful", and I say "about what?" and they say "salmonella", or "you'll need to suck out the venom if he bites", or "he'll strangle you", or "he'll get out and eat your children and you when he gets bigger"... And then I just take a minute to educate them (gently, not condemningly) about my snake.
Sometimes I just simply say "Ah. Well, thanks for your concern." and then drop it.

"My snakes are harmless and small."
"God created snakes too, just like all the other creatures."
"Really? I love all animals no matter what kind."
There's a lot of nonconfrontational comments you can make in response to most common objections. Most people who start out saying "I hate snakes!" ended up being fascinated by mine and ended up touching and admiring them somewhat even in a single meeting. Don't be defensive right away and you might change their minds just by being reasonable and showing them that reptiles are just animals like any other.

That's a good question.
Personally I don't see how anyone---even someone who's never handled a snake in their life---could handle a ball python and still feel that way (unless of course it bites them right away, lol) cuz' they're so darned cute! But of course all of us here would probably say that. :rolleyes:

Guess I'm not much help in answering your question, lol.
Vine

Good ideas! I just hate feeling like I can't talk about my snake (soon to be snakeS!) because of the reactions. I find my son's friends are a lot more excited about them than their parents and my friends are, lol. Maybe I'll start educating thenext generation of snake lovers!

I've never, ever had someone say to me that snakes are the devil or anything of the sort. I've had raised eyebrows, winces and "ewww"s. I've had "Why???" But I've never had any of the outrageous stuff that others claim. No one has ever said my ball pythons will kill my kids or "poison" us. I've had people ASK how big they will get or wonder if they're dangerous, but it's a respectful question from someone who just doesn't know any better....so I'm never offended. I guess I'm just lucky to never run into these crazy people?

As for those who are afraid of or just plain hate snakes...I just shrug. I can respect the fear. I've been seriously afraid of spiders and certain other bugs my whole life, and still battle with that although I'm trying to be better about it. If I can be afraid of harmless bugs, then why should I be astonished to hear that someone is afraid of my snake?

I offer to help them get over that fear if and when they ever reach a point in their lives when they'd like to try, but I don't force or insist. For those that hate snakes.... :confuzd: ....I'm sure I hate something they like, too. We all have our likes and dislikes and it's pretty senseless to get offended at someone else's.

I have to deal with that. Never "the devil", but I get "ewws", "grosses" and shocks because I'm a type of girl that "doesn't look like she would have snakes".

I guess I live in a lot more of a Liberal city though, so a lot of the responses I get are also positive. I'd say its about 60% negative, 40% positive.

I don't say anything back. I just shrug it off. It's no big deal what people think, because they aren't living in your life or caring for your animals like you are.

I can totally understand fear! I too am petrified of creepy crawlies that have too many legs, lol. However, the people who make such a huge deal about it are the ones I have trouble with. I was so excited when we adopted our first bp, and then a few unpleasant comments from some people I told took the wind out of my sails. People can be so ignorant. :tears:

I normally tell them they should hold one of my snakes and thier opinion sometimes changes. Other times people wont come near my house which is fine by me. My landlord had never held a snake and one time he came and was shocked to see 2. ( I forgot to tell him I had them). He held them once and decided i could have as many as i wanted as long as his kids could come over sometimes lol. try to educate them then, depending on ur personality, ignore them or tell them "the what to and the how for" lol.

If somebody told me that snakes were "associated with the devil," I wouldn't care enough about them to try and change their mind.