Poor misunderstood snake people

Poor Karen. She's going to buisness school classes right now, and the group was having a discussion about planning. The teacher asked everyone to give examples of something they're planning right now, and she cheerfully spoke up with "Breeding snakes!"

Everyone gave her a look she described as "Why must you be so weird and always bring up snakes?"

She says to me "I can't help it, I love the snakes!" Poor misunderstood snake lovers... As long as she doesn't tell them we mark down shedding dates on the calendar maybe they won't view us as *total* weirdos. :snake:

On a semi-related note, a co-worker of hers saw the 'baby pics' up in her cubical and said she's scared of snakes but she doesn't want to be, and thinks they're beautiful. She asked if she could come over some time to be around them and get over her fear. Well, Falkor, Gomez, and Ma-tsu are certainly good examples of well behaved sweet snakes (she won't be meeting Neptune!) so we gave the okay for her to come over sometime when the snakes aren't digesting so she can be around them, touch them, and we'll see about handling... (I'm slightly overprotective of my scale-babies :rolleyes: *Especially* if she's nervous!). Probably in order of size.

So mixed reviews from Karen's peers, lol. I still can't get over her male co-workers getting the shivers over poor sweet innocent Gomez! :wuv:

:snake: Ophidiophobites!! :snake2: ....I get weird looks from people when I mention I keep snakes (they really go crazy when I say how many I have :devilish: ) It is good to see someone trying to get over their fears though. Most people need to realize that snakes are beautiful, play an important role in this world, and will most likely never hurt anyone.

The most interesting conversation I have had about my snakes was with a fellow graduate student that is from India. Great stuff.....it was interesting to hear what someone from another place and culture has to say about snakes.

It is fun to introduce people (especially young kids) to our snakes. I can see them being a bit scared of Rauri, I mean he is a big heavy snake but lordy it is funny to see anyone intimidated by Emi the 8 month old milksnake LOL. I mean really! She's a worm and looks like somebody colored on her with Day Glo markers...ohhhhhhhh big scarey :snake: ! lol

Knowledge is our only sword and shield when it comes to the misunderstood:no:.Sheree, I know the co-worker will have a pleasant experience under your auspices :handshake(keep Neptune away though):twisted:...LOL

Similar note: I have some of those folks (we all do) who just can't bare the sight of snakes. My mom-in-law:grandma: WAS one of them. After spending some time educating her she now holds them and refers to them as her "grand scale kids". I'll take a convert one at a time:fest2:......LOL

Daniel, I know exactly what you are talkin about......people think I'm weied just for loving snakes; but when I tell them how many I have, they cringe....with eyes bulging out.....there are a lot of people from Africa, particulerly Kenya that can't believe it. They all tell me Africans are terrified of snakes and think all snakes are venomous....I tell them one of the coolest snakes in the world comes from their very homeland.

My grandma is on a mission (trying to convert people to her religion). Anyhow she is afraid of snakes as well. So i routinely send her updates on her grand-snakes. She also gets pics of her grand-dog and grand-rats.
My brothers girlfriend came over the other night and was admiring the snakes from afar. She finally worked up the nerve to actually touch one when it bit me ... I have a feeling she wont be going near a snake for a while. This snake is usually very docile. Guess it was just having a bad day.

Today while shopping for some 10g tanks for gerbils the chick out the checkout looked me over and said "let me guess ... snakes and spiders right?" I said nope gerbils ... she looked surprised so I added "already got the snakes". Anyhow it probably didnt help that my upper half is half covered with tats and I was wearing a sleeveless shirt ::grins::.

Bryan

LOL....I was being interviewed by a lady who asked me where I see myself in five years or so. I told her I see myself with my own business...breeding snakes. She gives me a look of utter amazement and disgust and says, "How in the world do you breed snakes???"


I looked her right in the eye and said, "Well, you take the boy snake and put him in with the girl snake..."

......After her and the other lady with her picked themselves up off the floor from laughing so hard, we got along just fine. :P

Nice....

rofl! What great stories! People who've never really met a snake don't know what they're missing. ;) Converts do my heart good. And I *will* win my Mom over one of these days!

My mother is the same way, long story short, she likes snakes, doesnt like that i breed rats to feed them :)

My mom is hilarious about the rats in the freezer. She says "I'm never eating over at your house, what if you grab the wrong thing?!"

I fell over laughing and said "I think I can tell the difference between a bag of chicken and a bag of rats. The day I can't, I think it's time to just give it all up and put me in a home anyway." I mean... seriously! She'll be SO glad when we have a snake room with a mini-freezer someday ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 4theSNAKElady

Daniel, I know exactly what you are talkin about......people think I'm weied just for loving snakes; but when I tell them how many I have, they cringe....with eyes bulging out.....there are a lot of people from Africa, particulerly Kenya that can't believe it. They all tell me Africans are terrified of snakes and think all snakes are venomous....I tell them one of the coolest snakes in the world comes from their very homeland.

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I worked with a guy from Nigeria, and he was terrified of snakes and frogs. (possibly any reptile) Of course he had been bitten by some poisonous snake and almost died, so I won't make fun of him too much. ;) I was knee deep in a swamp (don't ask, I was working in an entomology lab) and he scared a black rat snake toward me. I didn't have an issue with the snake, I just didn't want it to take up resident in my boots. :rolleyes:

I have been scared by snakes before...more of the surprised kinda scared than fear though...

...I don't care how much of a 'snake person' you are....if you are walking through the woods and realize you just stepped really close to a copperhead or cottonmouth...your heart will be beating through your chest ;)

ha....when I mentioned I kept snakes to the student from India...I got a look of surprise....then I quickly explained they were small snakes with no venom....then it seemed to be ok ;) ha ha...i guess when you come from the land of the cobras and giant pythons...snakes are something to worry about.....the snakes in north america are kinda tame compared to those :D

I was pretty excited to hear my Mom cooing and ahhing over the pictures on the little snake website I made up. She's never really been around snakes, but she definitely thinks our girls are cute (and like, who wouldn't?! :wuv: ) and is excited to meet them next time she visits.

My step-mother, on the other hand, still thinks we're insane. Muwhahahhaa...:halohorn:

My mom's going to be a hard one. She saw pictures of Kinky on my website and nearly flipped. Asked me what would happen someday when Kinky bit me. First of all, I seriously doubt it'll happen. Second, it's not so bad as most people think.


But Mom won't even talk about being in the same room with the snakes. And I can't exactly force them on her... She respects my wishes in keeping them---though she totally doesn't understand---so I have to respect her right in now wanting to be around them. I doubt she'll ever be converted. Sister's the same way. My father, maybe. He respects them as wild animals, as having a place in the world. He just doesn't necessarily want to be living with them.

Though, if I have any say, my little niece is going to LOVE all reptiles. I already sit her in front of my computer and show her pictures of "the sweet, pretty snakes." :devilish:

I get the weirdo comments as well.
I tell people I love them, I adore snakes, that they are truley marvelous gorgeous animals. I get replies from "Uh-huh." to "Snakes are evil and you should kill them all." Hmmm. Yeah. Once in a while I get surprised.
I had an elderly client who came in to pick up her dog(from my grooming shop) and I happened to have my Bill(MP) on me at the time playing with him. I immediately tried to hide him, as I could just she her having a coronary in the front of my shop when she noticed him. Just as I am winding up the "He is perfectly harmless, and here, I will lock him back up safely away so he can't get you" speech... she goes, "Oh how lovely!" In the sweetest little white-gloved going-to-church little-old-lady voice imaginable. She insisted on petting him and told me how her son was a snake doctor, except she could never pronouce the actual term. Then she laughed this little laugh and asked if I could give her her dog so she could get back home to the Mission meeting.
I've had people who would NEVER ever touch a snake, get over it seeing Bill being all placid and end up holding him.
Wonderful and frustrating at the same time, dealing with non-snake people.
Wolfy