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Talking to people who don't like snakes
Ok. I've always loved snakes, but I know alot of people who don't. When working at the zoo if I was handling a snake and people when by that didn't liek them I'd try to educate them about it and if they still didn't like them they'd be on their way. I could live with that, but my sister-in-law is another story. She is afraid everything will eat her kids and esp. does not like snakes. She also likes to argue with me over IMs when she gets grumpy and want to let off steam. I had a conversation with her today over an IM after I sent her pictures of Karma. Normally I can be very parient with people, but she knows exactly how to push my buttons some times. Here is how are conversation went (words in pink are my commetns after the fact):
her: karma is kind of cute....
her: now
me: kind of? he is ADORABLE!
her: but i don't know about later
me: He will be just as cute, just a little longer and fater
her:those things scare the crap out of me
me:Why?
her: cause they do...
me: i don't trust them
me: BPs can't hurt you
her: they call them snakes for a reason ( note: I have no idea what she means by this)
me: ?
her:they have teeth right (note: So in her dictionary snakes are anything with teeth?)
me: Yeah, . They bps RARELY bite. You'd probably have to like kick it across the room first.
her: one time is all it takes (note:takes to do what?)
me: The only time they might is if you mess with them in mid shed when the scales on their eye cloud up and they can't see well.
me:Their bite would probably be less painful than if Sam or Peanut bit us (note: her yorkie and my shih tzu)
her: If people know their animals so well then why are all these people getting killed and bit and torn apart by the animals they have known for years
me: ???
me: a BP couldn't kill a person
her: sigfreed and roy.....and tigers......and the sting ray guy...
meL: He isn't a tiger, he is a ball python
her: they are all sweet and predictable until something happens
me: I don't think They couldn't hurt you bad even if they went insane
her: it's a wild animal though
me: Sam would have a better chance at killing me
me: He isn't wild and even adults would be too small to kill a person
me: only big pythons like Burmese could possibly kill perople
her: you think a 3 to 5 foot snake can't squeeze the crap out of you
me: they can't (note: at this point of the conversation I'm getting ticked off)
Her:or jasper or a cat (note: my 14 yr. old lab x)
her: or the bird
her: a guinea pig (note: Oh yeah I'm going tohave my bird and GP visit my BP. Why don't I throw my hamsters in with them while i'm at it. psh.)
me:They biggest prey they can eat is a big rat
me:They couldn't swallow anything bigger than that
meL The cats would kill the Pigs, and tweeter too (note: I have five cats, I think they are the bigger threat)
me:i'm just saying it is a wild animal and don't take it for granted
me: not wild
me: they have their own way about things
me: can't hurt you badly
me: even if they wanted to
her: all animals were wild at one time
her:even dogs
me: then I better put Jasper behind bars
me: Peanut too
me: they both coould kill me easier
her: they have been civilized longer then snakes have (note: yeah, I didn't hear that when I had my ferret)
me:BPs are NOT big enough to hurt you (note:Getting frustrated )
her: not now
me: not ever
her: but 3 to 5 feet later
me:nope
her: when it is bigger then you (note: I didn't bother to correct her but I don't think it is getting longer tha 5"5")
me: They are too small
me: Belive me
her: ok (note: she doesn't mean it)
me:No one has ever been killed by a bp
her: yup
her:k (note:still doesn't mean it.)
::sigh:: I don't get these irrational fears over snakes. Normally I would not argue with somebody about it, but my gosh, they come up with soem pretty wild idea about why tehy tink they should be hated.
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
I totally know what you mean.
My husbands grandparents freaked when they found out we had a ball python ( in their minds pythons means gigantic snake that is going to eat you) and were saying it was going to eat our children and so on and so forth. There are some people that there is just no convincing. Its really sad because a lot of people base these fears on what the media has portrayed snake to be. Monsterous man eating animals, which they are not. But unfortunately the media will continue to make them out that way everytime an accident happens involving a person and a snake.
Then theres my mom who comes over just to see my snakes and handle them. She loves them and they really interest her.
Kristy
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
It was obviously partway through you wouldn't convince her :). It is ok that some people have irrational fears and irrational thoughts, I would just say to let them be with their thoughts, because arguing the point won't get you anywhere.
Easier said than done :)
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
The classic for me is , Are they venenmou's? NO NO NO I would never own some thing that can severly hurt me or my family.
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
Try having to explain to people that childrens pythons are not named that because they eat children.:mad: Very frustrating.
I have had contractors refuse to do work because there were snakes in the house. I also have some family members that refuse to come in the front door because there are snakes here.
Sometimes no matter what you say, people will not listen.
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
i'm 19 years old, and ill be moving out in a few months. My mom will not let me have any reptiles in the house. i've been trying to talk her into allowing me to have a snake, but she will have none of it. as soon as the word snake comes out of my mouth she is already saying no. It doesnt matter if i'm just telling her about a friend of mine that breeds snakes, or something cool i read on here. So right now im just *PaItEnTlY* wainting until i move out, then i'm gonna get a snake or 2 lol.
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
Quote:
Originally Posted by duffmanrc
i'm 19 years old, and ill be moving out in a few months. My mom will not let me have any reptiles in the house. i've been trying to talk her into allowing me to have a snake, but she will have none of it. as soon as the word snake comes out of my mouth she is already saying no. It doesnt matter if i'm just telling her about a friend of mine that breeds snakes, or something cool i read on here. So right now im just *PaItEnTlY* wainting until i move out, then i'm gonna get a snake or 2 lol.
When I moved away from the parents house to go to university I was finally able to get my first snake. When they came to visit I hid him and his tank in a top closet shelf that had its own closing doors. I thought I was pretty sneaky. So my mom found it, but she didn't think I had a snake since there was a light and I had fake plants in there she thought I was growing marijuana. LOL
Funny thing was she wasn't really that mad about the plants so I just said ya thats whats in there. Thinking that the snake would be worse. Cause I told them I wanted to get one and they said they'd never come over if I did and to not get one.
But she was able to tell that I was lying about my grow op and something else was going on. So all I told her was
"mom the plants in there are fake"
She says " well then why is there a light"
I say " I don't know mom why don't you go look and tell me"
oh so funny this conversation in the middle of Costco... Thats how I knew she wasn't that mad cause she didn't remember to bring it up till we were already there.
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
This is just the sort of ignorance that has given snakes a bad reputation. And by ignorance I mean the true definition of the word. My mother is one of those germ freaks, you know the kind. I sent her a pic of my 6 year old daughter holding our 7 month old, 141 gram Ball. Wow, did that open a can of worms!!! Here's how that went:
Mom: "You know that most reptiles carry Salmonella."
Me: "Some do, but this one wasn't caught in the wild, and he's been to the vet."
Mom: "Well do you make sure you and her(my daughter) wash your hands afterwards?"
Me: "No mom, as a matter of fact we have the snake at the table during dinner and let it pick food out of our mouths...yes we wash our hands...before and after!"
Mom: "Well you don't let it run loose do you? It won't get in there and choke my granddaughter to death while she's sleeping will it?"
Me: "No mother, it doesn't run loose. That wouldn't be healthy for the snake!"
Mom:....Long silence....."That's not funny!"
But really, education is the key. We live close to Silver Springs and they have a pretty good non-venomous show several times a day to educate people. It's not nearly enough, but it's a start. I say keep spreading the word. "Those armed with knowledge will better fight their wars!"...Me! :salute:
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
Quote:
Originally Posted by Emilio
The classic for me is , Are they venenmou's? NO NO NO I would never own some thing that can severly hurt me or my family.
Emilio i had the same thing happen to me when i was showing my albino burmes python outside a pet store(herp club social).Three ladies walked up and yelled its venoumus its gonna kill me!!! She told me its YELLOW so its venoumus:eek: :8: .
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
Quote:
Originally Posted by Emilio
The classic for me is , Are they venenmou's? NO NO NO I would never own some thing that can severly hurt me or my family.
Oh, I know what you mean. When I was volunteering at the local zoo, we'd take out various animals and let people touch them and educate the people. Just about everytime we would take out a snake and ask somebody if they'd want to see it they's ask "Is in poisonous?" or "is it venomous?" and we'd have to say "No, we would let you touch it if it were venomous, we wouldn't be touching it either."
You'd think in MI where there is only one native venomous snake, people would not quickly jump to that conclusion.
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
I took one of my ball pythons around the christmas festival. Every time there is a festival I take one around. Drape him(or her) around my neck, put the dog on a leash and off we go. Mostly I got people who go "Oh look you have your snake!!" And they come up, ask to touch him, etc. Little kids come right up to pat him. This time I had approximately 6-7 people who went "EWW!! Is it poisonous? Is it going to bite you?"
You have to understand, when I FIRST did this about 2 years ago.. I got half the people making disgusted noises, saying that poor Blackback was poisonous, saying it would bite you and kill you as soon as look at you. So the small town has come a long ways. Now I have people who tell OTHER people that "Oh that's a ball python! He wouldn't hurt anything."
Educating is a wonderful thing. Even have one mom who can't stand snakes, but she lets her 3-4 year-old girl come pet him. "Go pet the nice snake.. yes.. no mom doesn't want to come over... you pet him for me.."
Short form, I REALLY enjoy taking the snakes around. I enjoy talking to people about the snakes, and showing them how harmless they are. There is always one that has to be a total butt-wipe and yell that it IS poisonous and one day it WILL choke me to death and swallow me! Doesn't everyone remember seeing all those 20 foot snakes in the Everglades???
I usually show them up as ignorant, I kiss Blackback's head gently and roll my eyes at the people. "Yes, he is vicious, a killer, monster.. could take out a battalion of marines and an elephant.. all before brunch." That usually makes the idiot stalk off to shout about keeping the dog in "captivity, and treating it like a slave."
Crackpots exist. Don't bother shouting back, just mock them. Its loads more fun.
Wolfy
*ps, I am aware the term is 'venomous' and not 'poisonous', but that battle isn't even halfway over yet.
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
i wouldn't even respond to anything that she said........she is too annoying for me!!!
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
I agree on educating people whole heartedly. A word of warning however. Make sure that before you go out walking around, especially at public events, of what your local city codes are. I know for a fact that in Virginia Beach they passed an ordinance banning "exotic" pets on the boardwalk. You can ride a bicycle with a dog on a leash, potentialy clothes-lining a pedestrian, but a snake draped over your shoulders is punishable with a fine. I'm sure in many places there are no exsisting laws, but usually all it takes is one or a couple of complaints from someone who has no clue, and then you can't have your leggless buddy out in public. :salute:
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
This is such a tiny town, they don't have the budget for the Bic pen to WRITE up laws.
But thanks for the warning. Most places don't care unless they get a complaint, then they tell you "Take it home"
Wolfy
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
Very funny, but oh so frustrating! People are afraid of things they don't understand.
i thought this was the funniest..
"sigfreed and roy.....and tigers......and the sting ray guy..."
Yah, that was really horrible when Steve Irwin's pet stingray stabbed him through the heart. Wheres the love?
btw, good luck trying to get this girl into the same room as your snake!
edit: Kojak.. that law was probably made so people don't go walking their giant lizards and giant snakes around the boardwalk. stupid if you ask me. My freind who lives in Berkeley was walking her 4ft Tegu monitor lizard down the street and someone called the cops.
So you can walk your killer pitbull down the street, biting peoples necks off, but you can't take your lizzy for a walk!?!? (or your snake for a slither?)
I'd like to see someone make a snake leash. =-P
However that would work!
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
I'm like Wolfy....We also had a visitor when my roomy was selling the Chihuahua puppies....the mom came w/the buyer and the little girl wanted to see Baby. Mom was afraid of the snake, but didn't say anything to negate my suggestion / question if the little girl wanted to pet and hold Baby. Pretty cool mom....got the little girl to understand that Baby wasn't dangerous.
Just Thurs. was giving a looooong discussion c. our snakey pets, and the venomous/poisonous came up. Person didn't push it when I explained it's venomous, not poisonous. It was nice.
It's ALWAYS a good feeling when I can take out the snakes to show little kids, or adults and help educate someone as to the animal's importance and specialness! :love:
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
i love educating people. during the summer i take a snake with me to the petstore so people can see them, touch them, hold them... it's great :)
cause i used to be absolutely terrified of snakes... which is why i got my ball actually... to get over my fear!
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
My wife used to be petrified of snakes, even have nightmares about them. I was very suprised when she was in favor of getting our first BP. Now I have 15 and my wife doen't have the nightmares anymore? She's not crazy about holding them but is waiting for the day we get a pied. Everyone loves the pieds! Once she got to understand and appreciate them she isn't afraid. I think once you get over the ignorant fear it changes to amazment! They are fascinating creatures!
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
they call it a snake for a reason! ROFLMAO
you could scent my hands with rats and let my balls tear me to pieces and they arent going to kill me.
my 8 foot boa is just a pleasant reminder of what a large snake is like. no giant pythons for me! :)
There are people that wont enter my house because of the snakes in the locked herp room.
My mom actually thought all pythons were like burms and wanted me to get rid of the ball pythons when she read a horror story in the news about a burm. now that she knows the difference...she is always begging me to bring them out to 'play'.
here send her this picture of 'your' kid taking a bath. :)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...ers/th_135.jpg
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
My snake's a ham and loves to be around new people. The only odd thing I've heard from people are "EWW! Is he slimy!" which can be answered pretty quickly.
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
I hate when ppl assume that snakes are these SLIMY disgusting evil things that love to hurt everyone when BP's are so docile and nice...
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slithers
they call it a snake for a reason! ROFLMAO
you could scent my hands with rats and let my balls tear me to pieces and they arent going to kill me.
my 8 foot boa is just a pleasant reminder of what a large snake is like. no giant pythons for me! :)
There are people that wont enter my house because of the snakes in the locked herp room.
My mom actually thought all pythons were like burms and wanted me to get rid of the ball pythons when she read a horror story in the news about a burm. now that she knows the difference...she is always begging me to bring them out to 'play'.
here send her this picture of 'your' kid taking a bath. :)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...ers/th_135.jpg
Great Pic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Had to save that one for the snake scardy cats!!!!!!!!
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
I'm always amazed at how people can be so ignorant. Alot of people are even freaked out by pretty small spiders or any bug at all.
One of my teachers used to say that if theres a member in the same group of species thats poisonous or deadly, 9 out of 10 things you'll hear about it aren't true or very exagerated. Sharks are deadly killing machines and every scorpion's sting will nearly kill you. Or maybe not. :taz:
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
I would have to say that "are they poisonous?" and "are they slimey?" are the first 2 questions everybody who doesn't know anything about snakes ask me when they see Elvis.
Well sometimes there's the "are they dangerous?"
Usually always followed by the "how big do they get?". They always seem so surprised when I say 5'
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
Quote:
Yah, that was really horrible when Steve Irwin's pet stingray stabbed him through the heart. Wheres the love?
LOL! I should have told her that!
Lol. Maybe I should. I already sent her an e-mail of a BP, then a burmese and then a green anaconda so she'd get the idea that 5' are not that big.
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
The worst I've ever been asked was. Isn't that a copperhead? I was holding a coastal carpet python in a petstore.
Like I would freehandle a hot, let alone that a petstore would let somebody hold a venomous snake! For that matter, venomous snakes are illegal without a permit here in IL.
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
It is amazing how little people know about snakes. Somehow I always knew snakes were not slimey and not all snakes were venomous. Guess I just did a lot of reading a child.
So here in Virginia, would I be allowed to take my snake(s) out into public. I have a snow corn right now. Do they drape around shoulders very easily. I know some snakes will just hang there on your shoulders but others will be a little more adventurous. Anyone have any experience with taking corns out into public?
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
There are basically two types of non-herper in my eyes. One type of person, will sit and listen, be open-minded, and reasonable. The second type, are people you will never get through to; they already have formed their ideas on reptiles, and you will never change that.
It is amazing that the general public is so ill-informed on reptiles, but.. it is not like they teach the differences between snakes in schools.. it is something people learn on their own. Heck, when I saw my first BP, I didn't know if they ate crickets, mealworms, or mice.. it is not really ignorance if a person hasn't ever had the access to information. Now, if you try explaining things to them, and they choose to be bullheaded and not listen.. that's different.
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Re: Talking to people who don't like snakes
Good news! My sister-in law (the one from the IM) came with my brother and their kids the other day and I got her to pet Karma. She admitted that he felt nice and silky and she said that he is cute and "kinda pretty". It is a good step, although she told my brother that he was ballzy for holding Karma.
Looks like she got here just in time too, Karma is in his humid hide today so it is probably shedding time.
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