Most extreme reaction I have EVER gotten...

[singingtothewheat]

Yeah, I don't see why people take it so personally when someone else is afraid of their snakes. It's a phobia.

I'm afraid of spiders. VERY afraid. The last thing I want is one of my friends explaining hoe harmless they are, and showing off their pet arachnids. I know they can't hurt me, but I want nothing to do with them.

I unfortunately have that same fear of spiders and bugs. Although, I recognize it is unreasonable as I'm sure you do. I would be fine visiting a friend with spiders but don't put it on me!
I once had a boyfriend who had a rosy and he made the mistake of sitting it on my leg. Needless to say it was OVER!

[pythontricker]

such an irrational fear.

[HypoPita]

You are not very likely to "educate" these people. I've said it a thousand times before... If you never tell anyone you keep snakes your life will be so much easier.

um.. As I said originally, I told her because she will be coming over to my apartment and I thought it would be a nice thing to check if she had a phobia or not, because that's the right thing to do. I have also converted almost 20 ppl to snake lovers, from being deathly afraid. It DOES work. Some may still not like them, but they don't run screaming.

I have been terrified of heights since birth. I decieded to do something about it so I jumped out of an airplane, then I took up hang gliding, then I got my pilots license. I have dedicated my life to aviation and have spent every day of my life for the past 25 years at an airport. Am I still afraid of heights? YES, terrified! "Education" does not work.

Jenn, fear of heights, is a rational fear. When you are jumping out of a plane, you may die. Things can go fatally wrong. There is zero change of you dying while looking at a snake in an aquarium; barring a brain annurism or stoke. s

I'm afraid of heights, when I am able to fall. I went to the top of the Hancock building to help with this, which it did, and honestly I'm not afraid of heights at all unless I can fall. Being scared that you're going to die while skydiving is a lot different than thinking a catapillar is going to kill you.

Maybe it is because I have no phobias that I find things like that so ridiculous.

[mechnut450]

I seen similar reactions in several of mom's friends and other people over the years. I had one guy that hated reptiles so much he jumped out of a second story window cause the guy had an iguana.. He freak when the one I had would come down the hall if he was over for dinner cause he lizard had to havea plate too.

I also had once girl my sisiter friend that passed out when she seen one of my snakes I was cleannig cages and didn't here her come over ( I knew shehad the fear) but after she came too and calmed down WE talked and after a bit more time ( hour or 2 she ends up trying to sneak a ball python hoem under her shirt. )

The fear is all in the mind.. I terrifed of spiders, but it only now if i walk into the web or I look down and see one crawling on me. ( still kill them on sight but it not like it was 6 years ago were i be hte one bailing out the window)

[stargazed85]

To tell the complete honest truth, about two years ago I was scared of snakes. Then one day I just fell in love with them. Kinda weird.

The whole community here at BP.net has helped me out even more with all their love, support, and knowledge of snakes in general. I would be hopeless without this site.

Now my mom on the other hand is terrified of snakes. Maybe she tried to rub it off on me, but it did not work. When she come's over she won't even step a foot into my reptile room. In fact she has only seen one of my snakes before. She had to be in the car of course with all the windows rolled up while I brought Kumasi up to the glass. She has still yet to see my pastel which I have had for 3 1/2 months. Plus my spider will be here tomorrow! I love getting presents in the mail. Hopefully one day she will learn to love all of her grandchildren.

[Lupe]

A year ago my mom would have never gone to a reptile expo because of the snakes. Some way or another she seemed to figure out there was no reason behind her fear so she asked if she could go with me to my first expo. She held two snakes that day (a hog-nose and a adult ball) and now she is in love!
That was in October, we just went to another show on Sunday and I had to talk her out of bringing one home since we didn't have anything set up for one So within a short time my mom turned into a snake lover xD

[CoolioTiffany]

I hope she understands that all snakes don't have the intention to kill people.

Last week I told someone, that I sort of just met, that I have three pythons. He said, "Dude, those can kill you! They are poisonous and have fangs but they take out the poison." My reply was, "No, they are not poisonous, they use constriction to kill their prey, not venom." And he replies saying, "No?" (or something like that) and I reply saying, "Dude, I have three pythons, I'm pretty sure they don't use venom."

People are so weird with snakes, a few of my friends won't even go anywhere near my snakes. I just think it's silly. My grandpa, whose deathly afraid of snakes, is going to the reptile expo with my mom and I (he wants to get me a reptile for my birthday), which is extremely surprising. I better tell him that there WILL be snakes and other reptiles outside of enclosures, just because I don't want him getting freaked out and running away. He REALLY doesn't like snakes, he doesn't even like getting close to mine if I have them out. If they're in an enclosure, it's fine with him.

[Kaorte]

Everytime there is some article about snakes hurting/killing people my dad sends it to me.

He still thinks my snakes are just going to randomly strangle me.

[CoolioTiffany]

He still thinks my snakes are just going to randomly strangle me.

That's what exactly my grandpa used to say to me LOL

[mainbutter]

I'm just going to get a collection of cobras and various other deadly hots someday. If people are going to think my pets are dangerous anyways, I might as well