What's up with snake haters? (rant)

[bsash]

I get them responses a lot, especially when I tell them how many I have. The best way I have come around it is to be very polite and try to educate them, there are some that will listen. If they are unwilling to listen, just shrug it off and don't let it get to you.

[Aleria]

Even though I too get a lot of the "OH EW GROSS!" responses when people see pictures of my babies or see the shed skins I have tacked up on my office wall, I still surprisingly get a lot of people that still want to hear what I have to say about them once they realize how much I know that contradicts what they thought they knew.
A lot of times they'll end up asking me questions about everything from the basic "how big do they get, do they have fangs, are the "poisonous"(venomous), do they bite, aren't they mean, slimy, etc." all the way to how do they breed, do all snakes lay eggs, how do they shed their skin, how do they get different colors like the ones you have, how long do they live, etc.
Usually by the time I'm done with the discussion they aren't quite so grossed out any more.
Of course talking about how I will cuddle with my snakes just like I do my dogs while I'm in bed watching tv or movies or reading, usually gets some strange looks, but once I explain that they are still animals and do still enjoy the attention as that's what keeps them from being vicious and flighty, they understand a little better. Not one has ever said they'd go that far though, but have had some say that they would consider petting or holding one after talking to me about it.
Those are the times that it makes me smile.

I seem to get a lot of people that do the same thing when it comes to all my piercings and tattoos also. Initial reaction is always "Ew, ow, doesn't that hurt?" but then they have a million questions for me. I eventually became the body mod consultant at work.
People love it when you know enough about a subject to be able to answer a lot of questions and sure you'll get the jerks that won't even want to hear it, but a lot of times you will find even they end up curious eventually.

[Theluciddreamers]

I think that no matter what you do people will not always understand. If it's your job, your hobbies, anything you do. What I find that helps is not getting upset about it. I had a lady who comes into my work who loves me to death. When I told her I had one snake at that time she freaked. Still hasn't hugged me to this day because of it. She is still nice to me and loves to talk even about my snakes on a good day, but will probably never hug me again. I realize that it's a fear for some people (Snakes and Spiders). We all have fears, even if they're irrational ones. You just have to understand that if that is someones main fear you most likely won't be able to change it. Just love those people even if they can't love or respect your hobby. You come out the better person in the end!

[SnakeKB]

The worlds full of closed minded jerks where ever you look. Best thing to do is ignore them untill provoked. Then make them feel like the ignorant jerks that they really are.

[Punkymom]

I was at a family reunion this summer and a family member who had looked at the pictures of my snakes on Facebook marched up to me and said, "I just want you to know that I hate your snakes." I felt like saying, "I just want you to know that I hate what you're wearing." There are polite ways of letting people know you don't like something. Further more, when I posted the pictures of my snakes, I did NOT do so to gain anyone's approval, or to ask what anyone thought of them. If you want to comment, fine, but think about how you're making the other person feel first!

[Aleria]

I was at a family reunion this summer and a family member who had looked at the pictures of my snakes on Facebook marched up to me and said, "I just want you to know that I hate your snakes." I felt like saying, "I just want you to know that I hate what you're wearing." There are polite ways of letting people know you don't like something. Further more, when I posted the pictures of my snakes, I did NOT do so to gain anyone's approval, or to ask what anyone thought of them. If you want to comment, fine, but think about how you're making the other person feel first!

It is true, people just can't seem to fathom that it's even possible for us to feel something for these "monsters" so to them making comments like that don't even register as being rude.
It's like someone said earlier, what if one of us were to walk up to someone and say "Gross, your kids are ugly and disgusting, why would you even have something so horrible." I'm sure we'd be liable to be punched in the face if we said something like that

[Merkman]

I just got my baby ball yesterday and my cus said he might not come over ne more i try to get him to just understand that he isn't harmful and its even weirder considering i have three scorpions as well...lol

[ballpythonluvr]

My mother absolutely hates snakes and she won't step foot into my home because of it. She is like, "They are so gross!" I very calmly explained the facts to her so if she chooses not to come into my home then that is her personal choice.

[rabernet]

I was at a family reunion this summer and a family member who had looked at the pictures of my snakes on Facebook marched up to me and said, "I just want you to know that I hate your snakes." I felt like saying, "I just want you to know that I hate what you're wearing." There are polite ways of letting people know you don't like something. Further more, when I posted the pictures of my snakes, I did NOT do so to gain anyone's approval, or to ask what anyone thought of them. If you want to comment, fine, but think about how you're making the other person feel first!

I would have said "wow - do you realize how incredibly rude you just were?"

[rabernet]

My mother can't stand snakes, she said she'd never come into my home again - guess what, she has. She just looks the other way. She's also come to the realization that the snakes are an important part of my life, so she supports my decision to keep them. She doesn't understand it, but she now tolerates it.

I've been incredibly lucky - I have a lot of Facebook friends that are friends simply through the games that I play, and have no interest in snakes. I've re-connected with friends from high school. My friends who aren't into snakes have enough grace to not say anything when I post pictures. Of course, my profile picture there is my avatar, so I've probably desensitized most of them! Any time I post, they see a snake! LOL