I've had all kinds of reactions, and while most of them are negative, the positive responses make it all worthwhile.

Most people are disgusted by one snake, let alone many. Sadly, I get the same stereotypical questions from both ignorant people and intelligent people:

"Do they bite?"
"Aren't they poisonous?"
"Isn't it illegal to have those?"
"Aren't you afraid they'll get out in the middle of the night and strangle you in your sleep?"
"Don't they get huge?"
"Wait, they don't have fangs?" or "I thought they had huge fangs!"
"Why don't you have normal pets?"
"What's wrong with a cat or dog?"
"People shouldn't be allowed to have dangerous/exotic pets like that...."

And ever since the two-year-old's death in Florida by a Burm, almost everyone brings it up when I mention snakes. Then I get to try to patiently explain why that was an unusual case, that the owner was negligent and violating the law, that Burms aren't baby-killers by nature, etc.

However, the good reactions (or at least, open-minded reactions) are totally worth it. I've had several friends, family members, and friends' family members who weren't sure they wanted to be in the same room with a snake get to the point where they'll at least touch them, and most get to the point where they'll handle them without a problem. I even have one friend who was nervous around them at first, but now she prefers to hold a snake rather than a lizard!

The best story, though, was when I was picking up my Axanthic/het pair at a FedEx Office. One of the ladies was ringing me up and the other brought my box over. Before she got to the counter, one asked if the shipment was frozen rodents. When I said it was two snakes, the person holding the box froze. The second lady said, "Maybe I should take that...." Neither liked snakes, but they were curious and wanted to see them. So I showed them the pair, and they were impressed at how gentle, friendly, and kind of cute they were. They always like to see the snakes when I get a new one, now, and the last time I went there to pick up a rodent order, one of the ladies says she'd like to get one as a pet!!!