I believe my roommates (like many people), are misinformed about snakes and reptiles in general... In fact, my one friend thought snakes were "slimy" and was surprised when she touched my snake and he was dry!
LOL, I love the look on people's faces when they touch a snake for the first time and find it dry. I've been helping some folk at work overcome their snake phobia with some of my most docile pets, and that delighted suprised look is the best. Though one co-worker had to admit she's still scared of all snakes...except mine.

But yeah my aunt is insane about her phobia. I'm pretty bad about spiders...I like snakes, they have JUST the right number of legs. Bugs creep me out. Yet for all the instant terror I feel, I wouldn't really hold it against someone if they had, say...tarantulas. Granted I wouldn't ever want to SEE it, but if I could avoid it and be reassured it would be kept in a secure enclosure, I'd be okay with it. I wouldn't LIKE it, but I'd learn to live with it.

My roommate wasn't too keen on me getting snakes...at first. My gf at the time and I took her to a reptile expo and made a nice day of it...we all went out to breakfast on the road, listened to some great CDs, and she got to see a LOT of neat snakes and reptiles. Some really kind, helpful breeders allowed her to hold some very small, docile animals, which helped as well...and she had to admit they sure are beautiful!

It is now a fair bit since then and now every other day it's "Are we going to the Taylor expo next month?" "Can we leave earlier for the West Michigan expo this time so we're first through the door?" and "We need to hit that expo, I need to buy more feeders!"

Yep, that's right, I converted her. She's still not 100% in love with my Balls or my Boa, but she's fallen in love with Cornsnakes! She's got a Charcoal and is looking to buy a Butter.

I guess my best advice is that if there's a local expo, ask them to come with. Offer to buy 'em breakfast and make it a really nice outing. It worked for me!