My mom has a deeply rooted (from childhood) phobia of all snakes. I'm so proud of her, though. She's come so far. She's really determined to overcome it, and she's gotten to the point that she'll actually hold Axel's back half, as long as I keep a hold of his head so he can't look at her.
She knows that he's harmless (Mostly. She also thinks he's slightly evil) and she's really trying.

I often think people with irrational fears of snakes are simply ignorant. They're been taught, all their lives that snake=bad.