I think my snake loves me

[HaikyFin]

I have to point out, from the page before -

http://www.anapsid.org/tamingvh.html

basically, they have a hypothalamus, thus are capable of FEELING emotion, but they lack a way to express it. (that's the article in a nutshell)

A hypothalamus doesn't have anything to do with emotion, I study Psychology. It controls the basic processes of the brain - the metabolism, thirst, hunger and other basic responses. It controls the release of chemicals to start these processes. It really has nothing to do with feeling...and it is a little alarming that people will take a big word out of an article and assume that the person who wrote it was using it correctly or knows what they're talking about.

The amygdala is responsible for emotions, basically. Snakes don't have one. Humans are, of course, most famous for theirs.

As far as any animal loving anyone or anything - it's a bit of a moot point. "Love" is a term coined by humans to try and label what I think is a natural feeling for social creatures. It is a chemical reaction that keeps social animals bonded to their groups or mates for the sake of survival. No other animal rationalizes or analyzes anything like we do. These reactions serve only as a means to create a response - in the case of "love", keeping an animal with another animal for easier access to food or more protection for their offspring. They don't wonder why or whether or not they are loved back, it isn't important. Furthermore, I believe this simple process only exists in social animals because, honestly, why would a solitary creature need to feel bonded or close to anything else? It wants to be alone and it's complete makeup - physical and mental - are geared toward surviving alone. It has no reason to want the company of another and, in many cases, reason to dislike other company - because that means competition for food/mates, a predator or something else negative. Not a "friend".

That's my .02. I'm not being hostile - I'm trying to educate. People are too crazy and extreme nowadays and fads rule the world. It seems people are being taught what to think and I, for one, think it's wrong and empty-headed to believe anything that may be popular. Get the facts (the right ones), analyze them and make a decision yourself - regardless of what the media, press or your neighbor might say.