How do you deal with negative reactions about your reptile keeping?

[SnowShredder]

When I met my girlfriend, she was extremely freaked out. In most people that is a natural reaction, snakes are a very common fear. Eventually I worked her up into holding my sweetest snake (also my largest, a female boa). Basically it was baby steps all the way until she felt more comfortable. She still does have a fear, but she is very passionate about reptiles now which I'm very proud of.
My sister is deathly afraid of snakes. I mean all snakes every snake. The only one she likes is the same boa I introduced to my GF. Besides that, she can literally not even stand the sight of a snake, visibly shivers and overall is disgusted. People like her, sometimes it just doesn't get better. And you have to respect that. Try to help people and introduce them slowly, it will be obvious if you come on too strong, and everyone is different.
My sisters husband was born and raised in Ghana Africa until he was late 20s. Talk about real fear there. He is truly, deathly afraid, of any snake. At one point I needed a place to keep my snakes. I was able to work him into letting them stay at their house, but he refused to be in the same room as them. Now fast forward to the future where I have my own house, we're at the point now that I can have one out around him if I was to bring them over. But for people like what he was, I was literally afraid for my snakes life therefore I did not bring them in contact with him at all.

Each of these people have made rude, threatening remarks. But each have progressed in their own way. Some people will warm up, some won't.
Most people are completely ignorant (I still get asked if snakes are slimey, I still get told they will eat me). The best you can do is try to educate them (without being arrogant)