Quote Originally Posted by Lizardlicks View Post
I think where the conflict is coming here is not clashes in husbandry methods, but new snakes owners, who've never owned a reptile before, reacting to things their snakes do as if it were a mammal, with the same kind of emotional response as higher brained animals. They are not mammals though, and I think the more seasoned keepers are just generally, gently amused by newbies' rampant propensity toward anthropomorphizing. Snakes do not have the emotion processing centers in their brains that most mammals and even some other reptiles do. That isn't to say that the animals don't express themselves at all, whether they are comfortable and relatively stress free in their environment, but learning those cues when you're used to how, say, a dog or cat would deliver them, can be an on going process. For an example: something like, "Oh, he's so curious, he loves to explore!" could actually mean for a snake that likes to stay still and hidden, like a BP, that there is something in its environment that is causing it discomfort, and it's looking for a means to get away from what ever that is.

Doing a little research and learning about the animals behavior in the wild can go a long way to deciphering what its captive behavior is actually trying to tell you, but it's still a trial and error process. New owners just need time and patience. In the mean time, reading things like "he loves me, so he gives me kisses!" is still going to be funny.
Most snakes (that I've seen at least) won't venture near their owners face, unless they are slithering behind their neck for warmth. I know that when Monty is stressed out, he won't come near me, he will intentionally avoid me, even while I'm holding him. He will try to get away. If he is relaxed, he will slither behind my neck, and push his face against mine. (Cheek to cheek) and I know he is stress free. Monty is also usually face shy, but I know he's comfortable with me because I am the only one who can safely remove him from his tank and touch his head. Some things can be explained scientifically. But I also get the feeling that many of the "seasoned" snake owners here have done hours of research, own a few snakes, and think they know everything. What did people do when they owned snakes BEFORE there was the internet, or even books about snakes? They winged it. Just because you can type "ball python" into the google search engine, and click on a few links, doesn't mean you know everything about snakes. I went to school for 3 years for veterinary with an emphasis on herpetology, and an additional 2 for an emphasis on equine health. I don't know everything there is to know about animals, but when people ask for advice, I give them my personal opinion. Not a smart ass answer that just makes them feel stupid.