I'll tell you a secret. I use to catch garters, play with them, release when I saw them. Never bitten. All calm. BUT, I really wanted a ball python and used biased info for an argument against garters. Maybe not truthful, but creating arguments and bias happens a lot in life. I honestly think any snake makes a good pet, for whoever you are. You grew up with garters, you think they're the best beginner. Another grew up with corns got bit by a ball, they love corns think balls have bad tempers. Someone had the sweetest retic and worst milk snake. I will, inevitably, one day claim balls are the best beginners -- but this cannot be truthful, because I only begun and can begin with ONE. Therefore, I will think they're the best beginner; because I never will have begun with a corn / retic / burm / milk / king / rat / tree / water / garter snake.