I don't tell people I have snakes usually. Its my business what I keep for a pet. The important thing when dealing with these questions is to not be defensive. People only know what they know. You can just give them the facts, educate and then whatever they do from there is their business. If you get defensive or feel insulted by peoples presumptions about snakes then you are only going to reinforce their opinion that you are a weirdo for keeping them. If you keep rational and educate, that's when you can effect people's opinions for the better.