Boger pretty much nailed it, but this gives me an opening for some of the "odd" things I do with animals. I worked with horses and hunting dogs for many years and I have a firm belief what happens in the first minutes of being born leaves lasting effects on the rest of the animals lives. I treat freshly hatched ball pythons just like I would a new born horse. I touch the animal everywhere and I continue to do so until it does not care I am doing it. The first thing my babies see and smell is me. I have yet to have a baby that is nasty. Most will allow me to touch their heads throughout their stay with me, very few seem to "enjoy" it, but they will let me do it. If any of my animals so much as hiss at me or get in a striking posture outside of dinner time they get a refresher course.
As to specifics. Most BP's are pretty hardy and will put up with a lot of crap. Those of us that have more than a couple animals know that there is always "that one" that seems to be possessed by the devil but it is rare. My daughters would give my snakes hell when they were younger. Putting barbies on their backs, wearing them as jewelry, playing house with them. You name it. The snakes were never harmed and the kids never got bit.
As far as the hanging thing goes, with males it is not really a big deal, but I am sure there are some heavy bodied males out there that wouldn't take too kindly to hanging. With adult females, I always try to make sure 2/3 of their bodies are supported.
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