Why are people afraid of snakes?

[Bogertophis]

...
I've handled a 12 foot Burmese python, who was a dream, and my buddy uses him for presentations/shows. However, if I walked in and saw "Sunny" sitting out of his cage, and didn't know how calm he was, and how gentle, I would keep my distance! He could do damage...

I'd be cautious about interacting with such a snake too. It's different when you don't really "know" the animal, or how it was raised...that's just a healthy precaution.

One thing I always do with my snakes is to get them "face-tame" with me. That's controversial as it has a degree of risk which I happily accept, but that way I know that my snakes aren't afraid of faces (as they naturally are)...it makes them safer to meet strangers, IMO, even though strangers won't be putting them up to their faces. I've seen snakes that clearly feared faces (presumably thinking "predator?") & knowing they can strike out in fear, I've just preferred to make my snakes "bullet-proof" for handling, & I have to say it has apparently always worked. (But I don't advise anyone to try this "at home" until you have a LOT of experience handling & reading snake's body language.)

I digressed too... but it's your fault, you started it!