Anyone have a friend who is terrified of snakes?

[Texas Dan]

There are many people that are afraid of snakes, a few people mentioned that these fears were irrational. Fearing snakes is not really an irrational fear at all, it is in our genes. It is an innate fear that most babies are born with. I have seen studies where an infant is shown a snake and knows to be afraid of it. Our ancestors were afraid of snakes, because some were venomous and could kill you. This fear goes back that far. As mentioned before this fear can be worsened with classical conditioning.

All of this being said, once someone is educated about snakes: that they are not all dangerous, they are not out to get you, and they have many benefits to us (eg. rodent control), then most people will overcome this fear they have.

If you are scared of a harmless pet corn snake that you actually believe is harmless, then yes that is an irrational fear, but being scared of snakes in general until you learn better is perfectly rational. just wanted to throw my 2 cents in.

Uhh, it's not the fear of snakes that just happens. When you are born, you don't know what a snake is. Their probably just scared of the unknown.

[Mina]

My sister and my mother-in-law are terrified of snakes. My mother-in law will come into the house, but not the room the snakes are in and my sister refuses to enter the house at all.
Personally, I have an irrational fear myself, so I do understand how they feel, because mine really silly. I'm afraid of mice. Not rats, just mice. Stupid, huh? I've had pet rats and really enjoyed them, but mice freak me out.
I have a heart attack every time one of the cats catch one. They are cats so they usually play with it for a while after they catch it, you know, let it go, then catch it again. I usually either leave the house or see if I can get the cat to take the mouse into the bathroom and then shut them in. Irrational fears really stink!!!! I know when I'm being reasonable that a mouse couldn't hurt me and is doubtless much more afraid of me than I should be of it, but it doesn't help.

[_Venom_]

I don't have any phobias, and I find people with irrational fears annoying.

Maybe if I knew what it was like...

[dorado29]

haha i just tell my friends that my baby corn snake doesnt have any teeth. This usually helps them a bit with getting over the fear. My corn is extremely friendly, and i have literally scented my pinky finger and tempted him to bite it but he wouldn't so now i know that his chance of biting anyone is pretty much 0 lol

[Texas Dan]

My sister and my mother-in-law are terrified of snakes. My mother-in law will come into the house, but not the room the snakes are in and my sister refuses to enter the house at all.
Personally, I have an irrational fear myself, so I do understand how they feel, because mine really silly. I'm afraid of mice. Not rats, just mice. Stupid, huh? I've had pet rats and really enjoyed them, but mice freak me out.
I have a heart attack every time one of the cats catch one. They are cats so they usually play with it for a while after they catch it, you know, let it go, then catch it again. I usually either leave the house or see if I can get the cat to take the mouse into the bathroom and then shut them in. Irrational fears really stink!!!! I know when I'm being reasonable that a mouse couldn't hurt me and is doubtless much more afraid of me than I should be of it, but it doesn't help.

I don't think you should let your cats play with wild mice. Especially in your house. Scared or not, bad idea.

[Mina]

It isn't a case of let them do it. They won't let me take the mice from them, I've tried. I can't move as fast under tables, couches, and beds as they can.
Believe me, I would like it very much if they didn't do that. I don't like them torturing the mice, and I really don't like them playing with the mice at all. I do what I can.

[Texas Dan]

It isn't a case of let them do it. They won't let me take the mice from them, I've tried. I can't move as fast under tables, couches, and beds as they can.
Believe me, I would like it very much if they didn't do that. I don't like them torturing the mice, and I really don't like them playing with the mice at all. I do what I can.

You know what works? Beer. Serious, pouring beer on your cat will get them to stop doing anything..



Before I get flammed on this, I've only done it once, and that was to stop 2 cats fighting and it worked great.

[jwenker1]

Uhh, it's not the fear of snakes that just happens. When you are born, you don't know what a snake is. Their probably just scared of the unknown.

You are correct, you dont know what a snake is when you are born. It has been shown however that there is an innate fear of snakes in infants, infants see plenty of things that are unknown to them, and these things dont elicit the response that a snake does. It is not about knowing what it is, this fear is in our genes from tens of thousands of years of living side-by side with snakes. It isnt a matter of knowing its an instinct. does that make more sense?

[cinderbird]

my boyfriend and my step-mother are TERRIFIED of snakes.

my step mother claimed she was "chased" by a neonate boa. and my boyfriend had some bad experience when he was younger or so he sais. My mother refuses to come anywhere near my appartment if she knew i had a snake, which is why i just dont tell her (she dosent come to visit anyway). my boyfriend who was initially terrified at the THOUGHT of me getting a snake, can now be in the same room as her, as long as he cant see her. he cant even see snakes on TV like in movies or if we're watching animal planet. he freaks out. and i feel bad because hes a big tough guy who would do anything to protect me.

unless its from a snake. lol

[NightLad]

I have this friend who is terrified... and I mean TERRIFIED of snakes.

One of my (RL) friends is gay and has a large collection of snakes, including a very nice JCP.

As for friends who are terrified of snakes... well, I have one, but she was born and mostly raised in Hong Kong where children are taught to fear snakes, because some of them are hot. I guess her fear is a little more understandable.