gotta agree with zulu on this one, maybe herpers are not on the same scale (no pun intended) but a lot of things started out this way, civil rights, gay rights, the right to carry a firearm for self defense, etc. At the beginning of each of those times the prevailing wisdom was to keep your head down and not rock the boat. instead a few did rock the boat, and changed things. there are few of us so we need to be noisy but not obnoxious, factual but at a third grade level (typical politician mental capacity) and most of all we need to have our snakes out there, educating the public. When i bring my snakes out i get the inevitable eww response, followed by lots of questions, and then the can i touch it? of course i'm not carrying around a 9ft boa but the more ppl who get educated or desensitized to the presence of snakes, while not owners themselves, might remember "the snake guy" that they had such a positive experience with.

case in point: neighbor and her 12 yo daughter stopped by the house on feeding day, both terrified of everything (dogs, cats, snakes, spiders etc.) I mentioned that my snakes was feeding and to please keep as quiet as possible. well both of them were fascinated, they had never seen anything like that b4. i showed them into my snake room, a little squeamish at first but totally enthralled with the snake. i won't say they lost their fear of snakes at that point, but it did make an impression, and later the daughter even asked to touch the snake. did I make a difference? maybe, in a small way, i hope.

sticking our heads in the sand is not going to help our cause. most ppl have never even seen a real snake up close b4. and many if introduced properly, and educated a little would, i think take away a very different attitude towards our hobby. plus it gives us a chance to dispel all those ridiculous rumours about snakes some ppl have.
mike
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..1 Jayne "The Hero of Canton", Ball Python
..1 Edmund Slackbladder, Mexican Kingsnake
..1 El Diablo "They haven't built a cage I can't get out of" Pueblan Milksnake
(Currently serving 25 to life in a Maryland Supermax
______________________________________________________

Me; And finally monsieur a wafer thin pinkie
El Diablo: blaggh
Me: ah sir its only 1 leetle pink one
ED: ahh, sod off! I'm full
Me: ah sir hmm? its only wafer thin?
ED: bah! i couldn't eat another thing I'm absolutely stuffed. bugger off!
Me: ah sir, sir just ...just one......?
ED: ok just one
Me just the one.
Me: voila!
Me: bon appetite!.......

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