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going off

RDLinATL

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Has anybody just gone off on somebody they knew personally because of how they reacted to a reptile? My mom's new bf has the whole "the only good snake is a dead snake" mentality. I let it slide once but recently he posted a picture with an obviously dead king snake (about 2 ft) in his hand on Facebook as "copperhead trying to kill my kittens".

I replied "That's not even remotely close to a copperhead. Copperheads have an hour glass pattern of copper and tan, a copper head, club head and a green tail in the juvenile form. That is very obviously a king snake due to the black and white square pattern spots. All you did by killing it was increase your rodent and venomous snake population. I don't wish to sound disrespectful but it's something I feel strongly about. Their are only a handful of venomous snakes in the SE. One has an hour glass pattern and a copperhead. One has a cotton mouth and inhabits water. One has a rattle. And one is red and yellow kill a fellow. As people who condemn animal abuse I'd hope you would please not continue these senseless killings. That snake had as much of a chance of attacking and digesting an suv as it did one of your kittens. And if that wasn't enough, killing a non venomous snake carries the same penalties as a marijuana charge."

If you knew how calm of a person I am that's pretty much going off to me. They constantly post things regarding anti animal abuse (probably to gain recognition from me because i treat my dog like a queen) yet kill any snake around. I personally don't condom the killing of any snake so I just couldn't let this one go. Anybody else been in this situation? I just don't see the point in saying your anti animal abuse when your only supporting that for two species of animal.
 
Many times going off on people just turns the issue into a pissing contest which is not helpful. The concept that all snakes are dangerous is espoused by some people, maybe they heard it growing up, who knows.
In order to change their minds you have to get them to really listen to what you are saying, and in order to do that, you have to really listen to what they are saying.
It may be true that it was a senseless killing, but by saying it, now he has been pushed into a position of defending himself which means he is that much more entrenched in his opinion.
See if you can see the issue from his point of view, and see if you can communicate your point of view in a non adversarial manner, and you might possibly be able to change how he sees snakes.
 
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Your right I should of gone about it differently. He just has a snake phobia so there isn't much I could really tell him though. It's just frustrating sometimes as this is the fourth king snake I've seen killed this season simply for passing by. I agree though that I probably could have instilled more knowledge to him if I had conducted a more appropriate response. Thank you for your advice Lucille, I'll remember to use it next time.
 
When someone tries to goad me with a topic they know is sensitive to me I just stare at them for a few seconds and then say a 3 word sentence.
 
When someone tries to goad me with a topic they know is sensitive to me I just stare at them for a few seconds and then say a 3 word sentence.
Of course, you mean that magic 3 word sentence ... "I love you", right? :rofl:
 
Well, I'm the last guy who'd have any business knocking someone who feels a need to put people in their place. When I want to be, I'm fairly adept at making people feel about an inch tall; but I've pretty much given up on trying to browbeat sense into the average ophidiophobe.

It's generally only the people that glorify in the killing of harmless snakes that manage to elicit some response from me. Even then, I usually limit myself to some off-hand remarks about how aggression is often a fear-based response; as well as the inherent cowardice behind killing something that couldn't possibly hurt them, even if it actively wanted to. Apparently, such people often manage to avoid seeing themselves in those terms, so even such pedestrian comments are enough to properly convey my contempt. By the time someone has made it to that point, they're just not really worth all that much of my time.

Luckily, I've run into surprisingly little abject hatred for snakes. I usually find it's an admixture of fear and curiosity. Oftentimes, I've seen curiosity win out. Some people are just kinda weird about snakes. A buddy of mine claims to be deathly afraid of them. If I walked up to him with a garter snake, he's likely to run off, shrieking like a little girl; conversely, I once got him to support the body of a puff adder that I was restraining behind the head. Go figure. :confused:
 
Started vaping with 24mg juice. Down to 8 and 12 now. Easiest thing I ever did. I tried the gum, patches, pills and not one thing worked. Got a vape kit and smoked 9 first day, 6 second day, 1 on third day then only vaped after that. The night before I got my first kit I was lying in bed and felt like I had 300 #'s on my chest. 14 months later I can now jog a few miles and I can mow the lawn without looking like I'm just out of shower.
 
Wait... you do know that inhaling a cool water and nicotine solution is just as bad if not worse then hot ash and tar mixed with 700 chemicals right? There's tons of research to support this but you have to be a politician to see it. That's why we elect these people, because we're too nieve to see the facts and make informative decisions on our own. You just have to have faith they have YOUR best interests at heart!
 
I'm hoping that was said with dripping sarcasm, lol. Politicians.... There are some in both parties that get it. The other 99% well.... As long as they can tax the hell out of it then they will consider the children safe and that everything is being properly monitored.

They don't care about water though!!!!

14v62q8.jpg
 
If you didn't get the sarcasm then I was hoping to at least get your 3 word catch phrase.
And that picture actually made me laugh, I think I'm going to post that on Facebook now.
"Fact: 100% of all serial killers, rapist and drug dealers have admitted to drinking water" :rofl:
 
Well, I'm the last guy who'd have any business knocking someone who feels a need to put people in their place. When I want to be, I'm fairly adept at making people feel about an inch tall; but I've pretty much given up on trying to browbeat sense into the average ophidiophobe.

It's generally only the people that glorify in the killing of harmless snakes that manage to elicit some response from me. Even then, I usually limit myself to some off-hand remarks about how aggression is often a fear-based response; as well as the inherent cowardice behind killing something that couldn't possibly hurt them, even if it actively wanted to. Apparently, such people often manage to avoid seeing themselves in those terms, so even such pedestrian comments are enough to properly convey my contempt. By the time someone has made it to that point, they're just not really worth all that much of my time.

Luckily, I've run into surprisingly little abject hatred for snakes. I usually find it's an admixture of fear and curiosity. Oftentimes, I've seen curiosity win out. Some people are just kinda weird about snakes. A buddy of mine claims to be deathly afraid of them. If I walked up to him with a garter snake, he's likely to run off, shrieking like a little girl; conversely, I once got him to support the body of a puff adder that I was restraining behind the head. Go figure. :confused:

I actually just noticed this message. Hmm
But yes its quite comical when I'm at the creek herping and come back to the swimming hole with my 9 inch ring neck snake. I actually had a guy and two girls tell me if I walked in the water with it they would leave even after telling them what it was. This next parts kinda a jerk move but I couldn't resist...

So I went and put the ring neck back where I found him and continued herping the area with no avail. So I picked up a really curvy stick and carried it back and yelled "look what I found man" to my friend on the shore.
*walks over to friend*
*"trips" over tree root*
*lands in water with 3 foot "snake"*
By the time I came up for air everybody was on the shore screaming (mind you all adults and older teens). I'm glad the current was fast or I probably would of been covered in muddy water!
 
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