Hmmm...I'd consider myself to be pretty average in appearance, but then again that is all a matter of opinion, and I hang out with alot of weirdos, so maybe it just gives me the illusion of normalcy.
I work in a vets office that treats dogs and cats but from time to time I bring in my pets to weigh them or deworm or something simple like that and the evil receptionsit wont even come in the building when I bring my iguana, she stays outside and pulls weeds all day....even if its raining (which is fine by me....she's evil)
But yeah shes not the only one....I've got alot of people who have treated me different once they learned that I have a virtual petting zoo. Alot are curious, but there are still those who cross themselves and promise to pray for me.

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"If you're not falling, you're not trying." - Sonni Trotter

~*~Lacey~*~

My Photos

I don't fit the "typical" snake or reptile owner persona at all then. I'm an alter worker and soon to be small group pastor at a church, I dress conservatively, have no tattoos or odd piercings and am also a stay at home mom. But some people I talk to don't understand why I own snake because they're "the animal the devil used to deceive Eve", those are mostly really old people though.

Reptile owners aren't weird, stereotypes are.

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http://dragcave.net/user/manhirwen

Yeah I dont think I fit the reptile person either, have no tatoos or piercing and I just started college and I have no harley sitin in the garage lol. but myself I just love reptiles and most people who live by me either understand or dont. In the near future I will have some tatoos though hopefully.

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brazilian rainbow boa--- Pandora
Cali King---Oreo

Life is to short to worry about your mistake's as long as you learn from them.

I think that reptiles and their owners have had a bad rap from the very beginning. My dad is a preacher and he hates them with a passion. His reasoning: "God cursed the snakes and that is good enough for me" or the age old adage "the only good snake is a dead snake." I don't view myself as being a weirdo because I adore them. I love people and animals alike. I am a "teacher in training" and have tattoos that are only visible when I wear the right shirts (a sunflower and a dragon). All of my friends and family (with the exception of my brother) will not even look at him, let alone handle him. I live in redneck territory where you are weird if you don't have a mud crusted 4-wheel drive or ride a dirt bike and they go out of their way to run over animals (especially snakes) in the road. I do think it takes a bit of a rebellious and explorative personality to own the reptiles because they are not considered a "normal" pet.

I'd consider myself to look pretty average personally... it's the rest of the world that looks weird! with their jeans... and un-inked skin! lol.
but it's true, i have found that people aren’t very surprised when I tell them I share my apartment with a 6foot boa, where a "normal looking" friend of mine gets constant "OH MY GOD"s when she talks about her snake collection, (she has 5) i guess singing in a metal band and having multiple tattoo's and piercing makes people think "well of coarse she has a weird scary pet!" i've never understood it though; in fact I was much more of a mammal person before I adopted my boy and discovered how much love and balance he can bring into my life. i guess preconceptions are everywhere, but what are ya gunna do?

I walk around and people get disgusted by me WITHOUT a snake..

Also, it doesn't really matter anyway. Afterall, do you WANT to be like THEM? Who cares what they think? I have my CITES licenses and I can keep what I want legally.

Wow thanks for the posts guys keep them coming. I really can't tollerate the people who are overly religious who think snakes are evil...what happened to do not judge? I had Joe brought to my college when I was in school because a couple people were interested in seeing him because I tended to talk about him alot lol. Anyway the prof was terrified of him and there were several profs etc who called in sick that day or refused to come into my school because I had my very tiny tiny snake there. I completely agree that it's childish to use your snake to scare people mainly because I'd be terrified they might lash out at him and he'd get hurt but I have this wicker basket with a toy snake that looks very fake that bobs up and down in it and I often lift off the lid quickly and say look and they always jump back...then I asked why were you afraid of that? My prof actually had a completely different opinion of him by the time we left I completely switched her attitude around considering joe is the most harmless looking thing ever. I find king snakes have a innocent look to them...I know to a lot of people that sounds crazy...But I think Joe is the most addorable snake ever!

I know I hear that "snakes are evil", "snakes are the devil" **** every once in a while since I live in the "Bible Belt"!
My standard reply is if they beleive what their bible says then god flooded the world to DESTROY ALL THE EVIL CREATURES!
If snakes were evil then why are they still here?
Usually shuts that up!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

hmm...Why are people still here? We destroy everything and then there's the evil ones...

Well, if you have read my reply on the "snakes and religion" thread, then I am a pretty average guy - if not a "weirdo Jesus freak" compared to others .

I don't drink, don't smoke, have no piercings or tatoos, and am somewhat, to borrow and 80's term, preppy. Think Average Suburbanite, and you have me. And I love my snakes - and everyone else's, too.