Because most people, on hearing something that another person considers tragic (”I lost my guns and ammo in a boating accident, my dog died, etc.)
Don’t reply with any variation of “Do you know how many dogs bite people in a year?” or “My brother in law committed suicide by sticking a gun in his mouth.”
Why? Because they believe in showing empathy and recognize that there is a time and place to discuss dog bites or suicide by gun—and that there is a time and place when it is not only poor taste, but inappropriate.
If you really want to discuss snakes attacking people, there are threads for that. Even if there weren’t, you can start one, and see how many people are eager to discuss the subject.
Bringing it up on THIS thread, which is a place for empathy, compassion, and prayers shows a lack of regard for Salamander.
If your intent is to continue to paint yourself in a bad light, I daresay you’ll continue, but if you have any regard for a fellow FREEPer, any respect for Salamander, consider how YOU would want to be treated if it were YOUR dog (or child, or guns or wife/husband/boyfriend/girlfriend) that was lost/ill/dying and YOU wanted prayers and empathy.
Treat her as you would wish to be treated if you genuinely came to the forum for compassion and prayers.
It’s okay.
It’s not like I didn’t expect any weirdness because of what kind of animal it is.
It’s an ancient, ingrained fear and I’m not holding a personal grudge against Spunky.
This is just the way the world is.
If I expected to always find warm and fuzzy hugs for my pets, I wouldn’t have gotten snakes.
It’s not a big deal.
I’ve heard much worse and managed to deal with it.
Loving things that are intrinsically loveable is easy.
I have love for the things that others find unlovable.
I reckon somebody has to.
Everybody has the right to their own feelings.