Snake Handler Jamie Coots Dies

[RavynousHunter]

Because bleach is dangerous!

[Raymond Dullaghy]

Hey, I've handled snakes before without being harmed! OK, it was my high-school science teacher's pet Eastern King Snake (lampropeltis getula), but Elvis was a snake nonetheless! In fact, he seemed quite friendly.

But in all seriousness, you have to be a special kind of stupid to think that faith gives you a licence to handle venomous reptiles. Jesus is probably facepalming right now.

[Old Viking]

"And then the Lord said unto ... Whoopsie!"

[Ghoti]

Because bleach is dangerous!

Actually, it's probably because it's poor showmanship. Anybody can drink something that may or may not be bleach out of a Clorox bottle, but rattlesnakes are cool and exciting!

[Star Cluster]

In their minds, they are not tempting God, they are doing as the Bible says and demonstrating their faith due to one verse...Mark 16:18 - They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

That he died won't have an effect on them as far as handling snakes in the future.  Although this buffoon was their pastor, he died simply because, well, he just didn't have enough faith.

Makes me wonder why they don't just drink bleach to prove their faith instead of dicking around with the snakes.

There are some of these morons that do drink deadly poison to prove their faith.  As you can imagine, the results are not positive.

[KZN02]

Something I was wondering, is it possible to build a resistance, if not immunity, to snake venom or poisons and such in general?

[Ultimate Paragon]

Something I was wondering, is it possible to build a resistance, if not immunity, to snake venom or poisons and such in general?

It's possible to build up a resistance, but probably not complete immunity.

[Cerim Treascair]

Something I was wondering, is it possible to build a resistance, if not immunity, to snake venom or poisons and such in general?

It's possible to build up a resistance, but probably not complete immunity.

That's... actually true.  But you gotta be amazingly careful with it and as far as what I've read (years ago, now), it takes a damned long time for your body to be able to adapt to even a tiny amount.

[Damen]

Something I was wondering, is it possible to build a resistance, if not immunity, to snake venom or poisons and such in general?

It's possible to build up a resistance, but probably not complete immunity.

That's... actually true.  But you gotta be amazingly careful with it and as far as what I've read (years ago, now), it takes a damned long time for your body to be able to adapt to even a tiny amount.

A few years if you're building up an immunity to iocane powder, last I heard. Granted, the fellow I heard it from was dressed all in black and wearing a mask and offered me a glass of wine, so he might not have been quite on the level.

[LeTipex]

Hey, I've handled snakes before without being harmed! OK, it was my high-school science teacher's pet Eastern King Snake (lampropeltis getula), but Elvis was a snake nonetheless! In fact, he seemed quite friendly.

But in all seriousness, you have to be a special kind of stupid to think that faith gives you a licence to handle venomous reptiles. Jesus is probably facepalming right now.

I handle venomous (mortal even!) snakes regularly... Though only with a single species that I know very well, and doesn't attack humans when on the ground (they are very shy on the ground, since they only come up there to mate and sleep, they never attack there except if you step on them. In the water, it's a different matter).

I've even got a pic of nine-year old me wearing a live one as a necklace.

Though if you do it with another dangerous species, and no formal training, I'll call you an idiot.

[Ghoti]

You got more guts than I do. The only snake I handle is my brother's humongous garter snake, and even then I'm extremely careful. Although I will say that's more for his protection than mine - if he bites me and I jerk away, he could get seriously injured.

[Askold]

You got more guts than I do. The only snake I handle is my brother's humongous garter snake, and even then I'm extremely careful. Although I will say that's more for his protection than mine - if he bites me and I jerk away, he could get seriously injured.

...Is "Garter snake" a real species? I thought it was just an euphenism. But then again, my mind is in the gutter so what would I know.

[The Right Honourable Mlle Antéchrist]

I almost wish it were a euphemism, if only because that would make Saving's post infinitely more amusing.

[Ghoti]

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Garter_Snake

[Askold]

Yeah, I got it mixed up with trouser snake.

My bad.

And on the actual topic: This whole tradition is kinda silly since as was commented before, bible specifically mentions not to test God for silly reasons like this. Then again, this is not certainly the first or the last time christians act like they haven't even read that book.