Human beings imagine themselves as an intelligent, rational species but so much of our moral compass comes from aesthetics. Like we have concocted mythology in which all the creatures that we deem ugly (snakes, vultures, goats etc) are symbols of evil. We've literally wiped out key species because we thought they were ugly.

@Theorem_Poem I love snakes. There are many people who think they're very beautiful. I think many are even cute. Not king cobras. I still don't like king cobras. I wouldn't want them eradicated though... just nowhere near me would be fine.

@apodoxus @Theorem_Poem

Interestingly, in German folklore snakes are _not_ portrayed as universally evil.

Even their "snake kings" and "snake queens" are mostly harmless, unless someone takes their stuff. Which is fair.

https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/Category:Snake_Monarch

@juergen_hubert lovely! Even in Indian mythology, they're complex characters. @apodoxus

@Theorem_Poem @apodoxus

Mind you, some snake tales do get _really_ disturbing.

(CW for body horror.)

https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/The_Snake%27s_Salvation

@juergen_hubert oh sorry I don't do body horror 🫣