Have you ever been chased by a snake?  Ok, have you ever heard of or read about anyone being chased by one?  It is likely you haven’t because it hardly ever happens.  Yet, almost all of us, are inherently scared of snakes.

I am no reptilian expert however, I have come across snakes in the open a few times and on every occasion, the snake slithered away from me, because I neither represented a threat nor did I look like lunch to the shy and nervous creature.  Anyway, I was glad and relieved the snake never wanted to stop for a chat or a bite.

So, in spite of evidence to the contrary, the snake is feared, mistrusted and universally hated by us to the point that you would hardly find anyone, except for the enlightened experts, to protest should you callously attempt to kill one.  Here is the thing: most snakes are not venomous but, some are deadly poisonous and prepared to use their venom mostly to subdue their prey rather than in self-defence; which only happens if they are threatened by large animals or people. You have to travel far and to obscure places to find snakes large enough to look at you as a typical meal and they go for swallowing you whole or squash you to death as with the boa constrictor.

Why am I telling you all this stuff, which is largely unpleasant to most of us, including me?  Here is why:  What and whom we see as dangerous in our private and professional lives are only dangerous if we over-step the mark and invade their space, such as our shy and disinterested snake.  However, the danger lurks amongst our domesticated animals from the humble dog that suddenly turns on an innocently running, screaming child, to the magnificent horse that for no apparent reason bolts and throws its owner off causing serious injury, or the cute talking parrot that may give you a nasty ‘Psittacosis’ infection.

I have always found it more comfortable dealing with the outspoken, seemingly aggressive colleagues because it was easy to see what they had on their minds.  By contrast, I can think of at least four or five occasions when my career was dealt a blow by presumed friends or do-gooders who schemed against me.  There are three types that I can think of

First, there are the backstabbers which according to the O’Jays song, ‘they smile in your face and all the time they want to take your place’, who take every opportunity to speak badly behind your back to people of power and influence.  Often this type are the ambitious ones who currently report to you but wish to take over from you sooner rather than later.

Then there are those who damn you with faint praise by seeming to say something positive about you but deliberately put it in the wrong context to do you harm.  This type are peers who see you as a competitor for the next rung on the career ladder.

My favourite is the type who claim to represent you without your knowledge and claim to know your thoughts, opinions and attitude regarding a specific topic.  This type is very intelligent but, extremely manipulative and dangerous.

The insidious thing about all three types is that they can always claim to ‘mean well’ towards you and continue to seek your friendship.  This is why I would rather deal with the out-and-out hostile type who make no attempt at hiding how they feel about you.

So, if you are still illogically scared of snakes, the best way to avoid being chased by one is to do nothing.  More precisely, do nothing to alarm the snake or invade its space. Alternatively, move to Antarctica where, I believe snakes are never found but, don’t take your horse, cat, parrot or dog with you, because they may end up causing you serious harm.