From Brian Darvell, Neston, Wiltshire, UK
Fear of snakes really is hardwired, as your look at our fascination with monsters highlights. At a social meeting, I had an involuntary startle reaction, thinking I had seen a python out of the corner of my eye – a friend was wearing brown trainers with a pale buff “eye stripe” either side. The feeling was strong and kept recurring that evening and on subsequent occasions, even though I knew what it was. I have no actual snake-related concerns and have had no bad experiences. I have never seen a python in the wild, but this was unshakeable (14 September, p 23).
