As was said previously we fear the unknown. I in particular fear unknowingly coming upon a snake. As irrational as it may be I fear the buggers. Unfortunately my wife likes to exploit that fear on occasion.
I mostly wear flip flops and shorts in the summer. As we were getting ready to go to the grocery store one evening I noticed a healthy population of frogs around the back door. I thought to myself that would be a prime spot for a snake. I didn't say anything about it to anyone I simply took note. As we returned home I looked for the frogs to try and figure out why they were all right in that one spot. About that time my wife yelled, "SNAKE!!!". Now I'm a pretty big fella, but I jumped far back I almost hit the car. I was half way down the drive way before I heard my wife laughing. She just stood there pointing to my flip flops still sitting where I had been standing before she yelled.
Now let me tell you, as soon as I cleaned up from the involuntary bowl movement, I gave her the what for.
Chip