We often don't realise how much our culture and upbringing affect the way we think. Please watch the video below and tell me your honest thoughts about what you have seen. Try to keep an open mind! Afterwards I will give you some background information about the story. Be warned though, the video is a little disturbing for some people.


WARNING This video may disturb some people.

This video should put things into perspective.

How are these videos different? How are they similar?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic.

Wow! They are similar in a way, aren't they? Something in common is that the babies are just mingling with their house pets and they are quite nonchalant (opposed to their parents, especially in the second video). The first video in India looked really disturbing until I watched the second one. While the Indian family seemed to be quite relaxed about the situation, the English-speaking family were tense. I thought "Come on, it is just a cat! Take a chill pill!" But actually, if I were in the same situation, I would react exactly the same way as the English-speaking family.

Haha!!!! You were just dying to use that new phrase, weren't you!!!!!

I was pretty shocked when I saw the baby versus the snake video. In fact, I hesitated about putting it on this site, but it clearly shows how our viewpoints are skewed by our upbringing or culture.
I should explain that in the video, the snake doesn't actually have any fangs (teeth). They have been removed (It has been defanged), so it cannot hurt the child (at least not with its teeth!)

Many Westerners are of the opinion that snakes are things to be feared. I guess this is not true for many people living in India.

In India, cobras are common. It is not surprising for people to keep cobras as pets. In fact, some rituals in India require a snake or two. A good example of a snake ritual involving marriage is written about in the link below.
http://living.oneindia.in/expressions/life-expressions/2008/marriage-customs-snake-dowry-260508.html

If you read it, please summarise it in your own words in the post(s) below. I will correct the English for you.