About Rattlesnakes

[DISCLAIMER]

Having been born and predominately raised in Bomb City, Texas, I learned about rattlesnakes from a young age. For instance, during many trips to Palo Duro Canyon in childhood I encountered venomous western dimondbacks and heard the rattles at the end of their tails.

This also occurred when attending the YMCA-sponsored Camp Christmas Tree in Canyon, Texas during my elementary years. As children walked through open fields, we’d often hear a loud chhh-chhh-chhh-chhh sound. This rattling noise occurred as a deterrent to other predators.

Though a timber rattlesnake (not a diamondback) is featured on the Gadsden flag (“Dont tread on me [sic]”), the “no step on snek” meme uses similar sentiment of a diamondback: individuals have a right to autonomy and self-determination, and shouldn’t be subjected to unjust authority.

Thinking about rattlesnakes and the practice of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I understand that should, must, and ought-type narratives generally fall into the self-disturbing category of irrational beliefs known as demandingness.

Just as there are different varieties of vipers, not all demandingness narratives are the same. Typically, the self-disturbing variation is associated with absolutistic or conditional should beliefs. An example of the former is, “I should always be safe when in nature.”

Representing the latter is, “If safety isn’t guaranteed when in nature, then I shouldn’t go outdoors.” Both absolutistic and conditional demands are considered rigid, and when these unwavering expectations go unmet people self-disturb and experience unpleasant consequences.

Thus, REBT advocates disputation of unhelpful beliefs so that people may stop upsetting themselves when metaphorically coiling into striking positions while preparing to venomously bite other individuals – regularly in an offensive posture. Still, not all should beliefs are equal.

Flexible preferential and recommendatory should beliefs are helpful narratives and mostly don’t cause self-disturbance. An example of the former is, “I’d prefer that I should always be safe when in nature, though there’s no guarantee of this in an impermanent and uncertain world.”

Representing the latter is, “I recommend that I should use caution when in nature, as I’d like to go outdoors despite the danger I may face.” Both preferential and recommendatory narratives remind me of a bullsnake that looks like a rattler and regarding which one source states:

They are known as bull snakes or bullsnakes because of the deep hissing/rumbling sound they make when nervous, which can be reminiscent of a bellowing bull, as well as their overall defensive display of rearing up like a rattlesnake and rattling their tail in leaves, all of which is a bluff; the snake is not venomous, and rarely bites.

Whereas a rattlesnake is venomous and can cause serious harm, a bullsnake is relatively harmless to humans. Now, where a “no step on snek” advisement is concerned, I suppose that it all depends on one’s personal morals and ethics as to which form of demandingness is used.

Personally, it’s preferred that individuals should have a right to autonomy and self-determination, and that they recommendatorily shouldn’t be subjected to unjust authority. All the same, if or when oppression does occur, then absolutistic or conditional shoulds may then result.

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

References:

Hollings, D. (2024, July 9). Absolutistic should beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/absolutistic-should-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2024, July 9). Conditional should beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/conditional-should-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2022, October 31). Demandingness. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/demandingness

Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer

Hollings, D. (2025, March 5). Five major characteristics of four major irrational beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/five-major-characteristics-of-four-major-irrational-beliefs

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Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching

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Hollings, D. (2023, October 2). Morals and ethics. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/morals-and-ethics

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Hollings, D. (2024, July 10). Preferential should beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/preferential-should-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist

Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt

Hollings, D. (2024, July 10). Recommendatory should beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/recommendatory-should-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2024, January 4). Rigid vs. rigorous. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rigid-vs-rigorous

Hollings, D. (2024, May 26). Self-determination and autonomy. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-determination-and-autonomy

Hollings, D. (2022, November 1). Self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-disturbance

Hollings, D. (2022, October 7). Should, must, and ought. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/should-must-and-ought

Hollings, D. (2025, February 28). To try is my goal. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/to-try-is-my-goal

SomeGuyNamedDavid. (2017). Gadsden flag / Don’t tread on me - No step on snek. Know Your Meme. Retrieved from https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1116586-gadsden-flag-dont-tread-on-me

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Bullsnake. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullsnake

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Gadsden flag. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadsden_flag#:~:text=The%20Gadsden%20flag%20is%20a,coiled%20and%20ready%20to%20strike.

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Palo Duro Canyon. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palo_Duro_Canyon

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Rattlesnake. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rattlesnake

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Timber rattlesnake. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timber_rattlesnake

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Western diamondback rattlesnake. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_diamondback_rattlesnake