It's not always easy for calmer heads to prevail, but they should. Good article.

Back in the old days, when my passions ran to more exciting stuff than raising sheep, I was a zookeeper and worked with reptiles. I attended a lecture regarding medical treatment for poisonous snake bites, and the doctors involved had some interesting insights. For instance, alcohol was involved in many human/snake encounters. The snakes weren't the ones drinking, either, and most of the bites they treated were on hands, meaning that someone was being stupid.

My rule for dealing with poisonous snakes is the same as the one for dealing with drunk guys: walk away.