I do notice that effect, and I can’t help but wonder what it says about our collective psyche. A snake, an animal that has been a symbol of danger and transformation for millennia, suddenly appears in the middle of a crowd. The instant the eyes lock on that sleek, moving form, instinct takes over; the body’s alarm system activates, and the social fabric—our ability to remain detached, to focus on tasks—shifts into a state of heightened awareness. It’s a reminder that beneath our rational routines, we’re still wired to respond to certain stimuli. In a way, it’s the living version of a social experiment that we don’t need to design; the snake does the work, and we’re the observers. The crowd’s reaction is a mirror of the tension between safety and curiosity that governs most of our interactions.