....So you would let the snake freeze to death???...

Charles, whether I would or wouldn't let the snake freeze to death is not what's at issue.

...Saving the snake's life was not a mistake. The mistake that the man made was to trust the snake and expect the snake react like a caring human would....

Charles, you are entitled to your interpretation. There is an old saying for the card game "holdem".
If you don't make the first mistake by playing poor starting hands; you can't make the other mistake that will surely follow.

...I would save the snake's life, but I would not go so far as to give the snake my trust, unless it was earned. People are afraid of what they do not understand. Try to understand things before you make a decision...

Charles how I arrive at MY decisions should not be a concern of yours. I understand the issue at hand fully. Perhaps you should TRY to understand that others have a different standard of ethics which may or may not be the same as yours. My decisions are sound FOR ME. Thanks for your post. Best, Jim