Snakes don't have a choice.
Too many people fall back on the "we can't help it" excuse to justify their own crappy choices. It's one of the oldest cop-outs in the book, although the original causes vary widely (upbringing, genes, environment, too many Twinkies, you-name-it.)
If these causes were the unavoidable influences they're supposed to be, everybody who shared these unfortunate causes would be doing the same things. They don't.
BTW, if we have to destroy "snakes," doesn't this still count as "conflict?"