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Prof Graeme Alexander from Wits university did some research on puffadders. The puffies were falsely accused of attacking everything that moves. He decided to do an experiment and attached a radio transmitter to a pufadder and released it in a game reserve, to test its reaction. He attached a boot to a stick and followed the puffie. He placed the boot 5cm from the nose of the snake, but nothing happened. He then placed the boot on top of the snake, but, without any reaction. The prof then made the deduction a snake only reacts in extreme circumstances.

Will Prof Alexander convince me to scratch the back of a puffadder? (No, I will rather kiss a croc.)

(Article in 'Die Volksblad 9/1012)

Kissing a croc is deadly Rooies...

So the Prof captured a puffie, attached a transmitter and then released and followed it with a booted stick

Methinks the puffie just wanted to be left in peace after the ordeal, instead of having to use valuable venom on a human behaving strangely

Doesn't matter what the Prof says, I will not shake hands, eh eh tails with a puffie.

I have experience of being the third person to step over a large puffadder that was hidden under thick grass in the centre of a drainage line , It was the rustling of the grass which alerted me to its presence .

I have seen pictures on this forum of puffadders being picked up with braai tongs and have read of an incident where a person was bitten when ushering a puffadder into a plastic container using the lid of the container .
I believe urban legend is largely responsible for their reputation , though who would ever know what the puffadders mood is at any particular time .. ?