Spiders!

[Necroghastia]

Spiders are super cute! I love them and it makes me sad that so many are outright hateful of them. I've contemplated getting a tarantula at some point.

[Scomagia]

Spiders are super cute! I love them and it makes me sad that so many are outright hateful of them. I've contemplated getting a tarantula at some point.

What makes them cute, in your opinion?

[Scomagia]

A sort of stand your ground policy. I like it.

Damn, I don't live in a stand your ground state. Uh... no one tell PETA.

Already done! You can expect a response team to cover you in spiderwebs or something equally juvenile sometime in the next week!

[Necroghastia]

Spiders are super cute! I love them and it makes me sad that so many are outright hateful of them. I've contemplated getting a tarantula at some point.

What makes them cute, in your opinion?

I've always thought a lot of arthropods were cute, but spiders in particular are one of my favorites. Some of them, like jumping spiders, have adorable eyes. Some are super fuzzy. Some can show a surprising amount of personality. Web-spinning varieties can make downright gorgeous works of art. And the way they move can be so interesting to watch. Plus there's just how much hate they get, which does make me sympathetic.

Tarantulas have been known to have a bond with frogs I'd liken to an anemone and clownfish, which is fascinating IMO.

Also if you're afraid to click Rep Prod's link, don't worry too much. Lucas is a cartoon spider.

[Scomagia]

What makes them cute, in your opinion?

I've always thought a lot of arthropods were cute, but spiders in particular are one of my favorites. Some of them, like jumping spiders, have adorable eyes. Some are super fuzzy. Some can show a surprising amount of personality. Web-spinning varieties can make downright gorgeous works of art. And the way they move can be so interesting to watch. Plus there's just how much hate they get, which does make me sympathetic.

Tarantulas have been known to have a bond with frogs I'd liken to an anemone and clownfish, which is fascinating IMO.

Also if you're afraid to click Rep Prod's link, don't worry too much. Lucas is a cartoon spider.

I actually have a soft spot for jumping spiders. They've always looked cool, to me, and acted funny. Are crabs arthropods? Because I find crabs to be cute.

That is fascinating that tarantulas bond with frogs. I'd never have guessed.

[Reploid Productions]

Not clicking that link. Nope.

For the record, it's a series of ridiculously adorable animated shorts staring a jumping spider named Lucas, voiced by a little kid. Probably shouldn't have assumed folks would already know what I was linking, my bad. ^^;

[Scomagia]

Not clicking that link. Nope.

For the record, it's a series of ridiculously adorable animated shorts staring a jumping spider named Lucas, voiced by a little kid. Probably shouldn't have assumed folks would already know what I was linking, my bad. ^^;

Aww, he is kinda cute.

Incidentally, my wife likes to name spiders. She had one in the shower named Wanda and she named the biggun that recently terrorized me Paco. Needless to say, she gets a lot of laughs out of my disdain for large spiders.

[Necroghastia]

I've always thought a lot of arthropods were cute, but spiders in particular are one of my favorites. Some of them, like jumping spiders, have adorable eyes. Some are super fuzzy. Some can show a surprising amount of personality. Web-spinning varieties can make downright gorgeous works of art. And the way they move can be so interesting to watch. Plus there's just how much hate they get, which does make me sympathetic.

Tarantulas have been known to have a bond with frogs I'd liken to an anemone and clownfish, which is fascinating IMO.

Also if you're afraid to click Rep Prod's link, don't worry too much. Lucas is a cartoon spider.

I actually have a soft spot for jumping spiders. They've always looked cool, to me, and acted funny. Are crabs arthropods? Because I find crabs to be cute.

That is fascinating that tarantulas bond with frogs. I'd never have guessed.

Yeah, arthropoda includes insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and myriapods (centipedes, millipedes, and the like). Most things with exoskeletons, basically. And I agree, crabs are cute little things.

And yeah, essentially the frog gets protected from some larger predators, and eats smaller invertebrates that could go after the tarantula's eggs.

[Costa Fierro]

My mother is scared shitless of spiders and thus most that come into the house and are detected by humans die a swift death at the sole of a shoe or on the tip of the cricket bat for larger ones. I haven't developed any such tendencies and thus most spiders that come into contact with are left to their down devices.

I had one of these on my bedroom wall once that was the size of my hand. I left it there because I couldn't be bothered moving it.

[Scomagia]

I actually have a soft spot for jumping spiders. They've always looked cool, to me, and acted funny. Are crabs arthropods? Because I find crabs to be cute.

That is fascinating that tarantulas bond with frogs. I'd never have guessed.

Yeah, arthropoda includes insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and myriapods (centipedes, millipedes, and the like). Most things with exoskeletons, basically. And I agree, crabs are cute little things.

And yeah, essentially the frog gets protected from some larger predators, and eats smaller invertebrates that could go after the tarantula's eggs.

Ah. Well, then I like some arthropods! Hermit crabs especially!

That's very cool! Synergy!

[Radiatia]

I'm pretty arachnophobic and I treat any spider I come across, however small, as if they are an enemy combatant.

On a side note, I heard an interesting theory once that the reason so many people are afraid of spiders could be evolutionary - the biggest threat to a baby, back in the days when we were all living in the jungle, was a (poisonous) spider - a creature too small to be noticed by the mother, but nonetheless deadly to the baby should it bite it.

EDIT: Actually there is one type of spider I'm okay with. I found an Avondale spider in my bedroom once and let it go. They're big and scary but actually I've heard they're supposed to be quite intelligent and fairly good with humans, hence they often end up in movie roles.

[Scomagia]

I'm pretty arachnophobic and I treat any spider I come across, however small, as if they are an enemy combatant.

On a side note, I heard an interesting theory once that the reason so many people are afraid of spiders could be evolutionary - the biggest threat to a baby, back in the days when we were all living in the jungle, was a (poisonous) spider - a creature too small to be noticed by the mother, but nonetheless deadly to the baby should it bite it.

I have heard that theory, though I'm skeptical that spiders have ever been lethal enough to be an evolutionary stressors. Unlike snakes, for example, spiders are really, really unlikely to bite you. Venomous bites are extraordinarily rare.

[Radiatia]

I'm pretty arachnophobic and I treat any spider I come across, however small, as if they are an enemy combatant.

On a side note, I heard an interesting theory once that the reason so many people are afraid of spiders could be evolutionary - the biggest threat to a baby, back in the days when we were all living in the jungle, was a (poisonous) spider - a creature too small to be noticed by the mother, but nonetheless deadly to the baby should it bite it.

I have heard that theory, though I'm skeptical that spiders have ever been lethal enough to be an evolutionary stressors. Unlike snakes, for example, spiders are really, really unlikely to bite you. Venomous bites are extraordinarily rare.

I would wonder if back in the day when we were all living in the tropics that spiders were nastier? I have no idea, it's just a theory so my guess is as good as yours.

Interestingly I'm not at all scared of snakes, but that's mainly due to me living in one of the only two countries in the world to have no snakes.

[The Sherpa Empire]

I mostly ignore spiders.

At work, when I got really bored, I would sometimes play with the spider webs in the warehouse, like break one string of a spider's web and watch how they react, see how much of the old web they try to salvage when they rebuild.

I don't understand people that scream in terror every time they see one. It's just a spider, dude.

[Kartunium]

As a child (into my 20s), hated spiders and all bugs. Since then, matured slightly and wised up a bit.
Now I love spiders. Most are rather beautiful, if you can appreciate their wonderfully efficient physiognomy.

I must admit to still being easily creeped out by the really fast ones, because when one gets on me
it always heads right up my arm and straight for my face. But those are wolf spiders, who build those
wonderful trampoline webs you see on the lawn and the shrubbery in the morning dew. Sometimes
they'll come out to investigate if you tap the web very gently.
We had a gorgeous, enormous golden orb weaver, almost as big as my hand, spin a huge web near our
front door a few summers ago. We often see a jumping spider or two alongside our front door if we
get home after dark, and their eyes glint the loveliest emerald green when the house lights turn on.
They're fun to spar with if you find one on a countertop -- put one finger in front of them, just an
inch or two from their face, and they'll rear back, front legs poised to strike as they shuffle back and
side to side and feint forward to challenge. All this appreciation for them despite having once been
bitten by one with uncomfortable results! He was hiding in the shadows inside my car door when
I went out to roll up the windows one night. My aching finger swelled up like a kielbasa for two days.

But kill one? Never, not any more. I keep a transparent plastic cup and a slim piece of cardboard handy
at all times. Here ya go, little fella, outside, go eat some bugs out there. I feel awful if I have to
put one outside in the winter.

By the way, harvestmen -- "daddy longlegs" -- aren't actual spiders...

oh, @saciu -- funny you should say that. My grandaughter just told me last week that she was
creeped out by butterflies. I'd never heard of such a thing. Anyone being afraid of butterflies,
I mean.

[Pacomia]

I can understand why someone would want spiders in their house to get rid of pests, and I probably would be fine with them if I did have pests, but I don’t really live in an areas where most said “pests” really exist.

[Pacomia]

I don't understand people that scream in terror every time they see one. It's just a spider, dude.

I don’t much like spiders, and I tend to get uncomfortable around them, but I don’t scream. Who does that?

[Neanderthaland]

I'm pretty arachnophobic and I treat any spider I come across, however small, as if they are an enemy combatant.

On a side note, I heard an interesting theory once that the reason so many people are afraid of spiders could be evolutionary - the biggest threat to a baby, back in the days when we were all living in the jungle, was a (poisonous) spider - a creature too small to be noticed by the mother, but nonetheless deadly to the baby should it bite it.

I have heard that theory, though I'm skeptical that spiders have ever been lethal enough to be an evolutionary stressors. Unlike snakes, for example, spiders are really, really unlikely to bite you. Venomous bites are extraordinarily rare.

Lizards too, are another one that sort of makes sense in this context, but not really if you think about it. I suppose without knowing exactly when in our evolutionary history this supposedly occurred, and what species were in the local environment, it's impossible to say.

What is true is that humans seem to be biased towards developing phobias to snakes, spiders, and lizards, even in environments where it makes no sense.


It's slightly off-topic, but there's a similar theory that "boogiemen" hiding under the bed or in the closet is a misunderstanding of a child's intuitive fear of leopards. Which are one of the few predators that prey on human children, and are known hide within human dwellings, and check a lot of the "boogieman" boxes: glowing eyes, fangs, and general sneaky-scariness.

[Highever]

If I see them outside or in other rooms aside from my bedroom they don't really bother me. If it's where I sleep its another story entirely.

[Caracasus]

I don't mind spiders but my other half is less fond of them so we have an agreement with the spiders. If one is just hanging around in a hard to get to area we leave it alone. If not then they get caught and released.

My least favourite ones are the jumping ones because they're a pain to catch and the ones with very long spindly
legs because catching one without squishing a leg is hard.

[SherpDaWerp]

Well, here in Australia, some spiders actually can be kinda dangerous. Thankfully, the deadly ones are still exceedingly rare, but the wolf spider or white-tailed spider can bite and be a nuisance.
Your garden-variety huntsman though, I just catch and release outside my house.

One thing I am absolutely against, however, is when I accidentally brush against a web that I didn't see. That is a very quick way to get a hard no from me.

[Raider Clans]

They're fine as long as they're not in my pantry.

[Pacomia]

They're fine as long as they're not in my pantry.

Griked Carrickbug infestations are the WORST. They look terrifying, and they nest in your food so you can’t eat it. The worst part is, they don’t even exist.

[Scomagia]

I have heard that theory, though I'm skeptical that spiders have ever been lethal enough to be an evolutionary stressors. Unlike snakes, for example, spiders are really, really unlikely to bite you. Venomous bites are extraordinarily rare.

Lizards too, are another one that sort of makes sense in this context, but not really if you think about it. I suppose without knowing exactly when in our evolutionary history this supposedly occurred, and what species were in the local environment, it's impossible to say.

What is true is that humans seem to be biased towards developing phobias to snakes, spiders, and lizards, even in environments where it makes no sense.


It's slightly off-topic, but there's a similar theory that "boogiemen" hiding under the bed or in the closet is a misunderstanding of a child's intuitive fear of leopards. Which are one of the few predators that prey on human children, and are known hide within human dwellings, and check a lot of the "boogieman" boxes: glowing eyes, fangs, and general sneaky-scariness.

Wait...you're neanderthal. Shouldn't you know what our evolutionary history was like?

I believe spider aversion is less cross-cultural than snake aversion, though I'm not sure. In any case, the roots of arachnophobia are unclear but it's hardly much of an adaptive strategy, even in Australia. I've seen people be truly terrified of spiders to the point of inaction, which is hardly useful.

I could definitely see big cats as a root of boogieman fears. Or any large predator, really. Even bears, big as they are, can be insanely sneaky.

[Scomagia]

If I see them outside or in other rooms aside from my bedroom they don't really bother me. If it's where I sleep its another story entirely.

The bedroom is the worst place to see a spider, for sure. You get that itchy, creepy crawling feeling as you try and sleep. It's no good.