NationStates

That's right, we're talking about spiders! Minor nuisance for some, object of abject horror for others, and fascinating specimen to arachnophiles, the humble (or evil) spider occupies a large and varied place in human culture and habitat. From vilification as creepy, monstrous bugs that must be smashed to veneration as helpful, if minute, predators that eat many other creepy crawlies, spiders and humans have a complicated relationship.

On the vilification side, we have pop culture depictions of spiders as sinister stalkers waiting to bite unsuspecting human victims. Especially notable portrayals include Shelob of Lord of the Rings and the acromantulas of Harry Potter. And then there are the myths, such as the daddy long legs being a venomous species, which spread fear and distrust from an early age. Many people fear being bitten by venomous spiders, though nearly all spiders are non-venomous and very few of those are aggressive.

On the veneration side we have myths from many cultures depicting spiders as helpful or as a trickster, much like the fox or coyote.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultura ... of_spiders
Additionally some media portrayals of spiders are sympathetic, such as in Charlotte's Web, and many people appreciate the pest removal benefit of spiders. Spiders are uninterested in eating your food, unlike most of their prey, though you may not appreciate them making homes in your pantry. Speaking of pantries, some cultures eat spiders, adding further intrigue to human-arachnid relations.

What do you say? Are spiders horrible fiends that must be squashed on sight? Or are they helpful roommates who keep your house clear of more obnoxious bugs? Are you indifferent? Would you eat one? If you are afraid of spiders, why? Were you bitten once or did you see others react to spiders with fear and revulsion?

I personally fear big spiders and am indifferent to small spiders. I find large ones creepy though I am beginning to accept that they are much more of a help to me than a hindrance. After all, if they're big then they've been eating a lot of something, probably something that would contaminate my food or bite me. Still, if I see a large enough spider, it's squish time. Even smaller spiders will be mercilessly smashed if they actually get on me. I have no tolerance for that. I've never been bitten that I know of so I think I got my fear from my the reactions of my sister to spiders. As for eating, I think I might, though it'd have to be absolutely burnt.

In the technical sense, most spiders are unable to harm people. The statistics for people injured by spiders bites are extremely low.
On the other hand, they make annoying webs and give me a weird feeling on my back when I think one is nearby.

Spiders do kill mosquitoes and flies, making them very helpful during the summer.

Conclusion:
Spiders are allowed to live outside of my house. Any webs created on traveled paths will be destroyed. Spiders inside the house will be killed.

I am severely arachnophobic. Any spider in my house is vacuumed up.

They are the enemy.

I usually catch and release.

San Lumen wrote:I am severely arachnophobic. Any spider in my house is vacuumed up.

What if they cannibalised each other in the vacuum until only one big spider remained?

But seriously, when you say arachnophobic do you mean that in the common sense or are you truly arachnophobic?

A thread about spiders and no mention of Lucas? For shame!

As to the topic, generally so long as they leave me alone and stay outside, I'll leave them alone. I find one in the house, catch-and-release if possible, squish and flush otherwise. I would classify myself as mildly arachnophobic, in that I do NOT want them near me and will screech if I unexpectedly come across one inside but I don't turn into a puddle of useless panic and can tolerate them at safe distance. When one needs squashing though, I will try and get someone else to take care of it. I can deal with it myself if there's no one else available to do so, but that is firmly the last resort since I haaaate dealing with them myself.

I respect their right to exist so long as they don't fucking crawl on me.

I acknowledge that spiders have the right to exist and I won't kill them, but that's only because I'm vegan. Otherwise, they're terrifying and have too many legs. One giant spider decided to wake me up by crawling on my face when I was younger, and that's just not polite.

Eh, I'm indifferent. I respect their right to exist, setting up nests and all of that, as long as they don't disturb me.

I'm not really fond about the big ones though.

Spiders eat noxious flying things. The circle of life. Hakuna Matata.

Bread Herbert wrote:I usually catch and release.

I try that too.

I ignore. I like Spiders, because I know they happily eat other buggers. I even considered settling some spiders inside my basement as dedicated bughunters.

oₒ ᵥ ᵥ ₒo

Spiders are cute fight me

Depends on the size. I once saw a furry huge black living spider and almost had a heart-Attack. I am okay with small spiders.

I'm not arachnophobic. If spiders need to be removed, I catch and release them outside.

The only spider I've killed was the spider (pretty sure it was a false widow -- it's the only local spider I know that bites) that had already bitten me. Took me a day or two, but I got the little bugger (in fairness, I was worried about the cat I had at the time -- a mild irritation for a human can be worse for an animal).

Wyrdsister wrote:oₒ ᵥ ᵥ ₒo

Spiders are cute fight me

They can be cute and useful too.

Nakena wrote:I ignore. I like Spiders, because I know they happily eat other buggers. I even considered settling some spiders inside my basement as dedicated bughunters.

If you have a cockroach problem, try preying mantises. A friend of mine did that and about wiped them out.

I like spiders. Except for Black Widows, THOSE I killed on sight.

I'm slightly scared of spiders. Compared to other minute animals, however, spiders are nothing. I'm more scared of butterflies than I am spiders. Spiders, for me, are a very useful part of my house due to the pestilence they remove.

For me, as long as they stay out of my way, I don't mind them. But if they get near where I sleep, or get to close to my person, well I can't be held responsible for my actions.

Reploid Productions wrote:A thread about spiders and no mention of Lucas? For shame!

As to the topic, generally so long as they leave me alone and stay outside, I'll leave them alone. I find one in the house, catch-and-release if possible, squish and flush otherwise. I would classify myself as mildly arachnophobic, in that I do NOT want them near me and will screech if I unexpectedly come across one inside but I don't turn into a puddle of useless panic and can tolerate them at safe distance. When one needs squashing though, I will try and get someone else to take care of it. I can deal with it myself if there's no one else available to do so, but that is firmly the last resort since I haaaate dealing with them myself.

Not clicking that link. Nope.

Yeah, when possible I get my wife to do the squishing of larger ones, though I can do it. The only time I get truly, irrationally afraid of spiders is when the spider is big and I'm going through a rough cycle of generalized anxiety. Otherwise, while I still find them unsettling, I'm not afraid, per se. Unless they're truly huge. Hand size or bigger is always fear inducing. Fuck tarantula.

Ism wrote:For me, as long as they stay out of my way, I don't mind them. But if they get near where I sleep, or get to close to my person, well I can't be held responsible for my actions.

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

Saciu wrote:I'm slightly scared of spiders. Compared to other minute animals, however, spiders are nothing. I'm more scared of butterflies than I am spiders. Spiders, for me, are a very useful part of my house due to the pestilence they remove.

Afraid of butterflies? That one puzzles me as I like butterflies and let them crawl on me.

Scomagia wrote:

Ism wrote:For me, as long as they stay out of my way, I don't mind them. But if they get near where I sleep, or get to close to my person, well I can't be held responsible for my actions.

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.