I’m such a hypocrite….

I'm rather fond of spiders, even though two big ones appeared in the bath yesterday.
I loved the book "Charlotte's Web" and I think that may be why.

It makes me think of the Flanders and Swann song " The Spider in the Bath". " Such a fearsome hairy beast, Half an inch across at least! It would frighten even Superman or Goth!"

I think it also depends where you live or where you have visited. We were told to check our boots for spiders and scorpions in Portugal and Australia.
I don’t have time to check if a spider is dangerous or not. It’s simply not welcome in my house. School trips were “Would the teacher like to hold a rose-hair tarantula? is on offer is also a chance to let someone else enjoy the experience.

Where not were

I'm not afraid of spiders but if I saw one the size of Witzend's walking across my kitchen floor I would run.

I don’t really mind them, unless one of those big black hairy ones is in my bedroom at night. Gives me the willies to think of it crawling over my face in the night, so it has to go. (Caught and put outside.)

Buttonjugs

Fleurpepper

Am I the only one here who is not at all afraid of spiders? Even big ones?

No I don’t mind spiders at all. The other week my DIL brought my granddaughters round as I was having them for the day. I’d left the front door unlocked so they could just come right in so I was puzzled when I heard a knock on the window. When I opened the door there was a huge web from the door post to the wheelie bin with a big spider in the middle! I just grabbed it and threw it in the hedge and they couldn’t believe it. They’re all terrified of the things and I really don’t get it 🤷🏼‍♀️

They’re all terrified of the things and I really don’t get it 🤷🏼‍♀️

I think you have to understand that we humans are complex creatures with hang-ups, fears and phobias that might not always make sense to the logical mind.

I'm a fairly rational person and I know that spiders won't harm me (apart from those that are known to bite), but finding one in my home - especially in the bedroom - makes me feel distinctly uncomfortable. I don't bother to analyse it because I know it's irrational.

Have you heard of "koumpounophobia"? It's a fear of buttons ... now there's one to get your head round!

Buttonjugs

Fleurpepper

Am I the only one here who is not at all afraid of spiders? Even big ones?

No I don’t mind spiders at all. The other week my DIL brought my granddaughters round as I was having them for the day. I’d left the front door unlocked so they could just come right in so I was puzzled when I heard a knock on the window. When I opened the door there was a huge web from the door post to the wheelie bin with a big spider in the middle! I just grabbed it and threw it in the hedge and they couldn’t believe it. They’re all terrified of the things and I really don’t get it 🤷🏼‍♀️

Good for you. The other day I was painting shutters outside under the back car port-and I felt something on my foot. And there was a little field mouse- happily crossing over, by now the other foot, and off she went. So cute.

Where do these fears come from? Literature? Films? Or learnt behavious from parents? I am so grateful to my parents for never teaching me these totally irrational fears (of course, I am taking Europe here).

Fleurpepper

Buttonjugs

Fleurpepper

Am I the only one here who is not at all afraid of spiders? Even big ones?

No I don’t mind spiders at all. The other week my DIL brought my granddaughters round as I was having them for the day. I’d left the front door unlocked so they could just come right in so I was puzzled when I heard a knock on the window. When I opened the door there was a huge web from the door post to the wheelie bin with a big spider in the middle! I just grabbed it and threw it in the hedge and they couldn’t believe it. They’re all terrified of the things and I really don’t get it 🤷🏼‍♀️

Good for you. The other day I was painting shutters outside under the back car port-and I felt something on my foot. And there was a little field mouse- happily crossing over, by now the other foot, and off she went. So cute.

Where do these fears come from? Literature? Films? Or learnt behavious from parents? I am so grateful to my parents for never teaching me these totally irrational fears (of course, I am taking Europe here).

I am so grateful to my parents for never teaching me these totally irrational fears (of course, I am taking Europe here).

I am not a psychologist, nor have I studied this discipline, however I'm fairly certain that anxieties, fears and phobias which form part of the complex make up of human beings, are applicable to all of them, not just those living in the British Isles.

On a personal level - no-one 'taught' me to feel irrationally uncomfortable about the sudden appearance of a spider - yet I am. The clue is in the word "irrational" and, again, irrational behaviour is not exclusive to the UK.

For all those who don’t mind spiders, I saw this post this morning. I hope the spiders near us aren’t online.
Spare a thought for spiders.

I’m not scared of spiders in this country, but I was in Australia, because I didn’t know if they were dangerous ones or not.