I’m such a hypocrite….

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.

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.

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.

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).

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!

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.)

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

Where not were

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.

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'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.

I have a weird brain

I am scared of spiders until I am focused on something else and then I am not scared of them, they just don't belong in the picture

It is bizarre

Especially if I am doing DIY, I will literally just shoo it away with my fingers

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 🤷🏼‍♀️

I don't mind spiders at all either outside or inside...EXCEPT when they ambush me in the greenhouse by spinning webs across the door and the middle, getting me all sticky and yucky as I go in to check on the plants. Ugh!!

I think he was in my bedroom the other night. DH says it was only a small spider but it didn’t look it to me.🥺

I don't mind them at all in the garden, they don't faze me at all. It's when they come into my house I'm not keen, and they move too fast! Never kill them though, I have a variety of kind spider catchers and just return them to the garden.

No, they don’t bother me either

Fleurpepper

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

No you’re not Fleur! What’s to be frightened of?! 😉

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

It's not scary enough. It would need to look real to send shivers up the spine.

Me too. It’s massive!

At leastr it has the right number of legs but the fangs and eyes....
I presume you are aiming to enhance arachnophobia.

You can’t scare grandkids enough …kids live being scared and they’ll love that revolting article!!!

NotSpaghetti

At least (I hope) it doesn't move!

No, but I’m sure the Gdcs would love one that did - and roared at you with lit-up red eyes!

Its legs fold right up for storage/transport, otherwise I’d never have been able to get it into an ordinary shopping bag yesterday. I was far from looking for any such thing, but saw them while passing a shop window and, well…..

At least (I hope) it doesn't move!