Why are so many people arachnophobic?

[ParsoOfEquestria 1,490]

Oh I agree the initial shock of seeing that thing would scare we half to death...... But give me a minute and I would get a book and go squish it or something..... But if it was a smaller, fatter and black spider (All the dangerous ones) I would probably have to burn my house down.... just to make sure it dies....

 

its best not to grab the first thing you see to kill the spider, last year, i found one crawling up my wall, and with me being petrified of them, i had two options, kill it or run. who would have thought a hunting rifle was the closest to me, i squashed it with the stock but also put a hole in my wall XD

[Princess Ariona 402]

Arachnophobia? Well I'm not one of those. I never killed not even a spider, any bug even if it's dangerous. I know how to deal with them, and just get them out of my house without causing any harm to them. My mother and grandmother do the same every time they see any spider in the house. Spiders are also living creatures, they do have a right to live too.

I don't understand those who always kill a spider even a tiny one every time they see it. The life period of spiders doesn't reach any number higher than a year, the only exception goes to tarantulas and other kinds of giant spiders who can live maximum 30 years. But I still don't find that a big reason to decide that they must die whenever we want.

 

The reason of such fear of spiders imo lies far in the past of a child who: saw many scary movies about spiders being merciless killers, or saw his parents/sisters/brothers or friends being afraid so much of spiders and advising him to stay away from them too, or he himself got bitten by a spider which probably resulted in him staying in a hospital for a long period of time or just hurt him a bit. All this affects the child's psychology and changes his opinion about spiders for the entire life.

 

There is something I want to say though, a spider will never bite for no reason. It bites only to defend itself from what they might understand as an attack from a human, especially lil kids who have enough curiosity to catch a spider and see what will happen to it if they will cut his legs...etc. Hence, we are the merciless creatures, not spiders.

Sadly not everyone understands this.

 

If a spider is poisonous, trying to kill it is also stupid imo because it can still manage to bite you after all and because you're actually killing it instead of calling a group of specialists whose job is to get dangerous animals out of your house. ( If such groups exist in your country ofc) .

[Bunches 81]

harmless creature

O_o?!! where i ive we have black widow spiders who are extremely harmful and have been known (in my area) to make people very very sick.

 

that being said, i think the common misconception with spiders is that they are all harmful. totally not the case, and even the ones who are really are only interested in biting humans if they feel threatened (are about to get stepped on, or rolled over upon if they crawled in your bed, that type of thing - which is rare).

 

so to say they are all harmless is ridiculous. spider bites are common here, although rarely deadly or even barely harmful other than a nasty looking and feeling bite. but i agree with you for being confused about the mass phobia, idk why so many people are afraid of the same thing. but isn't that part of a "phobia"? being irrationally afraid? and you can't really explain irrational thought so... idk. crazy, eh?

[Kazuki Fuse 534]

Oh look a cute little cricket just hopping around, I think I'll name him Jimeny. Wait is tha-

 

 

 

I dont like this one bit...

[Mirad 217]

Spiders are cool, for example - why can't I get bit by a radioactive spider and become spiderma-- oh wait, I might die in that case...

[Starshine 16,334]

Small spiders are okay in my book, they're so useful when they kill all those pesky small insects. Some of them are very adorable too

 

 

But hand me any spider that is larger than my thumbs, things will burn

 

---

 

As others already said earlier, everything about big spiders simply scream death to our face. Eight spindly legs, hairy exterior, godawfully huge fangs, the way they moves, everything. Can't really force others to like that kind of creature :/

[LisKira 6]

only spider i am scared of is the camel spider for good reason i don't care when i see spiders but i don't like them crawling on i don't like any bugs touching me its the bristles on their legs hate the feeling.

[Celestial Sloth 369]

I used to just instinctively smash them, but then one started living next to my PS3. I named him Mike, and wasn't aloud to play GTA4 for a week because that was where his web was. Then he just up and left. Don't smash them anymore.

 

I miss Mike.

[Lost 1,410]

Hmm..

According to wikipedia

 

Just gonna be one to point out that wikipedia, while good for a general idea and some minor reference, can be edited by just about anyone, as such it shouldn't be taken 100% at its word, those figures could be incorrect.

 

Sorry had to be said, i've had it drilled into me from college tutors long enough, if we reference any work from wiki, it usually has to be reworked :/

 

Anyway, arachnophobia, i don't get it either, and i agree with you, that picture is rather cute xD

I suppose it makes sense when its a spider that could potentially harm you, but i live in the UK where there are practically no spiders that would bite you, and even if they did, there is only real known case of someone being bitten by a spider and having to get treated for it (a spider was in some imported fruit and bit a woman) so it dosnt really make sense to fear something that it both practical (it kills flies) and relatively easy to kill should you need to kill it.

[moneyshredderofdeath 414]

Insects and arachnids have the very unappealing eyes, abdomens, exoskeletons, etc. so it's pretty understandable why there's appropriate phobias. I'm no spider fan myself, though admittedly they aren't as horrid as flies. A shame that there's no way to obliterate those flying little buggers without any ecosystematic consequences.

[Drehgunklew 136]

I think that spiders are cute I've been bitten by spiders a couple of times but I still think that they are cute :3 I don't find them scary at all. They are so fuzzy!

[Archangel 143]

Well there's arachnophobia and then there's just being afraid of spiders.

 

I fear spiders, I think it has to do with how they move their legs when the move. Just creepy. But scorpions and other arachnids? They don't scare me at all. Not a bit, well, unless they can kill me, but c'mon who wouldn't be scared in that case?

 

Plus, a lot of spiders are dangerous, silent, and they are friggin' everywhere!

[(Deactivated) 68]

'Cause those things are hairy, scary, and something else that rhymes.

Speaking of which, SpiderJack!

http-~~-//www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5jKuYOotsA

 

I fear no Equine, but that, thing, it scares me! One shutters to imagine what kind of nonpony thoughts lie behind those eyes, what dreams of chronic and sustained horror!

[Regality 233]

Honestly, for me the issue is with all those legs. Anything with more than five legs, and is smaller than I am, will scare me half to death!

~~

[Acoustic Cloud 2,202]

I've been reading a bit about phobias, and it turns out that Arachnophobia is the most common one. I knew lots of people were afraid of spiders, but i was still confused by the numbers. According to wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia....i/Arachnophobia), 50% of women and 10% of men (leading to around 1/3 of the population) is arachnophobic. I personally love them so It really makes no sense to me that out of all the scary and dangerous things in this world, the most widespread fear is that of a usefull, non-agressive, tiny, harmless creature.

 

How can someone be afraid or disgusted by these cute eyes: (spoiler for arachnophobes)

 

 

 

 

I've googled and googled, and all i find are speculations and theories, but nobody seems to know exactly why so many people are arachnophobic.

What is your opinion on this? Why is this such a massive phobia?

 

Other than that on average you swallow 6 spiders a year... you have nothing to worry about... except venom, and creepy crawlies.a

[Moshi 23]

Hmm, I don't come across spiders a lot, but when I do...

Damn, those furry legs and multiple eyes just make me cringe...

Anypony, those thoughts all subside when it realises that I'm gonna whip a bitch!!! YEAH!!!!

HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT, ARACHNID?!?!?

 

But seriously, it is a very interesting phenomenon that many people are afraid of spiders - but I guess it's just an instinctual reaction genetics or something.

[SilverNote 124]

I just watched a daddy longleg walk across my kewboard... now I think I'm imagining it crawling over my legs under the desk... I will resist killing it... >.> OH MAH HFRYWHCHWEIHRUI, ok I am literally standing on my knees on my chair now o-o

 

P.S: It's night when I am posting this... so the spider is really creeping me out now... it's legs are so long

[Jcait 8]

Squash it or use the old cup and paper technique, or think of him as not a spider but a very large spider looking species of flt, If all else fails, sleep on the couch

[SilverNote 124]

All the things I have done so far....

 

1. Stand on my knees on my chair

2. Squeezed my legs together while shaking o-o

3. Wiping my hands over my legs and looking down at my shirt everyonce in awhile

4. I know I'm a guy but... I hate spiders... and also Box Elder Bugs... the red striped beetles won't keep my window alone D:

5. Watched a Fly hover around my ceiling light

6. MAKIN SOME REMIXES! AWWW YEAAHHH!!! (OfficialTheDDJBron3 on Youtube if you were wondering...)

7. Beat Mirror's Edge in One Hour and Forty Three Minutes... (My best time ever)

8. Watched Pinkiepie's song, Smile

9. Thought I saw the spider crawl across my computer desk O_O

 

10. Watched Rainbowlicious and thought it was awesome for no apparant reason

11. Watched Twilight shows Pinkiepie the Internet (I agree with Pinkiepie... well, over the disturbing images part atleast) e3e

12. Watched YourChonny B+ and died laughing like h3ll because I'm asian and I thought the video was HILARIOUS

[NavelColt 22,881]

I had two house spiders suddenly dangle into view, down from the ceiling, next to my laptop screen. One of them then seemed to go to the left, across the space between me and the screen, and landed on the chair next to me.

 

Stupid spiders.

[Haven Celestii 9,385]

Because spiders are scary as shit. They're also fucking disgusting. The legs creep me out and the way they curl up when they die is creepy as well. I don't like mosr bugs, but spiders of any kind take the cake.

I kill any sort of spider in sight so long as its not fucking gargantuan.*

 

Ps, sizes may be exaggerated.

[~Sugar Sprinkles~ 638]

I simply think they're ugly, gross, and sometimes they are poisonous or just leave nasty ass bites. I have had friends who been bitten by just a regular spider and their bite got infected. They're also gross cause they're pests. I have no clue where they have been. Also, some are venomous. Sometimes ya never know. they're also ugly and creepy, especially giant ones. I sure dont want a giant ass spider in my room. I also would not prefer a random animal that is not welcomed. I mean, if people like spiders, thats okay, but I just are disturbed by them

[PonyEcho 1,610]

well i wouldn't say that i'm afraid of them because i'm aware there more scared of you then you are of them, there still annoying especially if you wake up with one on you, damn i hate it when that crawl on.

Edited August 31, 2012 by PonyEcho

[NavelColt 22,881]

My mom's freaked to hell out about spiders. So is my sister. I always end up having to be the one to catch and get rid of the stupid things.

 

They pop up all the time in our apartment, too </3

Edited September 5, 2012 by ~Chaotic Discord~

[Kittybelle 95]

Possibly because of the way they move the legs.

The fact that they're small and could be anywhere!

They don't make any noise when they walk or any warning sounds when they're about to bite.

They have pointy teeth.

Some of them will make your flesh rot.

You can't reason with them.

They have an insane amount of eyes...they're watching you O___o

Where there's one there's more.

 

Need I go on?