Arachnophobia (Afraid of Spiders) No Pics outside of Spoilers

Good morning, TW!

As the title suggests, this thread is about arachnophobia, or just a general dislike of spiders that doesn't quite reach phobia levels.

I fall into the latter category. Not a fan of big ones, creepy ones, or ones that surprise me. If I know where it is, I'm far less freaked out than if I discover it's presence through my sense of touch.




That said, I do find spiders fascinating. They are unique and interesting, even if they are icky.




Anyway, who else is similar in their feelings, or even has arachnophobia?

Full disclosure, I have a friend who is an arachnophobe and I do periodically send him spider pics for giggles. We've known each other forever and are family at this point, but if you wish to post cool spiders, or terrifying ones in here I would ask for a couple things:

1. Please put pics in using the Spoiler function so that people who may not wish to view them don't have to.
2. Please only post pics of real spiders. Fantasy, horror, and fake spiders are neat and all, but real ones are interesting enough.

EDIT:
Apparently there are lots people that don't know what the "spoiler" feature is.

When making a post, click this button



Then this one



Then you can put the image between the brackets.




This will hide whatever is between the brackets (pics or whatever you type) and people can click the button that appears to see the content if they wish to.

 

Damn, I was about to get a little cray until I read 1. 2.

funny about your friend though.

I get weirded out by snotty kids and baby vomit. So yeah, my sister sends me random videos of hers.

 

Yeah, I figure people who are not spider fans might be a little more interactive if they aren't going to be ambushed by their nightmares. Totally with you on the snotty kids and vomit front, though. Just gross.

 

I think spiders are pretty cool despite me eating approximately 100 spider webs on every early morning warm weather hike

 

Spiders are cool. I don't wan to be bitten by them or coverd in spiders. I don't like walking into their webb.

 

Agreed! Where I live we have a few different ones, but very few that are actually dangerous to humans.

Super common, especially on my property are ones that I grew up knowing as "Cat Face" Spiders. Common name due to the shape of their abdomens resembling a cat's face with ears. They're a kind of orb weaver and are harmless. Quite a variety of colors from yellows, browns, and oranges to greys and even bark like patterns.

Spoiler: Cat Face Spider

They get big by my standards, and are definitely creepy. I have handled them in the past, but only to help my nephew to not be afraid. I was not enjoying the experience, but we have so many around and he was terrified at 4 years old. I got one out of it's web onto my hand and explained it was harmless, that he is Godzilla to a spider, and that he doesn't have to like them but wailing and being terrified wouldn't help. Eventually got him to "pet" the spider that was in my hand before I returned it to it's web. As soon as he was out of sight I was heeby jeebied the eff out, though.



I don't mind the little jumping spiders around Wyoming, though. I handle them regularly and think they're cute. Ironically, they are the only spider that I has actually bitten me. Not a big deal as it just gives you a small, mildly itchy water blister that goes away in a week. No pain at all.

Spoiler: Jumping Spider

 

Holy crap! Check this out. Notice the guy commenting on it and how totally calm he is.

Spoiler: Australian spider video

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch-giant-spider-drags-off-mouse-1/

Credit to @T-Rex266 for posting this years ago on Tundras.

 

Ran into this guy out in the desert a couple weekends ago.

Spoiler: scary spidy

 

Spoilers, please.

 

whoops, sorry not sure how to do that give me a sec...

 

Spoiler: Spiny Orb Weaver

 

Sure thing.

Click this button



Then this



Then you can put the image between the brackets.

 

I never liked them, or really even seeing them in person.

Not a phobia parse but close.

Then I went head first and got myself a tarantula as a pet. Then my small collection grew up to four and I'm back down to one that I've now had for 3 1/2 years.

One of those was over 10" long from one end to the other.

Want to get over a phobia? Just tackle it.

 

Those are so cool! I've never seen one in person, but always thought they were so bizarre. Is that a personal pic, or a googled one?

 

C'mon, now.

 

Spoiler: Golden silk spider

 

Voluntary exposure can help, but for some it has to be worked up to. I cannot "just tackle" my claustrophobia, for example. It's a struggle when it's a true phobia.

 

Spiders don’t bother me at all, in fact I go out of my way to capture them and release them outside, it’s these guys that give me the heebie jeebies when I turn a light on and I see one shooting across the wall, floor or ceiling. They don’t get the same treatment, it’s kill on sight!

Spoiler: Creepy crawly

 

ICKY! The way those legs work, and their stance creeps me out. In a controlled environment with a trusted person to get it off me, I would probably let one on my arm, but it'd have to be removed at my request.

 

Friend of mine hated them, just seeing pics bothered him.

Posting (and texting) him pics helped a lot when done over time