h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Watching people (either real or on TV) who let spiders crawl all over them. I find myself involuntarily brushing down my skin because can feel spiders crawling over me

My rule is:

"If it has facial features, KILL IT!"

Yours
Mitch

Hello!
I hate spiders!!! And there's one big problem I have: If the spiders are small, I just take them out. But if they are big I can't get near them because they're too argh. So there would be another opportunity: Kill it! But I can't do that either because I hate that sound when the spider is crushed. So what do I do when one day there would be a giant spider in my room. Do you have any idea ( besides running and never returning to the room again)?
Lena

Sympathise with me - my son has promised to give up Pokemon if he can have a Chile Rose Tarrantula! What a loaded promise!

Hi Bernhardt's cat !

I really do sympathise with you !!! I don't know what I'd do if I were in your place. Pokemon is...urgh ! But a Chile Rose Tarrantula ?! Tarrantulas are that big, hairy monsterspiders, aren't they ? Argh urgh !!! That's just a nightmare !
Well, tell me how you decided - Pokemon or monsterspider.

Lena, who will feel with you no matter how you decide it

Be glad you don't live in Australia, when the spiders can actually do some real damage

I do sympathise really, but my Philosophy is, why be afraid of something that can't do you any harm...?

Chilean Rose Tarantulas are tree dwelling, they're beigy brown coloured and they aren't overly poisonous (they'll bite if you harass them, but then what harasses a spider right?). The main problem with these little guys (they're about 4 inches from tip of front leg to tip of hind leg) is that they're very very fast when they decide to make a break for it. They also eat live food. As with all big spiders.

I would let him play Pokemon till he's a bit older if I were you, these aren't toys and they take a good deal of looking after. They are safe to handle but you wouldn't want one curling up beside you in bed...

First off you aren't likely to run into any giant spiders in your room. They tend to live in trees or burrows, out in the forest/jungle/bush. Secondly they're not going to do you any harm unless you're about to touch them when they'll flick hairs off their backs which will cause irritation of the skin (I'm talking tarantulas here). They will display before they bite (raising up the front legs and showing off the mandibles). If they start with that sort of nonsense just get the hell out of dodge. Some of them are more grumpy than others and they definitely differ in their moods - to a very small degree, in fact most big spiders are really dull. They just sit about for hours doing nothing, then all of a sudden - and here's where peoples fear of them originates - they're off like a rocket on some mission or other.

I found the best way to cure a fear of the little beasties is to go and visit a Butterfly&Insect farm and get acquainted with the house spiders larger cousins. Killing them sucks.

Well, sounds like a really good idea that Butterly&Insect farm visiting...But do you think it works?

Lena

I think so, they still really creep me out sometimes but I don't go all 'freak-out' anymore and I don't feel the need to kill every spider I see anymore.

You should give it a try, they do say that exposure to your fear is the best way to overcome it.

Jera

Well, maybe you're right.

Lena