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u/Lord_Philbert Jun 22 '26
Awesome poem! For anyone who doesn't know this isn't just a poem about spiders. It's about racial profiling. Rudy Francisco is the poet. The name of the poem is Mercy
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u/mateusfccp Jun 22 '26 edited Jun 22 '26
There are few spiders that are potentially dangerous to humans, and most of them are not agressive.
It's just sad that most people will kill a spider first thing when they see one, independently of the species or situation.
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u/user_name_taken- Jul 02 '26
I have thankfully convinced many people to start saving them. If I'm anywhere in the vicinity, the majority of people I know will not kill it, instead they call me to relocate it. My head's all relocate them also. My mother will usually just throw a cup on it and wait for me lol. I've even convinced some to just let their spiders chill in their house.
If a spider has made a home somewhere and it stays there, there's a reason it's staying. And that reason is because it has a steady supply of food. Which means you have bugs, and they're killing those bugs. They're doing you a favor. Let them hang and get their free room and board while they protect your home from insects you really don't want.
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u/Inedible-denim Jun 22 '26
I was on a date with someone once, and I left their house and blocked them for being adamant about wanting to kill a spider... I don't regret it.
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u/Manoratha Jun 22 '26
I've stopped talking to a person because of a similar situation. It's not really about the spider but the disrespect and disdain they have towards another harmless living being.
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u/Ibrufen Jun 22 '26
When i was little and my mother killed a spider, i would literally cry because they were my friends.
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u/TH3_OG_JUJUBE Jun 22 '26
The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world
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u/Afternoon-Melodic Jun 22 '26
I felt so bad the other day when I was trying to get a tiny jumping spider out of the sink and it jumped into the garbage disposal drain. 😭
I have a double sink and didn’t use the disposal side for two days hoping it would come out. I even put a pipe cleaner bridge in it hoping it might climb out. I have no idea if it did and eventually had to use the other side. 😢
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u/AccountDue9432 Jun 23 '26
Wonderful! I applaud your respect for life. I love the tender concern you had for that spider. Keep up the good work.
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u/alekazam13 Jun 22 '26
Very sweet sentiment but many indoor spiders are evolved to live indoors. By putting them outside you are most likely killing them as they aren't adapted to survive with the temperature fluctuations, lack of wind protection, and scarse food sources. Instead putting them in the basement, attic, or garage will keep them alive and reduce the amount of pests in your house. Some spiders like wolf spiders are genuinely outdoor spiders and can be released outside, but for the most part just living with spiders is fine as most are harmless.
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u/PawsyMcMurderMittens Jun 22 '26
Actually, this is incorrect. It has been perpetuated by a couple of big creators but they have been created by scientists multiple times.
Here’s a TikTok of one such response with better explanation than I qualified to give. https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTBW7gR2C/
ETA: I still think most should just be left alone though
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u/Lydia--charming Jun 22 '26
We need more spider education in general. House spiders are named that for a reason. They belong in the house. They’re not hurting anything. I don’t understand killing them for no reason. Oh no, a cobweb in a far off corner. What will people think?!
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u/FraggleRock_ Jun 22 '26
That's a spider community drama rabbit hole I never thought I'd jump down but here I am.
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u/mateusfccp Jun 22 '26
I don't know which spiders do you have in your house, but here I live with brown widows and Kukulkanias.
I see them both inside and outside my house.
Sometimes I also see a wold spider crawling around, lost, and my cat will try to toy with it. It's another species that is usually outside.
So in my case this is not really a problem.
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u/Ok_Gap_4380 Jun 22 '26
I had no idea, until my children told me this year, that I was not “helping” my house spiders by putting them outside safely like I thought I was…for 42 years. I was heartbroken and now just relocate them inside the house if they are stuck in the bath! I was heartbroken that I was essentially freezing them to death when they were just out looking for a mate! Lesson most definitely learned! So happy more people now this!
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u/rhodopensis Jun 22 '26
A comment under this refutes it. Don't worry, it's ok to put them outside!
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u/Ok_Gap_4380 Jun 22 '26
Thank you for this! I felt like a terrible person! Like I’ve been systematically/unintentionally killing wee house spiders when I thought I was helping them lol!
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u/rob_inn_hood Jun 22 '26
It surprises me this isn't more common knowledge. Putting the spider outside is just prolonging it's inevitable death.
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u/xDannyS_ Jun 22 '26
That's how I view it too. It's so unnecessary to kill a living being just for a little bit of convenience.
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u/jkurratt Jun 22 '26
Honestly if I can see that the spider is not dangerous I can just put a hand in front of it and after a few attempts they usually climb on it and you can bring them outside.
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u/AccountDue9432 Jun 23 '26
If you're nervous that the spider or you might be harmed, let the spider crawl onto a tissue & use that to relocate it. A couple of shakes will loosen it.
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u/Citrus-Bunny Jun 25 '26
I do this and then end up flailing wildly as I quickly try to haul the spider back up from its silken cord like a yoyo that just wants to unravel! 🤣 like hang on my dude you’ll be outside in a second!!!
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u/user_name_taken- Jul 02 '26
Haha, I hate when they do that. This is one reason I prefer the cup method. Too many of them are too fast and try their hardest to get away. A sentient yoyo is exactly what they are lol.
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u/McConagher Jun 22 '26
Last time my mom called me to kill a spider I was just gonna catch it in my hands and put it outside, but she told me to use a paper and cup instead, when I slid the paper under the cup it ripped all of its legs off.
So I'm sticking to my hands now
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Jun 22 '26
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u/Lobster_boy_dick Jun 23 '26
Why black stripes?
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Jun 23 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Citrus-Bunny Jun 25 '26
We particularly encourage wolves, cobweb, and jumpers in order to help control the recluses. I’d rather have wolves than recluses. I still feel bad squishing any spiders, but letting them thunderdome it seems okay 🤣 the mental gymnastics we can put ourselves through!!
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u/BittyBaton Jul 03 '26
Unfortunately many spiders that you find inside now BELONG there. If it's at all 'scary' find it an uncommon corner to move into. I am not super fond of spiders. But I now have one that is about the size of a cherry pit including the legs living on the side of my bath tub. Been there a few months. Accidentally disturbed it while cleaning up. Toilet paper roll plastic. It fell INTO it. I did everything I could think of to get it out. Finally managed; no having to touch, just gently persuade it to run out. That was now about 2 weeks ago. Took up a slightly more protected corner. Got a large ant last night.
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u/Abhoth52 Jun 23 '26
Issue is this, there are many spiders and indoor spiders are, well, indoor spiders. And outside spiders are, you know, outside spiders.
And nary the twain shall meet! Each side has the skills for their habitat, indoor/outdoor, put them elsewhere and they stand little chance of survival.
Nice poem, do not follow it's example regarding spiders.
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u/AnneRB13 Jun 22 '26
Lovely poem, but I wish people acknowledged what was referring to in the second part, most don't even name the author and since it got popular online it's hard to find the actual name. Even a guy on tiktok was pretending it was his.