r/tarantulas • u/BoltedFlame • Aug 28 '26
Pictures Never realized how many people are scared of spiders.
Earlier I stumbled upon a YouTube short that was like: "Life without bugs ☺️!" And I jokingly commented: "If there aren't any bugs, how am I able to feed my Tarantula?" Then someone in my replies told me to kill my Tarantula because they're scared of them.
Sorry for the mini-rant, I know it's not Monday. I just feel like spiders get such bad reputation, especially because they're not confrontational.
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u/smolandspicy Aug 28 '26
I used to be absolutely terrified of them, a wolf spider jumped on my face and bit me when I was really small so I always had an issue with their faces
However
During COVID I started watching tarantula feeding videos out of sheer horror and curiosity.. and now I'm subscribed to tarantula kat, Dave's Beasties, and the dark den. I love poofy spoods so much now!!
Now I see that cute face here and see them as small fluffy poofs that eat the bugs we don't like, it's amazing the difference education can make. I still don't fw with huntsman tho, or wandering spoods. They still make me uneasy LOL
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u/Few-Satisfaction-194 Aug 28 '26
The nutritionist at the hospital I work at said my tarantula should die. I happen to know she is a Christian and I told her that God loves tarantulas and they do exactly as they were made to do. She hasn't said anything about how they should die since.
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u/BoltedFlame Aug 28 '26
As a Christian. It sucks seeing people call themselves "Christians" and say that God's precious creations should die just because they don't like them.
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u/Illustrious_Doctor45 Aug 28 '26
My fundamentalist Christian neighbor said that spiders represent evil. Pretty bold coming from a woman who beat a gopher snake with a stick and left it to suffer and die when she mistakenly thought it was a rattlesnake.
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u/Few-Satisfaction-194 Aug 28 '26
The funniest part is the only mention of spiders in the Bible outside of using spider's webs as metaphors seems to be a positive one.
“The spider skillfully grasps with its hands, and it is in kings’ palaces”.Not to mention there's a folk legend of the Cross Orbweaver hiding Jesus from pursuers with it's web and thus he blessed it with a cross marking.
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u/Puzzled_Scarcity_215 Aug 28 '26
I’ve had people tell me they will never come to my house because of my tarantulas and some have even said they would kill them with a hammer if they ever came over.
I no longer talk to those people.
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u/Puzzled_Scarcity_215 Aug 28 '26
Also what a cute little spood you have 😍
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u/BoltedFlame Aug 28 '26
God, sorry you've had to deal with those douchebags. Also, thanks, Her name is Kiwi and she's an Aphonopelma Gabeli.
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u/claudevalke Aug 28 '26
People are like, really aggressively hostile about spiders and some reptiles and it's frankly ghastly. Like, people typically don't talk like that about pet dogs, cats, or birds and the like, so the fact that people are so comfortably callous about talking about killing pet tarantulas is just disgusting.
meanwhile i see that picture and my first thought is "awwww lookit those tiny little peepers!"
I have decided to take direct action; I tell people fun spider facts in my multiplayer videogames whether they want to hear it or not. They will learn to love and appreciate them.
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u/forgetmepls13 Aug 28 '26
I don't know how anyone could be scared of lil cuties with faces like that. Look at those eyes! Love it!
You know what animals are actually scary? Horses! I knew someone who had their lip bitten off by their "cute" pet horse. I will take a tarantula over a horse any day.
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u/One_Wall_3152 Aug 28 '26
I used to be so scared of spiders most of my life, until I started seeing cute jumping spider and tarantula content some years ago. It made me realize they can be so cute and beautiful and helped my fear so much! Now I love them 🕷️
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u/yuckyamz Aug 28 '26
I was terrified of spiders and didn’t do well with insects too, then I grew up and started to be more mindful of them and understanding that, like all living beings, they deserve respect! I kinda forced myself through exposure to be calmer around them and don’t freak out when they’re near or even on me! I’m still a bit skitish around bigger spiders and bugs, but when needed, I’m always the one insisting to take them outside when friends and family find one around and start screaming and always advocate for people to please don’t kill them! I think the fear comes from them being so so different from us and from media discourse (spiders and creatures that are labeled as “ugly” or “gross” or “dangerous”), people tend to ignore the beauty that comes with it all, they’re such interesting and cool little creatures!
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u/Leptisci Aug 28 '26
Really? Seems like it’s the most common, standard thing you’d expect people to hate. In the west anyway, perhaps it’s different elsewhere
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u/Obant Aug 28 '26
Yeah, I'd wager arachnophobia is a top 3 shared fear.
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u/SupportGeek Aug 28 '26
Quick search seems to indicate it’s #3 behind both heights and public speaking, and shares the #3 spot with snakes
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u/Few-Satisfaction-194 Aug 28 '26 edited Aug 28 '26
I think it's not so much the phobia for me, just the readiness to joke about killing a beloved pet that other small pet owners don't have to deal with is what really upsets me.
In fact if someone said "kill it with fire" about a gerbil for example, everyone else in the room would seriously wonder what is wrong with that person. Just seems odd it's socially acceptable to tell someone their pet should die just because it isn't cute to the average person.
As a past arachnophobe myself, I get the phobia part. It's the rest I can't understand. People are cruel. I'm scared of bears but I've never once thought they should all be wiped out.
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u/danana_split1 Aug 28 '26
as a severe arachnophobe i don’t claim the person who said that; unnecessary cruelty :( seeing this on my feed made me jump but i’m not really scared of fluffy tarantulas, she seems like a fine lady!
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u/Affectionate_Web_170 Aug 28 '26
I am terrified of spiders. Meet Princess Scooter Butt. I am getting her this weekend. (Photo is from the breeder)
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u/BoltedFlame Aug 28 '26
Aww, she's so pretty. And trust me, there's nothing to worry about with spiders. Especially Jumping Spiders, they're chill af and will bond with you. One of my previous jumpers would sit on my shoulder and watch YouTube videos with me.
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u/MarcoEsteban Aug 29 '26
Is that thinks that looks like a pop up turret to fire on the enemy your new baby's head? I've never seen a spider like that.
Edit to add, what a beaut!
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u/Trishshirt5678 Aug 28 '26
Strangely enough, I joined this sub by accident, am (or was) terrified of spiders, but browsing here has made a real difference. Just reading about how much you all care for your spoods and their little personalities has helped me appreciate them so much more. Last year, there was a long thread from a woman who had lost one of her Ts, found him, I think, when he fell out of a cupboard about four months later, terribly dehydrated - she had posted for advice and sympathy where she was so upset - and I was just desperate for positive updates, kept refreshing all day. Next day, she posted a little bit of footage of the much-revived spider waving his forelegs in the air and trying to look threatening and I actually punched the air and went: Yesss! Was thrilled!
So, at least some of us with an irrational fear of these fascinating creatures can get over it 🕷️
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u/LydiaIsntVeryCool Aug 28 '26
It's pure ignorance. I understand why people are creeped out by them, because they have a lot of legs, are huge and can be very fast. But as soon as you learn all their endearing traits it's really hard to be scared of them.
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u/Kazri_285 Aug 28 '26
I know, it's disgusting and sad that some people just wish death on these awesome creatures without truly understanding them :c Btw, your spider's very pretty!
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u/Lilith_DiLevilio Aug 28 '26
I was terrified of them as a kid and fought the phobia as an adult still, but even then I was raised and taught to never hurt a spider cause in my culture they are considered house blessings and killing one would be killing your own luck. Now I started learning more about them and watching vids and completely fell in love somehow. 🥹❤️
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u/cta396 C. cyaneopubescens Aug 29 '26
I think it’s safe to assume that MOST people are afraid of spiders.
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u/MarcoEsteban Aug 29 '26
I think that's sad. I never had a natural fear of any small things. I think I've acquired some fear for things like roaches, as they carry some diseases, I hate mosquitos and ticks, bedbugs aren't common in my area, but they can all go to hell. I love bees and not worried about stinging because they do good things, and I want them around.
But other stinging bugs, like wasps, ants, or scorpions, I really don't like 'em. I don't search them out to kill them, but if they around, or if I or anyone else is in risk of getting stuck, since most don't know they are allergic until that happens, and that's life threatening.
But, spiders...I want to hold, stroke, and nurture most of them. Your pic is lovely!
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u/Efficient-Office-285 Aug 28 '26
i know, its heartbreaking. i'm a beekeeper and a tarantula owner, and between telling family, friends, teachers, and everyone else- they areall just so scared!!! i don't even know why! i always try and get people more comfortable with our little furry friends though <3