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[Tenrius]

I really do! When I was a kid, I'd often find myself a cute little spider and play with it. It would cast its web, attach it to my hand and hang from it (in retrospect it was a pretty cruel thing to do though). Haven't seen any spider action in quite a long time (or any spiders at all, for that matter), but I still like them. Arachnophobia seems to be a huge thing though. Those of you who have it, did you always have it? Any stories connected to it? Stories from people who like spiders are appreciated as well.

 

[A good poster]

Spiders can be cute

 

[botty]

I love spiders, too. They eat other bugs, and make their own house in the corner.

 

[RawkHawk2010]

 

[Dark Stalkers]

Good for you. You should post pics of your favorite spiders.

 

[Raptomex]

I've always hated them. I have to get a vacuum with a long nozzle just to kill them/suck them up. I can't even get something to touch them.

 

[Napalm_Frank]

As long as they are smaller than a mouse I consider them to be valuable allies.

 

[Ermac]

OP:

 

[mrkgoo]

I don't mind spiders so much, but when you have nasty ones like whitetails that hunt other spiders and a small child who reacts to spider bites, you have to be cautious and just get rid of them when you find them.

 

[Wag]

 

[strafer]

OP:

That's fucked up.

 

[Ignis Fatuus]

OP:

That poor spider.

 

[Betrayer of hope]

Spiders are just my natural born allies. They get rid of bugs around the house. My own personal pest control

 

[Tenrius]

Good for you. You should post pics of your favorite spiders.

As I said, I hadn't been in contact with a spider for a very long time and I never took pictures when I was. Regarding spiders I'm personally not acquainted with, I have no specific preferences.

 

[Koodo]

OP:

GOODBYE.

 

[highrider]

I respect them and admire them, but if they are in the house they gotta go. I live in Washington D.C. so I might feel more fearful if I lived in Brazil or Australia.

 

[Deified Data]

That's fucked up.

Tarantulas are mostly docile, harmless critters. Their fuzziness ups their cute factor by tenfold.

Spider-GAF is probably a pretty small minority. I have a pet tarantula (a rose hair named Millicent), and I stopped killing spiders years ago. If I see one in my room I let him do his own thing. I've given up on convincing the world what beautiful and fascinating creatures they are. Best I can do is convince people that they kill other bugs, so you should keep some around.

Edit: Note the bald spot on the tarantula's abdomen in that gif. Looks like she kicked her hairs at her owner at some point in the past.

 

[Slevin]

Me too! I actually keep tarantulas as a hobby.

 

[strafer]

Tarantulas are mostly docile, harmless critters. Their fuzziness ups their cute factor by tenfold.

Spider-GAF is probably a pretty small minority. I have a pet tarantula (a rose hair named Millicent), and I stopped killing spiders years ago. If I see one in my room I let him do his own thing. I've given up on convincing the world what beautiful and fascinating creatures they are. Best I can do is convince people that they kill other bugs, so you should keep some around.

Edit: Note the bald spot on the tarantula's abdomen in that gif. Looks like she kicked her hairs at her owner at some point in the past.

What does that mean?

 

[Deified Data]

What does that mean?

Tarantulas are covered in tiny hairs that they kick up with their legs when they feel threatened. They'll aim at your eyes or other orifices. It's basically their last line of defense before they start biting. If they get in your eyes they sting and itch like hell.

 

[Candeldandel]

D'aww!! Jumping spiders are pretty freakin' adorable. I like Peacock Spiders, too <3

 

[Slevin]

What does that mean?

Tarantulas have urticating hairs (barbed hairs) on the abdomen that they can kick at offenders. They also naturally fall off as a tarantula completes its molt cycle.

Edit: Deified knows what's up.

 

[Currygan]

 

[Jason's Ultimatum]

There was a giant ass wolf spider creeping at the top corner of my door step. I got my airsoft gun out, kneeled down like a boss, slowly opened the door, and shot at it. With my elite Jason Bourne shooting skills, I hit it a couple of times and it began to move. Like Dana in Ghostbusters, I slammed the door shut. Hours later when I had to walk the dog, I checked around my door step to see if it was still there. I even brought the airsoft gun with while walking the dog.........it's gone.

 

[Koodo]

D'aww!! Jumping spiders are pretty freakin' adorable. I like Peacock Spiders, too <3

This one looks so cute.

I wonder what kind of deadly neurotoxin it's outfitted with.

 

[flintstryker]

Those bastard kill all of Kurapika's clan members fuck em!

 

[Soyongdori]

I can see why people find jumping spiders cute. But any other spiders can burn in fire.

 

[highrider]

I went to basic training in Oklahoma and a tarantula was in my foxhole on a qualifying range. He just sat there chillin.

 

[Pinko Marx]

OP:

 

[Josh7289]

 

[Oppo]

The spiders and I have a deal. I'm not allowed to disclose the terms.

 

[FrostuTheNinja]

I think spiders and insects are some of nature's most incredible little dudes. Sadly, they still scare the shit out of me.

I think it's the legs...

 

[Deified Data]

 

[Violet_0]

I see a huge spider on the wall right now that I'll have to catch and throw out after I get over the initial shock

 

[Napalm_Frank]

Derp

 

[highrider]

Tarantulas are covered in tiny hairs that they kick up with their legs when they feel threatened. They'll aim at your eyes or other orifices. It's basically their last line of defense before they start biting. If they get in your eyes they sting and itch like hell.

How are you able to domesticate these things? In that gif with the tarantula crawling across the girl's face, is she just taking a chance? Could that thing just start throwing hairs or biting at any time?

 

[m3k]

i just moved a small jumping spider from my room, i liked them because they seem so fidgety and nervous... i like their energy lol

 

[Fury Sense]

 

[Tenrius]

I think spiders and insects are some of nature's most incredible little dudes. Sadly, they still scare the shit out of me.

I think it's the legs...

I'm not really big on insects actually, although the only thing I really dislike is worms. It's a strong kind of resentment, but certainly not as strong as one exhibited by this guy from the wikipedia article:

 

[Deified Data]

How are you able to domesticate these things? In that gif with the tarantula crawling across the girl's face, is she just taking a chance? Could that thing just start throwing hairs or biting at any time?

Tarantulas are generally pretty predictable. If she suddenly start shaking around and pawing at the spider, it might try to protect itself. That said, if you can pick up a spider and have it calmly crawl into your hand, it's not going to do anything to you unless you provoke it. Different tarantulas have varying levels of aggression. I'm not sure exactly what kind of spider the girl has - maybe Slevin can help with that one.

So in essence, they can't really be "domesticated", but they can grow accustomed to being handled. Some are inherently chill while others are inherently leery of handling. They'll never bite you for no reason.

 

[Salsa]

 

[Tenrius]

That's cute, but what is it?

 

[triplestation]

ive always liked spiders too, spiders are cool

 

[inky]

I came to this thread just to see this gif. =)

 

[botty]

:fear:

 

[Chance Hale]

Holy fuck, I'm sorry OP but you're sick ;-;

Maybe kidding, I don't know. I'm always found spiders absolutely terrifying, suppose my dad my have passed that to me as he's a baby about them.

Edit: Then again I just remembered when I was 8 or so and in one of those summer camps me and another kid would find Daddy Long Legs in the gym of the school house and take them back to our bunk room. We'd play with them and all sorts of stuff. Something along the way changed. It must have been the time my mother was in the yard and saw a spider on the door. She smacked it off and it turned out to be pregnant. The little bastards went everywhere ;-; God damn it for making me remember. I hate spider threads.

 

[HelloMeow]

I used to build houses for spiders.

 

[Karsticles]

I used to be afraid of spiders, and then I moved into a home with a centipede infestation. HOLY FUCK. Spiders are nothing to me now unless it's big and hairy.

 

[Slermy]

In general I leave spiders alone. I let them be with the exception of the Bathroom and the Bed. Those areas are off limits.

OP:

I wish I had the courage to do something like this. I like the way tarantulas look but don't think I'd ever let one crawl on me, let alone my face.

I've always liked this comic. If I could communicated with them, there's be no issues.

 

[Tenrius]

Holy fuck, I'm sorry OP but you're sick ;-;

Maybe kidding, I don't know. I'm always found spiders absolutely terrifying, suppose my dad my have passed that to me as he's a baby about them.

Edit: Then again I just remembered when I was 8 or so and in one of those summer camps me and another kid would find Daddy Long Legs in the gym of the school house and take them back to our bunk room. We'd play with them and all sorts of stuff. Something along the way changed. It must have been the time my mother was in the yard and saw a spider on the door. She smacked it of and it turned out to be pregnant. The little bastards went everywhere ;-; God damn it for making me remember. I hate spider threads.

That must have been a horrible experience, hope you'll be able to overcome your fear someday (from what I understand, it's possible).

I used to build houses for spiders.

What sort of houses?