Spiders aren't scary and tarantulas make great pets, amirite?

Fears aren't rational, and people who have them often feel silly for having them, they know it's not rational. That being said, accidents do happen and seeing as some spiders can kill a person, this fear is a lot more rational than most. This seems more like you not liking people being scared of your favourite animal. Like sure you think a tarantula is a great pet, but most would disagree

by Anonymous 1 day ago

That's where my point on fears not being rational comes in. It's not rational, there's no reason to be afraid of clowns and yet people are. Nowadays most fears are like this, people are still going to have them

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I nearly died from a brown recluse bite when I was a child (bit on my chest near my heart, necrotized the tissue, still have muscle issues there to this day). It's taken me years to not be terrified of spiders because of that. Black widows aren't deadly for most but their bites hurt like the Dickens, kinda like how wasps aren't deadly to most, but a lotta folks still aren't fans. I've come to a point where I respect spiders, from afar.

by NobodySignificant143 1 day ago

How did you get bit? Brown recluses are known for avoiding any kind of confrontation. I'm glad you were able to conquer your, very rational, fear.

by Tiny_Boysenberry 1 day ago

Phobias aren't always easily worked through. It's like telling a claustrophobic to just get over their issue of tight spaces, sometimes it's just an issue they are stuck living with their whole life.

by Pfeffervelma 1 day ago

I agree with this.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

This basically reads like telling a panicking person to calm down. We can't help our fears, some might be able to manage them but some may not. And I don't think just dismissing them helps your case.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Interesting read, and I'm glad you're son got over his fears. HOWEVER, I will never understand why someone would keep a spider as dangerous as a Black Widow for a pet!!! Because they aren't dangerous if you show some semblance of common sense. The spider does not want to hurt me, it just sits in its web all day waiting for prey. As long as I don't antagonize it nothing will happen. Even if it gets out it won't search for me for revenge.

by Tiny_Boysenberry 1 day ago

I actually had severe arachnophobia until I was in college. When I was 8 I walked into my shed during wolf spider breeding season. I saw a black flash move and then two seconds later it was on my shoulder. I screamed and ran as fast as I could, i would go into a panicked state if I saw one. Then I realized how harmless they were, that was just a mother protecting her children. It was harmless, I used this to get over my fear

by Tiny_Boysenberry 1 day ago

You 'suddenly' being able to get over your fear doesn't mean other people can. Some people can never get over those fears, even with licensed professionals helping and years of therapy. Some people can be afraid one day and the next something goes 'no fear' and they are no longer afraid of that thing.

by Brandilesch 1 day ago

Most people don't have arachnophobia and are just taught to be scared of everything. Parents should just do better

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I'm one of the unfortunate people who has legitimate arachnophobia and I hate how common it is to say "omg ew a spider I have arachnophobia tee hee." No, you don't. Actual arachnophobia is awful, especially when you KNOW spiders aren't a threat to you. It's embarrassing. I get so scared that my flight response kicks in. My parents aren't even scared of spiders. I have no clue why I am or where the fear came from. I've even addressed it with a damn therapist and we couldn't pinpoint it. I just have a legitimate case of arachnophobia and dude I hate it 😒

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I'm absolutely terrified of spiders. Of course spiders aren't scary if you own 14.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I think most people would very much mind a huge spider with FANGS 😭 bees are small, they'll eventually fly away and never be seen again, spiders try to live with you 😭

by elnoraolson 1 day ago

Yeah. They live with you and kill each pest in your house. It's a free exterminator.

by Misaelhayes 1 day ago

I'm in the US. We don't casually have pests in our house

by elnoraolson 1 day ago

No they don't make great pets. Cats and dogs are pets as they have been domesticated other animals shouldn't really be kept.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Who wrote this? A tarantula?

by Ecstatic-Mud 1 day ago

Hard disagree

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I did not.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

So "spiders aren't scary" isn't unpopular then? I think you missed the point of "unpopular opinion"

by Tiny_Boysenberry 1 day ago

I'm throwing my 2 cents in to anyone disagree with it spiders don't use venom every bite because venom takes time to produce usually only when they hunt maybe if your dumb enough to full hand grip a spider and they fear you 1000x more then you fear them you are a gigantic being compared to a tiny pebble or a leaf.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

"spiders aren't scarey" ... "I have 13 tarantulas" Yeah bud i'm taking a wild guess here but i think you're not a normal case in general. I do find spiders cool and way better than insects, but can't lie that was pretty hilarious to read.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Because I've realized how unthreatening they are. I'm not going to be scared of a lady bug, meal worm, or rolly polly. So why would I be scared of a spider? They all can do the same amount of damage to me for the area I'm in. And all of the tarantulas i have don't have medically significant venom.

by Tiny_Boysenberry 1 day ago

You ever seen there eyes….its freaky looking bro also there teeth or little fangs makes me shiver how there body works just thinking about it…

by Appropriate-Row 1 day ago

I get it, but you're an outlier and your tolerance level for what's threatening/scary is not on the same level as most people. I've met people who're afraid of small dogs that looks like they'd kill themself from tripping (i guess this is like the inverse of you), it's irrational but different people find different things not likable.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

For the most part they aren't scary in a hurt you way. Their appearance is lovecraftian though. I don't want a little old god monster thing roaming around me.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Delete this

by Anonymous 1 day ago

No

by Tiny_Boysenberry 1 day ago

I don't think I'd ever have one as a pet but I always treat the wild ones well as long as they're not dangerous. If they're in the way I just do my best to move them somewhere else.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I don't want to have a pet unless it's free in my house and I would either crush one spider in my sleep or accidentally stomp on one

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I used to be very scared of a lot of creepy crawlers. I've never been a fan of killing things but would freak out and relocate outside or I couldn't sleep. The key for me getting over the fear was education. I treat them with a healthy respect, I understand their movements and motivations more. I can identify the common species in my area and know if they're venomous or not. I even have a medium sized spider bro that lives under my couch currently. We co-exist, occasionally he forgets and jumps on me while I'm watching tv but he gets on with his night again pretty quickly with no fuss. Apparently they even learn our daily routine, how cute is that?

by Arnulfoeffertz 1 day ago

It's hard to turn off. I love spiders logically, they're fascinating and watching videos of them is so cool. That said, if I see one in real life, from a tarantula to a jumping spider it just makes me feel like I'm going to panic, I can't keep control of my feelings as interesting as they are.

by obielindgren 1 day ago

My buddy that rented out my guest room was absolutely terrified of them One early morning, I heard him scream as loud as I've heard a man scream. He ran out, said he blew his nose, & a spider came out. Snakes are my scary critter, but they stay to themselves. Spiders I'm indifferent

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I have found two brown recluses in my apt in the last month. I also see black widows around from time to time. In high school I was sitting next to a window with my bf and one dropped down right next him. I had my science teacher come get it because he already had another one someone found he was keeping. I also think they just look scary and gross. So I don't want to be around that. Some people feel that way abt me and I don't blame them for avoiding me

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I'm not thrilled to see any bug that's bigger than my thumbnail. They're creepy looking. But I'm only scared of mosquitoes and that's very rational.

by Special_Loss 1 day ago

To be totally fair, I'm not actually scared of mosquitoes because of their penchant to spread deadly diseases. I'm scared of them because they're creepy and suck your blood, and they swarm me even when there are other people around. Most fears are pretty irrational. Like fear of heights. You would definitely die if you fell off a building but you're not very likely to fall off a building.

by Special_Loss 1 day ago

Spider owner doesn't realise that phobias exist:

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Blasphemy!

by InternationalVast 1 day ago

Its not even about them being scary for me, it's the fact that it's not your pet so much as your hostage. Spiders and reptiles don't have family bonds, they're solitary creatures. As a hostage, they tolerate you. They know you're the giver of food and joy and that's about it.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Jumpers are people friendly and curious.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

The only spiders I don't mind and won't kill are jumping spiders and those little cellar spiders and daddy long legs. I've seen a black widow only once in my life. I looked at it from a distance but if one ever was in my house, I'm not taking any chances in trying to save it. Same with a brown recluse.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

It's very eye opening on how rare spider and snake venom deaths really are, especially in the US. Black widows are some of the most docile spiders and keep wasps under control. I'm not saying leave them in your house, leave them on your porch.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Hey my phobia does not care if the spider can hurt me. It still sends my brain into a panic spiral. And you know what? Snakes, millipedes, centipedes, even scorpions (despite being arachnids) do not trigger the phobia. But certain kinds of crabs will! No sense made, crabs (and most spiders) aren't dangerous whatsoever. Doesn't matter 🙃

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Which is the entire reason they are called phobias, is because they aren't rational! I am also the same, scorpions don't tend to trigger my arachnophobia, though I don't like milipedes or centipedes (all those legs...) I also agree with certain types of crabs triggering mine as well!

by Brandilesch 1 day ago

So how big of a terrarium does a tarantula need? And what do they need in it to be happy and comfortable? You said they can never really escape. How do you feed them? Sorry for the questions. My nephew is really into spiders, but my sister is like deathly afraid of them, lol. So I may be the one that gets it for him and keeps it at my place. Are they expensive to keep, take care of, and feed? And what level of care would you say they need? He's on the spectrum, so when he finds something he's interested in, I'm trying to help foster that.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Most of the time,if a spider leaves me alone, ill leave them alone.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Wolf spiders are scary.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Fears are completely irrational. Most people with extreme phobias realize that their fear is irrational.

by Josianneschmele 1 day ago

I am irrationaly terrified of sunken ship wrecks. Doesn't mean it has to make sense.

by Wonderful_Ask_9672 1 day ago

I like spiders but still have an instinctive fear when I see them in real life. But I live in Australia so I have a reason to not want to see most of them in my house, haha. Except huntsman, they're good for pest control.

by Vkunde 1 day ago

I want a pet Tarantula so bad but it's the ONE thing my wife says I am not allowed to have. I can have snakes, lizards, frogs, even jumping spiders, but absolutely NO Tarantulas 😕

by Jazzlike_Front_2641 1 day ago

I fully agree. I keep all the spiders in my house alive and leave their webs alone (for the most part, if it gets too crazy I clean it up obviously. ) spiders are the best.

by Pristine-Hornet5891 1 day ago

2 cats, 2 dogs, 1 snake, 2 scorpions, 4 mantids, 40+ tarantulas :)

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Smelling your house from here I know, I know, "My house doesn't smell.". The guy who says you don't need to bathe every day says he doesn't smell, either.

by PiccoloLeast 1 day ago

Eh, some odor is expected with any animals in the home. Even just a single dog. Neither of the dogs has accidents in the house. The litter boxes are cleaned daily. Tarantulas don't have a smell. The snakes enclosure gets cleaned and changed regularly. We do our best to keep everyone clean and healthy so there probably is some odor, but not likely what you're thinking. Proper care and cleaning go a long way.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I didn't say I'd be gagging when I walked in the door, but I can smell your house based on 2 cats alone.

by PiccoloLeast 1 day ago

Tarantulas make great snacks too…fry them, and dip them in butter.mmmmmmm

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I've heard, id try it, but it's a little too expensive for me to eat something i love lol.

by Tiny_Boysenberry 1 day ago

Tarantulas make great snakes too…fry them, and dip them in butter.mmmmmmm Are they are able to drop their legs and slither around?

by Anonymous 1 day ago

iPhone auto correct is remedial

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Nothing worse then not noticing lol

by Anonymous 1 day ago

black widows live in America. just because you don't see one, doesn't mean they aren't around

by Anonymous 1 day ago

spiders are just reincarnated bad kitties

by Enricodoyle 1 day ago

I have nothing against spiders. Cute and cuddly. Snakes on the otherhand can go suck a big one!

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I'm the exact opposite lol, I love snakes, but spiders make me panic.

by obielindgren 1 day ago

I agree , spiders are adorable

by GullibleInitial 1 day ago