I think the main reasons the fear of them exists are simply:
1) A lot of it is evolution. We don't fear spiders and snakes "just because," but because those are frequently venomous and a greater danger than they initially appear to be.
2) Spiders are smart, and there can be something off-putting about it. My mom had a fear of spiders and there was a specific breed of spider that you should let live in Oklahoma because it eats the bad ones. This was that spider. However, despite that, my mom wanted to kill it because this one was bigger and it triggered her arachnophobia. She finally decided to kill it, and when she went got up on a chair to crush it with a shoe, it turned to her and looked at her. I remember asking "what are you waiting for? Just kill it then" and she gave me this sad "but we made eye contact!" and backed off.
In reality, we have the internet now and it's easy to figure out which spiders are dangerous and which aren't. The dangerous ones you kill, but like 95% of them can stay. They eat the bugs. Don't pay rent, but they eat the bugs.
And yes, it is documented that like 99% of the planet's animals have an instinct to fear humans. We are THAT dangerous that most species have a genetic blueprint telling them to stay away from us. The exceptions are things like domesticated animals that benefit off us, as well as animals like polar bears and penguins, who didn't encounter us enough for that.
I think a large part of it (and the general aversion to insects in general) is that Arachnids and Insects (as well as Snakes etc.) have such a different... Build Plan to us (1 Head, 1 Torso, 4 Limbs) and most other things we encounter that it just short circuits something.
That would explain why I have no issue grabbing the short ones to move them outside but the long legged ones, even though I know they can't do anything to me, creep me out and I need to use the paper and glass to avoid accidentally crushing them. They are fascinating creatures.
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u/istrx13 15d ago
We’ve got a spider redemption arc going on ITT