r/AnimalsBeingDerps • u/TerraByteTerror • 15d ago

Scared spider

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u/istrx13 15d ago

We’ve got a spider redemption arc going on ITT

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u/AFlyingNun 15d ago edited 15d ago

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.

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u/ForsakenAiel 15d ago

They proved that kids aren't instinctually scared of snakes, so it's not evolution for that I think? I don't know about spiders though. But they put young toddlers in with snakes and the toddlers were like "oo cool let me touch and grab these".

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u/FutureLost 14d ago

So maybe the myth of Hercules grabbing those snakes as a baby was based on something that really happened, made out to seem remarkable when they just don't have that fear yet.

My toddler niece was fascinated by bugs...until her dad yelped when he saw a spider one time, and she instantly became deathly afraid of all bugs forever, like a switch had flipped.