Poll: Arachnophobia/phillia

[moretimethansense]

Wikipedia: A phobia (from the Greek: φόβος,phóbos, meaning "fear" or "morbid fear") is an irrational, intense and persistent fear of certain situations, activities, things, animals, or people.

Being "irrational", it is expected that relatively few people suffer from the affliction, however, fear of spiders is very common.

This technically means its the "Norm", and not so irrational.

If this is the case, Arachnophobia itself is an oxymoron, and Arachnophillia is the obviously irrational form.

To test this theory, I ask you, Are you Arachnophobic?

Just because it's common that does not make it rational.
Most spiders can't actually hurt you in any way, it is therefore irrational.
Speaking as an arachnaphobe being so scared of something that you can't work up the courage to drop a heay book on it is likewise in no way rational.

EDIT: Also you obviously have no idea what an oxymoron is, that isn't even close.

An oxymoron is a combination of words that contridict themselves, eg "A deafening silence", "A full half" or "a sober brit".

 

[p3t3r]

it's just a spider people. it is not going to kill you and rape your children

 

[Scarim Coral]

Yup I am also have a fear for spiders. I'm some what fine with small one since they are a bit hard to see well as long I don't see it moving.

 

[moretimethansense]

They may go oshitaspider but they don't break down and cry when they see one.

speak for yourself...

That's what I'm saying, they're different. Not liking spiders does NOT equal phobia. If you break down and cry you have a phobia, if you go OFUCK it's just a fear.

Can the spider hurt you?
If not it's a phobia.

 

[MaxRaine]

I don't have a phobia for spiders, I don't like them though... Tarantulas are awesome though and I'd love to hold one, mostly I dislike the spiders with the black widow body shape. I'm sure there's a name for that type but I don't know it. (I'm using black widow in my example as most knows what one looks like)

Irrational doesn't mean "unlike the norm" though it means it's you react in a way that isn't rational. For example if a spider that isn't poisonous to humans makes you cry from fear you are most likely irrationally afraid of spiders and thus have Arachnophobia.

A better example would have been Acrophobia, irrational fear of heights. It's usually not a bad idea from a survivalists point of view to be fearful of heights as falling has a rather good chance of hurting you no matter the height really. So it's not entirely irrational to fear heights.
But then again, if the thought of riding a glass wall elevator makes you assume the fetal position and weep it might possibly be considered irrational =P

 

[slightly evil]

I used to be terrified when i was younger, but i dont mind spiders so much now. In fact i think they're pretty cool. not that i wouldn't completely freak out and run to the other side of the house if i suddenly found one on my neck...

 

[captaincabbage]

A phobia has to be something that is irrational.
Just because spiders are the norm, doesn't make it irrational.

Wikipedia: A phobia (from the Greek: φόβος,phóbos, meaning "fear" or "morbid fear") is an irrational, intense and persistent fear of certain situations, activities, things, animals, or people.

Being "irrational", it is expected that relatively few people suffer from the affliction, however, fear of spiders is very common.

This technically means its the "Norm", and not so irrational.

If this is the case, Arachnophobia itself is an oxymoron, and Arachnophillia is the obviously irrational form.

To test this theory, I ask you, Are you Arachnophobic?

A phobia has to be something that is irrational.
Just because arachnophobia is the norm, doesn't make it rational. It's still irrational because spiders realistically can't do shit to you (there are exceptions, obviously), therefore it is a phobia.
For example, being scared of sharks isn't irrational, because sharks can fucking eat you. Being scared of moths (like my mum) is irrational because they can't do anything to you.

So yeah, basically it's the logic behind a percieved threat which makes it irrational or not, not the regularity in which it shows up.

 

[Scabadus]

I'm not exactly scared of spiders, but I am majorly creeped out by them. I have this notion in my head that I'll end up eating on in my sleep, which at least fills out the 'irrational' part of arachnophobia even if it's not precisely a fear. I hate having the things in my house, if I see one indoors IT WILL DIE. I once almost set my house on fire trying to kill one... long story involving a trail of latex gloves and a lighter.

Unfortunatly there seems to be a steady stream of the little shits appearing in my shower lately, but they can't climb the sides of my bath and they fit down the plughole, so it sucks to be them!

I don't mind them outdoors though, where they can't attack me in my sleep.

 

[zehydra]

Imagine if spiders were people.

 

[zehydra]

it's just a spider people. it is not going to kill you and rape your children

lol I imagined your avatar was saying that. Good to be reassured by a talking camel

 

[Jamboxdotcom]

not even slightly scared of spiders, and this despite having almost lost a leg from a brown recluse bite. but then again, brown recluse don't live where i am (the one that bit me hitched a ride on a shipment we were unloading from Arizona). the most dangerous spiders we have here are black widows, which is to say not very dangerous at all, really.

 

[Shinigami Fire]

Eh. Spiders, dogs, anything CAN be scary. For the most part, though, spiders aren't scary. When you get the crazy fast ones that are hard to keep track of with your eyes, they're unnerving and generally get the paper towel (too hard to actually catch with a cup). However, tarantulas are too big to be dangerous, and most small ones are so tiny they're nothing to worry about. Still don't like them crawling on me though.

Defs think a size issue is the main reason. There is a certain size of creature I am comfortable with being on my body. Most things smaller than a mouse, save a Ladybug, are a no-no. Most things larger than a polar bear, also a no-no. In between that, a-ok! =D

 

[Anchupom]

I don't care for the small once or.. what are the called.. The once with like a ball body and really thin and long legs... Dandy long legs(?)... I think they are cute

The things you were talking about are Daddy Long Legs, they're not spiders. 6 legs and wings.
The spider you were talking about are most likely the harvester spider, so called because they were commonly found with their their freakishly long legs spread between crops around autumn time (harvest season)

OT: I don't like them when their body is any bigger than my thumbnail, but I think that's rational. Oh, and harvester spiders are a bit yuck.

Any spider smaller than that, and I'm game.
Money spiders especially. I used to try and keep them as pets.

 

[Merkavar]

i would say that most peoples fear of spiders is irrational since most people fear harmless spiders like huntmens.

And for those that ticked the first option in the poll i leave you with this image.

 

[lord.jeff]

Why did you mention phillia in the topic, are you wondering if people have an unnatural love of spiders.

I happen to like spiders, in fact I want to take a trip down to Lake Tawakoni State Park.

 

[Wade-DeadPool]

I don't care for the small once or.. what are the called.. The once with like a ball body and really thin and long legs... Dandy long legs(?)... I think they are cute

The things you were talking about are Daddy Long Legs, they're not spiders. 6 legs and wings.
The spider you were talking about are most likely the harvester spider, so called because they were commonly found with their their freakishly long legs spread between crops around autumn time (harvest season)

OT: I don't like them when their body is any bigger than my thumbnail, but I think that's rational. Oh, and harvester spiders are a bit yuck.

Any spider smaller than that, and I'm game.
Money spiders especially. I used to try and keep them as pets.

Oh yeah. Harvest spider you say?
...I think they are awesome. It tickles when the walk over your arm

 

[DocBalance]

Let me put it this way. Reading this post:

I keep tarantulas, "true spiders", scorpions, and other arachnids.

I handle few of them, never potentially dangerous ones, and obviously have no fear of them.
However, not being afraid and being irresponsible with them is completely different.

As for me, I guess you could say I'm arachnophile.

BTW, wouldn't arachnophobe mean someone who is afraid of arachnids?
Shouldn't the fear of spiders be called araneidophobia or the more grammatically correct version of that?

Made me want to run screaming from the room. I'm heavily arachnophobic. Also, am I the only person who saw "Arachnophillia" and was afraid there was going to be a whole new level of creepy animal role-play substituting "Chitinous" for "Furry"?

 

[Yokai]

I'm only afraid of spiders when they're orange, triangular and scream at me. This happened.

 

[Lieju]

Let me put it this way. Reading this post:

I keep tarantulas, "true spiders", scorpions, and other arachnids.

I handle few of them, never potentially dangerous ones, and obviously have no fear of them.
However, not being afraid and being irresponsible with them is completely different.

As for me, I guess you could say I'm arachnophile.

BTW, wouldn't arachnophobe mean someone who is afraid of arachnids?
Shouldn't the fear of spiders be called araneidophobia or the more grammatically correct version of that?

Made me want to run screaming from the room. I'm heavily arachnophobic. Also, am I the only person who saw "Arachnophillia" and was afraid there was going to be a whole new level of creepy animal role-play substituting "Chitinous" for "Furry"?

Why did you mention phillia in the topic, are you wondering if people have an unnatural love of spiders.

I happen to like spiders, in fact I want to take a trip down to Lake Tawakoni State Park.

"Philia" literally means "friendship" and is generally used to refer to a great liking of some things, like bibliophilia meaning you love books.

Although in cases like pedohilia or zoophilia it's used to describe sexual feelings, I don't think that really a correct usage of the word.
Doesn't pedophilia literally mean "loving/liking children"?
Zoophilia sometimes refers to non-sexual love of animals, though.

I guess being a something-phile can mean you like it sexually as well, but not necessarily.