this post was submitted on 20 Aug 2024
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Arachnology
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My wife and adult son are both arachnophobic, and I think that body style is what triggers that brain wiring the most. My take on it is that humans evolving around venomous spiders evolved to be afraid of them (because people who kept their distance from them survived better). Like with a lot of things, it's not a binary, it's a spectrum, and people who are severely arachnophobic just got a lot, and it doesn't change anything if there are no venomous spiders where they live now.
We have that kind of spider in my area a lot (along with black and brown widows), and that body style is the worst for them. Plus, they look a lot like brown widows generally.
That makes me feel a little less paranoid, thank you. I really appreciate your insight here!