I like and may actively seek to touch/have land on me butterflies, most moths, ladybugs, dragonflies, katydids, soft fluffy caterpillars (used to be a great fan of gypsy moth ones in particular) and some attractive harmless beetles, although I would not invite any of these creatures to live in my home. I am capable of geeshing small disliked bugs (that don't run too fast or fly away) barehanded as long as I expect to be able to wash my hands. Large disliked bugs that move away from me, but not too fast or under anything, I can geesh with an implement without being too shaken up about it. Large disliked bugs that approach me, or move very quickly, or get into an inaccessible place such as under the microwave, freak me out until they die, but I can sometimes still manage it myself if there's no one else to call in for help. I'm especially freaked out by the phenotype my family refers to as "lottalegdo" - a self-explanatory term except that it doesn't include spiders.
When freaked out by a bug more than whoever is nearby, I solicit assistance in causing the bug's death. When I am the less freaked out party I slay bugs for others.
When freaked out by a bug more than whoever is nearby, I solicit assistance in causing the bug's death. When I am the less freaked out party I slay bugs for others.
Bigger Not Necessarily Better, When It Comes to Brains:
Tiny insects could be as intelligent as much bigger animals, despite only having a brain the size of a pinhead...
Okay, so for several years, I've been doing a fairly good job of excising out most of my irrational beliefs and fears.
The one that remains, however, is my fear of bugs and spiders. I'll SCREAM if I see one, dead or alive. And if there's one in my food, then I'm going to throw the entire plate out.
Is it common for LWers to have irrational reactions to bugs and spiders?
I know that there is "desensitization therapy", as highlighted by a Scientific American Frontiers episode a decade ago (where gradual exposure to the stimulus - a spider) - can desensitize a person with arachnophobia over time. But this can really only happen in controlled settings. In uncontrolled settings, such interaction can give you nightmares.