JohnRich 4 #1 October 11, 2004 In the news: Britons Fear Spiders More Than Terrorists Spiders are more scary than terrorists -- at least according to a survey of a thousand Britons released Monday. Household creepy crawlies frighten Britons more than terrorist attacks, or even death, the survey found. Terrorism only came second on the list of respondents' top ten fears. Another crawling phobia -- snakes -- was ranked third, followed by a fear of heights. Death came in a surprising fifth place as the nation's greatest fear. "It's not surprising that terrorist attacks came only second to creepy crawlies," said psychologist Donna Dawson. "This is because fear of small creatures that scuttle about on four or more legs is a much more ancient, primordial fear, going straight back to caveman days." * * * Take/See the Poll: WKMG News Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #2 October 11, 2004 People, as a group, frequently fear the wrong things. You are more likely to die from drunk drivers on the freeway than either spiders or terrorists.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dixieskydiver 0 #3 October 11, 2004 I fear low turns. and spiders...hate spiders. Dixie HISPA #56 Facil Rodriguez "Scientific research has shown that 60% of the time, it works every time." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #4 October 11, 2004 sock puppets ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adamjenner 0 #5 October 11, 2004 i really hate spiders! plus i'm in a tiny town in NS canada, i have nothing to worry about when it comes to terrorists....but when it comes to spiders.....eeek! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,588 #6 October 11, 2004 I realize it's a silly fear, but I'm much more scared of spiders than terrorists. Especially something like running into a web and having a spider land on me. Gives me the willies just to think about it. But I still try to pick up the ones indoors and place them gently back outside. Only if that fails do I stomp them. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dagny 0 #7 October 11, 2004 Spiders are a very real and credible threat! One time, I was driving and the H-U-G-E bugger was crawling along the windshield. I thought it was outside where I would be safe, but NO. It stops right in front of me and starts dropping down a web towards my lap. It was horrible...started coming closer and swinging from side to side. I had to swerve the car to the side of the road and jump out and spend the next 10 minutes trying to get it out of the car. Roaches are another part of the "axis of evil". Nasty little things. At least the terrorists can't spin webs out of their butts. *shudder* Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adamjenner 0 #8 October 11, 2004 i was bitten by spiders when i was a kid when i ran into 3 webs at once haha, 3 spider bites...therefore a fear. I mean if i see a spider form afar it's fine i don't care. BUT if it's like RIGHT by me or i see one crawling on me it freakes me out. i guess it's just the "surprise" that there's this little 8 legged creature on you Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheenster303 0 #9 October 11, 2004 I'm more scared of aliens abducting me than spiders AND terrorists!I'm so funny I crack my head open! P.M.S. #102 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lindsey 0 #10 October 11, 2004 /me puffs out chest I'm afraid of neither spiders nor terrorists..... You can't hurt steel....lol Peace~ linz-- A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dixieskydiver 0 #11 October 11, 2004 QuoteI'm more scared of aliens abducting me than spiders AND terrorists! What about giant alien spiders abducting you? Dixie HISPA #56 Facil Rodriguez "Scientific research has shown that 60% of the time, it works every time." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiver30960 0 #12 October 11, 2004 Urban myth at my old DZ was that a guy was in the middle of a four way when he FREAKED out. Thrashing, slapping his head, he clumsily tracked away from the group and dumped. Turns out that a spider had been hanging out in his helmet and he didn't notice until it started crawling across the inside of the faceshield of his full-face. One of the old non-flipup Factory Divers I guess, otherwise he probably could just have closed his eyes and "dumped that spider out of the formation". Elvisio "so they say around the campfire" Rodriguez Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slappie 9 #13 October 11, 2004 QuoteI'm more scared of aliens abducting me than spiders AND terrorists! Me too!! Did they get your motivation? They got mine.. Tried for the beer but I beat them back with an empty bottle of Jagermeister! Whoa what a night... "Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelel01 1 #14 October 11, 2004 QuoteTurns out that a spider had been hanging out in his helmet and he didn't notice until it started crawling across the inside of the faceshield of his full-face. One of the old non-flipup Factory Divers I guess, otherwise he probably could just have closed his eyes and "dumped that spider out of the formation". I would have just ripped the helmet off my head and thrown it down. You can always find it later. Does that answer your question? Spiders and roaches are the most heinous things in the world (well, my part of the world). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dixieskydiver 0 #15 October 11, 2004 QuoteQuoteI'm more scared of aliens abducting me than spiders AND terrorists! Me too!! Did they get your motivation? They got mine.. Tried for the beer but I beat them back with an empty bottle of Jagermeister! Whoa what a night... No dz.com stole my motivation, the aliens just stole my good sense. Dixie HISPA #56 Facil Rodriguez "Scientific research has shown that 60% of the time, it works every time." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheenster303 0 #16 October 11, 2004 QuoteQuoteI'm more scared of aliens abducting me than spiders AND terrorists! What about giant alien spiders abducting you? Oh my god! That is the scariest thing I can think of! I'm scared now. Gotta go close and lock my windows.I'm so funny I crack my head open! P.M.S. #102 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelel01 1 #17 October 11, 2004 And cover your ears. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,588 #18 October 11, 2004 QuoteTurns out that a spider had been hanging out in his helmet and he didn't notice until it started crawling across the inside of the faceshield of his full-face. I knew there was a reason I still jump a Protec. I can't even imagine what I'd've done, but it wouldn't have been either graceful or classy. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobsled92 0 #19 October 11, 2004 It's simple math: the human is the most dangerous animal on the Planet. I fear black mambas, cotton mouths and water moccasins.(unless I'm armed...that means even with a big stick or machette)_______________________________ If I could be a Super Hero, I chose to be: "GRANT-A-CLAUS". and work 365 days a Year. http://www.hangout.no/speednews/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheenster303 0 #20 October 11, 2004 QuoteAnd cover your ears. Yeah that too.......I'm so funny I crack my head open! P.M.S. #102 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #21 October 11, 2004 Spider facts: The good news is that spider bites are actually quite rare events. A recent summary of reported spider bites in the United States between 1989 and 1993 included fewer than 5,000 incidents per year. Only a few of the bites of widow spiders were medically serious, but over 80% of recluse bites were considered serious. Only about 10% of other spider bites had serious consequences. These numbers seem small when compared to the over 800,000 dog bites that required stitches each year. During the study period, dog bites were responsible for 20 deaths per year, and auto-deer collisions were associated with 130 annual deaths. You might be surprised to learn that there were no spider-bite related fatalities during that four-year period. Worried patients arrive at the hospital saying "I don’t know what bit me but it hurts so much it must have been a spider..." and unfortunately doctors are sometimes willing to accept this premise. In reality, many injuries that are reported as spider bites are actually caused by other small animals (fleas, lice, mosquitoes, biting flies, ant bites and stings, etc.). One national study of 600 cases of suspected spider bites established that approximately 80% were not actually caused by spiders. So we should fear dogs far more than we fear spiders. And for comparison with terrorists, if we average the 3,000 murders committed on 9/11/01 over the three years since, that's 1,000 terrorist murders per year. While spiders are responsible for... None! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,588 #22 October 11, 2004 I didn't say I was right -- you didn't ask which was reasonable. I have a visceral reaction to spiders, especially large, fast-moving, or jumping ones. Skydiving is more dangerous than spiders too, but I haven't quit that. And there have been terrorist acts besides 9/11 -- they would up the overall score. But you have to combine that with that axiom of real estate -- location, location, location. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quatorze 1 #23 October 11, 2004 as long as Timberland boot trumps spider anatomy, nuthin to fear but one of these on the other hand, is something al together different I'm not afriad of dying, I'm afraid of never really living- Erin Engle Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dixieskydiver 0 #24 October 11, 2004 Oklahomo City, USS Cole, Embassy bombings, Anthrax letters, Unabomber... Dixie HISPA #56 Facil Rodriguez "Scientific research has shown that 60% of the time, it works every time." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quatorze 1 #25 October 11, 2004 QuoteOklahomo City, USS Cole, Embassy bombings, Anthrax letters, Unabomber... "Vampires Mummies and the Holy Gost these are the things that I fear the most" Jimmy Buffet I'm not afriad of dying, I'm afraid of never really living- Erin Engle Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
