An Intrinsically Evil Blogging Act
November 2, 2009, 11:17 am
Posted by Cathleen Kaveny
(at least it would be if I were pope)
I generally enjoy Zoe Romanowsky’s posts. And the substance of this post is very interesting. But there’s a problem.
I beg you: NEVER, EVER, EVER post a big picture of a BIG SPIDER without warning the person about to click the hyperlink. I threw the laptop on the floor to get away from it.
Cathy, you realize you’re asking for it now! DotCommers take note: spider photos are officially NSFK — not safe for Kaveny.
I guess this means we’re back to various phobias (arachnophobia?)
Intrinsically evil???
In my world, Bob. In my world.
In a household of six, apparently I’m the only one that doesn’t have a phobia about spiders (save the cats, who view them as occasionally diverting playthings but in general can’t rouse themselves to give them a sniff). Consequently, I find that my presence is required fairly regularly, generally at such convenient times as when I’ve just plopped myself into a prone position on the couch to watch the Bears game. At the end of every month, I step outside in my stocking feet and scrape 1/2 inch of arachnid goop off the bottom of my shoes into the bushes, where I presume it feeds such remanents of the spider population that have not yet been squished – that is to say, those few that aren’t already devouring the neighborhood children and feasting on their pets.
I love creepy crawly things. (No surprise.) Kept snakes as a kid, which would earn my mother canonization, if she were Catholic. (Oh, and she’s alive.)
Which is why a friend sent this YouTube video link. But despite my herpetelogical bona fides, this had me jumping out of my seat.
CAUTION: DO NOT WATCH IF YOU DON’T LIKE HEART-STOPPING SHOCKS.
Otherwise, knock yerself out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqg3Pg2M9WU
Something tells me Joe Komonchak doesn’t have such specimens down on the farm…
But don’t spiders belong on the Web?
Something scarier than spiders now greets the reader when the link is opened, though the “change of heart” story has a nice twist.
But fear not–or fear mightily, as the case may be–the itsy bitsy spider’s cousin on steroids is still in the neighborhood if one scrolls down.
Thanks, William — fixed, so as not to confuse readers of the future…
Speaking of spiders feasting –
There was a Nova program on last night about how various mothers in the animal kingdom provide for their progeny. The newborn offspring of one species of spider emerge ravenous and proceed to eat each other. When their siblings are gone, they eat their mother! Greater love hath no arachnid. Does make one wonder, doesn’t it.
Spiders are our friends! :) I keep a plastic jar around so I can catch the ones that come inside and release them back out into the wild again. Cathleen might like this National Geographic video of the biggest spider known, the goliath :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LmyyXcE6rw
What I resent about Zoe Romonowsky’s post is her suggestion that fear of dentists is somehow irrational. On the contrary, it is thoroughly rational. Unfortunately, while we can run away from spiders without evil results, running away from dentists is apt to lead to tooth and gum decay.
I have an appointment next week and wish to think no more about it, thank you.