# Sitting, you suddenly look down and see a small spider on your knee. Your reaction? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 31, 2010, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658 "2010-07-31T04:35:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/41 "2010-07-31T14:32:44Z")
Holden: You’re sitting in a chair when all of a sudden you look down… Leon: Where? Holden: What? Leon: Where am I sitting? Holden: It doesn’t make any difference where, it’s completely hypothetical. Leon: But, how come I’d be there? Holden: Maybe you’re fed up. Maybe you want to be by yourself. Who knows? You look down and see a spider, Leon. It’s crawling on your knee… Leon: Spider? What’s that? Holden: [irritated by Leon’s interruptions] You know what a bug is? Leon: Of course! Holden: Same thing. Leon: I’ve never seen a spider… But I understand what you mean. Holden: You reach down and you flick the spider off your knee, Leon. Leon: Do you make up these questions, Mr. Holden? Or do they write 'em down for you? Holden: The spider lays on its back, beating its legs trying to turn itself over, but it can’t. Not without your help. But you’re not helping. Leon: [angry at the suggestion] What do you mean, I’m not helping? Holden: I mean: you’re not helping! Why is that, Leon? [Leon has become visibly shaken] Holden: They’re just questions, Leon. In answer to your query, they’re written down for me. It’s a test, designed to provoke an emotional response… Shall we continue? Leon: Sure, go ahead. Holden: Describe in single words only the good things that come into your mind about… your mother. Leon: My mother? Holden: Yeah. Leon: Let me tell you about my mother. _Kablam_ ---
**Author:** ![lynne-42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lynne-42/32/3138_2.png) [@lynne-42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lynne-42)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/42 "2010-07-31T15:03:48Z")
I’d move as carefully as I could, so as not to disturb the spider, get to the cupboard and get out my macro lens (bought specifically to photograph spiders) and take photos. I have thousands of spider photos. I used to be an arachnophobe and it was ruining my life, so I started studying them. Overdid the cure. Now I’m obsessed by the adorable critters. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/43 "2010-07-31T15:19:35Z")
In the past I would not have reacted, but my dog has recently bring home ticks, which a spider can easily be mistaken for. So I might react strongly. (I hate those little bastards.) ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/44 "2010-07-31T15:33:04Z")
If I weren’t busy I’d seize the opportunity to observe my tiny guest and see what he was all about. (Count me among the careful creature relocators.) ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/45 "2010-07-31T15:48:02Z")
I came into this thread expecting to read about how I’d react to a tarantula or something. The size of a thumbtack? I’d just brush it off of me. I probably wouldn’t even bother killing it. If it was a _large_ spider I would scream like a girl and run out of the room. I wouldn’t be able to deal with it myself: I’d have to get a friend or family member to dispose of it or its body for me. I guess I should turn in my man card… ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/46 "2010-07-31T15:49:30Z")
I’d smack it and kill it. If it was larger than a quarter, I would probably scream first. House centipedes and camel crickets are the absolute worst. They have millions of legs and behave unpredictably. Camel crickets jump at you rather than away from you, and house centipedes move so FAST. I woke up with one on me the other night and it was a bad, bad scene. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/47 "2010-07-31T16:45:05Z")
Brush it off. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/48 "2010-07-31T18:42:07Z")
Male. I’ll flick it off as gently as I can, as I don’t kill spiders needlesly. Likewise bees. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/49 "2010-07-31T18:50:38Z")
I’d try to scrape it off with a piece of cardboard. Outside if I could. I’d probably freak out a little but then I’d feel stupid unless it was a poisonous one. I have more trouble not freaking out over ants because recently I was bit by one and those little fuckers HURT! ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/50 "2010-07-31T19:43:22Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > I calmly flick the spider off my knee. > > If it were particularly large or unusual-looking, or it appeared there suddenly, I might startle for a moment, but that would be all. If it’s particularly large or unusual looking, I try to capture it so I can examine it at leisure. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/51 "2010-07-31T19:44:55Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Thumbtack sized? Flick it off, and go about my business. If you get up to around quarter size, there will be some amount of startled screaming, followed by a couple of hours of heebie jeebies. I should add that I don’t mind spiders when they aren’t physically on me, regardless of size. Last place I lived, there used to be orb spiders outside my front door all the time, and I’d always take the opportunity to check them out. I just don’t like it when they show up on my skin unexpectedly. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/52 "2010-07-31T21:25:49Z")
Say ‘ooh!’. I love spiders. My hubby would let out a blood-curdling scream, convulse his entire body to throw it off, run from the room, then possibly have a panic attack/heart attack/suicide attempt. I can’t recall if he’s ever noticed a spider touching him, his reaction is almost this extreme when they get close to him! ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/53 "2010-07-31T22:01:22Z")
For anything smaller than Shelob, brush it off and forget about it, no venomous spiders where I live. A frog, however, and I’d leave the country. This is, fortunately, unlikely. ---
**Author:** ![Acantha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@Acantha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acantha)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/54 "2010-07-31T23:02:13Z")
Flick it off. If I woke up and found one on me in bed, I would probably have a completely different reaction, which I realize is irrational and kind of stupid. I’m weird about things that _could_ be happening while I’m asleep. ---
**Author:** ![Acantha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@Acantha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acantha)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/55 "2010-07-31T23:10:01Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > I’d just brush it off. > > However, one time I suddenly looked down and saw a _[huntsman](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntsman_spider)_ on my _shoulder_. That time I stood up rather quickly, took off the shirt, and waited for it to leave before I put it back on. Oh yeah. We call those cane spiders here. We had one in the house the other day and it was freaking _huge._ Easily 4 inches from ‘foot’ to ‘foot.’ But they eat roaches. Anyone who has ever lived here knows how much you have to fight those bastards no matter how clean your house is, so even if they’re big, ugly and scary, those spiders are your friends. ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/56 "2010-07-31T23:30:22Z")
I’d watch it. No fear of insects here. Spiders where I live aren’t poisonous. I never kill spiders especially in may appartment. The spiders take care of the other bugs and my cat will eventually take care of the spiders. ---
**Author:** ![supergoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@supergoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/supergoose)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/57 "2010-07-31T23:48:46Z")
I’d probably jump (or at least inwardly startle pretty badly), probably shriek, and brush it off asap, preferably with a paper or something so I don’t have to actually touch it. Then I’d track its progress on the ground while trying to come up with something to trap/squish it with unless it got away, in which case I’d let it go, try not to think about it coming back, and try to calm down. Definitely wouldn’t flick it, though. What if I ended up taking a leg off or squishing it to my knee or finger or something else involving spider guts or parts adhered to me? That’d be even worse. Edit: just thought of something - if at all possible, I’d try to use my clothing to flick it off. Guaranteed no touching! So what’d your friend do? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/58 "2010-08-01T00:03:27Z")
When I was about 10, a hairy brown spider walked up my arm and stopped at my elbow. I thought, no big deal, I am not food, he will go off and find a bug to eat. But no, he gave me an extremely painful bite. I screamed and brushed him on the floor. Then I put cold water on the red lump it left me for a trophy. Then I remembered the spider. It was still in the living room. I looked very hard to find it. I was not successful. But when it comes to bushy brown3/8 inch long spiders, they all pay for his sins. The rest i am OK with. I don’t squish bugs. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/59 "2010-08-01T01:31:50Z")
Well, most likely I would talk to it - I don’t expect real conversation, but I have a tendency to talk to some insects the way people talk to their pets (“Oh, hey buddy, what’s up? Just climbin around? Who’s a good little spider?”) I would then briefly assess whether it looked like a black widow. If so, I will very carefully scoop it off with the ‘cup and cardboard’ method, and release him outdoors. If it does not look like something which can potentially cause me harm, I’ll just scoop the guy up in my hands and dump him outside that way. If he’s not a black widow but otherwise interesting looking, I might first just watch him for a bit. For Science! Now, if it’s a a cricket, I will proceed to _freak the hell out_, scream like a little girl, flail wildly about, and be unable to sleep that night. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/60 "2010-08-01T02:06:51Z")
Flick it off. Ask about a BIG spider, or a house centipede, and I will give you an entirely different answer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658.md?page=4)