# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/61 "2010-08-01T02:08:55Z")
Jump up (probably yelp), brush it off, make it die. Sometimes, I give them a chance by flushing them live down the toilet. But they need to go. Far far away. Preferably as corpses. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/62 "2010-08-01T02:17:50Z")
I’d flick it off. No worries. No matter indoors or outdoors - I dislike flies, and spiders eat flies. But waking up covered in hundreds of baby spiders, like in the post above? Yeah, that’d freak me out. That’d freak most people out. ---
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/63 "2010-08-01T13:04:25Z")
Me: brush it off. Wife: knock it off, run out of house, take off, and nuke the site from orbit. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/64 "2010-08-02T14:41:37Z")
Freak the hell right out. Then unleash much spider destruction. Or get my husband to do so. Gah! Scared to death of spiders, me. **Mr. Accident** , I’d have nuked the house after your incident; it’s the only way to be sure. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/65 "2010-08-02T15:28:57Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > 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. Oh yeah . . . aside from the nasty little black jumping spiders, I’d be freaked if it were an unfamiliar small brown spider, 'cause that might be a brown recluse. I don’t really know what they look like (and I won’t go looking at pics, _thank you_) but I’d rather have a tarantula on me than one of those bloody things. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/66 "2010-08-02T15:53:26Z")
Step 1: Flick it onto the ground. Step 2: If outside, go about my business. If inside, introduce him to mister shoe. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/67 "2010-08-02T16:22:30Z")
Freak/startle for a second, then blow it off. Spiders are the one harmless bug that unsettles me, although I’m trying to work on that. ---
**Author:** ![what\_do\_I\_type\_here](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a5b964/32.png) [@what\_do\_I\_type\_here](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/what_do_I_type_here)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/68 "2010-08-02T16:45:55Z")
Anyone who _isn’t_ afraid of spiders is a jerk. There, I said it. “I’d photograph it” “Why would I kill it” “I’d vote for it” Alright, we get it. You’re a free spirit. Shut up. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/69 "2010-08-02T16:56:10Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > “Ah! Hello, Mister Spider! I am afraid that I contain no tasty flies or other insects. Here, move onto this piece of paper and I’ll take you outside where you’ll find all sorts of nummy food.” This right here. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/70 "2010-08-02T17:31:39Z")
Over the weekend, I [del]panicked and suppressed a scream[/del] heroically saved my girlfriend from certain doom when I noticed, mid-conversation, that a rare white-grey spider had appeared on the top of the bedspread right by my face. I froze, stared, and then flung the bedspread as hard as I could so that [del]I wouldn’t be eaten alive by it[/del] my girlfriend wouldn’t need to worry for her safety. Later, we discovered it again. It was on her t-shirt. It turned out to be a very tiny ball of lint or cat fur. DANGEROUS lint! It’s funny what being awake late and not having your glasses on can do to you. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/71 "2010-08-02T18:02:30Z")
I would relocate it. If hubby was with me I would have to do it surreptitiously so as not to alarm him. When it comes to spiders he is the run away and send in reinforcements to kill it. I am typically the reinforcements. ---
**Author:** ![gurujulp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba9def/32.png) [@gurujulp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gurujulp)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/72 "2010-08-02T18:15:50Z")
If it is running, I will move fast and likely kill it, as I am too rough… If it is still, I will move slowly and likely not kill it. I will put it outside or flush it down the toilet. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/73 "2010-08-02T18:17:42Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > ‘Hello small creature, thou art god. Here, let me help you into a more tenable location.’ Gentle relocation ensues. Widows may be treated a little roughly. Basically this, only with less dignity. Spiders make me happy. I would probably relocate to my wall or somewhere nearby where I could watch it crawl around for a while. I love watching the way they move. ---
**Author:** ![silvermist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@silvermist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silvermist)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/74 "2010-08-03T17:22:59Z")
Flick it off and step on it. I found a huge, long-legged, black spider in the tub this morning and ran for paper towels which I dropped on it and stomped it good, then looked around for any relatives of his. ---
**Author:** ![breaking-reality](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a8b319/32.png) [@breaking-reality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breaking-reality)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/75 "2010-08-03T18:37:43Z")
Flick it off my knee. I’d probably also gasp or make some sort of ‘eek’ noise. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/76 "2010-08-03T18:52:25Z")
It really depends on the day. Most of the time it’s flick-it-off-me, or relocate to outdoors. But if I’m feeling nervous it’s scream-like-a-little-girl-and-KILL-KILL-KILL. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Accident](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Mr.Accident](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Accident)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/77 "2010-08-03T19:03:26Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > Freak the hell right out. Then unleash much spider destruction. Or get my husband to do so. > > Gah! Scared to death of spiders, me. **Mr. Accident** , I’d have nuked the house after your incident; it’s the only way to be sure. Well, I wanted to. Pesky homeland security just wouldn’t let me, something about national security or some such. Personally, I think they’re part of the spiders plot to rule the world. On an aside, it gave me great reason to move my bed outside and clean under it. The dust bunnies had been hunted to extinction by the dust dinos I found under there. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/78 "2010-08-03T19:47:33Z")
Move it off me. If inside, hope it will seek out the few roaches we get between our quarterly exterminator visits. ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/79 "2010-08-03T20:02:11Z")
For the record, there is no such thing as a small spider. A spider the size of a thumbtack is not small. It’s enormous. Upon finding one on my knee (or anywhere else on me) I would shriek like a frightened little girl, jump straight up into the air while trying to get it off me. Once it _was_ off me, I would have a suitable burly person smash it with a rock. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitting-you-suddenly-look-down-and-see-a-small-spider-on-your-knee-your-reaction/548658/80 "2010-08-03T21:22:16Z")
I would emigrate to the Offworld Colonies - a new life awaits me there! One, hopefully, free of spiders. > [@amarinth](#): > > Jump up (probably yelp), brush it off, make it die. > Sometimes, I give them a chance by flushing them live down the toilet. But they need to go. Far far away. Preferably as corpses. See, I regard the live-flushing thing as a particularly cruel form of execution. Bugs that startle or otherwise annoy me go down the toilet - roaches, beetles, etc. I imagine it combines the worst aspects of being beaten to death with drowning. It’s got to be a horrible end. Other bugs in my apartment, I try to kill cleanly, or shoo out. The only bugs that will never, ever come to harm in my apartment are fireflies - I think they’re neat, and I respect all the effort they go to in order to get laid. When a firefly wanders into my apartment, I do everything I can to try and capture it without harm, in order to take it outside and release it. I like to think that I’m playing the part of the little fellow’s wingman. [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=3) [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=5)