If someone visited your house/property one night that was known for having ticks and that person then posted on FB the next afternoon that they discovered an tick on them, their first encounter with one, posted a photo of it(American Dog tick) and then mentioned you by name in a footnote, how would you react?
Would you be offended, feel upset/hurt, or, feel at blame for the tick even if you agree that odds are the tick was acquired from either your property or dog?
If yes, why?
If no, why not?
I have a piece of land that is pretty tick-infested. As a result, I won’t let anyone on it without repeated warnings that they WILL get ticks from it. The ticks don’t upset me, but most people freak out about them, and I don’t want to be blamed or have to listen to complaining. If I didn’t warn them, then yes, I would feel responsible.
What kind of property? If I could reply with “Sorry about that, there’s a lot of ticks once you pass the tree line” I wouldn’t feel bad.
On the other hand, if it’s a built up city neighborhood, I might feel bad, but about as bad as I’d feel if they got a ton of mosquito bites or got stung by a bee. I mean, it’s a tick, it’s not like there’s anything the homeowner can do about it.
For the record, I’m in a built up city neighborhood and one of my dogs managed to pick one up.
Let me understand the scenario. Person A got a tick while visting Person B? And then A went on Facebook to tell everyone that B’s place is infested with ticks?
I think A and B should avoid each other.
I would try to scare that person, and imply that they were going to die.
Kidding… I pulled probably 4 ticks off of my dog last year, it was a bad tick year. Deer ticks do indeed, sometimes, spread Lyme Disease. But the mere sight of a tick, even the presence of a tick on one’s person, is not something to lose sleep over.
I would be impressed people were using footnotes for Facebook.
I guess I would “feel at blame”, but if my place was TRULY “known for having ticks” - I think a lot would depend on whether it was my HOUSE or my PROPERTY. I’d feel a little weird - and think everyone BETTER know if you know you have ticks in your house. If they are just outside - then I’d feel a little better.
If your place is truly known for having ticks:
I told my doc I found an American dog tick last year and he was almost like they were candy - but told me to call him if I ever got a deer tick. But many people won’t grasp the difference - and internet searches will make the person think they have rocky mounted spotted fever or whatever that one carries.
If the answer to the above three questions is yes - then I’d be a little pissed off that a friend found it necessary to blab to everyone. And even if I didn’t - I’d still feel hurt.
Lyme disease is truly awful. If you live in an area that has it - everyone should be showering and doing a tick check when they get home (word is it takes 24 hours - although my doc said to call him even if it had been less) AND take a shower AND know what the symptoms of Lyme Disease is - especially the very predictive “target lesion”.
If it is an area without Lyme disease - I think my opinion would be different - it just isn’t as big of a deal then.
I would post a picture of a huge, blood-engorged tick and tag her in it. My comment would be “So sorry B got a tick at my place.” And I’d post it early, right before breakfast.
Your sense of humor may vary. 
just keep off the grass.
Some people just don’t like loose tock.
Property is in a built up, mature subdivision on the outskirts of town. Lots of trees and woods back my friend’s house and they have a fairly sizeable lot with grass as well.
I’m pretty confident I acquired the tick from the family dog. I arrived to the house before my friend and so greeted the dog once inside by wrapping my arms around him while loving on him. He then sprawled across my lap on the sofa and I embraced him some more.
I’m pretty ignorant when it comes to ticks having lived close to the city all my life. I’m not one to venture in the woods and walk trails either. So, thought by only walking a few short steps over gravel from my vehicle to the house kept me low risk. Never even thought about how easily I could pick up one from the dog. I assumed tick immediately attack to a dog once a tick hitches a ride. Wrong I’ve learned!
I turned to FB for help and guidance. I never knew it was black legged ticks that carry Lyme or, that dog ticks could cause Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. I didn’t know as much about ticks as I should until my recent run in with one biting me.
I was just surprised by my friend’s reaction because every time she’s found a tick on her clothing or on the dog, she’s posted about it herself on FB. When I tried to apologize, she said it upset her that I publically blamed her, her dog and her property. I did no such thing … all I said was “don’t be offended if I don’t visit for a little while”. I know my visits place me at some risk but I had gotten quite relaxed about the topic since I never personally got one and make sure to not walk the propertly. But, after coming to the realization that I easily got one Sunday night (before making the dog connection) the thought of going back for a visit made me nervous.
I can’t change my friend’s interpretation of my words nor her perspective of things despite profusely apologizing I’m unfortunately realizing but, I did want to try and understand why she might be upset. Hate the thought that someone might think I was intentionaly trying to make them look bad.
Joey, I tend to view things the way you do … it’s not her fault (or her dog’s) and I’ve tried to reassure her I believe this. Have even told her it’s my fault for not being more knowledgeable … not realizing that I should be vigilant about doing a body check when I return home from visiting her.
I’ve gone as far telling her she didn’t make the ticks, didn’t put them on her property, etc. But yet, she still feels as if I was blaming her. 
I love your anaology that she shouldn’t feel any more upset over the tick bite than if I got bit by a mosquito! It drives home exactly what I was trying to explain to her. Thank you!!!
Right, and by the same token, if you had gotten a mosquito bite at her house, you wouldn’t have posted a Fb post with a picture of the welt and mentioned her and her dog and her property.
If I were her, I’d be a little miffed about it also. Ticks happen, but like head-lice, they aren’t something that you fling about on public forums associated with specific people’s names,
She probably objects to the fact that you are publicly calling her out on being “contaminated.” You even said you would be avoiding her home, implying that the infestation levels may be okay for her, but that you have higher standards and thus may stay away for your own safety.
If you picked up crabs from her guest room, I suspect she may prefer that you keep that to yourself as well.
Okay, last two points are valid ones … angles I hadn’t considered so thanks for sharing your honesty. 
Guess I was thrown off because like I mentioned, every time she finds a tick she goes straight to FB with statuses like “Eeeeee! Look what I just found on my blouse (while at work)! I must have brought it from home this morning! Ugh!” Photo was attached.
I remember when I saw that two summers ago, I was sorta surprised she’d be so vocal about her find at work because if I was a co-worker, I’d have been nervous she might bring more to work that went unnoticed. So, don’t do as I do, do as I say … wish I had known that ahead of time.
Instead of following her lead, I’ve learned that I should have been more sensitive since ticks carry a stigma for some … like lice as was suggested.
I just know for me, if I knew my property was common for ticks, I would make sure all visitors were educated and made aware that there are ticks around but more importantly, I would make sure that they also knew the importance of doing self-inspections for any upon leaving or, once back home at their own place. Once armed with knowledge, they are not as scary as I initially perceived them to be prior to my experience and then researching the info.
I live in the rural South, where EVERYWHERE is ‘known’ for having ticks. They’re just a part of summertime 'round here.
I don’t think ticks carry a stigma, I think you phrased your facebook comment badly and I think that is possibly related to the way you think about ticks.
This. “Don’t be offended if I don’t visit for a little while” is rude - it’s the sort of thing you don’t need to say in advance, you can simply ‘have other plans’ if you receive an invitations during the ‘little while’ that you need to…do what exactly? Recover from the ordeal of your tick experience?
And you made it worse by posting it publicly, for all her other Facebook friends to see, rather than sending her a private message.
Public lice are a whole other thing though; be forewarned!
Exactly. It goes along with living in parts of planet earth where ticks inhabit. I think the ticks would be delighted to know that someone gives enough of a shit to post about them on Facetwit. And then they’d be deflated when they learned it was just her first encounter, which understandably makes it a bit of a sensation. But here in the south it really is just part of the background of summer. Have you met our chiggers?
But i like CheshireKat’s suggestion best 
heh. Pubic auto-corrects on my phone to Public. Need to fix that!
Borrow someone’s chickens, they will clean up ticks fast.