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[feelotraveller]

Got to watch those little old ladies with heads masquerading as beehives:

        Destructicus: That does not compute.
        Marge: (sternly) Really?
        Destructicus: Well, it computes a little.
        (The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror XIX)

they can certainly talk the talk...

[tonnot98]

like a jumping spider I brought inside to show the missus who rode along happily and then when they noticed we were back outside they comically pointed their whole body up at the sky and fell back onto my palm

That must've been a great experience.

[Max™]

It sucked, nobody was there to go "squeee" at the little reaction.

They're such adorably animated little things.

[helmacon]

wait, hold on. Are some species of spiders considered legitimately domesticated?

I mean, it would make sense. They have been living in our homes for many generations.

[Grim Portent]

Not really no, being domesticated generally implies a greater degree of human involvement in the rearing and breeding of the animal than mere proximity, otherwise house mice would count as domesticated by that logic.

That said, if you could domesticate spiders the jumping spiders would be the place to start. Despite their small size they're quite smart and very docile. I actually consider it a shame there's no species of them the size of tarantulas.

[NJW2000]

That is an unpopular opinion, I reckon.

[Grim Portent]

But who wouldn't want a peacock spider the size of a guinea pig? They dance!

[Frumple]

Fortunately not for very long after you set them on fire.

... though only do that if they're alone or in small numbers. If they've rolled up into the spider orgy ball the fire will only make things worse.

[Max™]

Not really no, being domesticated generally implies a greater degree of human involvement in the rearing and breeding of the animal than mere proximity, otherwise house mice would count as domesticated by that logic.

That said, if you could domesticate spiders the jumping spiders would be the place to start. Despite their small size they're quite smart and very docile. I actually consider it a shame there's no species of them the size of tarantulas.

Yeah, and they're so adorable with the big anime eyes, though the hyllus diardi can get pretty damn big, but I also learned a while back as I was getting the missus comfortable with various spiders that the euathalus sp. red/orange/yellow is an extremely chill and easily socialized/handled little tarantula, not like some of the big beautiful and bitchy ones that'll just sit there hanging out, casually stabbing your finger (it's like a bee sting at most) while they chillax.

[Egan_BW]

Fortunately not for very long after you set them on fire.

... though only do that if they're alone or in small numbers. If they've rolled up into the spider orgy ball the fire will only make things worse.

You monster.

[Max™]

Yeah, that's a pretty good unpopular idea: spiders aren't just beneficial (being against spiders implies being for mosquitos, wasps, flies, etc*) but they're pretty damn cute fur such a completely different bodyplan. Gently poking and prodding the area around them as they trundle along.

*I actually made the mistake for a while of confusing spitting spiders with recluses, and now after learning the error and protecting the spitters I benefit because they eat recluses.

[Egan_BW]

I still get creeped out by spider monsters in videogames and such, but that's because they tend to be horribly malformed non-spider-things.

[Urist McScoopbeard]

I love spiders. My phobia is of snakes, so I never understood why people freaked out around spiders or other insects. Some of the snake-like ones make me uneasy, but that's about it.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

I don't dislike spiders but I vastly prefer snakes. I was even given a certificate of "snake friendliness" as a young child for handling one at a zoo, and I was too young to remember it.

I really don't understand what the deal is with snakes for people. Most of them literally can't hurt you and if you're handling a domestic snake then it almost certainly can't hurt you. I was even chased by an angry and wild cottonmouth as a slightly older child and did not develop any snake phobia.

[Neonivek]

I love spiders. My phobia is of snakes, so I never understood why people freaked out around spiders or other insects. Some of the snake-like ones make me uneasy, but that's about it.

Because a healthy fear of spiders and snakes actually helped our ancestors survive.

It is why some animals are afraid of the rain.