The beauty of certain webs early in the morning with dew on them can't help but appeal even to
arachnophobes, a topic dealt with in Chapter 9 entitled Spiders and Humans.
And I think we all can agree some malicious acts are out of bounds: sabotaging work product intended for clients or the public, planting material or spreading falsehoods that could get the target disciplined or fired, and causing damage to the target's property or well-being -- for example, deliberately exposing a peanut-allergic colleague to peanut butter, or leaving a rubber tarantula on an
arachnophobe's desk.
Arachnophobe Martine, of Kingswood, South Glos, said: "The spider's owner said there were two in the box but only one escaped - I don't believe him.
"It doesn't feel threatening in any way, even if you are an
arachnophobe. The Pholcus doesn't bite humans and doesn't generate any mess.
He recently worked with an
arachnophobe who burst into tears if a spider was in the room.
Because, at the moment, my similarly
arachnophobe wife steps into her reluctant role as spider catcher each night while I am working at the ECHO ...
AND The One Show going to the trouble of putting a blindfold and earmuffs on
arachnophobe Claudia Winkleman so she could avoid a piece about spiders.
Despite his knowledge of the species and his appreciation of their role, Steven is a self-confessed
arachnophobe. "It was my mum that made me scared of spiders by over-reacting whenever she spotted one," he says.
He's a chronic
arachnophobe. Quote: "Hi, I'm Phill Jupitus.
Just as we thought Natalie Appleton was the most phobic person in the world, in walked Vic Reeves,
arachnophobe.
But Matt Hudson, a former
arachnophobe, is sceptical.