Brown Recluse bite pics

Venom

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
Joined
Jul 21, 2002
Messages
1,700
Venom: Pretty much any response I would have written JPD, cacoseraph, and conipto covered. I don't dispute that L. reclusa venom is cytotoxic. As you mentioned, it's been medically proven. As was said though, many people live in very close proximity to hundreds, sometimes thousands, of these spiders and are never bitten. A few (I don't have exact numbers) people are bitten every year and even fewer show any serious necrosis. To me, that's not dangerous. I define danger as danger = potential damage * likelyhood of damage (thanks for that, cacoseraph). Would I be concerned if I was ever bitten by one? Sure, a bit. I've never been bitten by one so I don't know how my body would react. Am I worried about finding them in my home? Nope, I invite them in, give them a few free meals, and then release them.

Woah, hang on a minute. I think we may have had our definitions crossed. Are we discussing the "dangerousness" of the spiders, or of their bite? When you say "I define danger as danger = potential damage * likelyhood of damage," are you meaning the potential damage of the time* the likelihood that that extent of damage will occur once bitten; or: potential damage*likelihood that that extent of damage will occur once bitten* likelihood of being bitten? The latter takes into consideration the probability of being bitten: temperament and habits of spider, and not just the maximum potential of the bite and the typical results of being bitten.
 

MrDeranged

He Who Rules
Staff member
Joined
Jul 16, 2002
Messages
2,001
Venom said:
Who told you it was inappropriate?
We told him it was inappropriate. Not the pictures themselves, but the site that they were hosted on had links to some not so child friendly stuff. Feel free to PM the user for the site.
 

David_F

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
Joined
Feb 9, 2004
Messages
1,763
Venom said:
potential damage*likelihood that that extent of damage will occur once bitten* likelihood of being bitten
That's pretty much what I consider danger for me and probably for most of the people in the US who are afraid of these spiders. The first description I listed though works just as well. As I said, I know the venom can cause some serious problems but to perpetuate fear of something because of what might happen under extreme circumstances doesn't make much sense to me. Yes, I'd be a little worried if I was bitten by a recluse because I don't know how I would react to it. But showing pics of a severe reaction to a bite and telling people to be scared of it, again, doesn't make much sense. It doesn't do anything but make people think any spider bite is going to make them lose an arm, leg, or other body part (only thing I see them losing is their mind {D ). Make people understand the likelihood of being bitten (very slim) and the likelihood of severe necrosis (again, very slim) and we've done about the best thing we can.

Venom said:
Why else do we have a bite/ sting report section?
Good question. Why aren't there any L. reclusa bite reports in there? I assume there are more than two or three people here who keep these spiders and even handle them on occasion (I do not recommend that). If they are as dangerous as some would have us believe I think we'd see more first-hand accounts of bites and not the same rehashed pics.

All in all, I see what you're saying and can agree that people need to be aware of the danger of recluse venom. I just don't agree that posting graphic pictures with a caption that basically tells you that you'll lose body parts if bitten is the best way to spread awareness. They are kinda cool to look at though. :D
 
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