Funny Looks at Work

GOMER113

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Oct 18, 2007
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336
I was recently assigned to a project and was given a cubicle to work at, away from my normal work area. I decided to do some minor decorating. My B. albopilosum molted two nights ago and his exuvium came out nice and intact, except for the shredded abdomen.

I was thinking about putting it in a small display cube, but it would look funny without the abdomen, so I grabbed an unused Mini-KK, added some peat, made a faux burrow with a small deli cup, and added the T. His first six legs are sticking out of the burrow and you could see his carapace just fine.

While I was coming up the stairs, one of the lovely young ladies on my floor was on her way down. I tried hiding the KK behind me just in case she were to see it and freak out, but she saw it and asked what I had in my hand. I told her it was "A tarantula... well, sort of. It's the molted skin of one of mine." She looked at it, fascinated, and said it looks like a real T. I told her that it's real, but it's not dead or alive, it's just the old skin. She said it was pretty neat and then continued on her way.

Since then, I've had it on my desk, but I cover it up every time I walk away, again, just in case someone sees it and freaks out. Since I'm still in charge of my regular department, people still come up to see me for various things. So far, everyone that has come by starts talking, then I see their eyes wander to the KK, then they look at me, look back at the KK kind of funny, look at me kind of funny, pause, then continue what they were saying. {D
 

Mina

Arachnoking
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Oct 4, 2005
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They probably think its a live T. Most people aren't sure what to think about exotic pets. Its a good chance to educate people.
 

GOMER113

Arachnobaron
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Oct 18, 2007
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336
Yeah, I had originally planned to put up a small sign stating that it's not a live T, but I don't have access to a printer from this computer. Aside from having a T (sort of) on my desk for my own decorative purposes, educating those who ask about them is my other goal. Some people around here already know I have a small collection of Ts. Some think having just one is weird and having twenty is insane. Others like looking at my pics and said they'd like to see a few in person, and this is the best I could do.
 

Zoltan

Cult Leader
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May 20, 2008
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My experience is that tarantulas scare a lot of people first, but once they spend some time around them, and get some insight into the hobby, lot of them start to like them. It doesn't mean that they instantly rush to the nearest pet store and go home with two hands full of deli cups of course, but at least lose their prejudice against t's. Good luck with the "education" of your collegaues! :)
 

jeff1962

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Jun 27, 2007
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469
In the year or so that I have been keeping T.s I have found that the majority of people that I meet think that it is rather odd that I keep a "a bunch of spiders in my basement". So much so that I kinda quit bringing it up in casual conversation.
 

Eclipse

Arachnobaron
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Jun 6, 2007
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471
That just gave me an idea. I just thought about putting a T's skin in a glass cube and put it somewhere for display.
 

lewisskinner

Arachnosquire
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Feb 26, 2008
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106
Yeah, I had originally planned to put up a small sign stating that it's not a live T, but I don't have access to a printer from this computer.
Print one at home and take it in with you the next am.
Is everyone so obsessed with their computers that they've forgotten how to live without them?

For Christ's sake - (hand + pen + paper) x 60 seconds!
 

GOMER113

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Oct 18, 2007
Messages
336
Is everyone so obsessed with their computers that they've forgotten how to live without them?

For Christ's sake - (hand + pen + paper) x 60 seconds!
{D I know what you mean, but my handwriting isn't exactly great for display. I wrote a quick note (in my nicest writing) since I had to get up and move around so much the last few days. It just says, "This is not a live tarantula. No need to be alarmed." Sure enough, the word "tarantula" is enough to make some people nervous anyway.
 
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