- Joined
- Aug 16, 2004
- Messages
- 138
I don't get "defanged" much, but I have gotten into discussions with people that INSISTED tarantulas can and should be "devenomed"...That's a little bizarre, to me, I'd never heard of such a thing for inverts. Why would you do that, even if you could? Hell, I wouldn't even declaw my cat.
Generally, though, most of my non-tarantula friends greet my hobby with interest, because I talk about them like they're any other pets, with glowing praise. Whether I think they'll care or not, heh. I use common names around my friends, so I don't go way over their head, and I think for descriptive purposes, they're far more dramatic.
I had an entire group of "soccer mom" types captivated a few days ago, when I showed up to pick my son up from school. My friend asked me how my day was, and I couldn't resist telling everyone that my Giant Stripe Knee molted, and almost doubled in size, and ohhh her colors are so striking! How much I love watching them molt, and grow, and taking care of even the eensiest little spider, nursing it to a powerful, and elegant adult. I've gotten my whole peer group interested, hehe. Kids love coming to my house, because it's like visiting the reptile room at a good zoo.
I find that people sorta become more understanding, if you can engage them, and get them to think of tarantulas not as "icky bugs" but as beautiful exotic creatures.
Generally, though, most of my non-tarantula friends greet my hobby with interest, because I talk about them like they're any other pets, with glowing praise. Whether I think they'll care or not, heh. I use common names around my friends, so I don't go way over their head, and I think for descriptive purposes, they're far more dramatic.
I had an entire group of "soccer mom" types captivated a few days ago, when I showed up to pick my son up from school. My friend asked me how my day was, and I couldn't resist telling everyone that my Giant Stripe Knee molted, and almost doubled in size, and ohhh her colors are so striking! How much I love watching them molt, and grow, and taking care of even the eensiest little spider, nursing it to a powerful, and elegant adult. I've gotten my whole peer group interested, hehe. Kids love coming to my house, because it's like visiting the reptile room at a good zoo.
I find that people sorta become more understanding, if you can engage them, and get them to think of tarantulas not as "icky bugs" but as beautiful exotic creatures.