T in Billie Eilish's mouth.

[Teal]

I have nooo idea who that person is, and I am not going to find out.

So, I'll just respond in general..

Then she isn't a normal human being. I have zero tolerance for animal abuse.

Putting a tarantula in your mouth is FAR from abuse.

Yes, but the website is called Arachnoboards with a focus on tarantulas. Members are here because we enjoy these particular creatures specifically, and so the reaction is stronger here than "average."

Even pet chicken forums have a section for folk raising birds for meat. Yeah, putting a live T in your mouth is stupid... but it doesn't actually harm the spider.

Won't get into anything religious. Too large an argument, but a few years ago I did see a pigeon hit by a bus and passengers got off and one passenger - a Muslim guy - prayed over its twitching body. I kid you not!

You make it sound like that is such an unbelievable thing. The Qur'an says that animals are ordained by God, and therefor are to be considered Muslim as well.

Animal abuse is about needless suffering, not necessarily about death. Animals can have wonderful lives, and be killed quickly and humanely for food, and I don't consider it animal abuse. I kill dozens of roaches and crickets every week feeding my animals, but up until that point, those animals have the best possible conditions.

This we 100% agree on!

I find this no different than Robert Irwin taking animals on the Tonight Show. "Is it best idea?" and "This is abuse!" are very different... this is not dog fighting, its supervised handling... albeit stupid handling.

Exactly.

(Except the comparison to dog fighting is wrong, but we won't go there).

 

[dangerforceidle]

Even pet chicken forums have a section for folk raising birds for meat. Yeah, putting a live T in your mouth is stupid... but it doesn't actually harm the spider.

I wasn't making the argument that it was harmful to the spider. I was simply stating why you see strong opinions on actions such as these on a board dedicated to keeping tarantulas as pets (and with no subsections for eating said pet tarantulas, only a few topics which ultimately shift to eating people for some reason ).

It does put the tarantula at risk such as if were to bolt or jump from the mouth and land on the ground, for example. Plus it's a needless risk to the person: urticating setae into the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat are probably a very bad time.

 

[Teal]

I wasn't making the argument that it was harmful to the spider.

Someone else called it "abuse," so my response was mostly meant towards that mindset.

I was simply stating why you see strong opinions on actions such as these on a board dedicated to keeping tarantulas as pets

"Pet people" often fly off the handle about treatment of an animal they consider wrong, and they call it abuse. Like the "aninal rights activists" who don't want dogs to ever be contained via chainspot, who think dog sports are cruel, and who call pets "furbabies."

(and with no subsections for eating said pet tarantulas, only a few topics which ultimately shift to eating people for some reason ).

Sorry, I really like food. Most responses I make gravitate towards food.

*types this while eating*

It does put the tarantula at risk such as if were to bolt or jump from the mouth and land on the ground, for example.

Yes. But just the other day, someone posted about rehousing their sling on a counter and it jumping off. My point being, the risks are present when people do not take precautions.

Plus it's a needless risk to the person: urticating setae into the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat are probably a very bad time.

Well, I don't care about that. People are constantly doing stupid things that offer the possibility of bodily harm... those people usually need to become injured because of their own actions in order to learn anything.

 

[Paul1126]

You make it sound like that is such an unbelievable thing. The Qur'an says that animals are ordained by God, and therefor are to be considered Muslim as well.

Poor pigs and dogs to not have such an honour.

 

[s dave]

Exactly.

(Except the comparison to dog fighting is wrong, but we won't go there).

Not trying to start a fight on here but I'm not sure if you were referring to modern American underground dog fighting (usually to the death with abused animals commonly on the news) or traditional old European or American dog fighting (setup more like a boxing match and both dogs are family pets and working dogs gambled on of the weekends circa 1800's).

The first is clearly animal abuse, the later is semi abusive and I frown upon it greatly but understand what it was.

 

[Teal]

Not trying to start a fight on here but I'm not sure if you were referring to modern American underground dog fighting (usually to the death with abused animals commonly on the news) or traditional old European or American dog fighting (setup more like a boxing match and both dogs are family pets and working dogs gambled on of the weekends circa 1800's).

The first is clearly animal abuse, the later is semi abusive and I frown upon it greatly but understand what it was.

What people do these days in the US is illegal, which I absolutely do not condone, but it also is not "dog fighting" in the historical sense. You are correct that whatever is going on now in America is animal abuse.

But historically speaking, dog fighting in the US was a gentleman's sport with finely tuned athletic dogs. It is not abuse to let a dog do what they are bred for - Border collies herd, sighthounds chase, bull breeds engage in combat with other dogs. People these days have this "It's all in how you raise them" nonsensical mindset, which is 100% incorrect. Nurture plays a small role in a dog's temperament, but their genetics are what they are. Now that dog fighting is illegal in the US, many owners have taken up various dog sports to help keep their dogs happy.

But, we need to take this to PMs or start a thread in the Watering Hole before the mods get mad at me for turning everything into a discussion about dogs

 

[Paul1126]

What people do these days in the US is illegal, which I absolutely do not condone, but it also is not "dog fighting" in the historical sense. You are correct that whatever is going on now in America is animal abuse.

But historically speaking, dog fighting in the US was a gentleman's sport with finely tuned athletic dogs. It is not abuse to let a dog do what they are bred for - Border collies herd, sighthounds chase, bull breeds engage in combat with other dogs. People these days have this "It's all in how you raise them" nonsensical mindset, which is 100% incorrect. Nurture plays a small role in a dog's temperament, but their genetics are what they are. Now that dog fighting is illegal in the US, many owners have taken up various dog sports to help keep their dogs happy.

But, we need to take this to PMs or start a thread in the Watering Hole before the mods get mad at me for turning everything into a discussion about dogs

Why would you post that? I'm not into human-staged species vs species nonsense.

Dog fighting has always been abuse, which is why it is banned pretty much everywhere.
A hugely dislikeable person. A complete hypocrite.

 

[velvetundergrowth]

I work in a record store so I'm aware of Billie Eilish.

Other than to increase ones "edge factor" I don't see any reason to put a Tarantula in your mouth. If the spider falls, that won't be a good time. If it flicks it's urticating hairs, that won't be a good time.

 

[velvetundergrowth]

Like the "aninal rights activists" who call pets "furbabies."

I get sick in my mouth every time...

Also, I worked with a Vegan who didn't consider spiders "a part of veganism" and has no problem with killing them...

 

[Teal]

I get sick in my mouth every time...

Also, I work with a Vegan who doesnt consider spiders "a part of veganism" and has no problem with killing them...

Yeahhh, people love to pick and choose which parts of a concept apply to them even though they identify themselves as a follower of the entire concept. I've never heard anyone say they are "partially vegan" or "only a little Christian"

 

[PAHNKAPIE]

Kinda old forum and I doubt anyone will see this comment... but lots of people saying Billie only did it for the shock value which might be true? But it’s also worth mentioning she herself has a pet Green Bottle Blue. So she must have some affection/respect towards Ts if she keeps one as a pet. Info on her pet which apparently died of old age according to her Instagram posts https://billieeilish.fandom.com/wiki/Unnamed_Tarantula

I wonder how many spiders were killed in the making of that video...



I think the politest way I can say this is "Most people are bloody morons though"

And I doubt they killed any during her music video as well. Again, if she has a pet one we can at least imply from that she has some affection and respect for them enough to not try to kill them. Hopefully. Big emphasis on hopefully

Pretty sure I saw a video about this a while ago. Yes the tarantula was real, no it wasn't her in the video, it was a stunt double. This was all in an interview with her. (I had no idea who she was before that and still don't, I saw a tarantula and I clicked).

I think they said Billie did all her own stunts for the video? Also she has another video on Instagram of another tarantula crawling out of her mouth so I doubt she used a double for the stunt (link to a repost of the video on YouTube)

(I’m aware the spider crawling out of her mouth is not a GBB and is most likely an unrelated spider) mostly wanted to post this cuz I was surprised no one brought up the fact she has a pet GBB and wanted people’s thoughts on that.

obviously terrible idea to ever put a T in your mouth, for risk to yourself and the spider, but the spiders also don’t show any signs that they feel threatened. Nor do they attack her (at least not that we can see).

I also don’t know of any other celebrities with an appreciation or a pet tarantula so seeing this forum’s reaction to Billie intrigued me.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

And I doubt they killed any during her music video as well.

She clearly drops at least one from head height in the video, I'd bet my left nut that at least a few went splat over the course of filming the entire video.

Again, if she has a pet one we can at least imply from that she has some affection and respect for them enough to not try to kill them. Hopefully. Big emphasis on hopefully

Can't have that much respect for them given she was putting them on her face/chest and holding them at sufficient height to kill them should they fall/jump/bolt off of her. Also, she used her MM GBB to try to scare James Corden in her carpool karaoke video.

Also she has another video on Instagram of another tarantula crawling out of her mouth

 

[mantisfan101]

It’s a nw and Im not sure if grammastola’s urticating hairs are as bad but no way am I letting those come anywhere near my mouth/respiratory system

 

[Braden]

Too bad the spider didn't kick hairs while it was in there.

Wow, imagine getting hairs kicked down your throat. Then again if you put a T in your mouth your literally asking the spider to punish you!

 

[bellesova]

I get sick in my mouth every time...

Also, I worked with a Vegan who didn't consider spiders "a part of veganism" and has no problem with killing them...

I used to work for a rescue and the owner was vegan and went off the deep end. She banned anyone from wearing even leather workboots and reduced a volunteer to tears for bringing a ham sandwich from home for lunch it was bonkers... same woman has no issue putting down snakes, spiders etc cause they're 'too difficult to rehome'.

On topic, I don't think putting a tarantula in your mouth is such a good idea. Okay the act itself might not hurt the spider, but what if it flicks hairs/moves and the person jumps and either spits it out or reflexively snaps their jaw shut? Both spider and person are at risk of being harmed (and you'd think someone who makes a living singing would be smarter than to put something with uricating hairs in her gob) and I think she's just stupid.

 

[Baby T]

Girl sounds like an utter twat. End of.

 

[PAHNKAPIE]

She clearly drops at least one from head height in the video, I'd bet my left nut that at least a few went splat over the course of filming the entire video.



Can't have that much respect for them given she was putting them on her face/chest and holding them at sufficient height to kill them should they fall/jump/bolt off of her. Also, she used her MM GBB to try to scare James Corden in her carpool karaoke video.

Yeah I apologize I hadn’t actually watched the music video at the time and if one dropped from her head it most likely died and that’s not cool. It was more wishful thinking on my part cuz I didn’t want poor Ts to be killed x.x I mostly wanted to bring up the fact that she also had pet Ts cuz that didn’t seem to come up at all.

 

[Matt Man]

All I know is after that video at exotic shows you'd see girls that had the hair / dress / style walk up to the booth and everyone would ask for a GBB

 

[Baby T]

I'm not into people who use 'shock' as an entertainment tactic, especially if live animals are involved. Any type of entertainment using animals is a form of abuse imo. Music videos, tiger selfies, horse and dog racing, tarantula face huggers.... The list goes on.
Best thing to do is not give them any air time

 

[Danzog]

She's a moron, it gives a bad name to the hobby.