Monday, October 25, 2010

Fear of Insects

I have to admit that I am uncomfortable around most insects. When I was in second grade, I remember some kids catching grasshoppers during recess and playing with them. They later pulled them apart and chased girls with the parts to scare them.

At an early age, I was blessed with the presence of mind to remain calm and not let on that I was afraid of insects. It's a good thing I did, since some kids spent all their time tormenting others who they knew were afraid of them.

If I were ever on Fear Factor, I'd be eliminated when it came time to sit in a vat of cockroaches (or when it came to do any other event they did on that show). It's not that I'm really scared of bugs, but I'd just rather not touch them if I don't have to. One way I have learned to boost my self esteem is by comparing myself to people who are really scared of bugs. Whenever I hear a girl scream and freak out because there is a spider in the same room with her, it makes me feel a little bit better about myself.

Speaking of spiders, I have a friend who was on a high school field trip and he was taking pictures for the school newspaper. While he was visiting a science lab, he was bit by some kind of mutant spider. He didn't realize what had happened but it made him really sick. It affected his vision and musculature. Anyway, my friend Peter asked me to not give out too much information, but I just want you to know that some spiders can be dangerous.

The Bad Guys-Many insects just gross me out. To this day, I have yet to touch a worm (not an insect, but it fits in the same category of gross stuff I don't want to touch) I also hate grasshoppers, beetles, earwigs, cockroaches, wasps, walking sticks, and dragonflies. Despite my aversion to so many insects, I don't really mind spiders for some reason. I'd obviously avoid touching a black widow, but if some other spider crawled across my arm, I'd just casually flick it off.

The Good Guys-Lest you think I'm a total wimp, there are some insects I don't mind and actually even like. These include lady bugs, potato bugs, butterflies, Box Elder bugs, praying mantises and fruit flies. I'm aware these are the most wussy bugs and they probably sit atop the insect wimp pyramid, but don't read too much into that or make any hasty assumptions about me.

I guess there are worse things one could have than a slight case of entomophobia. At least I'm man enough to admit it.

11 comments:

Kristina P. said...

Adam HATES spiders. I am laughing just thinking about it. I will be laying in bed, and hear this "SHHHHHHHHHH", and he's out on our tiny porch landing, spraying the crap out of the spiders.

Gemma said...

Damn, I can't stand Ladybirds or moths (which we all know are just ugly butterflies) or anything that buzzes. That's far too much from the wimpy bugs section for my liking.

I agree that I wouldn't ever sit in a tub of cockroaches either. It's not being a wimp, it's just being normal- Why would you do that?

mCat said...

You are the real man for admitting it.

My granddaughter loves all things bugs. And snakes. And spiders. And did I mention bugs? CREEPS ME OUT!

Eric said...

Hey, you forgot bed bugs? You know, the little brown ones that sneak out into people's hotel bed at night to leach their blood. Do you consider those good or bad?

Tom said...

Anything that sucks your blood is definitely on the bad list. That would include misquitoes which aren't really scary, but just extremely rude.

King of New York Hacks said...

I went 12 rounds with a New York City cockroach...and LOST...not only are they rude, but they gloat !!

Cheeseboy said...

I hate insects too, although they clearly don't bother me as much as you. Leeches are the worst. I had to pull one off my 4 year old this summer and almost puked.

ISRAEL CARRASCO said...

I agree. I'd be out in a NY minute at Fear Factor. My bigger fear is heights.

Dawn Parsons Smith said...

I took a photo of a praying mantis with my zoom because I was terrified it would jump on me!

We also just spent two solid hours trying to find a hotel in Sacramento that did NOT have blood sucking bed bugs...what a nightmare!

Everyday Goddess said...

Creepy crawly bugs are torturous, just the sight of them is freaky.

Fear Factor scares me too much to watch, I'm that wussy.

Nice new profile, I was happily surprised when I got your great email!

tiburon said...

I have massive issues with bugs.

MASSIVE.

And I made my husband unpack in the garage after he returned from his latest trip.