To not stamp on this spider?!

[notstamping]

A very nasty, scary looking spider outside my back door when I went outside.

I was petrified. I hate spiders.

Told DH who said I should stamp on it.

Couldn't bring myself too as scared as I was.

Not sure why. I guess partly because I fear repercussions. Karma. God. (Not religious btw).

Will I be punished if I harm an innocent creature however much it scares me? That was my thought when deciding not to stamp.

Spider has done nothing wrong. He's minding his own business outside where he belongs although perhaps a little too close to my back door.

Maybe I'll regret not stamping on it. Maybe not.

On the flip side my DM is at home 20 miles away in agony, on antibiotics with a leg the size of an elephant due to reaction from a nasty spider bite.

Would you have stamped on it?

@expatmigrant DH and I are both petrified so no one to save me.

Although, usually the cat gets to them first anyway.

No, I don't kill spiders although I have washed one or two down the drain but I'm reliably informed by my minibeast-keeping pal that they're good swimmers and will survive! I do kill mosquitoes though, and I would kill wasps if it didn't attract a hoard of 'em. So I guess I'm a bit of a hypocrite.

@peachgreen that's interesting about them surviving in water.

I went outside this morning and saw one in the paddling pool but it was definitely dead so assumed that they didn't survive in water.

We have a rule in our house, if you kill it you eat it
The only exception is if you are in genuine fear of your life - and even then you may still have to eat it

I don't kill things unless they are doing me harm. I consider flea and mozzie bites to be harm, so they get deaded as well as head lice. Anything else gets ignored or evicted.

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@Vitalogy that's actually beautiful. I love it. Saving this!

@Hoppinggreen that's an awesome rule! Might implement it in our household

OP it needs a drink. That's why they come near houses when it's very hot...they are just desperately thirsty! If you'd like to earns some bonus karma points, a shallow plate or baking tray with water in it would be gratefully received I am sure. Then they go on their way...back to their home and not yours.

I found a deer drinking out of my watering can yesterday. I'm on the rural edge of a city and it comes around occasionally but not for food or drink. It's not just humans who are feeling the heat!

You even have to ask? Who the hell stamps on living creatures?

I leave spiders alone. Apart from the very rare bitey ones they are useful at getting rid of flies. Flies are annoying and potentially could leave maggots in this heat. Maggots are wriggly things of disgustingness.

Just think of how many flies that one could eat.

@BadderWolf That hadn't even occurred to me. Guess I've never thought about spiders being thirsty!

Probably not. Doesn't look dangerous to me. May have considered stomping if it was inside bout outside I wouldn't bother with it. Does anyone know what kind of spider it is?

@Racecardriver I'd like to know what kind it is as well as it looks quite threatening but may be completely harmless.

Wondering now if it's even alive as it's been in exactly the same spot for several hours and hasn't moved once.

Nudge it slightly, it will move away from the step. Or it will probably move by itself. Don't let anyone stamp on it.

I would have run away - couldn't have got close enough to stamp on it.