Things you always wanted to know the answer to [Vol. 4]

[Initforthemoney]

Thanks guys.

Kinda makes sense now.

Apart from the dull Brexit content that seems to have migrated across.

[popeyewhite]

Halmyre said:

And why are spiders (and other creepy-crawlies) from Australia so highly venomous? I think it was Bill Bryson who pointed this out in one of his books - the whole continent is full of, or surrounded by seas full of, things that are disproportionately lethal to their size.

I don't think Oz is different in that respect from any tropical country. Just talk to stop the poms holidaying there?

[StevieBee]

Initforthemoney said:

Spiders

I recall watching a programme that examined the fear many have. One of the triggers was the presence of eight legs. When shown photos of spiders retouched to show them with six legs, the majority of people tested registered less or no fear. Few other creatures have eight legs so the sight of them, triggers fear.

[NoVetec]

In addition to the EP side of things re: spiders, are the slightly differing ways people with phobias react to spiders the learnt behaviours? Or are phobias overall learnt behaviours with the EP theories leading up to them as a potential cause?

[bigpriest]

popeyewhite said:

Evolutionary psychology suggests we have an innate fear/suspicion of anything that is small-ish that can seriously injure with venom. Venomous snakes/spiders/scorrpions must have been a real fear when you share your living quarters, ie a dark cave, with them. Also, as above, the movement of spiders is about as far from anything mammalian as you can get.

I've watched a programme in which babies were filmed reacting to a snake - they had no reaction at all. When they were shown the expression on their Mother's faces, they started to cry. The fear instinct in humans is probably learned rather than inbuilt, which would explain why humans spend a relatively long period with their babies after they are born. An animal born with an inbuilt instinct to stay away from predators can leave their parents as soon as they are able. <disclaimer - may be rubbish>

[Dr Jekyll]

bigpriest said:

I've watched a programme in which babies were filmed reacting to a snake - they had no reaction at all. When they were shown the expression on their Mother's faces, they started to cry. The fear instinct in humans is probably learned rather than inbuilt, which would explain why humans spend a relatively long period with their babies after they are born. An animal born with an inbuilt instinct to stay away from predators can leave their parents as soon as they are able. <disclaimer - may be rubbish>

I've often wondered why people don't seem to get phobias about mains sockets hot saucepans or oven hobs. I put it down to such things not acting independently but perhaps it's because the parents, however much they warn the children about the dangers, obviously aren't scared themselves.

[NoVetec]

bigpriest said:

popeyewhite said:

Evolutionary psychology suggests we have an innate fear/suspicion of anything that is small-ish that can seriously injure with venom. Venomous snakes/spiders/scorrpions must have been a real fear when you share your living quarters, ie a dark cave, with them. Also, as above, the movement of spiders is about as far from anything mammalian as you can get.

I've watched a programme in which babies were filmed reacting to a snake - they had no reaction at all. When they were shown the expression on their Mother's faces, they started to cry. The fear instinct in humans is probably learned rather than inbuilt, which would explain why humans spend a relatively long period with their babies after they are born. An animal born with an inbuilt instinct to stay away from predators can leave their parents as soon as they are able. <disclaimer - may be rubbish>

There's definitely learning going on somewhere. I don't have any phobias*; my parents don't have any phobias. My friend has arachnophobia; his mum has as well. Small sample size I know.

• I don't like the idea of being stranded in the ocean however, only thing that really makes me cold. Don't think it's a phobia though.

[Shakermaker]

NoVetec said:

There's definitely learning going on somewhere. I don't have any phobias*; my parents don't have any phobias. My friend has arachnophobia; his mum has as well. Small sample size I know.

• I don't like the idea of being stranded in the ocean however, only thing that really makes me cold. Don't think it's a phobia though.

I'd say being stranded in the ocean is a rational fear. The chances of it happening are obviously minimal, but it would be rational to be scared should it happen?

[NoVetec]

Shakermaker said:

NoVetec said:

There's definitely learning going on somewhere. I don't have any phobias*; my parents don't have any phobias. My friend has arachnophobia; his mum has as well. Small sample size I know.

• I don't like the idea of being stranded in the ocean however, only thing that really makes me cold. Don't think it's a phobia though.

I'd say being stranded in the ocean is a rational fear. The chances of it happening are obviously minimal, but it would be rational to be scared should it happen?

It's a funny one - when talking about it it raises a small trickle of dread, when I watch films/telly involving being stranded in ocean it's the same dread-wise along with a measure of nervous excitement which ends as soon the stimulus is removed. Also I'm fine with swimming, boating, being by the sea generally etc.

Yet when I think about it in depth - pun semi-intented - I feel really disconcerted, with a bigger dose of dread and almost listless after a little while. Odd. /therapysession

[RosscoPCole]

Isn't the only fear you are born with is that of falling. From millennia back when our distant ancestors lived in trees.

[Ayahuasca]

I think the fact that the spider is in your house makes a difference.

Just did some camping in the rainforest and it was alive with spiders of all shapes and sizes from daddy long types to tarantulas. Even got a giant orb weaver type in the face when I walked through its web. No bother. But show me a UK house spider in my house and I go all funny.

[Roofless Toothless]

My wife doesn't like spiders at all, but she was born in Venezuela and brought up there by a mother who instilled a panic reaction in all of her offspring.

I never encountered any nasty big ones during my years living there. It was the scorpions I didn't like, especially their habit of lurking in nice cool, damp bathroom hand towels.

[ambuletz]

I have a desk fan that ive owned for years. always had it on in the summer

However i've noticed that half the time it seems to struggle to want to turn, what gives? ill have it on the lowest speed, i can hear it, but it never picks up speed to run, i have to turn it onto the highest speed to get it going. Today however turning it on at the highest speed it turns slowly, i have to give it a helping hand to start spinning before i can then put it back to speed 1.

dying?

or is there something causing resistance within the motor?

[Lily the Pink]

Dusty environment ?

[ambuletz]

Lily the Pink said:

Dusty environment ?

when we got our first bout of heat this year I did take it out of storage, remove the cage and fan blade and gave them a good clean. I haven't done that since though.

[kowalski655]

NoVetec said:

There's definitely learning going on somewhere. I don't have any phobias*; my parents don't have any phobias. My friend has arachnophobia; his mum has as well. Small sample size I know.

My wife freaks out at spiders,me not so much(although the big hairy ones are not a favourite)
My daughters all freak out , sons not so much

[Lily the Pink]

ambuletz said:

Lily the Pink said:

Dusty environment ?

when we got our first bout of heat this year I did take it out of storage, remove the cage and fan blade and gave them a good clean. I haven't done that since though.

I was thinking more of dust clogging up the motor. Depending on how accessible it is, either take it apart and clean it, or at least direct some compressed air into it.

[bigpriest]

ambuletz said:

when we got our first bout of heat this year I did take it out of storage, remove the cage and fan blade and gave them a good clean. I haven't done that since though.

I did the same only to be woken by a screeching noise at 3am. I'd removed some of the lube from the spindle whilst cleaning. Had to apply some silicon spray to keep it quiet. Think it needs re-greasing or something.

[Cantaloupe]

NoVetec said:

There's definitely learning going on somewhere. I don't have any phobias*; my parents don't have any phobias. My friend has arachnophobia; his mum has as well. Small sample size I know.

Yes, it seems it's a messageboard thing, from the safety of your keyboard it's OK to admit or fabricate a phobia of clowns [ roll eyes ]
but to admit that to your mates and family would surely leave you rightly open to ridicule.

[Johnspex]

Why are foreign actors, who presumably have to fake an accent, used in films and TV shows instead of home grown actors?

For instance Robert Taylor , an Australian as an American sheriff in Longmire, or that British bloke with the ginger hair in Homeland. Surely they can't be chosen because no American could play the part as well as they would.