Wednesday, September 10, 2008

For Liv: Exposure Therapy, Arachnophobia

Virtual spider

Exposure therapy is the introduction of the object of the phobia in a safe environment. How much more safe can you get than virtual reality?

You can feed the widdle spider. You can drag him by his legs.

See?

He wouldn't hurt a fly. Oh wait, I think those are flies he's eating.

Nevermind.

3 comments:

  1. I walked into our office this morning to see Josh playing with a little tarantula on the computer. "What are you doing?" I asked. His reply: "I dunno. Playing with a spider. It was on Liz's blog." So I had to come see WHY there was a little virtual spider on your blog. Now I understand.

    I think.

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  2. Rules of engagement for those who fear spiders:
    1) If they're on your person, kill them.
    2) If they're on the person of your friend, kill them. If the person of your friend also perishes in the act, it won't have been in vain.
    3) If they're in your clothing, bedding, shoes, or any other thing that may touch your person, kill them and burn the clothing, bedding or shoes. Remove said clothing, bedding or shoes from your person first.
    4) If they're furry jumping spiders and they're not on your person, be amazed at how adorable they are. Justify this illogical thought process by thinking that its probably a mistake in the phylogeny--spiders must not be a monophyletic group because jumping spiders can't be that cute and be spiders. Keep a safe enough distance from said jumping spider so that he can't jump on you. Such action erases all genetic credibility. You must kill them.
    4) If they are featured on the television screen, turn off the television, make plans to burn it the next day, go make yourself a White Russian, and find a good book to read--you won't be sleeping that night.
    4) If they're on your computer screen and eating flies and chasing your mouse, shudder at the horror of eight legs moving in that fashion, and thank Liz for such a nice way to look at spiders.
    Excuse me, I need to go make myself a White Russian now.

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  3. All my numbers showed up as 4)s in my previous post. Pardon the mistake--the thought of spiders caused a malfunction in my brain. I think it's past now.

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