Hey guys n girls, my name is damo.

Iv actually been sent here by anouther forum, by members, mods, and site owner. This is the part were you think "Why"...

To let you all know abit about me, i am a hobbyist of the things you fear, i breed and collect many diffrent species of tarantula's. Hence the username "TGUY" (T = tarantula).

Now for why i was sent to you all, alot of the community has spoke about you all, about your fear, and miss-informed info you have lapped up over the years about these animals. So we all came to a conclusion, as hobbyists of Tarantula's, we are offering you a chance to overcome your fears, to inform you correctly, and to help you through this most difficult time you have with spiders in general, and hope to one day bring more arachnophobe's into this amazing, hobby of ours, and to (hopefully) help you all out .

Also, we are more than happy to welcome you into our homes, and allow you to interact with many diffrent species of tarantulas, scorpions, centerpede's, millapede's , and so forth. Allowing you to see many diffrent colourful, docile/defencive tarantula's, in person while learn abit about them, and to help you overcome your fear ultimatly. Of course you do NOT have to touch, or handle them, we aint that cruel, you dont even have to look at them, just a meer chat as to why your scared, we want to help you.

I personally own over 100 tarantulas of diffrent species, diffrent colours, diffrent requirements, and 1 scorpion.

If there are any questions on this, or if you want to know somthing, like have i been bit/stung or why do they walk towards me when im sitting there with a cuppa tea, and a biscuite, just ask im very open, and considerate. No question is to stupid.

Good health to you all, and look forward to your responces and questions.

Best regards

Damo

Welcome to the forum Damo.

Although I respect that you're trying to help the arachnophobes out there, I think you're downplaying that phobia (and phobias in general). Phobias can be extremely intense. In a lot of cases, phobias rule lives. That's how extreme they are. So, having someone come face to face with a tarantula when they have a phobia of spiders may not be possible. Not in those simple terms anyways. Phobias require therapy (by a trained professional) and what not. Exposure alone, in my opinion, can cause more harm than good.

Thus, as I said, I respect the fact that you're trying to help people. I just think you're underestimating what some of us truly struggle with.

Welcome to the forum Tguy and thank you for your offer.

Wether or not it would suit anyone is purely up to them, so hopefully anyone who feels inclined to accept your offer of assistance will send you a pm, or post in here.

Cheers

Baby-steps T-GUY, baby-steps. You don't go inviting an arachnophobic into a house containing hundreds of spiders on your first date; the person would end up in a mental institution. I bet even the thought of your "over 100 tarantulas" would make some of the members here panic.

A phobia isn't so much about being "miss-informed", phobias aren't that rational. You can teach a person all about how harmless spiders really are, but they'll still run away screaming at the sight of a spider. So you might want to be careful if you offer to help people without really knowing what they're going through.
That's not to say that it's not a nice offer, but be careful.

And welcome to Ofear.

They are beautiful creatures. I can handle a tarantula or a scorpion no problem. It's those fast little jumping evil spiders, and earwigs (yuck, pinchers on your butt) and really any small bug. The faster moving it is, the less chance I have to make a break for it

I've always liked tarantula's cuz they don't seem nearly as spidar like as most spidars cuz they are so big they are more animal like to me. never seen one in person and not sure i could get enough guts to touch one. 100 though seems like a lot to take care of! Must be busy!

Take care.