Do We Really Swallow Spiders? and Other Modern Myths
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Do we Really Swallow Spiders?
And Other Modern Myths
Someone famously said that “a lie can get halfway around the world before the truth can get its boots on.” That someone is variously claimed to be Mark Twain or Winston Churchill so, ironically, at least one version of this fact is actually a lie itself. It just goes to show how quickly myths, urban legends and false ideas can spread around. Nowadays, when the internet allows something to be available to almost everybody in the world within minutes of being written, they spread even faster. People are still used to the idea that if they “read something somewhere” it's probably been at least roughly checked in order to get published, but on the internet that's not necessarily true. Chain emails and “1000 fact” type websites can be powerful tools to spread information, but not all of them are as accurate as they claim. Here are three urban legends in common currency, and the real facts behind them.
Myth One: Human Beings eat An Average of 7 Spiders in their Sleep During A life time
You may well have heard this idea being thrown around all over the place: apparently we unwittingly swallow a steady diet of spiders in our sleep. As our mouths loll open, passing arachnids find themselves strangely compelled to crawl in, where we cheerfully gulp them down without knowing. Makes you shudder doesn't it? Well before you start wearing a surgical mask to bed, you'll be pleased to hear that this is just an urban legend.
Over the past few years, the idea has been trotted out all over the internet and beyond. Some sources say the average is seven in an entire lifetime, while others insist it's eight in a single year. Even the lowest estimates are significantly higher than the true figure – zero.
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Although it apparently stretches back further, most of this urban legend's spread is a product of the internet age. A very deliberate product, as it happens – it was put online specifically to show how quickly false information could spread on the internet. Way back in 1993, when the web was young, a PC Professional columnist named Lisa Holst wrote an article about how many false facts where circulating on the internet. To prove how readily they were believed and passed on, she deliberately put out a load of made-up trivia and watched it spread. One of these was the spider myth, taken from an old 1950s book of bug-based folklore. Appropriately, the spiders thrived on the web, and she found it took off much faster than even she had expected. It became one of the most widely-quoted urban legends on the whole internet, and spread offline to appear in books of trivia and even national newspapers.
Myth Two: Water Is Transparent
No. It's blue.
But surely that's the wrong way around! Yes, it can look blue, but that's just because it reflects the sky, isn't it? Well yes and no.
Water only ever manages to appear blue when it reflects the sky, but scientists have looked beyond what we see with the naked eye. It turns out, water is tinted just slightly blue on its own. Yes, water has a color after all, and it just happens to be the same one it takes on by illusion.
This is an especially interesting myth because an awful lot of people started believing the right thing but for the wrong reasons, at least when they were children. They thought that water was blue, but now most people know that it was just reflecting the sky. Therefore, they also “know” that it's really perfectly clear.
Of course, since it seems so obviously transparent (barring impurities) unless you happen to have access to specialist equipment, nobody can be blamed for believing this particular myth. But this is still notable as one of the few cases where a well-known myth turns out to be true after all. At the risk of giving out headaches, the idea that this is a myth is, actually, a myth!
Myth Three: “Golf” Originally Stood for “Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden.”
This myth is definitely untrue. Making words from acronyms is a fairly modern invention, and started long after the name “golf” came into common use. If there was any doubt, the earliest written record is a Scottish statute written in 1457, which spells the word “gouf.” Unless medieval Scots had a very interesting way of spelling “ladies” (which they didn't), this particular origin story is just an urban legend.
Nobody's completely sure where the word did come from, though, and the same can be said of the game itself. The vast majority of historians agree that modern golf is a fifteenth century Scottish invention, but where it came from at the very start has been lost to the ages. Earlier golf-like games have been recorded everywhere from the Netherlands to China. Which of these, if any, is the true ancestor of the game we know is anyone's guess. As for the word “golf” itself, one common theory is that it comes from the Scots word “Goulf” which roughly means “to hit.” Given that the word is so appropriate, and that the modern game and the first recorded use of it's name both come from Scotland, this does seem a pretty convincing theory. The word “goulf” itself may itself be derived from the dutch “kolf,” meaning a club, bat or similar instrument. Some still believe that Holland may be the true birthplace of the game, too.
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This was truly an interesting hub!
Ana Teixeira, thanks! I thought H2O was actually transparent also, till I read that water actually is of the color blue- literally. In a sense- it is a transparent blue, I hope I'm making sense! Thanks for stopping by- I appreciate it!:)
Thanks homesteadbound! I don't know, but in some strange way-it would make sense that a human eats 7 spiders while sleeping- in an entire lifetime! I usually see a spider on my bedroom ceiling once in awhile. But it is a myth. Thanks for stopping by!:)
Never heard any of of these, but glad I read this before I did, especially the one about the spiders!
A very clever Hub!
This is awesome! I always believed the spider and water myths, and never knew anything about where the word "golf" came from. This hub was a lot of fun to read! I would love to read more of these.
Thanks Rebeccamealey. The spider myth always seems to get people going! Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it!
Hi Kristen Hanie, thanks for stopping by and for the kind comment. I'm glad to here you had fun reading!
PHew... huge sigh of relief. I am so happy to hear that we don't actually swallow spiders as we sleep. Although I have to admit... I heard a variety of tales of this story. One of which was that spiders are the reason for morning breath! ha ha! Great hub and very intersting!
I didn't know about these myths existing but I always did think water was clear. Very cool hub. And I'm really glad I don't have to worry about eating spiders.
Very interesting hub. It's pretty cool that water is actually blue. :)
Haha! Good one barbergirl28! Spiders are one of those creatures that many people prefer not to come across. But they are natural predators, and help control the population from harmful insects and are generally harmless to humans, yet people have this almost instinctual fear of them. But eating them or better yet, have them crawl in our mouth while sleeping, well, it's a whole different story! Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you for mentioning the spider one. I am constantly arguing with people both offline and on who truly think we all swallow spiders nightly. It is infuriating.
@ Alecia Murphy , thanks for stopping by, I'm glad you enjoyed the myths!
@Winterfate, I found the water myth interesting also! Thanks for stopping by , I appreciate it!
Hi Shaddie, I must of heard the spider stories a million times as well, it's impossible though, Some people actually believe it because it sort of makes some sense in a way! Thanks for stopping by!
I hate it when urban myths are exploded (exposed?),
Soon we'll have nothing to hang on to.
I was shocked reading about the spiders! Thank God it's not true! I new water was blue and not only by Sun reflection but the rest I never heard about! Totally interesting myths.
nice hub! I knew the spider one was a myth, never heard about the golf one, but the water one made me go "huh". Looking forward to part 2 already!
Thanks Ian for stopping by, urban myths should remain urban myths, but I think I'll be exposing a few more soon! It's ok, these are meant to be fun and entertaining! Thanks again for stopping by , I appreciate it my friend.
Thanks Esmeralda!
Thanks hildred, glad you enjoyed the hub! It's fun the know where Myths and urban legends originate from! Thanks again for stopping by, I appreciate it!
I had so much fun reading this hub. I actually heard about the spider myth! The average human eats about 7 spiders in their lifetime while they sleep, my husband use to mention this alot- As a joke of course! I was shocked about the water myth. I always believed water was transparent. Great fun hub! Voting it up and awesome!
Nice hub, I am so afraid of spiders!! I have always feared them! Thank you for mentioning that we do not actually swallow them up at night! lol. This hub was very interesting! Myths and urban legends have always fascinated me, but anything to do with spiders no!lol. Voting it up with all the rest!
Thanks...so relieved about the spiders. Interesting hub.
Thanks Frannie Dee, no spiders! I appreciate you stopping by!
I better not tell my wife this particular spider myth! lol. Haha, must be one of the best urban myths i have EVER read. Heard about the spider legend long long ago but totally forgot. As our mouths loll open, passing arachnids find themselves strangely compelled to crawl in! That was good. Great article- interesting and very entertaining, keep them coming.
The best myths are the ones that give you goosebumps or how do you say it- goose pimples! The spiders scare and got to me! Good hub. I even learnt something about water! Always thought it was transparent. Up & interesting! Good one!
Thanks Dan Martel. Yes, it first came out in the early 90s, but you still hear it to this day. Please don't tell your wife or it might keep her up all night!.) Thanks for stopping by, and the very kind comment, I appreciate it!
Hi Danila, thank you so much- that was very kind of you. Much appreciated! Goose pimples sounds just about right!
I also heard this another urban legend- actually I heard it verbally but haven't found it anywhere online. I have heard from one person who found a small harmless spider hiding in her ear during sleep(which is possible) lol. It is probably just a variation on the 'swallowing 7 spiders during a life time myth- during sleep'. Wow the water myth surpised me, I too thought it was transparent. Great hub! Up and awesome!
I stand corrected, what an interesting hub
Hi CASE1WORKER,
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for dropping by, I appreciate it.
I love it. Interesting debunking and well written too. I'll sleep a little better tonight, to be sure. Voted up, interesting, awesome, an funny.
Hi Eric Newland,
Thanks for the very kind comment. I appreciate it.
Nice hub, well written and informative, thank you.
I've eaten a fly (accidentally, and no, it wasn't good).
Stupid thing flew right into the back of my throat and I instinctively swallowed. Yuck.
Hi dmop, Thanks for stopping by. Much Appreciated.
Hi Pcunix,
That was funny! lol. Just reminded me of a friend. Basically what happened was while jogging she ended up choking on a fly. I can never forget the look in her eyes. We still both burst into laughter every time she and I speak of it. Thanks for stopping by , I appreciate it.
Really thought that the spiders mith was true. I've learned something today. Nice hub
Hi Cardozo7,
Many, including I, once believed in this myth. It does sound like something that can happen- at night- during sleep! I am sure you have witnessed a spider or two during the night- in your bedroom as I have. But it is but a myth. lol. Thanks for stopping by and your kind comment, I appreciate it.
Interesting hub, have learnt a few things today. Thanks.
Thank you, I am so glad to know that I dont swallow spiders and other bugs in my sleep :)
Entertaining hub but there is one myth i adore and loathe simultaneously that was not mentioned....the "its not you, it's me" myth. Oh and Cardozo7: Did you go to Cardozo HS in NY?
Great title! The spider thing couldn't go by me without me clicking on it. I wish it were true though.
Danajconnelly i did not. I'm from Portugal and my nick is just a tribute to a football player named Cardozo who plays with the number 7 shirt :)
Interesting hub! Thank you for putting my mind, and no doubt, a few future arguments to rest! Keep up the good work!
Thank you for sharing.....
Very interesting.
Thank you mrshoki, and welcome to hubpages.
Hi DanFar87, Let me first say: Welcome to hubpages! And thank you for stopping by, much appreciated.
danajconnelly thank you, and welcome to hubpages as well! I have never heard about 'its not you, it's me' myth, I will look into it. Thanks for stopping by.
thanks for ruining my golf game.. it was the only place i could escape the wife ;)
Thanks scottrights. Do you really wish the myth were true? Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it, and welcome to hubpages.
Hi Hawkstryker , thanks. I am glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for stopping by and welcome to hubpages as well. Much appreciated.
one word.... phew!
That was super interesting! I've honestly always believed the whole "swallowing spiders" thing myself, but this entire hub blew my mind. Great work!
Hi christopher9882 , thanks! I appreciate you stopping by.
Hi Kadmiels, sorry for ruining it for you! Haha ,that was to funny. Thanks for stopping by. Much Appreciated.
Maybe not... But I don't think people know how important spiders are. Bug control!
I absolutely agree, Spiders do protect and help control the population from harmful insects and are generally harmless to humans.
Hi netBlots. Thanks.
Hi abeggs , thanks for the kind comment. It is only a myth, so there is nothing to worry about. Although- I never understood why some people are never hungry in the morning? lol. Thanks for stopping by.
Great fun. I always new Water itself had an intrinsic blue color or a faint blue. But the spider myth shocked me! Thank God it's not true. This was fun.
Thanks! Saffron. Much appreciated.
The Internet certainly has made it possible to spread any statement worldwide and purport it to be true. Many of us, when we read a dire prediction or frightening fact, all too often click "share," wanting to warn our friends and family about this "new" dilemma without ever checking out the validity of the statement. When I was an Internet newbie, I was guilty of this, but have since become a little wiser.
Interesting hub here. Voted up and SHARED.
Thank you L.L Woodard. I agree with what you just wrote 100%. The internet can be a good source of information but finding reliable information is sometimes hard to do. Wherever you look, there are always millions of versions on the matter at hand. Research Is important but from reliable sources. Thanks for stopping by and for SHARING, I appreciate it.
I've never heard of the spider myth, but I'm extremely happy to hear that it's not true!! Gives me the creeps just thinking about that. Interesting hub...
:)Thanks the-remedy! It was one of those myths that came out in the early 1990s and many believed it! Thanks for dropping by, I appreciate it. :)
Janga... this was so very interesting. Up and shared. I've been listening to (and believing) that spider myth for years. It always seemed odd, since I imagine we would feel the spider crawling on us.
Well it's always nice to learn a few new things. Spiders creep me out. I thought water was trasparent! And always believed Golf was an American sport! Interesting read!
Mrs.Isabelle :)
I love this! I love to debunk urban legends. You had a couple I've never heard before.
Thank you so much PDXKaraokeGuy. I'v heard this myth also many many times as well and thought perhaps I should investigate a little -just to make sure! I agree! we would at least feel it crawling. Although as I mentioned in one of my previous comments above as a joke: " I understand why most of us are never hungry when we get up in the morning." lol.
Thanks for stopping by Justin, and for sharing, I appreciate it.
Hi Mrs.Isabelle, thanks! That is very kind of you!
Hi DeborahNeyens, urban legends or folklore superstitions to old wives' tales are always interesting! The misinformation and mistaken beliefs are always exciting to debunk. Thank you for stopping by, I appreciate it. :)
Interesting hub...and visually beautiful. I've just begun learning about hubs and yours has provided me with some inspiration. Thank you!
Thank you savvydating, that was very kind of you to say. I am glad you enjoyed reading. Thanks for stopping by. :)
Hah! This is fun... I've said that as a playful "fact" when I'm teasing women. I always figured it was a myth but it's still fun to chat about. Great post.
Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden! That is a good one. Loved your article, can't wait to eat my nightly spiders!
Thanks bryanbaldwin, haha, I guess most of us who new about this myth used it to our advantage at one point! :)
Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it.
Hi Ruby H Rose, Thanks! I know.. It was one of those funny myths! It is nice to know you had a good laugh out of it! :) Thanks for stopping by, much appreciated.
Never heard the golf acronym, very funny!
Thank you Evankovach. Some myths are truly funny! Take care!
Great hub! Great topic. Great research. Just great all around. I was wondering about a few of those. And I noticed when I hit the driving range with a friend that a myth about golf being so masochistic kinda put me on the defense...right before wondering if it was ever really true. So, it's peculiar how even the most untrue myths shape our perception!
Hi chelseacharleston,
Thanks! How true, they do shape our perception on things.
Golf originated as an acronym for "gentlemen only, ladies forbidden" is a common old wives tale indeed. To me it sounds more like an old husband's tale instead lol. Thanks you so much for your comment, that was very kind of you. I appreciate it, thanks again.
Great hub I had not heard of these myths but I am relieved to know that the spider swallowing myth is just that a myth.
Now I am very gullible so I just want to check before I go telling everyone that water is in fact blue that this is true and not you starting a new myth to see how fast it spreads lol... :D
Hi maggs224, Thanks!
The spider myth is but a myth! Although I have, at some point, observed some spiders on my bedroom ceiling, lol. But no, it's a myth indeed.
Pure Water on the other hand does contain a faint blue color! Although we do not actually notice it at times, but its color does become much more visible/apparent when observed in larger volumes. Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it. :)
Great hub! I am very glad to hear that we don't swallow spiders. My fiance's mom told me that and I just started panicing I never wanted to fall asleep again! I loved your hub and I am glad you shared this wise information with us! Keep up the great work :) voted up and interesting:)
Thank you so much kayyluh! Haha, well.. do not panic! :) It is an interesting myth though, because it kind of makes a little sense considering we all have seen a spider at some point, crawling around in our room! Thank you once again for stopping by, I appreciate it.:)
Very interesting. I had never heard the first two but had heard the third. I always enjoy Snopes and other urban legend websites. Shared with others!
Fun hub! I heard it was 18 spiders. I'm glad they were wrong!
Thank you TripleAMom, The spider myth is the one that gets everyone thinking! The water myth surprises many! urban legends are always interesting to debunk. Thank you for stopping by and sharing as well, I appreciate it.:)
Hi Worldofwow1992, wow 18 spiders! I know... there are so many versions of the spider myth. Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it.
Sometimes I do wonder if a spider has gone into my mouth while I was sleeping. I sometimes sleep with my mouth open and forget to close it
Hi keeranbri, I always wondered the same, besides, I've seen plenty of spiders crawling around, on the wall, at night, just before I fall asleep! lol. It's a myth though, and spiders hate human breath! But they can crawl on your arm though! haha!
Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it. :)
well dadgumit and I was so hoping that by this time in my life...no I am not going to say how far along that is...I would finally be able to learn to weave :)
and didnt golf originate from those fearsome scottsmen hitting around their decapitated victims' heads with a stick ??? ouch :)
Hi RNMSN, haha that was a good one! As for the game of golf, there are no certain answers to that question. Historians are still trying to find out when and where golf was created. lol. Could be true though!:)
Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it.
This hub was on a need to know basis. : ) Thank you for your share of facts and myths. Found it to be useful and interesting, so I voted it obviously...'up!'
Thanks girtalksshop, Urban legends, myths and old wives' tale, most seem to make sense, but...? It is incredible how fast they spread.
Thank you so much for stopping by, I appreciate it.:)
Thanks for sharing....spider one never heard...overall great informative hub. cheers :)
Hi am301986, Most insects tend to fly into our mouth and nostrils while we're awake, especially while jogging, and before you know it, they are on their way into our stomach! haha.. kidding! But no, swallowing common house spiders during sleep is impossible! Myth!
Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it. :)
Really interesting hub. My partner and I were actually discussing the spider myth just yesterday (she has an intense fear of them, and our apartment is INFESTED currently). I'll have to tell her that it's bogus!
Hi BethDW, thanks! The thought of spiders does cause fear in many of us; as most do suffer from arachnophobia! lol. But the common house spider is actually harmless, and afraid. The air movement around a spider is what usually causes them to move; it's their defense mechanism. It would be impossible to swallow one during sleep because our breath would cause them not to approach. Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it. :)
Good interesting hub! We sometimes forget to think where we first heard things from, and just take them as facts. Myths are born this way. Water's blue tint actually increases as you observe more quantity of water - this is why it seems colorless when you look at a tiny quantity of water. Thanks for rectifying these myths! Voted up
Hi Nomascus concolor, I agree! It's hard to identify real stories from hoaxes. What makes it even more difficult is that urban legends are almost always (never) defined as being false, but explained as myths instead! We consider them to be the truth even in the absence of evidence. Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it!
Well, I am glad the myth "we swallow spiders in our sleep" is NOT true. I was sure these critters were parachuting to their death and,to my horror, into my unsuspecting mouth. Whew! Glad there is Jangaplanet to set the record straight! Now I can sleep better!
Hi Scribenet, Thanks! To be honest, I worry more about the chemicals we ingest every day, than a common little house insect, which is biodegradable! haha, kidding! It's one of those urban legends like the 1960's Beehive hairsyle, and what lies beneath!! Simply not true! but it sounds real! lol. Thanks for dropping by, I appreciate it!
This is an interesting article! I never heard this before at all. Fora quick second I thought about going to sleep with tape on my mouth. Great article. Much love and respect.
Hi wisdom25, Haha.. Funny! There's no need to wear a surgical mask, or tape...no spiders are going in there! lol. Common house spiders are actually afraid of us! Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it.
A fun and interesting read. I look forward to reading more of your work :)
Hi stricktlydating, very kind of you! Thanks for your comment. I'm glad you enjoyed this article. Much appreciated. :)
Very interesting hub. I was only familiar with the spider myth and actually "heard" it was an average of 14 spiders a year. YIKES! Glad to hear that is far from the truth. Because of this hub, the next time I pour water into a clear glass, I'm probably going to study it now to look for that blue tint. Haha. :)
Hi Ashley, thanks! There are so many versions of the spider myth. The consumption seems pretty high. Makes you wonder why some people don't feel hungry in the morning, or skip breakfast.. haha! Just a myth. It's often easier to notice the intrinsic blue tinted water when observing it in larger quantities, such as lakes, rivers and so on. It's very interesting. Thank you so much for stopping by, I appreciate it. :)
LOL!! Thank goodness I wake up hungry each morning!!
This is a great hub, really enjoyed reading it. The spider myth is definitely one I can relate to as I was trying to tell somebody the other day not to believe everything that they read on the internet, which is of course where they got the idea from! Will be reading more of your hubs! Thanks for sharing
@ Ask Ashley, Me too! :)
Hi STEVEW13, thanks! We tend to believe almost anything we hear..it's incredible, but that's because sometimes most of these myths do sound like a possiblity, lol.. For a person to swallow a live spider while sleeping during the night would involve many unlikely circumstances that for practical purposes we can rule out every possibility. Makes for a great watercooler conversation though! Thanks for dropping by, I appreciate it. :)
You have NO idea how happy I am to have read your hub tonight!!! As a serious arachnaphobe, the spider myth has caused me quite a bit of anxiety in my lifetime. It is a huge relief to hear that it is untrue. THANK YOU! I had also heard (and believed) the one about GOLF.
GREAT hub!
Hi ForLoveofCupcakes, thanks! The myth came from an old book that was written back in the 1950s and brought to life again in the early 90s. The funny part is that it was actually written as a test to see how fast such things spread over the internet. I'm glad the article helped.:) Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it.:)
Want to make things even more interesting for the water myth? Scientifically speaking, nothing truly "has" color. Each surface only reflects certain colors when hit by light depending on the properties that make up that surface. So what the scientists have discovered is that even though water was once thought to be blue because it reflected the sky, and even though water was incorrectly thought to be transparent, they have now found that water inherently reflects a very light color of blue when in contact with light.
i thought water was blue or clear
btw if you eat rice your actually eating a tons of bugs
Hi Eric Calderwood, Thanks! that's a good way of putting it. A tiny amount of water is too little to actually see its affects. And a small amount would look colorless rather than blue. Someone once explained that if you were to stare into a hundred feet of deep pure mountain lake water..with a white bottom, you'll see exactly what color it has..blue. Yet if we were to scoop a glass full of the same lake water, it will look totally clear! (barring impurities) of course. And again, if we were to just look at the surface of the lake, it looks gray, especially on an overcast day, and even looks black during the night. It does become more visible and apparent when in contact with light. Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it.:)
Hi redlight923, I did not know about rice, lol. Thanks for stopping by, much appreciated.
Although not a myth, did you know why a lot of Australian country folks don't open their mouths very wide when they talk? because of the flies... even I have swallowed the odd one or two... that's where the great Aussie wave comes from (shooing the flies away from your face in a slow relaxed manner)... anyway, I am now informed by the colour of water and cannot wait for part two to this hub... interesting, funny and voted up!
Unique hub ! Though I have never heard anything like swallowing spiders before but the way you expressed it I fear I may also have some spiders or had some. Very interesting.
nice article. I love hearing about urband legends i swoere were true and the truth behind them . Voted up and shared on Reddit TIL section!
Hi Ausemade, the Barcoo salute! lol. Yes, I have heard about it! Interesting indeed. Glad you enjoyed reading! And yes.. water is actually blue, lol. Hope to get started on part two soon! Thanks for stopping by, much appreciated.
Can I just say I am extremely relieved about the spider myth being a myth. I just moved to an area where there are recluse spiders, whose bites can dissolve flesh. I was seriousy concerned what would happen if I swallowed one of those! I'm assuming the outcome wouldn't be pretty. Now this is one less thing to be paranoid about.
Hey thanks cablemanagements! It's just a myth. It was invented as an example by the columnist Lisa Holst to prove how fast news spread over the internet. However, many have actually swallowed bugs while jogging, lol.. but spiders! during the night! that happen to crawl into our mouths! Not a chance! Thanks for stopping by, much appreciated. :)
Well thank you Peter Leeper, that was very kind of you! I like hearing about urban legends too! Thanks again for sharing this article, much appreciated. :)
Hi Schatzie Speaks :) The Brown Recluse Spider! ouch! From what I've learned about the recluse spider- is that it feeds only on dead insects. And if I can be of any help.. I can tell you.. it does not attack people. However, they do tend to defend themselves, but only when disturbed. But I can definitely understand your concern! No.. actually there is no way we can ever swallow a 'common house' spider, unless we do it deliberately..yuk! lol. As for the recluse.. in can bite.. but the spider myth itself is all nonsense, nomatter what type of spider. Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it. :)
What. A. RELIEF!
(smiles)@ audreymanning89! Thanks for reading!
Well my spider can sigh in relief, he always feared those mouth traps (:
very interesting hub and a very nice read!
Very interesting hub. It's pretty cool that water is actually blue. :)
Homechef,lol, thanks for stopping by!:)
Thank you leakeem, glad you liked the hub! :)
Hey thanks anivardiashvili! Looks Translucent.. completely see through, but blue it is! :)
I can't believe people actually believed this spider myth...hmmm...so what else do you believe?--that chipmonks actually sing eh?
Hi Chlarrey Lustre, thanks for stopping by to read. Some urban legends prey on our deepest fears, and this is why we sometimes believe in them. The spider myth was specifically put out to demonstrate how gullible we are, because in a (strange) sense..it does sound like something possible.
But again, the myth comes from an article written by Lisa Holst in 1993, it centered on the 'question' of how people believe just because they read it on the internet. Ironically enough, the myth comes from her own list of made-up facts, which she put out.. to prove her point. She also got her inspiration from a collection of common misbeliefs.. in a 1954 book on insects folklore). Take care, much appreciated :)
I've always wondered about the spiders one.
Hey Modern Lady, thanks for dropping by! I keep asking myself: is there any way of eating a spider while we're asleep? Unless we're extremely hungry, the chances are really low, lol. Thanks again for dropping in, much appreciated :)
Thankyou! Someone once told me we ate 7 spiders a YEAR in your sleep.I am deathly afraid of them.I have vacated a room they are in. Woke my husband up at 2:30 to kill one (he was terribly unhappy about it, and let me know. It doesn't stop me from waking my spider killer.) The water color I found very interesting too. Still I'm glad about the spider thing being false! THANKYOU FOR CLEARING THAT UP!!
Hey hi Rusti Mccollum! :) We’ve all heard this scary and unsettling factoid at some point in our lives. There are numerous sources.. some say 7 spiders in a lifetime, others 4, and also 8, lol. The majority of us never swallowed any spiders in our sleep.. yet! Unless we're really hungry, haha. But in all seriousness, realistically... the average number of spiders swallowed at night per person, in an entire lifetime is probably (less) than one. Thank you so much for stopping by, I appreciate it. Glad it cleared the spider myth up for you :)
I never believed the myth about eating spiders while I am asleep..I just thought it as make up story so that children with habit of sleeping with their mouth open will get some feeling in them to make sure they correct it( as I was one of that kind) then again with the golf been acronym to "gentlemen only ladies forbidden" I thought it as a made up by some people for fun.. (after reading it I felt like I am quite intelligent cause I was saved from falling into trap of urban legends) but when I read about the water woha!! I was shocked it was really some thing very interesting and shocking for me... really nice hub voted up and interesting!
Great hub. I've heard the 'eating spiders' thing since I was a kid. Never believed it but it great to use on my own kids.
Hey hi endless sea. Sometimes these urban legends can be traced back hundreds, or even thousands of years. Most if not all sound ridicoulous, lol. The spider myth is a classic, and agree with everything you said! 'Gentlemen only ladies forbidden', as someone mentioned earlier: That's a common old wives' tale. Or better yet, more likely an old husband's tale, haha! Many were shocked ( including I, when I did the research) that water was actually blue! Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it
Hey tobey100, glad to hear you enjoyed the hub! Thanks for dropping in, much appreciated.
interesting information. I found myself wanting to read more though. Any chance you could add more?
Hi Rockvale. I hope to get to the next part soon, as I noticed many wanted to know more about the spider myth! Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting.:)
I remember watching a show called "Myths Buster" there I learned about many myths and urban legends those we believed were real, some of them very very stupid and obvious and I thought how can anyone even believe that, but some sounded so legitimate that when I heard that they were myths I was shocked to know the fact. Even in my course book when I was a kid they taught us some myths as facts, the most common being water is tasteless, odorless and colorless.. So we can conclude that there are many urban legends that we believe are realities some are just so obvious that we are shocked to know reality.. well I'll be waiting for the next part!!
I definitely just picked up my glass of water and carefully examined it to see if it appeared blue!!! Lol loved this!
That's exactly right endless sea, Some myths simply seem real. I liked Myth Busters, watched it plenty. I hope to write soon! Thanks for leaving this interesting comment. :)
Hi beddersox, Thanks! Usually it is difficult to see the blue color in a simple glass of water, It takes bigger quantities to actually notice . Thanks again for stopping by, I appreciate it :)
You should really do another hub like this! I found it amazing and comforting lol the first time I was here. I'm still gonna be afraid of them though,kind of prissy that way. lol At least I know I am not eating those suckers!
LOL, thanks Rusti Mccollum! When you wake up in the morning and are not feeling hungry, and decide to skip breakfast like many of us, then it's because you had your breakfast during the night, haha. Kidding! Yes, some spiders are creepy. I hope to write something else soon. :)
I'd like to think that I swallow spiders. Makes me feel tough.
LOL Thats just gross!
What a cool article. Thanks for sharing. I have definitely quoted some version of the spider myth. Voted up for sure.
Hi reagu, That's funny! lol. But those are simple little common house spiders! Can you stomach a live tarantula? Thanks for stopping by, much appreciated. :)
@ Rusti Mccollum, :)
Hey thanks kuttingxedge! I use to quote this often as well, lol. It's interesting though, because it does sound possible. But it's not! Sure, a spider can make its way onto the bed, but in no way can it ever crawl into the mouth! Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it.
I thought the golf one was true *blush*.
Hi SEO IT! lol, no, it's not true, and if it were I'd be really upset. Perhaps the myth "gentlemen only, ladies forbidden" came about as a joke made by golfers during those times. I wonder what kind of gentlemen they were, if they forbid woman? Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it. :)
Rated up & interesting. Thank you for sharing. I will repost on my facebook wall -- I think a lot of people will be interested in your "debunks" ;) Especially the spider one... how many times have I read the myth? I couldn't even begin to count!
Best regards~
Well thank you so much breathe2travel, that was very kind of you! The spider myth was so popular back then, and still is. Going back just a few years ago, I remember having many debates with friends over the issue of how many we actually swallowed while sleeping, haha. Now I now better! Thanks again for stopping by, and for sharing it on facebook, I appreciate it. :)
Oh good, that means I do not have to save aside a few extra calories for each spider ingested in my sleep! I too have debated this issue at great lengths!
Hi Bedbugabscond, thanks so much for stopping by. It is an interesting myth though, lol. I have had quite a few laughs, when it comes to the spider myth! It definitely makes for good entertaining conversation! :) Thanks again for stopping by, I appreciate it.
Ana Teixeira Level 3 Commenter 4 months ago
ahahah.. very nice hub. The water myth i enjoyed very much and i had no idea. I really thought it was transparent. Nice hub. voting up!