In all honestly, horror is only a different and grotesque view of reality. It is based upon a person’s perception of a circumstance. The human mind has a tendency to distort the reality of a situation — making something out to be more terrifying than what it really is. What frightens humans the most are typically the most benign. For example:
- The ghostly movements of your living room curtains is really your cat playing behind the draperies with a toy mouse.
- The silhouette of a man that can be seen through the kitchen window is actually a hedge that is in need of reshaping.
- The blood curdling screams from the other side of your wall is only your apartment neighbor yelling at his TV when the Steelers lose.
- The spider that crawls across the bottom of your tub — Oh my GOD! A spider! IT’S A SPIDER! Kill it! Kill it quick with fire!!!
*Ahem*… sorry, where was I — oh yes… It is all about one’s perception of a situation, where it can be malignantly distorted. However, there are certain times when something seems to be all sweet and innocent that it turns out to be truly dark and sinister…
Was that wrong of me? 🙂
Happy Saturday!
2014Sept31 update: Disclaimer – no spiders were hurt in the writing of this post, and I truly do my best to not kill any living creature – even spiders.
Amanda Headlee 
Reblogged this on Chris Musgrave – Writer in Training.
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You should have seen the giant spider crawling on my floor a few days ago. I caught it and admired it before releasing it. Do not kill spiders!! 😛
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I used to love them… Then I move to Tennessee into a house that was infested with black widows and brown recluse. I draw the line when they can kill you 🙂
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I also have a healthy respect for spiders – we have a LOT of big ones around here, but they do a good job with our bug population. Loved this post though! Thank you, Chris, for reposting so i could catch it.
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I agree, they are extremely healthy for the insect population. And I really try to not kill any. However, the ones whose venom eats away at human flesh or can cause cardiac arrest are the ones that I have a hard time not smushing (or burning). My husband was bit by a brown recluse… and let me tell you – that is NOT pretty.
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I’ve gotten some spider bites over the year, and they weren’t pleasant, but brown recluse is another level altogether. I hope your husband made a full, if not pain free, recovery. We have black widows here.
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He luckily made a full recovery with only a small scar on his leg. Good luck with the black widows, and may you never unknowingly walk into one’s web.
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Thank you!!!
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