Rough Marines
Having served in some PRETTY gross places, whether that service was training or an actual deployment, I had this fear of spiders too. Maybe not as morbid as yours, but fear none the less.

The thing to do is to MAKE SURE You keep it a secret...particularly when you are only a Lieutenant. NCO's (Sergeants in particular) find this out and will make your life a hell, particularly on night marches or 'yomps' as your boys in uniform call them.

The SLIGHTEST tap on my back, an acorn, a finger, a tiny piece of a twig would make my skin crawl. I never full on freaked, but I did do the 'no spider' dance a time or two and the remainder of the 'event' I would be splitting time between seeking out targets/bad guys and seeking out targets of the eight legged variety.

To THIS very day, I see a spider? I am IMMEDIATELY looking for some sort of weapon delivery platform to engage. "Must KILL Spider"

And if it is brown? My brain screams: BROWN RECLUSE CAN KILL A MAN!

And the fight or flee reflex kicks in.

I feel your pain. I feel your pain.
( Citadel Because the world needs less morons, Thu 10 Apr 2008, 23:41, Reply)