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Help[Opinions] Re: Arachne
in reply to a message by Wordsmith
Spiders are not repulsive *as spiders,* they just are what they are, and have the beauty of all things of nature.
But "spider" is not suitable as a concept to name a human being. On a human scale, their traits would be repulsive, not have uplifting associations. I don't think they have *anything* about them that makes them an appealing archetype, except the weaving, but even that isn't analogous to human weaving, and the classical parallel to weaving smacks of misogyny IMO. A spider's web is more comparable to a knotted fishnet than to textiles.
How would you like to be named for a class that includes the ticks?
A crawling, hiding creature with an exoskeleton and 8 eyes, that puts up a sticky webbing for its home and lies in wait for another creature to accidentally get stuck in it. Then bites it with poison fangs to paralyze it, and wraps it up alive to suck out its body juices at the spider's leisure. And the female kills and eats the male after mating? Not so gorgeous, to me.
Arachne was turned into a spider out of spite, it wasn't an honor.
- mirfak
But "spider" is not suitable as a concept to name a human being. On a human scale, their traits would be repulsive, not have uplifting associations. I don't think they have *anything* about them that makes them an appealing archetype, except the weaving, but even that isn't analogous to human weaving, and the classical parallel to weaving smacks of misogyny IMO. A spider's web is more comparable to a knotted fishnet than to textiles.
How would you like to be named for a class that includes the ticks?
A crawling, hiding creature with an exoskeleton and 8 eyes, that puts up a sticky webbing for its home and lies in wait for another creature to accidentally get stuck in it. Then bites it with poison fangs to paralyze it, and wraps it up alive to suck out its body juices at the spider's leisure. And the female kills and eats the male after mating? Not so gorgeous, to me.
Arachne was turned into a spider out of spite, it wasn't an honor.
- mirfak
This message was edited 1/28/2021, 10:29 AM
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It was spite. The entire story is about pride and it's consequences.
I do love the name and the sound of it, which is why I have a spider plant named Arachne.
I do love the name and the sound of it, which is why I have a spider plant named Arachne.
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Well said.
If you want to name a girl after a spider, name her Charlotte.
If you want to name a girl after a spider, name her Charlotte.
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Seconded
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