Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Science/2021 August 24

= August 24 =

Is there any evolutionary advantage for skin crawl in humans in dangerous situations?
Spiders usually cause skin crawl in humans. Is there any evolutionary advantage to it? Rizosome (talk) 14:05, 24 August 2021 (UTC)
 * Do you mean goose bumps? We have a whole article on it. Have you read it? --OuroborosCobra (talk) 14:36, 24 August 2021 (UTC)

I have read this section, but it didn't mention any evolutionary advantage ? Rizosome (talk) 15:06, 24 August 2021 (UTC)
 * Read more than just one section. --OuroborosCobra (talk) 15:34, 24 August 2021 (UTC)
 * Hell, read the introduction paragraphs. Your question is answered there. --OuroborosCobra (talk) 15:45, 24 August 2021 (UTC)
 * Only for a reader who is already familiar with the concept of vestigial response or also reads the introduction of the Vestigial response article and once there also follows the link to "vestigial" (or else the import of "original", with its implicit appeal to the theory of evolution, may not be obvious to the reader). --Lambiam 05:30, 25 August 2021 (UTC)
 * Although there seems to be a wide-spread impression to the contrary, arachnophobia is not the norm. Estimates of prevalence range from 50% of the population down to just a few percent, depending on whether it is defined as mere dislike of spiders, or actual 'skin crawling'. The rest of us are happy to handle spiders and have them living in our homes. catslash (talk) 21:49, 25 August 2021 (UTC)
 * So how has handling black widows and brown recluses worked out for you? ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 22:15, 25 August 2021 (UTC)


 * There are none in this vicinity. The least welcome spider around here is pholcus phalangioides, as it munches on our native house-spiders, and its webs are no ornament. catslash (talk) 22:47, 25 August 2021 (UTC)
 * That would be relevant, except that Rizosome has already stated that they basically only read the "intense emotion" section of the article. If they came with questions and behaviors suggesting they had at least tried to read the relevant articles on their own, and just needed some help, I'd be with you, but their repeated behavior for many months demonstrates the opposite. --OuroborosCobra (talk) 02:05, 27 August 2021 (UTC)