This always makes me think. Cockroaches don't bite, are not venomous, basically can't do us any harm. I'm not afraid of wild dogs, spiders, tarantulas, scorpions, snakes, wolves, hyenas, wild hogs, bears (encountered them all) but I might actually scream if I get surprised by a cockroach.

I think this collective fear of cockroaches that we have cannot be without reason and must have an evolutionary reason.

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[–] 18 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (6 children)

I lived in an apartment building with a big pipe leading to the septic tank. Cockroaches were always visible crawling in and out of the gaps between the concrete and pipe, living in the literal shithole. They carry so many germs!!!

At night, that's they'd scale the building and come visit us. I woke up one night to my cat staring slightly above my head. I moved a tiny bit, and a big mind momma cockroach jumped off my headboard onto my face, then onto the blankets, where my cat swiftly executed it (with no small level of skill and reflexes). That night left an impression on me.

I hope this explains both fear and being spooked by them.

Edit; some fun typos

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  • [–] 7 points 2 months ago (2 children)

    Oh, that's so gross. The building manager should get that looked at because that's a public health concern to have sewage exposed like that. When it rains, the water will take up the space in the tank, and when there's no space for the sewage to go, it'll spill out in to the open and go everywhere.

    As for the cockroach on your face, I personally would just leave and never come back (from a professional view, put down all the baits and get pest control if it's too far gone). Cockroaches do bite, so be careful. If you could tell it was a mother cockroach (do you mean it was big, or it had an egg sac attached to it?), then there's a bigger problem than just one egg sac. You're either already or about to be a co-parent to millions of babies.

    Just an FYI for anyone else who is currently living in a situation similar. 🪳 ☠️

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  • [–] 2 points 2 months ago (1 child)

    I just meant it was big. I'm glad I moved out the next month.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 months ago

    I'm not sure which is worse, seeing a female cockroach with an egg sac in my house or any cockroach on my face. I react to cockroaches like some people react to spiders: Overreact. I'm also glad that you moved out the following month.

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