Quite possibly the most surreal poll *ever*
"The French and fear of insects". No, I am not making this up, the details are here.
Seven out of ten of our Gallic chums feel disgust when they find insects in their houses, and three in ten are so paralysed by fear that they need someone else to swat / squish / shoo it out or whatever.
As everybody loves a bit of gender stereotyping, note that it is women who are the more appalled by insects - 82% find them disgusting compared to 56% of men. 29% of women will ask someone else to deal with a house-invading insect compared to nine per cent of men. The latter really ought to hang their heads in shame, while at least there is an upside to the former - we non-insectophobes can play the gallant knight, deal with the interloper, music swells and grateful lady falls into one's arms. Or maybe not.
Cockroaches are #1 most loathed, insect-wise, with 49% naming them as the most odious, followed by 'bugs' at 16%. Spiders rate 9%, even though they are not insects. I wonder how the cockroach fearers would deal with a goliath bird eating spider (qv), which can be up 12" toe to toe and weigh over 4 oz. Bees and wasps prompt the greatest fear at 47%, followed by spiders (31%) and 'bugs' at 4%.
Alas there is no breakdown by region, but I imagine it is the Parisians who are the most precious.
Anyway, care of youtube, a relevant and amusing clip:
Seven out of ten of our Gallic chums feel disgust when they find insects in their houses, and three in ten are so paralysed by fear that they need someone else to swat / squish / shoo it out or whatever.
As everybody loves a bit of gender stereotyping, note that it is women who are the more appalled by insects - 82% find them disgusting compared to 56% of men. 29% of women will ask someone else to deal with a house-invading insect compared to nine per cent of men. The latter really ought to hang their heads in shame, while at least there is an upside to the former - we non-insectophobes can play the gallant knight, deal with the interloper, music swells and grateful lady falls into one's arms. Or maybe not.
Cockroaches are #1 most loathed, insect-wise, with 49% naming them as the most odious, followed by 'bugs' at 16%. Spiders rate 9%, even though they are not insects. I wonder how the cockroach fearers would deal with a goliath bird eating spider (qv), which can be up 12" toe to toe and weigh over 4 oz. Bees and wasps prompt the greatest fear at 47%, followed by spiders (31%) and 'bugs' at 4%.
Alas there is no breakdown by region, but I imagine it is the Parisians who are the most precious.
Anyway, care of youtube, a relevant and amusing clip:
Labels: Battle of the sexes, France, furry creatures and similar
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