Here in MD, we have both black widows and brown recluses. Recluses are considered worse because they jump, real aggressive. Black widows hide out in dark musty places like garages, sheds, barns, etc. They're bad news, but you won't die unless several bite you in succession. My dad had to clean out his garage as a teenager, he found a whole nest of them... set it on fire, I think.

I remember seeing tarantulas in Arizona as a kid... they were slow and pokey, and didn't scare me because I was faster than they were. I also saw a scorpion in the Grand Canyon. It was both fast and scary, but interesting. For some reason they dont' freak me out like spiders do. I guess I don't like things which look bad and move fast.