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A cellar spider, or Daddy Longlegs Jon Bunting via Flickr/Creative Commons

Debunked: Are Daddy Longlegs the most poisonous spiders in the world?

Perhaps you should take a wide berth next time you see one dangling above your bed.

IN THIS SERIES, TheJournal.ie takes a look at an urban myth, old wives’ tale, or something that your mammy told you years ago to see if there’s any truth in it.

The spread of a poisonous spider across the British Isles has grabbed the interest of many in recent weeks.

The False Widow has been found in many locations across England, and has recently popped up more often in Ireland. Its bite has effects similar to that of a wasp sting.

However, are we already living in peace with the deadliest spider in the world, the Daddy Longlegs? And are we in fact surrounded by all sorts of venomous spiders without realising it?

Evolutionary quirk

An old wives tales has led many to believe that the Daddy Longlegs is the most, or one of the most, venomous spiders in the world, but due to an evolutionary quirk they don’t have the fangs necessary to bite.

A variation on this says that they have the fangs, but they’re just not quite strong enough to pierce human skin.

Firstly, it’s important to note what we’re talking about here, as a few creepy-crawlies are called Daddy Longlegs. The one in question is generally not a Crane Fly or Harvestman spider, but a cellar spider (Pholcus phalangioides), pictured below.

image

(Image Credit: Stefan F. Wirth/YouTube)

The Crane Fly can be instantly dismissed from this as the adult of species does not eat; they exist only to mate. The Harvestman is not technically a spider and doesn’t have fangs, although they do have the ability to produce a very weak “defensive secretion”.

But the cellar spider? Arachnid expert Myles Nolan said the idea that they are the most venomous spider in the world is a complete myth — although they do have fangs and venom glands.

“A spider without fangs would actually not be a spider,” Myles told TheJournal.ie, “their jaw structure, which includes the fang, is one of the primary characteristics that defines a spider.”

Little poison

What little poison they do have is probably only enough to cause an itching sensation, although they are more interested in woodlice than humans. While their jaw and fangs are quite small, Myles said they still need to be “needle sharp to guarantee them their dinner”.

He also noted that very potent venom is often the subject of intensive scientific studies, something which Daddy Longlegs have not.

Not only does the cellar spider have venom and fangs, but Myles says that most in Ireland are the same:

“All but one species of spider in Ireland have venom.”

“None of them have an actual interest in biting humans; the few bites that do occur are usually the result of a human accidentally putting the spider under stress, for example by lying on it unwittingly, and the spider bites in self defense”.

He said that the ones with the worst bites, such as false widows and the woodlouse spider, live in built-up areas, so “when the occasional bite is recorded, it tends to be given disproportionate attention”

Myles puts the spread of this myth down to how common the spider is. Most people will recognise it, and so assume they “know” about it, despite their only piece of knowledge being a myth.

Is there a myth you’d like debunked? Email nicky@thejournal.ie

Debunked: Do you really eat a dozen spiders in your sleep every year? >

More: How insects’ wings help engineers >

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    Mute Mark Dunne
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:22 PM

    And puff just like that they are gone

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    Mute brian o'leary
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:25 PM

    @Mark Dunne: some weeds are notoriously hard to kill?

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    Mute Finian McG
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:39 PM

    @brian o’leary: it’s next to impossible to get rid of a Creeping Lilly like Rodders or even a Pot-plant like Eamo

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    Mute Mark Murphy
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:48 PM

    @brian o’leary: Like Japanese Knotweed.

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    Mute Nemethon
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    Nov 18th 2024, 9:25 PM

    @brian o’leary: bring back glyphosate or paraquat guaranteed to rid us of the pesky Green Party

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    Mute Social Guy
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:28 PM

    Goodbye Green Party. Good riddance.

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    Mute A W
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:56 PM

    @Social Guy: nope u jumping to concliusios that’s wrong again…

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    Mute Finian McG
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    Nov 18th 2024, 9:00 PM

    @A W: what is your native language?

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    Mute Brian Hunt
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    Nov 18th 2024, 9:42 PM

    @Finian McG: I don’t think English is AW’s first language, or second or third!

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    Mute Alex
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    Nov 19th 2024, 8:42 AM

    @Finian McG: Most Irish can’t even use it properly so it’s definitely not a big issue.

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    Mute brian o'leary
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:23 PM

    With a four day week, won’t every weekend be a Bank Holiday ?

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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:28 PM

    @brian o’leary: nope. Some people will have to take , Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday off to enable the company open 5 days but allow 4 day working week for staff

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    Mute brian o'leary
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:37 PM

    @Ger Whelan: I guess, but sometimes they’ll be able to take a Monday or a Friday and have more 3 day weekends? Personally, I’d prefer to work the 5 days and have an extra days holidays.

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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:54 PM

    @brian o’leary: So far the few companies I have seen switch to the 4 day week have done so that you get the same 3 days off every week. The staff with service got the first pick of what day they wanted off.

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    Mute Oweke 68
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    Nov 19th 2024, 12:02 AM

    @brian o’leary: no you work Friday to Monday every week didnt you realise that

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    Mute Tom O' Donnell
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:31 PM

    Great, another citizens assembly. That’s what we elect a parliament for, to make a decision. Not to put another one in place

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    Mute Tom O' Donnell
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:45 PM

    @Tom O’ Donnell: *another parliament*

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    Mute Darragh Mcnamara
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:23 PM

    Greens clinging to power ☝️

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    Mute Darragh Mcnamara
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:24 PM

    @Darragh Mcnamara: using our money (tax) cling to power

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    Mute Frank Mc Carthy
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:20 PM

    Ah c’mon, it’s crazy now……… I’m holding out for 2 weeks all inclusive in lanzarote!!!! That’s it……. a fortnight lanzarote = #1,#2AND #3 on the piece of paper nov29th

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    Mute Kevin Kerr
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:31 PM

    @Frank Mc Carthy: yea, we know – you’ve been making the same “joke” for 3 days now. Oh and btw, you do know that the 4 day week proposal doesn’t actually suggest a cut in working hours….?

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    Mute Frank Mc Carthy
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:38 PM

    @Kevin Kerr: hey brenny, so I made a joke about something the ( soon to be extinct hopefully) greenies only came up with today??? You want the lotto numbers for weds night, lol

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    Mute Kevvy kerrr
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:40 PM

    @Frank Mc Carthy: you do know thats brenny’s account??

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:58 PM

    @Frank/Kevvy: You made the same ‘joke’ on an SF post yesterday. My sides almost split from the laughter. If you could take an extended break somewhere with no Internet, these comments sections would improve immeasurably.

    Everyone knows that you’re the person with a couple of dozen accounts at least.

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    Mute Frank Mc Carthy
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    Nov 18th 2024, 9:06 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: I hope you sued that movie ‘SPLIT’!!! It’s despicable what you & all your accounts, kevin kerrr, chutes, d peader etc etc have done to this once great site!!! Pathetic & sad

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    Mute FoxyBoiiYT
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    Nov 19th 2024, 12:17 AM

    @Frank Mc Carthy: A Trump super fam hatrs the Greens. What a shock. You hate Science, modernity, people with too much melanin, anyone with a wierd religion, anyone not straight….. Standard right wing stuff

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    Mute Frank Mc Carthy
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    Nov 19th 2024, 12:27 AM

    @FoxyBoiiYT: & just DONT get me started about multi account juvenile trolls!!! LOL

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    Mute Pork Hunt
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    Nov 19th 2024, 6:58 AM

    @Kevin Kerr: funny , more working hours , imagine the county council slobs staying an extra 2 hours a day. Funny…

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    Mute Fiona Wyse
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:34 PM

    I don’t want a 4-day week, I want to be able to commute from Navan but for it to not take four hours each day, sort out the public transport!

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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:36 PM

    @Fiona Wyse: Good for you.

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    Mute brian o'leary
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:43 PM

    @Fiona Wyse: would a 4 day week not cut your weekly commute time by 20%?

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    Mute Alex Kane
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:54 PM

    @Fiona Wyse: capitalistic bootlicker

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    Mute Lilly Lalogue
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    Nov 18th 2024, 9:35 PM

    @brian o’leary: I think she means sort out public transport BEFORE the mystical 4 day week. Public transport always left as a non runner. Especially on the Northside of Dublin.

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    Mute P. V. Aglue
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    Nov 18th 2024, 9:51 PM

    @Fiona Wyse: are they still on for opening the old rail line or did they abandon that after the motorway was built?

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    Mute William Kelly
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    Nov 18th 2024, 10:01 PM

    @brian o’leary: ah shure, why not get a public service desk job and work from home 3days from 5?
    And have annual pay reviews through Public Service Agreements built into the State Budgets.
    Not to miss out on inflation proofed pensions as well.
    You must be screwed up to commute 5 days weekly.
    Like me, I commuted up to 3hrs across Dublin 5 & 6 days, sometumes 7, for most of my workng life, only for the desk jockeys to levy my pension to keep themselves secure.
    Get sense man.

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    Mute Cole Palmer
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    Nov 18th 2024, 11:17 PM

    @Alex Kane: we have a special name for leeches like you

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    Mute Fiona Wyse
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    Nov 19th 2024, 7:36 AM

    @brian o’leary: well you have to make the time up somehow, I’m quite happy with how long my working day is already (8 hours) and with severe back and neck pain the less time I spend sitting at a desk every day the better! I don’t know about you but some people actually like to do nice activities for themselves in the evening time! It’s not right having to get up at 4:30 a.m. to get into the office for 7.15am but that’s what commuter life is like in Navan. It’s worse again if you start at 9:00 a.m. you can’t even get on a bus they just fly past you.

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    Mute Fiona Wyse
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    Nov 19th 2024, 7:36 AM

    @Alex Kane: have a bit of respect I’m probably paying your dole payments. Leech.

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    Mute Fiona Wyse
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    Nov 19th 2024, 7:38 AM

    @P. V. Aglue: I believe we are going to be proceeding towards consultation stage with the train. I’m only new to Navan (3 years) so I’m full of optimism for it because I haven’t had to wait as long as the locals! It’s the hope that kills you though…..

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Nov 19th 2024, 8:08 AM

    @Fiona Wyse: Yea, the country is like a prison on the roads rn, regardless of preference

    1
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    Mute Willie Marty
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:48 PM

    Desperation stakes from the Greens now.On their way to oblivion on Nov. 29th.

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    Mute SV3tN8M4
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    Nov 19th 2024, 12:25 AM

    @Willie Marty: Have Francis Noel & Catherine come out of hiding yet or are they building the wall to stop people who don’t have any homes, from looking into their kitchen, counting the Lolly. Greens are the party of Hypocrites.

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    Mute Darragh Mcnamara
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:30 PM

    Not forgotten rte 750mill pay off turdby etc should be impartial etc

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    Mute Gerry Campbell
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    Nov 18th 2024, 9:40 PM

    But no council houses near any of their high profile members ,nooooo…

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    Mute Sheila McNulty
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:51 PM

    Another crackpot idea from labour I’m sure all buisness will be thrilled

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    Mute Sheila McNulty
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    Nov 18th 2024, 8:55 PM

    @Sheila McNulty: sorry was supposed to be Greens

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    Mute A W
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    Nov 18th 2024, 9:00 PM

    @Sheila McNulty: do, we need tax fat cats or keep croling wat u thing…

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    Mute Darragh Mcnamara
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    Nov 18th 2024, 9:25 PM

    FG article no comments active hmmm???

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    Mute William Kelly
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    Nov 18th 2024, 9:46 PM

    The Greens are on the wrong track on this program. Extended hols not justified, as it reduces public services productivity, which benefits most, & increases general economic activity costs, with no productivity boost.
    When will political wanabees listen to the O’Learys, who know how to run business, and their own Economists?
    This is an escaping Celtic Elephant trampling on the stability of the economy, a bunch of desparadoes outbidding the others on the same destructive tack.

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    Mute John Meade
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    Nov 18th 2024, 10:27 PM

    Hope they are obliterated, them and liebor

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    Mute Cole Palmer
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    Nov 18th 2024, 11:19 PM

    @John Meade: I hope things happens to then that I can’t say on here

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    Mute Stiles
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    Nov 18th 2024, 10:16 PM

    sure ffg just ignore citizen assemblies.. they implemented none of the citizen assemblies recommendations on disabilities or strategy on drug use…

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    Mute Mike Courtney
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    Nov 18th 2024, 10:15 PM

    Nuke them from space. It’s the only way to be sure.

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    Mute Thomas Berry
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    Nov 18th 2024, 10:50 PM

    I used to work a three day week and it was brilliant.

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    Mute FoxyBoiiYT
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    Nov 19th 2024, 12:15 AM

    Excellent proposals, feck the begrudgers. Green Party only ones brave enough to tackle the climate crisis, everyone else sticking their heads onnthe sand. A poor decision with all the flooding caused by climate change

    6
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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Nov 19th 2024, 8:15 AM

    @FoxyBoiiYT: I think they’ll do okay, saying all the right things, but you know, just not doing them

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    Mute Declan Young
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    Nov 19th 2024, 9:06 AM

    Nothing can save the Vegan fruitcake party now.

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    Mute no no no
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    Nov 19th 2024, 2:12 AM

    I would rather work 5x 8h than 4x 10h to make up the lost day. 4 day work week might work for some but not all. In many industries it’s not possible that everyone is off at the same time.

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Nov 19th 2024, 8:14 AM

    @no no no: 5×8 hours? hope thats not breaking stone. Like everything people should be allowed do whatever they want as long as the work is delivered complete and on time. I think that could work in any industry. Certainly billionaire’s don’t care as long as revenue streams aren’t effected.

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    Mute tara tevlin
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    Nov 19th 2024, 7:52 AM

    I’d rather work than see this skum back in

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    Mute Jack
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    Nov 19th 2024, 10:16 AM

    They are getting desperate! Making up stuff now, like child when they know they’re in trouble and finally have to face the headmaster!

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