How I think of insects (and other arthropods)

I have mixed feelings about insects and various arthropods. I understand to an extent the significant roles insects play in the biosphere. The diversity of insects astounds me greatly. Unfortunately, the perception of insects faces both instinctual and cognitive adversity that other animalia can avoid.
When I was a little boy (perhaps 4 or 5 years old), a humongous spider had entered our house. Panic erupted from the three Pennington boys. We took refuge on our couch where we could safely peer over the cushions as the arachnid tittered across our floor. My mom quickly ran into the kitchen to find the broom and within a minute the hairy terror was banished from the Pennington residence.
My father has been bitten by two brown recluses. Both bites have left concave scars because the venom had broken down a lot of muscle tissue.
Several summers were spent in the dank forests of Mississippi where mosquitos and horse-flies feed on fatigued boy scouts. These experiences have left some residual disdain for arthropods.
A year ago, my father and I went down to New Orleans for a weekend during the summer. The majority of  the second day in New Orleans was spent at the Insectarium because we Penningtons know how to have a good time. To my surprise, the Insectarium provided hours of riveting material about the insect world. There was a "butterfly garden" where a variety of butterflies and moths lived. There was an exhibit for subterranean bugs. I found myself fascinated by the sheer number of distinct arthropods.
After several experiences with insects I can say that I am fascinated by them from a distance. I understand the threat I pose to the insects and the actions they take against my oblivious intrusion. When they intrude my house, I try my best to get them out alive. Only when I know there is no possibility of getting it out of the house without harming myself will I kill the bug.  I feel immeasurable guilt whenever I run into a spider web because that web took hours to make. That's like taking someone's job away by walking past him/her. I just brush the mosquito off my skin with the idea that the mosquito will acknowledge my kindness by moving on to another victim. This completely illogical but I haven't by bitten by many mosquitos in the past few years.
The only insect that receives no compassion from me is the cockroach. I perceive them as living pestilence. I will smite every cockroach I see.