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[Lagslayer]

They breed so prolifically, there are always more to take their place. Squishing the ones that want to set up in your house will mean virtually nothing to the overall population. And if we kill the ones who want to set up in your house, eventually there will be none left except those that instinctually stay outside. yay natural* selection!


*I'm not listening!

[Loud Whispers]

I like how people are all "dont kill spiders!" despite the fact they breed in the hundreds.

And they die in the hundreds. The house spider population in my house is nonexistent because of one catastrophic event. You swat this spider and that spider sooner or later they won't have enough to sustain their populations.

[TD1]

And in their absence rise even worse things, too. Think of them as nature's natural pest control, and let 'em get about their business. They're absolutely free, too. No hidden charges.

[nenjin]

Killing something because it looks bad isn't a good basis for civilization.

And I still don't welcome them, I buck 'em out of my house.

Though, you try saving the damn flies that somehow get into the toilet. And the odd spider, too. Have to use tissue to help the poor things.

But, I'd like to think if I were drowning, some benevolent (Well, given that it's me not truly benevolent, but meh) power would deign to help me. I've chased moths around my bedroom with cups before. Boy, I need to grow myself a life

If I walked into an apex predator's den and started crawling all over them, I'd fully expect to get killed.

I like how people are all "dont kill spiders!" despite the fact they breed in the hundreds.

Yea, but the predator would eat you. It would have reason. I'm going to assume you don't eat them :/
It's more of a morality thing, with me. I just don't like killing without cause. I always seem to think of insects as life. As in, they are alive, they are unique, and by killing one of them a little bit less is in the world. And I caused suffering for no reason.
Then I think about all the generations of insects I wiped out because that one can't breed.
I most definitely overthink it.

Apex predators don't always eat what they kill. Especially if they were threatened.

[Knit tie]

Killing something because it looks bad isn't a good basis for civilization.

And I still don't welcome them, I buck 'em out of my house.

Though, you try saving the damn flies that somehow get into the toilet. And the odd spider, too. Have to use tissue to help the poor things.

But, I'd like to think if I were drowning, some benevolent (Well, given that it's me not truly benevolent, but meh) power would deign to help me. I've chased moths around my bedroom with cups before. Boy, I need to grow myself a life

If I walked into an apex predator's den and started crawling all over them, I'd fully expect to get killed.

I like how people are all "dont kill spiders!" despite the fact they breed in the hundreds.

Yea, but the predator would eat you. It would have reason. I'm going to assume you don't eat them :/
It's more of a morality thing, with me. I just don't like killing without cause. I always seem to think of insects as life. As in, they are alive, they are unique, and by killing one of them a little bit less is in the world. And I caused suffering for no reason.
Then I think about all the generations of insects I wiped out because that one can't breed.
I most definitely overthink it.

Apex predators don't always eat what they kill. Especially if they were threatened.

There's an entire term for pointless violence in animal behavoural science: "surplus killing".

[TD1]

Well, it still isn't necessarily their fault. It's instinctual, and as we don't have a desire to kill all around us (Well, some do, but they're typically behind bars) it's on us if we do kill.

Still, gotta hate those evil cats. No offense, Scamps.

[nenjin]

And my loathing of them isn't instinctual, developed over thousands of years of human evolution to fear things that crawl, bite and sting?

[LordSlowpoke]

xenophobia is supposedly instinctual

qed

[TD1]

Not crawl, or we would kill our own children, but I see your point.

The difference is, we recognise our urges for what they are and so can usually control them. And I don't feel an urge to kill all that bites and stings, merely avoid or move them.


Ninja; It is?

[LordSlowpoke]

Ninja; It is?

fear of people who are not members of your tribe, that sorta stuff

should have gone with xenophobia instead, easier to explain

[TD1]

Ninja; It is?

fear of people who are not members of your tribe, that sorta stuff

should have gone with xenophobia instead, easier to explain

Yea, I would have understood xenophobia above racism.

[nenjin]

Let me put it this way. When you move a curtain aside, and a spider the size of your palm leaps at your face, I dare you not to react instinctually.

Also, LW, well played. If ever there was a Godwin move in the spider debate, that would be it.

[TD1]

Of course I'd act instinctually then, but I would do the same if it were a plate about to drop on my head; swat it aside. I might kill it, but it would be understandable. Killing one simply because it's there isn't a very good reason. It seems rather cruel; if I were the size of a spider to you, and looked equally disgusting, would you crush me?

Edit: What's a Godwin move?

[nenjin]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law

It seems rather cruel; if I were the size of a spider to you, and looked equally disgusting, would you crush me?

Depends. Did you enter my house uninvited, hang out in places you're not wanted, startle and surprise me and touch me?

You're goddamn right I would. I'd put the boots to you heavy-style.

[Darvi]

Godwin's Law: the longer any internet debate goes on, the probability that any participant be compared to Hitler or nazis rises to 1.