Random Thoughts — Page 174

Living near a river in central Scotland we have midges but we also have insect repellent, yeast extract and beer.

Insects (especially the bity kind) tend to avoid beer drinkers/Marmite eaters because the yeast.

CP3S said:

Bingowings said:

It is weird that people who keep pets could kill other animals based purely on personal preference.

Why? If I had dogs or cats infesting my house, eating holes in the packages in my pantry, and pooping in my silverware drawer, I'd take measures to kill them and/or keep them away.

If I invited a mouse into my home to keep as a pet, I'd take care of it and feed it just like I would a dog or a cat. Makes perfect sense, nothing weird about it. I don't think people not acting too kindly to unwelcome intruders that make pests of themselves by ruining your food and potentially spreading dangerous microorganisms, is anything close to weird.

Coyotes are dogs. At the current location life has swept me off to, I find myself in a position where every night coyotes threaten my morning breakfast of delicious fresh fried eggs. As a result, I keep a loaded gun beside my bed and a ear cocked and alert through the night. It would make sense for me to shoot the coyote, because he is a threat to me and the animals under my care and protection. Yet I wouldn't shoot one of the domestic dogs that run around the coop all the time. No personal preference about any of it.

It is no more "personal preference" than it would be personal preference for you to call the cops if someone broke into your home, when they are just another person like you and the other people that live in your household.

Now you sound like my grandfather. ;-)

Ripplin said:

Woah! Is that thing real?

Ha-ha, you guys fell into my trap!

(#$%@#)

Ripplin said:

And an axolotl for good measure:

Afternoon With the Axolotls

Uh-oh, there have been more NIMH posts than Bowie in the past few days!

That's better.

Ripplin said:

 

I always knew Gervais was hiding something....

I just watched the David Bowie episode of Extras.

The little fat man with the pug-nosed face, Pug, pug, pug, pug...

He's so sick of being useless, fatso takes his own life...

Bingowings said:

Mice don't understand the difference between a house and any other shelter, you couldn't invite them into your house if you wanted to because they don't understand your language.

Hopefully that was just your attempt at being humorous, but obviously when I said "invite" them into your home, I didn't mean speaking to them and inviting them over as a guest (I feel stupid feeling like I have to explain this). What should go without saying was that I meant bringing them into your home on your own, as opposed to them finding their own way in without you wanting them to.

Bingowings said:

Living near a river in central Scotland we have midges but we also have insect repellent, yeast extract and beer.

Insects (especially the bity kind) tend to avoid beer drinkers/Marmite eaters because the yeast.

Wow, bugs must not be too bad in central Scotland then. I've been to plenty of places where no amount of beer or DEET is going to protect you from much of anything.

Myself, I only recognize cats and dogs as legitimate "pets", others are just critters to me that essentially I just simply do not care about. So killing them for me is no big deal whatsoever, keep in mind I'm not a hunter, just not sympathetic to any animals, or bugs, cause. For me not to kill an animal that is dangerous or a nuisance to me, it must serve a purpose which I benefit from.

I've certainly killed my share of mice for coming into my house, I do not care if they knew what they were doing was wrong or not, but they serve no purpose to me except to be pests, spread disease, and attract snakes.

I've also killed some barn-swallows who made a nest over my porch, didn't really want to since they are great mosquito killers, but their crap was ruining my porch and their incessant chirping was infuriating.

I will kill a snake, but I try not to as they do keep the mice at bay. I pretty much let all non-poisonous snakes be, I just wrangle them a chunk them over my back fence, which butts up to some farm land. I will certainly take out a poisonous snake though. With my young'un running around, I just cannot risk a second encounter with any Copperheads or Rattlers.

I've also taken out my share of possums, armadillos, coyotes, etc. etc. Now, I don't mind these animals as they do have a very important purpose in our local food chain, but when they start coming close to houses and civilization there is something definitely wrong. The possums and armadillos usually keep at bay, so if they start coming around either they're looking for easy food or rabid. So, if you don't have any easily accessible food outside, like cat or dog food, then there's a good chance they're rabid. Coyotes don't hardly ever come around at all, so if one starts it's just best to take them out or they'll take out your pets first. They love feasting on small dogs and cats. If you can shoot a couple a year, that keeps the rest of the packs away.

Most spiders can escape my wrath if they are outside, they work on my side by keeping other bugs in control. Once they come inside, they're more than likely a  goner if I get my boot moving quick enough. I already have plenty outside, don't see the need to try to pick it up and put it outside.

ferris209 said:

For me not to kill an animal, it must serve a purpose which I benefit from.

I really hope this was just worded poorly, because if that is literally what you meant I think it is a horrible attitude. And I do not really even have a strong "critter empathy".

I don't have much of a problem with killing animals or bugs that are dangerous or even a major nuisance, but to only NOT kill it if it benefits you? I suppose dodos were pretty useless...

doubleKO said:

ferris209 said:

For me not to kill an animal, it must serve a purpose which I benefit from.

I really hope this was just worded poorly, because if that is literally what you meant I think it is a horrible attitude. And I do not really even have a strong "critter empathy".

I don't have much of a problem with killing animals or bugs that are dangerous or even a major nuisance, but to only NOT kill it if it benefits you? I suppose dodos were pretty useless...

Sorry, but that's just the way I feel. Rest assured though, I don't run around trying to kill anything, just if something gets in house or interferes with some aspect of my life, I'll kill it if I deem it a nuisance. The only way that I would not kill something I feel is a nuisance is if it is benefiting me directly in some way. Such as spiders outside the house, snakes that aren't poisonous and also not in my house, etc. etc.

ferris209 said:

For me not to kill an animal that is dangerous or a nuisance to me, it must serve a purpose which I benefit from.

Fixed?

Thanks for clarifying. I didn't really think that you were just running around killing stuff for fun, but that sentence bothered me some. I don't even have a problem with hunting if it serves the purpose of culling overabundant populations, especially when it comes to introduced species. A lot of "hunters" I've met personally though are just idiots with guns who do enjoy killing things. I think those types should be forced to fight rogue bears with a Swiss Army Knife...

doubleKO said:

ferris209 said:

For me not to kill an animal that is dangerous or a nuisance to me, it must serve a purpose which I benefit from.

Fixed?

I don't much like the normally sarcastic, and usually intentional offensive, "fixed" replies, but in this case it's very accurate and applicable. Thanks!

You are right and correct, in every aspect, in how you have interpreted my personal opinion.

edit: to further signal to you that you pinpointed how I feel, doubleKO, I've edited my original post to reflect your correction.

If you rewind to my earliest post on this blast of the subject.

I said it seemed strange and bizarre to me to kill a small creature when you could move it.

Obviously to some people moving a small animal rather than killing it is just as weird to them.

People are different.

ferris209 said:

edit: to further signal to you that you pinpointed how I feel, doubleKO, I've edited my original post to reflect your correction.

Thanks ferris. Not necessary but a welcome change.

My feelings are closer to yours Bingo but I understand both views. I kill mosquitoes and flies with no qualms but tend to leave other bugs to themselves and move even the dangerous ones. One exception is white tailed spiders - I will kill those sneaky little fuckers with no remorse. Bacteria from their mouth parts can give you an incurable necrosis.

As for mice, I guess I would rather put them out, but I didn't even know you could get traps that don't harm them.

It's a trap!