Do you feel GUILTY when you KILL?
@lordwarwizard (35747)
Singapore
June 28, 2007 2:47am CST
This discussion is in honor of he (or she) whom I have just killed. I didn't mean to... yet I can't say I am innocent. This was what happened:
I was typing responses at myLot when I suddenly heard some buzzing. I quickly turned my head towards the window where the sound was coming from. I saw something hovering just outside. I began to panic a little... I don't want him (or her) to come in!! My heart beat faster as I quickly shut the window blinds. Then I waited... but alas, he (or she) got in anyway, dropped onto the floor, did a belly flop and began to squirm right in front of me.
I couldn't stand it and I couldn't wait. Better now than never. I grabbed a half-fist of tissue and then went to say final prayers over him (or her), hoping that his (or her) soul will find peace after he (or she) was dead. Then I squashed. One squash later, he (or she) was still not dead! So I did another, and another! Yet he (or she) was still alive! It was then when I started to really panic. I felt so guilty that I did not manage to give him (or her) a quick death. His (or her) final moments must have been terrible but I really did try to finish him (or her) quickly.
Will you blame me if you were the beetle?
42 people like this
75 responses
@navtech (1773)
• India
28 Jun 07
Hi, lordwarwizard, I am a pure vegetarian. Once I said to a begger for certain reason that I am a pure vegetarian and would not kill any living things for eating. He asked me immediately "WHY DO YOU LIE, YOU DID do KILLING EVERYDAY?". I said, NO I DO NOT KILL LIVING THINGS. He said again "YES, EVERY DAY YOU KILL THE MOUSIQUITOS. ARE THEY NOT LIVING THINGS. I was dumbfounded by his reply. So everybody killing something everyday whether he is vegetarian or nonvegetarian. NOBODY FEEL GUILTY BECAUSE KILLING OF AN INSECT YOU CAN SELF-DEFENCE IN THE EYE OF LAW.
8 people like this
@kingri (46)
• United States
28 Jun 07
Actually there is more to it than that. The trees are living things, the carrot and lettuce are living things. Plants are living things. It is kind of interesting. I used to work for a crop duster. He would go off in his airplane and spray insecticides or herbicides as needed to protect the crops. Insecticides and herbicides are basically the same thing in one way. One is a poison to kill insects, the other is a poison to kill certain plants. (weeds)
You can not kill something if it is not living.
Actually it is quite interesting. Have you ever heard of poisoning a dog by putting poison in a steak to trick him into eating it?
Same thing happens with herbicides. Herbicides are often mixed and sprayed with fertilizer to trick the plant into thinking that is is recieving nourishment.
Interesting how perspectives can be changed when analyzed. I had never really thought of it that way until I was mixing the chemicals for him. Two different but related chemicals for killing two different living things.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
28 Jun 07
Hmm.. actually if you practise non-killing, then I think even mosquitoes should be spared. :P
5 people like this
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
26 Jul 07
.. I wish it could be a non killing world.. (and believe it will be oneday) but if we don't kill insects, weeds and pests, many more humans would die.. of course it's possible that could be offset by all humans eating crops.. but no meat..
- As there was fruit in perfection, I never feel bad about eating crops and plant foods.. But the meat eating only came after imperfection..
- I don't know if you didn't kill pests in this world, if crops would even be able to feed everyone.. And some bugs carry plagues and deadly influenzas etc.. Present reality s ucks in some aspects, aye?
1 person likes this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
28 Jun 07
You are too soft, baby. Not strong enough to give the beetle a quick and immediate peace. Did you manage to give a proper burial ceremony for it? I can't blame you for posting this one. You need to vent out your feelings. "grin"
If I saw an intruder inside my house, I will grabbed a slipper and give it one mighty swap. This goes for cockroaches and ants only. I wouldn't dare touch the other creatures. I leave them to do whatever they want.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
28 Jun 07
The tissue was hindering and perhaps I didn't even manage to squash it the first few times.
Hmm.. maybe I did kill it with one squash, so to speak.
5 people like this
@TheCatzMeow1 (579)
• United States
28 Jun 07
Ohhhhhh, that poor little beetle! I would of said "yer killin me pal, (read that hurts) but I know you tried"! I wouldn't blame you. Getting them out of their misery is one thing, but continuous torture is another. I would of felt the same way.
@yanjiaren (9031)
•
28 Jun 07
I try not to kill stuff.I felt bad once when I had to get rid of a bumble bee in order to defend the girls. I was feeling really bad because the girls stuck it in a glass of water and were poking fun at it after. I had to explain to them that that little creature had a life and that I only got rid of it in order to defend them, but that doesn't make us more important. I still felt really guilty man and try not to kill anything if possible.
5 people like this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
26 Jul 07
In a microwave? Now I have heard it all. lol I would have thought they would pop. I have seen roaches survive a good few minute microwaving at a friends house once. Yuck I know. I think a roach would survive anything but a good shoe smashing.
1 person likes this
@easy888 (10405)
• Australia
28 Jun 07
Hello,wizard,you are cruel,you should not smash it so many times.When i see these insects,i may not tey to kill them by my hands,i will use the vacuum cleaner to suck them in so that they will not have any pain but i can still be able to remove them.
If i were the beetle,i hoped you would let me alive and give me some food as well.:P.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
28 Jun 07
Is there a difference? No I have no backyard. I am staying in a hermit's hut.
4 people like this
@kayrod2 (1304)
• Australia
28 Jun 07
Well, frankly, that little beetle shouldnt of entered your house without being invited. It is home invasion! I dont blame you for killing it, and dont feel guilty. I never do. A couple of my kids might feel different though. The beetle probably wasnt happy with you, though.haha
Best wishes to you, wizard.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
28 Jun 07
Exactly. I felt it was intrusion too - especially after I made it clear by shutting the window blinds on it.
4 people like this
@brendalee (6082)
• United States
28 Jun 07
I try hard not to kill things like that. I will do everything I can to get it outside, like trying to get it into a cup and then placing a lid over it, then running it outside to let it go. the only things I will kill are mosquitoes,bees and those real ugly looking spiders. I don't feel any quilt at all when I kill them. I just killed a bee the other night with a broom. I beat it over and over. And then I flushed it down the drain.
4 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
28 Jun 07
Sometimes they just won't leave no matter what.
*hmph*
3 people like this
@ethanmama (1745)
• Philippines
28 Jun 07
Hmmm, I don't generally kill insects because...yuck! I don't like seeing their carcass! Be it a fly or a cockroach or what, I get goosebumps from seeing their innards spilling out or the whole body flattened. Ugh!
But to answer your question, no, I don't really get guilty. But my mom, who's a Buddhist (they are taught NOT to kill even insects) would scold me about it!
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
28 Jun 07
Haha, that's why I use a tissue. :P
1 person likes this
@youdontsay (3497)
• United States
28 Jun 07
LOL. Well, I don't kill insects if I can avoid it. But I don't actually struggle with the decision. If it is going to bite or harm me, its gone! If it isn't likely to harm me but might frighten my weak-kneed partner, I might kill it. Usually I just try to move it out of the way. Most spiders are harmless enough and their webs kill other insects. So I don't like to kill them if they are in the house.
And, there are some bugs I just can't abide - roaches, for instance. And flys are so dirty and aggrivating that I try to keep them out of the house.
I try to respect life in all forms. But I'm not perfect either. So I've killed a few things in my lifetime. I don't feel a lot of guilt however. More like regret that I felt I had to do it.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
28 Jun 07
So you end up killing them most of the time anyway.:P
1 person likes this
@mssnow (9484)
• United States
28 Jun 07
YOU KILLED AN INNOCENT BEATLE!!!!!!!!??????? Shame on you Lord!!!! Why didn't you just pick it up and throw it back outside. I mean REALLY!!!! How would you like it if you accidentally wondered into a giants lair and he squashed you. Made you suffer for a while before killing you? Would you like that// WOULD YOU?? You have made me very sad. *cries* I'm gonna tell!!!!
You are guilty!! Take your punishment like a man.
4 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
28 Jun 07
Say what you are thinking, princess. You mean, why didn't I capture that beetle and send it to you so that you can fry it and eat it with your cranberry sauce! :P
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
28 Jun 07
UGH I hate bugs and beetles so sorry they get no sympathy from me. However if I was a beetle or bug, I would be trying my hardest to bite you if you ever came near me LMAO
@Melissa528 (744)
• United States
28 Jun 07
LMAO! I wouldn't have killed him (or her). I would have ran away and screamed for someone else to do it for me! I hate bugs and I don't feel guily when I see them go. I'm such a witch (with a b). LOL
4 people like this
@rakhii (1302)
• India
28 Jun 07
Why to feel guilty for that. Its part of life. There are so many animals in the world which are to be killed for some or the other reason. We kill some animals to eat them (though I dont do that coz i am vegetarian), some are killed to prepare leather, and yet others are killed to do experiments on them. Then what is the harm in killing the beetle coz if you dont kill that, it will bite you and may even cause you harm, disease you. So, dont mind and stay cool.
3 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
28 Jun 07
Right. So in a way, this time I am the predator, that poor beetle is the prey.
1 person likes this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
29 Jun 07
Alright I am just the hunter not the predator. I did NOT eat the beetle. :P
@gotcho0O (1257)
• United States
28 Jun 07
You're funny but I know what you mean. Kudos for you. I can cope up and feel the same way. I have a phobia thing with insects and all that. And whenever I saw one in my way, I would definitely do the same thing that you did to the beetle. But before that, you might think I'm crazy and weird but I did talk before I kill it. I'll say "sorry but I'm really scared" and that's how it works.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
28 Jun 07
Maybe when you kill enough, you won't have that phobia anymore. :P
2 people like this
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
28 Jun 07
I do feel guilty about not finishing them off quickly but I don't feel overall guilt for killing them. Most if not all of the insects that come into our homes are in no danger of becoming extinct. People on the other hand can die if bitten by the wrong bug. I'm sure each insect was quite happy in it's little insect community and will be missed by it's friends and family but it is unfortunately a necessary evil. If a person went around harming other people, sucking out blood and potentially infecting them with deadly disease surely society would want that person to be eliminated. If we can take that opinion over a human life than surely we can do the same over an insect.
3 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
28 Jun 07
Yup. My guilt was really more for not finishing it off quickly than finishing it in the first place.
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
28 Jun 07
Hmm... I would have done the same in a similar situation. I have been bitten by one before and the swelling takes heck of a long time to heal.
Usually I will try to scope the fella up and throw it out the window. If they fly back again, I will again try to scope it up and throw it out the window. If it comes in again, it will meet the fate you described above.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
28 Jun 07
You mean beetle will bite? Serious?!!
They usually just fly then land somewhere where you cannot but notice - like on my bed or right in front of the TV in when I am watching TV.
1 person likes this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
29 Jun 07
Geez, thanks for the advice. Good thing I used tiiiiisue. :P
@derek_a (10873)
•
28 Jun 07
It seems like you are very sensitive person and I tend to be that way too. I do my best not to kill anything, but accidents happen from time to time. But there is no point in sitting around blaming myself and feeling guilty about it, because what it done is done and cannot be undone.
No, I wouldn't hate you if I were a beetle. I would probably be too busy wondering what the hell had happened to me. One minute I was flying around minding my own business, the next I am having the life crushed out of me.. It's karma :-)
3 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
29 Jun 07
Sure, that can be your backup plan.:P
1 person likes this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
28 Jun 07
Lol you are funny too!
-- I would probably be too busy wondering what the hell had happened to me. One minute I was flying around minding my own business, the next I am having the life crushed out of me..
OMG, I cannot stop laughing!!! :PPP
1 person likes this
@di1indilin (802)
• India
28 Jun 07
I don't think it was wrong of u to kill that beetle, actually i thank u for it ,what if it came into my room?!! ;)
