I don’t like squashing bugs!

[Henro]

I know this is strange, but one thing I noticed over the last few years is that I’m more aware of life in general. To the point where I have no problem with swatting a mosquito, since it is attacking me. But to step on a bug on the floor, or to squash one that lands on my iPad screen has become an unfortunate event if I do it. I kind of feel guilty!

When I was young, like high school age, I used to trap animals and do my best to cure the pelts and so on and so forth. But now it just seems like I don’t want to hurt anything.

I guess I’m a strange, strange animal. I still eat hamburgers and steak though! And I love sushi…

 

[fried1765]

I know this is strange, but one thing I noticed over the last few years is that I’m more aware of life in general. To the point where I have no problem with swatting a mosquito, since it is attacking me. But to step on a bug on the floor, or to squash one that lands on my iPad screen has become an unfortunate event if I do it. I kind of feel guilty!

When I was young, like high school age, I used to trap animals and do my best to cure the pelts and so on and so forth. But now it just seems like I don’t want to hurt anything.

I guess I’m a strange, strange animal. I still eat hamburgers and steak though! And I love sushi…

It is an age thing.
Sometimes referred to as "mellowing".
I be there too!

 

[chim]

Reminds me of when #1 Son's family visited here several years ago. The granddaughter was around 9 years old and was lobbying for her class at school to adopt a pig as a class pet. She had a hand-drawn book and petitions for her classmates to sign. One of her DIY publications was for her P.R.O. (Pig Rights Operation).

Anyway, after she held a session to indoctrinate Wifey and me into her pig protection scheme, we all went over to my BIL's to admire a new calf. With the P.R.O fresh in her mind, Wifey asked the granddaughter "What do you think Ellie? Do cows have rights too?" Without much hesitation, Ellie answered "I don't know grandma, I like my hamburgers".

 

[Biker1mike]

Outdoors the bugs can have at it, within reason. I spray for termites and carpenter ants.
In the house, spiders and flies are not tolerated. Most other crawly things are picked up and put outside.

The pelt from first rabbit that I had to chase for hours to put down with my pellet gun hung on my bedroom wall for years. I was not overly impressed with stew that it went into. My mom would have smacked me silly if I wounded it and did not put it out of it's misery.

 

[GeoHorn]

I know this is strange, but one thing I noticed over the last few years is that I’m more aware of life in general. To the point where I have no problem with swatting a mosquito, since it is attacking me. But to step on a bug on the floor, or to squash one that lands on my iPad screen has become an unfortunate event if I do it. I kind of feel guilty!

When I was young, like high school age, I used to trap animals and do my best to cure the pelts and so on and so forth. But now it just seems like I don’t want to hurt anything.

I guess I’m a strange, strange animal. I still eat hamburgers and steak though! And I love sushi…

)

Life is precious. It should be properly respected.

 

[old and tired]

There are a lot less bugs in the world... once they are gone, so are the birds and mammals that live off of them... Used to have bugs around our porch lights with spider webs, they have gone the way of dodo birds... We are not too far beyond.

 

[GeoHorn]

There are a lot less bugs in the world... once they are gone, so are the birds and mammals that live off of them... Used to have bugs around our porch lights with spider webs, they have gone the way of dodo birds... We are not too far beyond.

Yep….the mason-jars full of lightning-bugs are a long-gone memory.

 

[NCL4701]

I like bugs, spiders, centipedes, mice, snakes, all manner of stuff so long as it stays outside where it belongs (house flies might be an exception). I truly enjoy and appreciate the beauty and variety even of the less cuddly creatures. In the house, it either leaves or dies, depending primarily on the probability of its return.

Seems almost universal with things that truly have a “home”. If I get into an ant nest, hornet nest, coyote den, etc., doesn’t matter if accidental or not, they’re most likely going to make a concerted effort to remove me.

And I do hunt for meat (we eat a decent amount of venison; very little beef) but I’ve shot a lot more deer with a camera than I have with a .308. Shots are short, 200 yards or less, so I haven’t taken out a deer with anything other than a head shot since I don’t know when. I’d much rather miss one than wound one I can’t recover.

When I was younger a vitals shot at longer ranges was a viable option. Not sure it is now so long as there’s beef at the store and money in the bank.

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

Death is easier to deal with as I get older. The opposite of what the OP mentioned. If you were smaller than a bug, it would eat you and not feel bad about it. Not even shed a tear.

Inside the house, we kill the bugs. Outside, we don't. Unless they are mosquitoes or wasps attacking us or carpenter bees attacking the house. Same with squirrels. If they are dropping acorns down my roof's vent pipes and waking me up a 4AM running around on the roof. My Ruger 22 takes them out the next day or so.

You don't see me climbing trees and messing with their home in the crook of a tree. So don't mess with my home.

 

[mikester]

You will feel better if you start swatting flies with your ipad.

 

[Biker1mike]

Done with chores and having a glass when this spider decided to join the party. Any spider sitting on a blue tooth speaker playing Kashmir has earned the right to continue on.