Love the bugs.

Yeah, you heard it here. Love every little crawly thing that makes you nervous, or anything that makes you afraid for that matter. It's not the bug, or the scary movie, or the experience, just the way your system deals with it.

I used to be freaked out by bugs, the old me. I dunno what it was really, I guess all those crazy mouthparts and eyes. But you know, that's a valid existence too man, and those guys have a good time in their own way, and you know it.

Was checking out a mantis tonight, perched on my screen window, anchored in space with nothing but the fine legs on his four legs, the rest of his body balanced beautifully there, his eyes scanning the lights for gnats to eat. This guy, this hunter, I really dig him. Maybe it's a she. I'm not sure, but I do know that our little bug friends are good people too and fucking smart and beautiful in their own ways, and maybe we shouldn't be too mean towards them.

 

Dude, right on I also have mild "bug issues," but I have come to appreciate them much more. It's so amazing how, despite being very very low as individuals in what we would call intelligence, they combine to form hives/colonies etc. in amazing ways to do crazy crazy things things. To think that bees make honey... I mean, it's nuts. Spider webs are also beautiful, and spiders help us so much by keeping the ecosystem in balance.

One thing that helped me become better friends with bugs was to camp a little bit. I realized that although bugs can be annoying, the chances of me being seriously injured by a bug is very small. If you just chill out, they will, for the most part, do the same For thousands of years, people have lived "primitively," and they would laugh at a fear of bugs when illness, bears, droughts and the like are always looming. It's just not logical to fear or to dislike bugs - they do cool things, they are one of the most important groups of living things on the planet as far as keeping the food chain running, and they are far less dangerous than cars.

By the way, you really did hit the nail on the head about the eyes and mouthparts... I totally feel you on that. and you know, I think it's important to note why something like that is disturbing to us. It's because really, as you explain, we are no different from the bugs. They have eyes and a mouth just like we do, but theirs are so strange that it is scary to us. Bugs are another part of life, just as humans are part of life, and it is kind of weird to think that we are truly related to bugs. But we are. Disturbing? Maybe, not really. Best to accept it

 

Just spread the good vibrations!
Well done again!

 

What does this have to do with acid trips though? .. You are intrigued by too much. Someone like you should get into an EXTREME sport where being bored is never an option.

 

Brother sw0o0sh, once again I don't mean to be ageist and I hate to say things which could be less than pleasant for the intended listener, but as an older human who has come an awful long way since he was 16, I think it is wise for me to inform you that both this and the flossing thing are flying right over your head.

It is really funny to me, although not surprising, that anyone would criticize another person for being too excited about life. I don't know about you, but there have been times in my life when I was depressed and absolutely nothing interested me or excited me, not even enough to get out of bed, so I think any time that someone is fascinated by the wonders of life, it is a precious thing. There are many people who don't see the beauty in this world, and for them life can be very challenging, filled with suffering, boredom, questioning, etc. I'm not trying to be a dick, just trying to turn you on to a point of view which has helped me stay sane in this crazy world, which is to cherish the small treats in life, the details... like bugs Many of those little details are some of the best things in life, and they often go unnoticed despite being right in our faces.

 

I think there are definitely good bugs and bad bugs. Praying mantises, ladybugs, and butterflies are good bugs. Mosquitos, centipedes, and spiders that get all up in your space are bad bugs.

 

If you got that perception, you probably think that there are good and bad people. But when (if) you reach that stage that you love any man without thinking is he good or bad, than you will also love any bug or any wonder of nature as it is. There is no person (or bug) that doesn't have anything good in themselfes, so love them because of that, don't hate them becose of something else.
This thinking is similar to following:
Start your day being happy because of the things you have, don't start your day miserable because of the things you don't have. Than you start loving every single little thing, and actually appritiate life as it is, beeing happy and honoured that you are alive, spreading that devine feeling to others.

 

Oh no! Spiders are not bad at all! I love sharing my home with them....they are the ones that capture the pesky flies (ok flies, I know you have a purpose too!)

All creatures, are welcome in my home.....I love watching them go about their business....gathering, building, feeding, reproducing, etc. My porch light attracts some of the most brilliant winged creatures you have ever seen.....in all shades of the rainbow!

I'm a sucker for "wooley bear" caterpillars too.....when you first come across them they curl up to protect themselves and once in your hand will open up and start to move about....most of the time, you can't get them off....they will just stay in your hand or latch onto your shirt and ride around all day....until you find a nice plant or tree to deposit them on : )

Mr. Warmth.....the female Mantis is larger than the male....her tummy is also thicker than his....interestingly enough, they mate and then she will devour him : )

 

You are correct, I do think that way to an extent (I'm working on it though, it's a process) but bad people can be a lot of fun to hang out with (I've got some good friends who are strong supporters of the Republican party in America). I can't really think of any redeeming qualities of mosquitos. I've come a long way with my feelings towards bugs myself, like the OP. For example, I used to be arachnophobic to the point where I would have terrible panic attacks whenever I saw spiders. Then, after I moved to Japan and was told of the local custom of never killing spiders in the daytime in your house, I've stopped killing them in the daytime and have forced myself to appreciate and photograph some of the more exotic species and webs I've seen. It's a start.

 

i thought that way too til i realised they're food for fish...life is one inclusive system, and everything has a place and everything has a beauty - even if our minds judge it as "bad" cos it fucks with our comfort zones...
having said that, if a mozzie gets under my net and catches me at 2am, boy do i smack it senselesss...!! with love of course. :

 

i spent a good solid hour trying to get some ants to eat prasadam. the monks were being very helpful when i'd ask them questions but i think they thought i was pretty crazy.

i love this thread

 

Wasn't trying to offend anyone, but flossing? lol
I have my hobbies

 

Yes, love everything and everyone. There is no good and no bad. What is good for you might be bad for me. It's just the way you perceive things right now. And it can be changed and it will be changed. Everything is in the perfect balance and has it's own beauty.

 

LSD led me to despise the idea of me keeping a pet.
Hindering such an animal to human ideals and lifestyles doesn't seem like the path for me.
Raising an animal based on attention rather than freedom seem a bit self-centered i do believe.

I guess that makes me anti-domestic in the animal sense.

except kitties.
they seem like they can operate on a whole different level on their own not requiring constant attention.

 

Yeah, but I think that cats/dogs enjoy living in a house rather than outside. I see it as we are giving protecting and a home for it to live in. I let my cat out whenever she wants, and comes back in a couple hours. She's had the chance to try and live in her own freedom for years, but she still comes home.

 

I agree that there's something weird about keeping animals inside etc., but I agree with AboveTheClouds that most pets LOVE their owners, and want nothing nothing more than to be cared by them and loved by them.

 

cats are really cool. i understand why the ancient egyptians loved them so much.

entables - i love your sig picture by the way

 

There is a huge difference between keeping animals boxed up in cages and crates in a basement and coexisting with them in your home....having house cats and dogs or any small animal and living "beside" them is wonderful...our animals rule the house, sometimes I feel like they are the bosses around this place : ) We have both house cats and barn cats and the barn cats never wander further than the neighbors house to score treats from them...they could leave if they wanted to, but they choose to stay....they are always sitting at the backdoor in the morning waiting to walk up to the barn with me and show me what they have caught over night....and sometimes, if I am lucky they leave a "gift" of a mouse or squirrel at the doorstep....and they are always so proud of what they brought me : )

I also have horses....and the Arabians, who were once (and in some parts still do) roamed free over the deserts of the Middle East have been domesticated and refined over hundreds of years to live with humans....as companions, work and war horses and transportation. My Thoroughbred on the other hand....well, his breed was created by man by mixing bloodlines of Arabians and other breeds to create specific traits....speed, beauty, temperment, etc......his breed has never been "free roaming" and you can sure tell! The Arabs can get along without us for the most part,they are hardy and know how to scavenge for food, water and shelter....my TB on the other hand becomes nervous if he is not brought in from the field at a specific time, breaks out in hives if he is out too long in the bug season and would be a skeleton if not for a specific diet....

I know this is alot of long-winded equine jibber jabber, but I wanted to try to show the difference between animals in the wild and free roamers and domesticated, man made traits in animals....we cannot undue what man has done in the past to create relationships with our animal partners....they benefit us in a huge way.....and if treated fair and with love and given what they need, we too benefit them.....I say this with my english bulldog snoring away on my lap....without animals in my life, I would only be half a human....they taught me to love, when humans have deserted me and taught me to be cautious...they have show'd me the light.

 

I dunno about bugs but I was trippin and on my way back up to my house there was a snake climbing up the stairs and it almost felt like I was on the same mindset of it and could feel what it was feeling. I agree about the pets thing too, I dont really like keeping my bird in a cage but she really loves people and would never make it own her own. I don't think she knows she is even a bird

 

Our cockatiel calls the dogs in the morning for breakfast....it's hilarious.....he also rings and answers the phone, calculates like a calculator, does the "woof whistle" when a hot chick comes inside, and ask me constantly "what are you doing?!?!"