My house has a lot of moths flying around and my mother bought some fly traps. She gave one to me and I put it in my bedroom, but now after seeing them on there twitching I feel bad knowing that it is my fault that they are suffering like that. Is it normal to not feel right about killing moths? I mean they are just insects and are invading our house and should be gotten rid of. But it feels so wrong knowing that I am making them suffer and that I am the reason they have to lose their life. It seems cruel to do it. Any thoughts on my situation?
2007-07-28 16:48:09 · 12 answers · asked by TheFireWithin 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
It's not totally uncommon to feel bad about killing bugs. It just means you have a sensitive, compassionate spirit, and that is a beautiful thing - never lose it!
I always feel a little twinge when I kill a bug too. There is nothing wrong with taking life seriously.
You can prevent the moths from coming in your house by placing cedar blocks around various places in your house. Since moths destroy clothes I have cedar blocks in my closet to prevent them. Moths hate the smell of cedar. You can get the blocks at any home-type store (ie Linens n Things or Bed Bath & Beyond), and this way you won't have to kill them because they won't be coming inside at all.
If your trouble with them is extreme, get cedar chips or shavings from a Home Depot type of store and spread them on the ground around the outside edge of your entire house. Should do a lot to keep bugs away.
Best of luck to you sweetie!
2007-07-28 17:00:55 · answer #1 · answered by Iris 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is perfectly normal to feel bad when seeing another creature suffer. In fact, I would say that it is a sign of, if not intelligence, then emotional maturity. When you see him struggling, you are essentially projecting yourself onto the moth. You wouldn't like that to happen to you. This is empathy, and it is a necessary condition to being a compassionate human being. Understanding that all sentient creatures suffer in life and that the greatest good you can do is to make life a little easier for them (or at least to create as little suffering as possible) is the basis of a noble morality, in my opinion. When applied strictly to humans, this position is known as 'humanism'. When applied to all the sentient creatures of the world, it is compassion in the broadest sense.
As to my last 2 links: I'm not a Buddhist (I'm an atheist), but I believe there is value in many Buddhist philosophies
2007-07-28 17:11:27 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
at first you might feel bad, but i had one stuck in my ear (which was slightly short of excruciating) and i now i want to prevent it at all costs. Maybe you should change the way you rid the house of them if seeing them struggle in the fly trap is disturbing. just get a fly swatter and swat away whenever you see them. They don't suffer long if at all when you kill moths that way.
2007-07-28 16:59:28 · answer #3 · answered by lipglossdiva 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
KILL THE BUG!
sry..I'm just really afraid of moths and spiders! but i do get how YOU (NOT ME) might feels bad about killing a bug...ima huge HUGE animal person and i cant stand 2 c a poor animal being hurt....but ya its OK 2 feel a Lil bad but it has 2 be done...it just means you have a sensitive side...and never let go of that!
2007-07-28 18:09:21 · answer #4 · answered by blakergrl96f 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, it just means that you're a very compassionate person! I feel the same way as you - I can't stand seeing anything suffer more than it was already.
Btw, if you're looking for more philosophical responses, you might want to try asking this in another area.
2007-07-28 17:12:29 · answer #5 · answered by Tunesmith 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
honestly yes all the time i get that way with most bugs. one of my friends really hates bugs to be more specific spiders and she lives in the woods since I'm there allot i have to kill quite a few and i almost always feel bad
2007-07-28 17:24:59 · answer #6 · answered by Ava Andree. 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
like you said you have a lot, and besides there are even more in other places. It's not like you are making a dent in the population. Besides, insects have very short life spans.
2007-07-28 17:57:15 · answer #7 · answered by Don Quixote de la Mancha 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Moths lay eggs that become larvae and do serious damage to clothing, draperies etc.
If they stay outside then I dont go out of my way to kill them.
2007-07-28 17:01:15 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wait till you go to sleep and find one flitting on your face or fluttering in your mouth. You will lose that attitude very quickly. Kill them before they lay eggs that make caterpillars eating holes in your woolen outfits.
I am sure if the situation was reversed that is what they would do to you.
2007-07-28 16:54:13 · answer #9 · answered by Rich Z 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Maybe prevention is key. Stop leaving your doors open, make sure that the windows are screened to prevent them form coming in.
2007-07-28 16:56:14 · answer #10 · answered by Obsidian A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋