Seriously, it is torture! Cruelty! I mean sure it is kind of cool-ish but I want some psychoanalysis here, why? Why?
2007-09-21 14:55:58 · 15 answers · asked by Krissy-Girl : ) 2 in Health ➔ Mental Health
POWER. A way to express control over those who are smaller and weaker.
2007-09-21 15:00:26 · answer #1 · answered by ruby 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Kids Magnifying Glasses
2016-10-16 10:52:54 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Small children do not have the understanding that you do as it being cruel, or even torture. A lot of children only have concrete moralistic thinking, whereas you've got universal moral thinking (at least according to Kohlberg's theory of moral development).
An ant is a very small, if insignificant thing to children. Their curiosity is a very strong drive and for the most part, they cannot help it. It's fascinating to them and it also fulfills a small part of feeling in power and in control.
If you're truly concerned, I would try to bring the issue to a level they can understand. For instance, take them aside and explain to them that since the ants aren't bothering them, they should be left alone. After all, if they saw a lost cat or dog, little children wouldn't try to hurt them, but instead they'd get all sappy. Explain to them that even though it may seem fun and interesting, ants are just another part of nature that should be respected.
In all honesty unless you're a diehard PETA person, I wouldn't worry about it. Some children have far worse fascinations than burning ants. I've dealt with children who thought it was funny to hurt others, and even admitted it in full conscience. Now *that* is scary.
2007-09-21 15:04:51 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymousgirl 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They haven't developed the part of their brain yet where they can see from another point of view, so they aren't really comprehending the fact that the ant is feeling pain. They really also are too innocent to know what death is, so they don't think much of it. Plus... it's tiny ants. Even most adults don't think much of ants.
2007-09-21 15:04:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Insects are too small for kids or most people to empathisize with. You don;t hear of kids burning cats under a magnifying glass. Bugs is bugs, ever concern yourslef when you swat a fly or kill a mosiquito?
2007-09-21 15:03:06 · answer #5 · answered by davster 6 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Kids are usually interested in death and trying to understand how it works. They also probably want to see the reaction as the ants start burning.
2007-09-21 15:04:36 · answer #6 · answered by Stashie 2 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Unless parents teach a small child consideration and to place him/herself in another's position, they don't understand how others can suffer. My own children wouldn't dream of inflicting such pain on a living creature and become very upset when others do so.
2007-09-21 15:04:09 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
cruelty? to ants? lord next thing you will want people to stop taking antibiotics cause they will hurt the poor little bacteria that are killing them. Get a grip, they are ants for pete's sake. Housewives kill them in the millions to keep them out of thier kitchens, they spread bacteria and can make people ill. You need to re-think your priorities.
2007-09-21 15:04:01 · answer #8 · answered by essentiallysolo 7 · 5⤊ 2⤋
Because they finally have control over something..it's smaller than them and they can do anything they want, include end it's life and there's nothing it can do to protest.
It's their way of relieving the stress of hearing "because I said so" more times than they can remember.
2007-09-21 15:15:41 · answer #9 · answered by SnowWhite 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its Fun!
I never done it before though, The sun isn't strong Enough where i live. And if you mean very little, they probably don't know what they're doing.
2007-09-21 15:00:33 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋