ricky, it’s not about it being a dirty word, it’s about not using it in vain. It’s a particularly stringent interpretation of the Third Commandment, but it’s by no means recent. (Not that God’s name is “God”, of course.)
Most critters serve a function in the great balance of nature. I’d imagine that the function of annoying little beasties like flies and cockroaches is break down waste matter like feces. Plus they enhance our lives via the little bursts of satisfaction that we derive by squashin’ ’em.
Without the fragile and beautiful mosquito, how could God transmit all those delightful diseases he’s blessed Creation with? I recently read that mosquitos are by far the deadliest animal (to humans) in the world, and that more people have died from mosquito bites than from all other causes put together. (I don’t have the book with me, so I can’t provide the cite at the moment.)
Elsewhere (and earlier), I once read that mosquitos are NOT necessary to the “circle of life”, and that if all the little blood-suckers disappeared tomorrow, life on earth would chug merrily along without any unpleasant consequences (there are some animals, like bats, which eat mosquitos, but none which are DEPENDENT upon mosquitos to survive.)
Again, orinoco, I said no species is dependent upon mosquitos for survival. Besides, a lot of swallows could afford to lay off a bit. Most (if not all) European swallow are so unfit it takes two of them to carry a coconut.
(And if you can figure out a way to abolish the female mosquitos while sparing the males, I’d be willing to consider it.)
Well… every fly is a potential thanksgiving feast for some fortunate spider, and I think that many fish eat mosquitoes, too (along with your occasional out-of-shape coconut-toting European swallow), and chickens (I’ve been told) eat ticks (eeew!)… but what about bedbugs or fleas? Do they have any natural predators?
You know, I almost dropped Agnes from my comic list; however I find that Agnes encourages thoughts and comments that are more interesting than the strip itself.
Solarist almost 13 years ago
G-d? Seriously, G-d? Is that a dirty word now?
fritzoid Premium Member almost 13 years ago
ricky, it’s not about it being a dirty word, it’s about not using it in vain. It’s a particularly stringent interpretation of the Third Commandment, but it’s by no means recent. (Not that God’s name is “God”, of course.)
fishbulb239 almost 13 years ago
Most critters serve a function in the great balance of nature. I’d imagine that the function of annoying little beasties like flies and cockroaches is break down waste matter like feces. Plus they enhance our lives via the little bursts of satisfaction that we derive by squashin’ ’em.
fritzoid Premium Member almost 13 years ago
Without the fragile and beautiful mosquito, how could God transmit all those delightful diseases he’s blessed Creation with? I recently read that mosquitos are by far the deadliest animal (to humans) in the world, and that more people have died from mosquito bites than from all other causes put together. (I don’t have the book with me, so I can’t provide the cite at the moment.)
Elsewhere (and earlier), I once read that mosquitos are NOT necessary to the “circle of life”, and that if all the little blood-suckers disappeared tomorrow, life on earth would chug merrily along without any unpleasant consequences (there are some animals, like bats, which eat mosquitos, but none which are DEPENDENT upon mosquitos to survive.)
bossyheifer almost 13 years ago
fishbulb239 I concur!
orinoco womble almost 13 years ago
Only female mosquitoes suck blood. Male mosquitoes suck the sap out of plants (sap, juice, whatever). Make of that what you will.
Many birds eat mosquitoes, for example swallows etc.
fritzoid Premium Member almost 13 years ago
Again, orinoco, I said no species is dependent upon mosquitos for survival. Besides, a lot of swallows could afford to lay off a bit. Most (if not all) European swallow are so unfit it takes two of them to carry a coconut.
(And if you can figure out a way to abolish the female mosquitos while sparing the males, I’d be willing to consider it.)
baileydean almost 13 years ago
Well… every fly is a potential thanksgiving feast for some fortunate spider, and I think that many fish eat mosquitoes, too (along with your occasional out-of-shape coconut-toting European swallow), and chickens (I’ve been told) eat ticks (eeew!)… but what about bedbugs or fleas? Do they have any natural predators?
Kosher71 almost 13 years ago
Baruch hashem.
jewels.4him almost 13 years ago
You know, I almost dropped Agnes from my comic list; however I find that Agnes encourages thoughts and comments that are more interesting than the strip itself.
Thanks folks. Have a blessed day.