Double Standard

Suppose you opened your car door and found 20 butterflies fluttering about inside. Suppose you walk into your bedroom and see15 ladybugs on your wall. Would you freak out and think a plague has befallen you? You'd probably say awww, look at those pretty butterflies and carefully help them out of your car. The ladybugs would probably get the royal treatment, too. Butterflies and ladybugs are harmless, right? They don't carry diseases, they don't bite. They're completely harmless. Well, so are stinkbugs. They don't bite or carry diseases. Thankfully, I've never had more than 20 in my car, but let's face it - they're ugly. I hate them. I haven't talked to anyone yet who likes them. They look like a miniature prehistoric animal. They look scary and gross. The smell is not too bad unless you stomp a bunch of them at one time, so it all comes down to their looks. I'm starting to feel sorry for them. They're slow and maybe stupid or naive because they let you pick them up with a paper towel and mush them (of course you're making faces and cringing as you kill them). They go for rides on (and in) your car and get displaced. Do they miss their family? They hug a lot, maybe they bond and mourn when one of their own gets driven to Martinsburg, never to return. I feel sorry for them, but I hate them all the same. I wouldn't hate them if they looked like butterflies or ladybugs. I'm not sure I like what that says about me.