# Have you ever killed anything before in your life? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 12, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-killed-anything-before-in-your-life/618601 "2012-04-12T20:15:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-killed-anything-before-in-your-life/618601/61 "2012-04-13T03:42:38Z")
Breaking the necks of laboratory rats by whacking their heads against the edge of the bench. That, so I was taught, is the scientific way to do it. Pithing frogs (a pin into the brain, and waggling it about). Taking antibiotics. Picking flowers. ---
**Author:** ![LVBoPeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-killed-anything-before-in-your-life/618601/62 "2012-04-13T04:05:32Z")
I’ve killed several older lambs for food, one adult sheep that broke her neck and two baby lambs that had a genetic illness that was not treatable and they were in bad shape. I’ve never hunted but I’ve fished occasionally over my lifetime. I’ve held countless animals for euthanasia. Then the usual bugs I guess. Can’t think of anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-killed-anything-before-in-your-life/618601/63 "2012-04-13T04:50:47Z")
What about plants? I once killed a shrubbery. It has haunted me ever since. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-killed-anything-before-in-your-life/618601/64 "2012-04-13T05:50:32Z")
I once survived a kamakazi attack by a quail by breaking its neck. I was just riding my motorcycle, minding my own business when suddenly a flock of quail came out of the shrubs and flew across the road. One of them hit me in the side and knocked the wind out of me and I lost control and went over. After I managed to stagger to my feet, pick up my bike and access the damage, I saw the body of my assailent. I’m weird enough that I was happy that its neck was broken because birds who break their breastbones by flying into windows suffer. Like the rest of the responders, of course I’ve killed things. I do rescue and we test for FIV and FIP. I’ve had litters of kittens euthed. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-killed-anything-before-in-your-life/618601/65 "2012-04-13T13:20:31Z")
Wallabies I think were the largest. Maybe a small kangaroo. many rabbits. However, now, no- except for feral pigs, goats or such. ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-killed-anything-before-in-your-life/618601/66 "2012-04-13T15:16:10Z")
Deer, grouse, pheasants, rabbits, squirrels, mice, fish, chickens, rats, porcupine, time. ---
**Author:** ![what\_do\_I\_type\_here](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a5b964/32.png) [@what\_do\_I\_type\_here](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/what_do_I_type_here)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-killed-anything-before-in-your-life/618601/67 "2012-04-13T16:57:16Z")
I shot a bee and ran over a turtle with a golf cart. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-killed-anything-before-in-your-life/618601/68 "2012-04-13T18:04:48Z")
My ex-husband used to shoot squirrels in the backyard because (to him) they were pests. Once, when he was gone, I saw this poor squirrel that he had hit, but not killed. He was dragging his paralyzed back half by his two front legs. I knew that he was suffering and wouldn’t have a chance in the world. I got the bb gun and got as close to him as I could and gave him his freedom. I had never shot a gun before. I hated it. I’m crying right now as I type this. I will never forget it. And I was sad that I had to do it, but I knew it was the right thing to do. I suppose I respect the people who kill things and actually eat them (not just for sport); but I will never understand the mindset that allows someone to pull a trigger and end a life. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-killed-anything-before-in-your-life/618601/69 "2012-04-13T18:35:02Z")
Yes. Lots of things. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-killed-anything-before-in-your-life/618601/70 "2012-04-13T18:38:51Z")
Never killed nothing that dint need killing. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-killed-anything-before-in-your-life/618601/71 "2012-04-13T18:41:53Z")
I hurt somebody’s feelings once. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-killed-anything-before-in-your-life/618601/72 "2012-04-13T18:47:49Z")
If I find bugs, with the exception of fireflies, in the house, I will try very hard to kill them. Fireflies I try to catch and release. I’ve killed plants via neglect, if that counts. I’ve directly killed plants with herbicides to get weeds out of our patio. I had a couple of trees cut down in our yard, because they were sickly or hollow and I didn’t want them to fall down. I tried to flush a mouse out of its hiding place so Katya could kill it, but I was not successful. If I had been, would that have counted? I’m not sure all the squirrels I had the critter control guys evict from our porch roof survived being relocated. I’ve heard that relocation like that is hard on them, because it takes them away from their stores of food. They were all alive when I last saw them in the traps, though. ---
**Author:** ![myrnajean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@myrnajean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myrnajean)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-killed-anything-before-in-your-life/618601/73 "2012-04-13T19:36:48Z")
Fish, mice, rats, a dove once, but it was a mercy killing, a water moccasin that got caught on my fishing line, countless bugs and crayfish… ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-killed-anything-before-in-your-life/618601/74 "2012-04-13T20:01:13Z")
> [@what\_do\_I\_type\_here](#): > > I shot a bee and ran over a turtle with a golf cart. I think this story requires a thread of its own. ---
**Author:** ![AndyLee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@AndyLee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyLee)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-killed-anything-before-in-your-life/618601/75 "2012-04-13T20:19:26Z")
Fish, rabbits, squirrels, mice, bugs, birds ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-killed-anything-before-in-your-life/618601/76 "2012-04-13T21:10:34Z")
I spent two summers working grounds maintenance for my hometown school district when I was in college. Someday, the families of the thousands upon thousands of weeds I murdered in cold blood will have their revenge. (Looks out french doors at back yard.) Crap! They’ve found me! ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-killed-anything-before-in-your-life/618601/77 "2012-04-13T21:38:06Z")
I kill houseplants all the time. Also, thyme. Can’t grow that shit, no matter how hard I try. As for the more animal-type creatures, I’ve only ever killed bugs on purpose. Little ones get stomped or swatted, big ones get hit with sweet Raid nerve gas, because I don’t want to have to clean a teaspoon of spider innards off the wall. I once hit a squirrel with my car and made the mistake of looking in the rearview mirror. Poor little guy. I hate what they do to my garden but I wouldn’t kill them on purpose. He did that stupid squirrel thing where he darts out, changes his mind, changes it again, and ends up under the car right after I speed back up thinking he’s gone back to the yard. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-killed-anything-before-in-your-life/618601/78 "2012-04-13T21:57:21Z")
Oh sometimes I think back to when I was younger Life was so much simpler then Dad would be up at dawn, he’d be waterin’ the lawn Or maybe goin’ fishin’ again Oh and Mom would be fixin’ up somethin’ in the kitchen Fresh biscuits or hot apple pie And I’d spend all day long in the basement Torturing rats with a hacksaw and pulling the wings off of flies (‘Weird Al’ Yankovic, _Good Old Days_) Um, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Imago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/85e7bf/32.png) [@Imago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imago)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-killed-anything-before-in-your-life/618601/79 "2012-04-13T22:22:00Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > “Hey, buddy, what’s the big idea?! I WAS WALKING ON THAT LEG! Why don’t you just put me out of my misery?” Hahahaha. Precisely. ---
**Author:** ![dngnb8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@dngnb8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dngnb8)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-killed-anything-before-in-your-life/618601/80 "2012-04-13T23:07:26Z")
Yes, Ive killed many threads on message boards… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-killed-anything-before-in-your-life/618601.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-killed-anything-before-in-your-life/618601.md?page=5)