# I Pit "Monster Bug Wars" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 12, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-monster-bug-wars/578044 "2011-04-12T02:22:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-monster-bug-wars/578044/1 "2011-04-12T02:22:25Z")
The Science Channel has decided to add gladiator programming to it’s lineup. Here are a few choice quotes from [one of their press releases](http://press.discovery.com/us/sci/programs/monster-bug-wars/) for _Monster Bug Wars_. > [@](#): > > THE INSECT WORLD GETS READY TO RUMBLE… > [@](#): > > Two Bugs Enter, One Bug Leaves… > [@](#): > > …combines the fun of a classic 1950s monster movie with the intense action of a steel cage match… I just find it really distasteful that a network purportedly dedicated to science and education is promoting blood sports. Actually, when I heard of it, I didn’t believe anyone would program something so tacky. Stupid me – everything I’ve found online about it says they did, though I haven’t (and won’t) watched. an episode personally. It is exactly the same same as cock fighting or dog fighting, except that you would need a microscope to see it. When I was… I dunno, 5 or 6?.. I did my share of brutally killing insects, but I actually grew out of it. On the plus side, if Michael Vick’s football career goes south, he can pick up a gig as a color commentator. ---
**Author:** ![Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/aca169/32.png) [@Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inbred_Mm_domesticus)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-monster-bug-wars/578044/2 "2011-04-12T02:34:27Z")
So how many fucking gazelles have you watched get wasted in your lifetime? Just a round number please. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-monster-bug-wars/578044/3 "2011-04-12T02:39:19Z")
They don’t put the lion and the gazelle in a box and arrange the slaughter. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-monster-bug-wars/578044/4 "2011-04-12T03:09:50Z")
Do bugs even feel pain? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-monster-bug-wars/578044/5 "2011-04-12T03:12:02Z")
> [@Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](#): > > So how many fucking gazelles have you watched get wasted in your lifetime? Just a round number please. No fucking gazelles, though it’d explain why they didn’t see the lion coming. In human terms it’s the difference between a reporter documenting a killing in a news story, verses the reporter climbing the bell tower and picking them off himself and writing about it. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-monster-bug-wars/578044/6 "2011-04-12T03:12:27Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > Do bugs even feel pain? Only the female bugs that are in touch with the Earth goddess. The males are just souless uncaring and unfeeling bastards. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-monster-bug-wars/578044/7 "2011-04-12T03:13:35Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > In human terms it’s the difference between reporter documenting a killing in a news story, verses the reporter climbing the bell tower and picking them off himself. Just when I thought the FOX lineup was getting lame… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-monster-bug-wars/578044/8 "2011-04-12T03:19:38Z")
That said maybe I take back my first post. Maybe I’m wrong, but it doesn’t look like cock fighting so much as documenting how bugs hunt, and fight each other and stuff. From the OP’s link > [@](#): > > Featuring microscopic detail and stunning visuals, MONSTER BUG WARS offers an unparalleled look into the natural setting and fighting tactics of the world’s deadliest, creepiest creatures. To fully discover how different insect species kill, expert entomologists offer insight into the hunting, mating - and most importantly, the attack mechanisms - of these petite predators. With gruesome play-by-play commentary and horror movie sound effects to accompany the fatal fights, viewers will enter the miniature, yet ruthless, world that exists in every corner of the globe…from the back of your basement, to the depths of the Amazon jungle. It looks to me like it’s PBS’a Nature blended with Maximum Exposure (the show on cinder blocks in your front yard), and some Ow! My Balls! for good measure. If it’s a documentary of insect life styles, and not putting bugs in a box and letting them fight for the fun of it, then I don’t see how it’s like cock fighting at all. ---
**Author:** ![Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/aca169/32.png) [@Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inbred_Mm_domesticus)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-monster-bug-wars/578044/9 "2011-04-12T03:48:57Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > No fucking gazelles, though it’d explain why they didn’t see the lion coming. Now I want to see that! From the description I saw nothing to get excited about. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-monster-bug-wars/578044/10 "2011-04-12T13:28:49Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > It looks to me like it’s PBS’a Nature blended with Maximum Exposure (the show on cinder blocks in your front yard), and some Ow! My Balls! for good measure. If it’s a documentary of insect life styles, and not putting bugs in a box and letting them fight for the fun of it, then I don’t see how it’s like cock fighting at all. The commercials make it look like a documentary, only with a certain emphasis on the violent parts of insect life, complete with extreme zoom. It’s certainly not scorpions vs. spiders in a miniature Colosseum complete with tiny advertisements or anything like that. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-monster-bug-wars/578044/11 "2011-04-12T13:59:59Z")
> [@Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](#): > > So how many fucking gazelles have you watched get wasted in your lifetime? Just a round number please. Enough to root for the gazelle. I’d say far less than 50% of chases that they show end in escape for the prey, while in actuality it’s more like 90%. If 90% of the time they showed a chase, the gazelle got away, I’d start to root for the lion again. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-monster-bug-wars/578044/12 "2011-04-12T14:57:24Z")
> [@bump](#): > > It’s certainly not scorpions vs. spiders in a miniature Colosseum complete with tiny advertisements or anything like that. Sadly, my gut reaction is “I’d pay to see that, even if I’d also feel bad about it somehow.” ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-monster-bug-wars/578044/13 "2011-04-12T15:10:36Z")
> [@bump](#): > > It’s certainly not scorpions vs. spiders in a miniature Colosseum complete with tiny advertisements or anything like that. If they could miniaturize some Christians and chunk em in there too I think they would have a hit. Maybe do the same with some NASCARs and have them racing around the edge of the field. Then have a tiny Tony Hawk jumping the whole thing with a rocket powered skateboard. Put that in your pipe and smoke it Hitler Channel. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-monster-bug-wars/578044/14 "2011-04-12T15:16:12Z")
> [@Zeriel](#): > > Sadly, my gut reaction is “I’d pay to see that, even if I’d also feel bad about it somehow.” Your wish…is granted! [Japanese Bug Fights](http://www.japanesebugfights.com/) Here’s the [scorpion vs. tarantula](http://www.japanesebugfights.com/17.htm) episode, which is one of the more boring ones, actually. You want excitement, watch a centipede; surprisingly nasty. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-monster-bug-wars/578044/15 "2011-04-12T16:25:19Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > Your wish…is granted! > > [Japanese Bug Fights](http://www.japanesebugfights.com/) > > Here’s the [scorpion vs. tarantula](http://www.japanesebugfights.com/17.htm) episode, which is one of the more boring ones, actually. You want excitement, watch a centipede; surprisingly nasty. The scariest thing I’ve ever seen on a visceral level was a nature-show documentary involving those 12"+ Amazon centipedes hunting mice. ---
**Author:** ![Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/aca169/32.png) [@Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inbred_Mm_domesticus)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-monster-bug-wars/578044/16 "2011-04-12T17:04:11Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Enough to root for the gazelle. I’d say far less than 50% of chases that they show end in escape for the prey, while in actuality it’s more like 90%. If 90% of the time they showed a chase, the gazelle got away, I’d start to root for the lion again. At least in this respect, our brains work the same. It would be nice to be able to watch animal documentaries without the multiple levels of drama added on to it, but it is probably a necessary evil. Personally I think the 10% success rate would really bring home how tough the lions’ lives are. Thank-you **Max Torque** ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-monster-bug-wars/578044/17 "2011-04-12T20:51:16Z")
> [@Zeriel](#): > > The scariest thing I’ve ever seen on a visceral level was a nature-show documentary involving those 12"+ Amazon centipedes hunting mice. Agree x elebenty. Centipede vs. Mouse remains the only YouTube video to ever make me scream like a little girl while groping wildly for the esc key. Eurgh. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-monster-bug-wars/578044/18 "2011-04-12T22:45:39Z")
Nu, cite? ---
**Author:** ![AtomicDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@AtomicDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicDog)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-monster-bug-wars/578044/19 "2011-04-13T01:05:05Z")
I’m trying to watch it now, but the goddam sound effects are getting on my fucking nerves. Dammit, insects do not roar! ---
**Author:** ![rockjon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/48db29/32.png) [@rockjon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockjon)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-monster-bug-wars/578044/20 "2011-04-17T01:52:44Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > They don’t put the lion and the gazelle in a box and arrange the slaughter. This program is set in natural habitats with natural predation sequences, just as any nature doco is. Unfortunately the tacky name is misleading. It is certainly not ‘in a box’. You are thinking of the ridiculous Japanese bug wars. Perhaps ‘Boyo Jim’, you should watch programs and get your facts straight before you mouth off an make a fool of yourself in the future. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-monster-bug-wars/578044.md?page=2)