# I pit Spectre of Pithecanthropus' wife **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 31, 2016, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-spectre-of-pithecanthropus-wife/770314 "2016-10-31T23:10:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-spectre-of-pithecanthropus-wife/770314/101 "2016-11-02T21:26:45Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > [Praying Mantis egg cases](https://www.amazon.com/Praying-Mantis-Egg-Cases-100/dp/B000MR7B26) are easy to purchase/hatch if anyone wants/needs praying mantises. I’m almost tempted to buy one even though I live in an apartment and don’t have a garden. I miss the little buggers; they were a lot more common when I lived in a warmer climate. Last time I saw one up here was years ago, but it was cool because it was in flight–you seldom see them flying. I crossed the street to investigate what looked like a slow-flying, clumsy brown butterfly, and it turned out to be a mantis. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-spectre-of-pithecanthropus-wife/770314/102 "2016-11-02T21:53:27Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Just because he’s a tool too, doesn’t mean you’re not. However, if it makes you happy, I’ll use one where you say moron instead to make my point. > > Oh look, there’s one now. I, **The Great Unwashed** , hereby attest that, in the Pit, on the 2nd day of August in the year of 2016 did call **IvoryTowerDenizen** a moron. I was mistaken, and for this I am thoroughly ashamed. If I might beg the court’s indulgence I wish to offer in place of my unjustifiable and outlandish outburst: **IvoryTowerDenizen** is a precious little daisy, whose fragrant self deserves no criticism what-so-ever other than that she is an utter fucking moron who will shamelessly and apparently with no self-conscience squirm and wriggle her pointless little ass\* rather than admit a small _faux pas_. - this is a figure of speech you understand, I suppose yours to be _massive_ ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-spectre-of-pithecanthropus-wife/770314/103 "2016-11-02T22:10:29Z")
I didn’t make a mistake. I actually supported your OP and then you were acting like a tool and I decided to comment on it. I have no obligation to call out every tool in the thread. But as I said, if that example wasn’t to your liking, you are offering up plenty of alternatives. But please, carry on. Keep proving me wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-spectre-of-pithecanthropus-wife/770314/104 "2016-11-02T22:21:27Z")
> [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](#): > > I, **The Great Unwashed** , hereby attest that, in the Pit, on the 2nd day of August in the year of 2016 did call **IvoryTowerDenizen** a moron. > > I was mistaken, and for this I am thoroughly ashamed. If I might beg the court’s indulgence I wish to offer in place of my unjustifiable and outlandish outburst: > > **IvoryTowerDenizen** is a precious little daisy, whose fragrant self deserves no criticism what-so-ever other than that she is an utter fucking moron who will shamelessly and apparently with no self-conscience squirm and wriggle her pointless little ass\* rather than admit a small _faux pas_. > > - this is a figure of speech you understand, I suppose yours to be _massive_ Jesus Christ dude, step away from the computer for a couple of days. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-spectre-of-pithecanthropus-wife/770314/105 "2016-11-02T22:27:07Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I didn’t make a mistake. I actually supported your OP and then you were acting like a tool and I decided to comment on it. I have no obligation to call out every tool in the thread. > > But as I said, if that example wasn’t to your liking, you are offering up plenty of alternatives. But please, carry on. Keep proving me wrong. Okay, shoot, give me these “alternatives” (that fall after your first post, you know back when you were supporting me). Except the “wanker” – directed at **Bryan Ekers** – which is just a play-word between us Brits (he might be Canadian, fuck, he might be Chinese, how would I know?) besides it’s fair comment, you’ll find I’ve calmed down quite a lot since the OP. So, please, go on, make your case. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-spectre-of-pithecanthropus-wife/770314/106 "2016-11-02T22:48:12Z")
> [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](#): > > I bet it knows how to use an apostrophy, and maybe a period. > > By the way, your plan is so incredibly dumb – if put into action the extinction of all animal life on the planet would soon follow. I don’t care, its a fucking insect. In fact, when I get home, I’m going to find an insect and kill it in your name. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2016, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-spectre-of-pithecanthropus-wife/770314/107 "2016-11-03T01:12:20Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > The true irony is when (some) animal-rights activists are horrified if someone harms a puppy or kitten, yet themselves squeal, “Kill the spider! BURN THAT SPIDER WITH FIRE.” Hello? Spiders and insects are part of Kingdom Animalia, just like koala bears and pandas. There are also those who say it’s awful to eat the meat of a dog or cat( something I admittedly have never done, and would prefer not to ever do) yet happily eat lobster. I once heard someone joke \*“The dffierence between a kitten and a lobster is that the latter never got it’s claws tangled in your ball of yarn.” \* ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2016, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-spectre-of-pithecanthropus-wife/770314/108 "2016-11-03T01:30:56Z")
> [@YogSothoth](#): > > I don’t care, its a fucking insect. In fact, when I get home, I’m going to find an insect and kill it in your name. Please don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2016, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-spectre-of-pithecanthropus-wife/770314/109 "2016-11-03T01:39:41Z")
> [@YogSothoth](#): > > I don’t care, its a fucking insect. In fact, when I get home, I’m going to find an insect and kill it in your name. See if you can’t find a stinkbug. I HATE stinkbugs. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2016, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-spectre-of-pithecanthropus-wife/770314/110 "2016-11-03T01:42:55Z")
> [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](#): > > I, **The Great Unwashed** , hereby attest that, in the Pit, on the 2nd day of August in the year of 2016 did call **IvoryTowerDenizen** a moron. > > I was mistaken, and for this I am thoroughly ashamed. If I might beg the court’s indulgence I wish to offer in place of my unjustifiable and outlandish outburst: > > **IvoryTowerDenizen** is a precious little daisy, whose fragrant self deserves no criticism what-so-ever other than that she is an utter fucking moron who will shamelessly and apparently with no self-conscience squirm and wriggle her pointless little ass\* rather than admit a small _faux pas_. > > - this is a figure of speech you understand, I suppose yours to be _massive_ Jesus, what an ass you are. ---
**Author:** ![Turpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Turpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turpentine)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-spectre-of-pithecanthropus-wife/770314/111 "2016-11-03T18:02:04Z")
I’m totally with the OP here. My two biggest problems with the wife in this story was that I can’t imagine how someone could be an adult and not be able to identify a preying mantis, and not understand that they are beneficial insects. What kind of a tiny little world does a person live in where he or she has never seen a picture of a mantis before? But the utter lack of curiosity and wonder at seeing an unusual insect, to immediately say OMG BUG KILL IT!- that’s just pathetic. I don’t care if evolutionarily we’re programmed to have an immediate disgust response to insects. We’re sentient beings that can rationalize. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2016, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-spectre-of-pithecanthropus-wife/770314/112 "2016-11-03T22:32:36Z")
I wonder how many people have completely overlooked the part about the huge bug invasion that the “killer” has been fighting off and for how long? Sure, make a side eye at her if she was just going about her business and freaked the hell, throwing cleavers at a gnat. But that’s not what was happening. If I’d been dealing with the metric shit ton of problems they had trying to get rid of insects overtaking my home, I might’ve killed everyone of the cast of _A Bug’s Life_ if one of them had made the mistake of sending me a singing telegram with a proposal included from my One True Love. It might’ve just been one bug over the line, yanno? ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2016, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-spectre-of-pithecanthropus-wife/770314/113 "2016-11-03T22:45:10Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > I’m almost tempted to buy one even though I live in an apartment and don’t have a garden. I miss the little buggers; they were a lot more common when I lived in a warmer climate. Last time I saw one up here was years ago, but it was cool because it was in flight–you seldom see them flying. I crossed the street to investigate what looked like a slow-flying, clumsy brown butterfly, and it turned out to be a mantis. actually if you want to keep bugs as pets here’s a place [www.insectlore.com](http://www.insectlore.com) tho mantises need to at other bugs or they’ll eat each other upon hatching … ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-spectre-of-pithecanthropus-wife/770314/114 "2016-11-04T00:00:34Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > [Praying Mantis egg cases](https://www.amazon.com/Praying-Mantis-Egg-Cases-100/dp/B000MR7B26) are easy to purchase/hatch if anyone wants/needs praying mantises. Just don’t allow them to hatch in the open, indoors. Take it from me. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-spectre-of-pithecanthropus-wife/770314/115 "2016-11-04T01:14:14Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > I think I killed more bugs yesterday just driving from the hospital back home 😕 I certainly killed them more casually. Are we supposed to swerve for every mosquito now? No, you brake for them. Suddenly. In the middle of the lane. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-spectre-of-pithecanthropus-wife/770314/116 "2016-11-04T03:51:29Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I don’t know **Spectre of Pithecanthropus** ’s wife, but I did watch _Spectre_ over the weekend and it was pretty bad, so I guess I’m partially on board with this pitting. You watched me doing what? Are you sure it was me? ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-spectre-of-pithecanthropus-wife/770314/117 "2016-11-04T12:25:49Z")
> [@Turpentine](#): > > I’m totally with the OP here. > > My two biggest problems with the wife in this story was that I can’t imagine how someone could be an adult and not be able to identify a preying mantis, and not understand that they are beneficial insects. What kind of a tiny little world does a person live in where he or she has never seen a picture of a mantis before? > > But the utter lack of curiosity and wonder at seeing an unusual insect, to immediately say OMG BUG KILL IT!- that’s just pathetic. **I don’t care if evolutionarily we’re programmed to have an immediate disgust response to insects. We’re sentient beings that can rationalize.** You _can’t imagine_ how someone couldn’t identify a preying mantis? Really? :dubious: I’ve never seen one, except maybe at a pet shop or something. You’re last two sentences feel contradictory. Do you also think people should / can rationalize away all phobias? ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-spectre-of-pithecanthropus-wife/770314/118 "2016-11-04T12:59:02Z")
First they came for the bedbugs and I did not speak out because I am not a bedbug… I’d turn over the place to house centipedes and praying mantii, let em loose for insect warfare. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-spectre-of-pithecanthropus-wife/770314/119 "2016-11-04T22:57:26Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Oh save us from your nasty bedroom talk!! > > 😃 > > And what the ever loving fuck are _sewer moths_, for christ’s sake?:eek: Nobody has yet answered this crucial question, and I’m a-skeered to google. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-spectre-of-pithecanthropus-wife/770314/120 "2016-11-04T23:26:14Z")
> [@chela](#): > > First they came for the bedbugs and I did not speak out because I am not a bedbug… > > I’d turn over the place to house centipedes and praying mantii, let em loose for insect warfare. House centipedes are the scariest thing ever. I’m pretty sure I posted about it on the Dope the first time I saw one. I’m a bug enthusiast but… holy god damn. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-spectre-of-pithecanthropus-wife/770314.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-spectre-of-pithecanthropus-wife/770314.md?page=7)