July 6, 2011
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The Worm Question.
(EarthWorm Jim)You see a worm crossing the road what do you do?
When I was younger I would pretty much always try to ‘help’ the worm thinking that it would almost certainly die from heat, birds or cars. But over the years i have developed many other possible answers to this question.
Such as What business is it of yours to alter the worms life? What gives you the right to choose when and where something dies? is saving a life as much interference as taking one?
But then that approach suggests that you are somehow apart from ‘life’ that your choices and actions are not natural, but of course we are part of nature nothing we do can be free from that fact. And of course then there’s fate, what if fate exists and everything we do is pre-ordained? then to choose not to or to choose to save the worm becomes irrelevant because whatever you choose was the right thing.
But without fate then we have free will and we do have a choice to make, but what to choose?
To save the worm is to interfere with the worms existence, to change its reality and its potential in a sense to take away it’s choice. Perhaps it was suicidal? or perhaps it just needed to get across for it’s own reasons despite the risk. But on the other hand to NOT save the worm is to ignore your place in its life and your own, you where given that situation to experience and not only that you where then given the impulse to interact with the worm is ignoring it like ignoring an intuition that then turns out to have been right?
Each and every thing we see in this life is an endless voyage of further complexity, from the mundane to the sublime, what we choose to do with every moment and why is far too complex to ever fully understand but we should all be aware that even so much as a Worm crossing the road is a strange and wonderful interaction with everything.
So What would you do?
Comments (17)
Great Post! Thought provoking… and I’ll spare you a long winded Free Will versus Fate discussion… well, I’ll try.
The whole debate is kind of like a dog chasing it’s tail. One of those, talk and talk, prove/ disprove nothing debates.
I don’t think I’ve ever helped a worm… come to think of it. Well, actually, yeah, when I was a kid. But, I also harvested them for bait on fishing trips with my Grandfather, so I’m probably a negative influence on the worm population. Typically, however, I don’t think free will versus fate in my actions, I just try to do what I think is right or what I think needs to be done… like I said, Great Post!
Very interesting!
I’ll say that it all boils down to which one you are, either the person or the worm, because if I were a worm crossing the street, I’d sure want someone to help me out. Lol.
@BlindSight22 - Your right it can be argued both ways to infinity and you’ll still not get an answer
But I like your solution just go with your ‘gut’ or intuition as long as you know what to look for it’s a pretty good guide.
@ThePrince - Haha yes exactly, If i was about to get squished and a giant swooped me out of the way I’d be pretty happy about it
Perhaps you should consider the following: If you were to observe a butterfly trapped in a spider’s web, do you save the butterfly or do you let nature take it’s course? Or do you simply kill the spider? If you were to save the butterfly, the spider will starve and it would be more kind to simply kill the spider outright.
I am afeered of worms! They give me the hebeejeebees! But, I would definitely help one if they needed my help. I know that we should just let nature takes it’s course, and most of the time I would….but if I could tell my intervention would be helpful and not hurtful, I would try to help.
HUGS!
Seriously, worms make me squeal!
awhile ago, my sister threw a toad into the middle of oncoming traffic and i ran out and cars were forced to come to a very quick stop… and i walked behind the toad as it hopped safely all the way across the road. i was furious and sickened by my sister. its not like i love toads, or worms, or anything. i just don’t think death is something to joke around about or casually toss away for no reason, for any creature, even if i don’t find it “cute” or particularly appealling, like a worm.
so, to answer your question, i’d probably pick the worm up and put it somewhere safer.
so…i’m a pussy. so it goes.
also, i’m not a dumbass, i recognize that there is more to this post than the literal question. but i chose to answer it fairly literally anyways.
@CephasCornwall - Well this is the strongest argument I have for none interferance, is it ever right to kill one thing to save another?
I’m just not sure.
@AdamsWomanFell - Hahaha so if I ever hear of a woman running across the road squeeling i’ll know it’s just you saving a worm
@somewhatabstractelf - First off your not a dumbass, what seems obvious or literal to one mind might be completely unique to another plus there’s no right way to answer this question it’s more like a concept.
Second your certianly not a pussy, because you ran into the middle of the road to save a toad, which is pretty brave in my book
Also It’s a good point that no matter what the creature it’s life and death should be treated with more respect.
Lol I love the mental image i have of you walking behind a toad as it slow hops over the road, cars screeching to a halt around you hahaha
@BFB1131 - Exactly. I have squealed as I’ve helped spiders and lizards out of my house. I greatly encouraged them to find a place outside to dwell.
But you can’t deny at that point that saving one will kill the other. Saving the butterfly starves the spider. Saving the spider kills the butterfly. Is it right to let something die to protect your own ideals?
@CephasCornwall - Well my first responce is no, your ideals are yours alone and shouldn’t be applied to anything other than yourself.
But I also can’t shake the feeling that if your perception has been drawn to the situation of the spider and fly then it was for a reason, and perhaps there’s more to it than just a random event.
Regardless of fate, each and every decision we make is based on a sense of free will. We do not know the outcome of an event before it happens, so assuming to anticipate or see one situation as destined is false in my opinion. Aside from that, I am a firm believer of saving those things within your own scope of being. “If my hand can reach you, I will save you”. But would I save the worm? Nah, I don’t like worms, lol
@Toy_Kite - Thats a good approch, it’s often too fraught with self delusion to try and anticipate a ‘meaning’…..but whats wrong with poor little worms? hehe
@BFB1131 - lol i don’t like slimy things. or things that crawl around, really. worms, caterpillars, etc.
I always help the worms……to me, it’s just human nature to want to help.
@livexlovexlaughter - Thats interesting, perhaps so. Perhaps it’s just the way we are to want to help and interact or change the world around us…hmmm
I’m glad I read this post.