To think kids shouldn't cut up spiders?

[sparklewater]

That, really. A five year old I know was found cutting up a live spider.

AIBU to be absolutely horrified or am I totally over-reacting?

That's horribly cruel but not unusual behaviour as children are learning empathy. I don't hunk it means he's going to be a serial killer but maybe he should be kept away from the scissors for a while.

my dc is 5...she wouldn't harm any insect. She has come home from school upset that another child squashed a spider, and another time she told me she found a spider on a web and made sure the other children don't hurt it.

Children need to be taught not to harm things even if they don't particularly like them... my son came and said there was a huge spider in his room and could I please move it... well no problem he doesn't need to share his room...but MY GOD the spider was indeed HUGE... I had to return the glass I had got to scoop it and get the jug (1litre) I got it in it and the thing stood with its legs on the bottom and the front legs almost touched the top!!! sorry for the random story.... lol

Children need to be taught not to harm things even if they don't particularly like them

By parents who do harm lots of things, mainly because they don't like them.
The denial of hypocrisy here is breathtaking.

Of course it needs addressing. But the mumsnetters who post threads about hair spraying or otherwise damaging spiders need addressing too.

a poster above says she chops slugs in half with scissors. Nobody called her a potential psychopath, did they? Another one set fire to caterpillars, not a word from anyone.
Funny, isn't it?

Those of you who think the method of killing is irrelevant - what's your opinion on 'humane' slaughter? And if you were going to kill a spider, would you do it quickly or slowly?

I don't think you are following. You already said you are fine with people putting spiders outside, which kills them, slowly. So why are you asking? You know people think it is acceptable to kill spiders in an inhumane way, and you agreed.

This just sounds very Chinese whisperish, a five year being left unsupervised with scissors to the point that they are catching live insects to cut up, Firstly if there are issues, it’s between the school and the parents, which explains why you’re relying on second hand information to pass judgement on a subject that is none of your damn business.

When will nosey Parker’s accept that they don’t know everything.

I would say that given her age the method is irrelevant. She was experimenting, which children her age do. She's 5, not 15. Her understanding of pain and death are not fully formed. My 5 year old is convinced people come back from the dead, I'm trying to get it through to him that that isn't the case. He put a wasp in a jar as a "pet"' and it died a slow death by suffocation ( I didn't find it till afterwards), I don't think he's a psychopath.

If she did this at the age of 15, I'd be looking for counseling.

That being said I seem to have a greater tolerance for the death of small creatures than others on this thread. I grew up in a rural area so have seen live stock and pests killed from a young age. So a spider doesn't get a whole lot of empathy from me. And no, I'm not a psychopath.

For most people there is a difference between insects and animals in general. I don’t deliberately torture insects but I can be careless about their well being and I do discriminate for example, between butterflies and cockroaches. I would be upset about the ill treatment of a butterfly which I consider beautiful but I would give zero f* s about roaches, which I consider to be a pest.

peppa When did I say that? You keep making things up and ignoring my point, that there is a difference between a swift killing and torturing to death. (Not that I do either!)

Isetan Its not Chinese whispers, it's exactly what happened. Don't people rtft anymore?

peanut I don't think she's a psychopath! This post was about the fact that her parents didn't really bother to address it as it's a classic learning opportunity etc. I was surprised and a bit shocked so wanted to see if I was being unreasonable.

Not you sparkletwater, everyone else saying that it's a sign of a psychopath. Yes, her parents should certainly have addressed it!

peanut phew!

I hate roaches having had to share a fridge with them one time - not in UK. I wouldn’t snip their bloody legs off though. Not normal.

*peppa When did I say that? You keep making things up and ignoring my point, that there is a difference between a swift killing and torturing to death. (Not that I do either!)

Making things up? You said, quite clearly For everyone comparing it to killing spiders found round the house, I do think it's different to that. It's the cold, cruel, drawn out torture aspect that I find so troubling

you said its different. It is not, except by the fact that adults should know better than kids. You had no response to the slug chopper or the caterpillar arsonist.
Would you like to apologise?

peppa No, because it IS different. I didn't say I was fine with killing them in general (I don't do it myself) but that it's different to torturing them. Which it is. I can't see how/why you keep insisting it's not.

And weren't the caterpillar arsonist / slug killer stories of when they were kids? What do you want me to say to them?

I found those posts helpful, it was good to hear that kids do things like this without it meaning anything particularly sinister long-term.

How is it different though? You won't tell us how a long slow death when put outside is any different from a slow death at this kids hands.
You can insist its different all you like but you have to know that is just you trying to justify the hypocrisy.

And weren't the caterpillar arsonist / slug killer stories of when they were kids? What do you want me to say to them?

No adults. Well you have a lot to say about this child, but no opinion of grown adults doing worse. What does that say about you?

1. Because most people don't realise they die when they put them outside. When they do, they (generally) stop. Not to mention that hands-on cutting-up involves being more gory and directly involved. I have no interest in trying to justify any hypocrisy - am well aware it exists but am not on a crusade for spider's rights or anything.

1. It says nothing about me as I thought they were stories of when they were kids

Can't figure out if you're actually nuts or just really trolling me?

peppa Words fail me.

I'm just pointing out your own hypocrisy. I can see you don't like it, who would? Doesn't lessen it though.

My horrible exSIL taught her children to stamp on slugs and snails to kill them whilst daughter was going through chemotherapy! Couldn't understand why I made such a fuss 'gods creatures' etc and um enough death in the world.