If a wasp is about to sting me...?

Question

And I kill it in self-defense, is this an unloving thing to do? Or, since I know that it is not really going to harm me that badly (I am not allergic), do I just allow it to react in fear and lose it's stinger forever?

Sometimes I find myself overcome by a deep appreciation for insects, and all the hate they've endured over the centuries. Truthfully, we could not live without them. And, occasionally I act upon this sentiment and allow some pesky creature in my environment to go it's own way in peace. This is not a consistent action, however. On other days I am known to mass-murder the vermin with glee. I doubt I could ever adhere to the Buddhist's way of harming none.

Any opinions on this?

Answer 1

I know this wasn't your point, but you have got bees and wasps mixed up.  The wasp doesn't loose it's stinger and can sting multiple times.  Unlike bees wasps are carnivores and not pollinators, so we could do without them.

Answer 2

It's perfectly human to enjoy killing something once in a while.

Answer 3

I don't think that anything we do to insects matters very much. I would question someone that deliberately went out to kill them, as they would have issues. A Buddhist not killing anything is admirable, but in practice, is sort of unrealistic.

This is my opinion.

Answer 4

There's enough insects out there. But if you don't like killing them then I understand. Sometimes I let bugs in the house outside instead of killing them, unless they're spiders. Ew..phobia....