I decided against posting this to c/vegan as I want some negative feedback.
For the record, I absolutely am not saying that my not killing bugs is a noble act. Frankly it's just vibes. I've been on this planet for 40+ years as a bug murderer. I would not be invited to the Bugs are Friends convention.
I've just been feeling a lot of personal stress this year. A lot of stuff has been going on in my personal community, and I'm seeing a lot of hostile stuff from the state as well as a lot of people are struggling more. I do mutual aid but it just feels like a drop in an ocean of need. On top of that, a situations happening that cause me to be homeless is not far from the realm of possibility. I'm unsure if I'm overreacting, but I can imagine myself being homeless. (Sorry homeless comrades if this feels like I'm trivialising it).
Obviously the attacks on vulnerable groups are terrifying, and as active as I am in orgs to agitate against it, I feel hopeless to do anything about it.
doomer shit
Impending climate catastrophe and austerity is so stressful that I'm shut off to most things now. I feel like a death row inmate, just watching TV and waiting for my execution date to come
So with all that happening, I just have this dude chilling in my room:
He's not hurting anyone. He's responsible for non of the shit that's going on right now. He's just living. Why should I give a fuck about him???
Previously I would occasionally spray and leave traps. I'd squash a bug if it was annoying. Now I just keep my place clean. If I see two that means there's maybe many more under the sink and shit. But are they hurting me? (That is a real question if you want to answer.) I'd probably slap a mosquito if they got close, as I don't want a disease, but wearing long trousers and long sleeve shirts when in nature takes care of most of it. In fairness, many a friend and comrade how commenting how I'm weird that I can wear long sleeves/trousers in 40 degree celsius weather.
I'm a middle aged guy. You're not gonna hurt my feelings by critiquing me. BTW I'm not yet advocating for not killing bugs, this is 100% my feelings at this point.
Sorry, but what is this?!?
It's this thing.
It's sold in many types and the manufacturer of course claims it is harmless. https://www.thermacell.com/products/category/fuel-powered-series
I'll just add that behind this casual marketing they don't tell you that the chemical they use in these, prallethrin, is extremely toxic to insects, reptiles and fish. And if you use this thing, it won't segregate on what it will kill. In my country it is supposed to only be used on someones yard/terrace and banned elsewhere, yet people take them along to their fishing trips etc. all the time because it isn't sanctioned in any way. And that is exactly what the marketing promotes. One of those pillows you can see inside it has so much of the insecticide in it that it has the potential of killing millions of insects. People dumb these pillows outdoors sometimes or dispose of them by ditching them near water sources.
It's also not at all clear how harmful it might be for humans to be around these fumes for prolonged periods.
There was discourse about this here when it came to market, but in neoliberalism they of course could only wiggle their fingers and try and educate people on how it could be dangerous even to humans.