A long time ago, Dede bought "The Book of Questions." It's a popular book, so you may have a copy. If you haven't heard of it, the book contains 200+ questions which are "too bold, too embarrassing, or just too difficult to ask by yourself." Dede likes to bring it along when we travel and at one point I believe the book was a fixture in her purse. The back cover of the book states that the questions may be used as a tool for "self discovery, or as a provocative way to stimulate conversation." Dede liked to use the book as a fight starter. I don't believe this was intentional, but it seemed every time this book came out a fight started. First there was the fight with our friend Jason over question #90 - "If you could choose the sex and physical appearance of your soon-to-be born child, would you do it?." Jason indicated that yes, he would choose the sex, and he would pick another boy (he already had two). He said he didn't want a girl, because he would always worry about a girl growing up in todays world. Dede didn't like that answer. For the next hour a debate ensued that almost ended the friendship. Then there was the fight with me on question #15 "Whom do you admire most? In what way does this person inspire you?" My response was "I don't admire anyone, I am happy being me." She thought that was a self-centered response. She then started throwing out the names of individuals that could be admired. I revolted when she threw out Oprah.
In the spirit of not having a lot to say this evening (outside of making fun of my wife in the prior two paragraphs), I thought I would throw out a question from the book and see if there are any interesting comments. This could fail miserably, as there are only a handful of readers for this blog and even fewer who will comment, but I am going to give it a go. I thought about asking question #133 "Have you had satisfying sex within the last three months?" but my parents read this blog and quite honestly I don't care to know their answer. In addition, Dede reads this blog and I am not sure I want to know her answer either.
So here is the question:
Question #25 "For an all-expense-paid, one-week vacation anywhere in the world, would you be willing to kill a beautiful butterfly by pulling of its wings? What about stepping on a cockroach?"
Ed
Conversation starter/fight starter...isn't that the same thing? I think it is!
I would pluck those butterfly wings and crush the cockroach without a second thought. Nothing so inconsequential will come between me and a good vacation!
Posted by: dede | December 04, 2008 at 07:32 AM
I'm with DeDe on that one! Call me inhumane but I could care less about a creepy cockroach especially if it meant I got to spend some quality time with my husband or kids. For the record- I would feel I twinge of guilt for plucking the wings off a harmless butterfly but not for long.
Posted by: Shena | December 04, 2008 at 08:22 AM
We humans are very selfish and apparently have no bounds as to what we will do for money….how sad.
Posted by: p.i.g.hog | December 04, 2008 at 10:48 AM
Yes and Yes.
Posted by: Louise Plummer | December 04, 2008 at 11:40 AM
I am horrified, just horrified, at this question. And Edmund, I am deeply deeply disturbed that you think it's appropriate to repeat it. I thought I had raised a good boy, a kind boy. To answer your question, hell yes, I'd flame the roach with a fire starter and shred the butterfly. Preferably in front of your kids.
Posted by: Tom Plummer | December 04, 2008 at 12:35 PM
Ed, here's one for you: #139: Would you rather spend a month on vacation with your parents or put in overtime at your current job for four weeks without extra compensation?
Posted by: Tom Plummer | December 04, 2008 at 01:24 PM
i diddo shena's reply... smoosh the cockroach and pluck, pluck away...little guilt for the butterfly, but not much. seriously about 2 seconds worth of guilt.
Posted by: ashley ward | December 04, 2008 at 04:24 PM
I cannot handle the sound of & the feel of the crunch of a cockroach! So, I would spray it with Raid first, and then have Glenn pick it up and throw it away. The butterfly...we would have to catch it first, which will be a task in and of itself, but I guess I could pluck it, maybe.
Posted by: Mary | December 04, 2008 at 04:57 PM
I really feel like answering your first question. The one you were too uncomfortable to talk about in front of your parents. I'm not afraid to talk about it (in front of YOUR parents that is). After all, Mexicans need love too. Since I am of the male persuasion, any kind of consensual contact would be considered "satisfying."
Good for you on the Oprah thing. You and I gotta stick together on that.
Oh, and I would EAT the butterfly, and maybe even the cockroach if it was cooked just right, without a shred of regret.
Posted by: Cheeto Bandito | December 04, 2008 at 08:32 PM
I wouldn't have a problem with the cockroach. If I found a cockroach, I would kill it with or without a vacation attached. The butterfly is a little different for me. Why does the question specify the manner of death for the butterfly? Why do I have to pull off its wings? Why can't I crush it with my size 14's? I have to go with Mary on the butterfly. It's a maybe.
Cheeto - are you sure you don't want to put any parameters around the statement "ANY kind of consensual contact would be considered "satisfying?" That leaves a lot on the table. On second thought... don't answer that.
Posted by: Ed Plummer | December 04, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Ed - Let's be truthful here...we just had a baby (going on 3 weeks now), which means I'm about 1/2 way through the desert. No need for parameters..."ANY" would work for me.
Posted by: Cheeto Bandito | December 05, 2008 at 09:10 AM
I find it interesting that none of us REALLY went to the heart of the question. Are we more likely to hurt/kill something that is ugly over something that is pretty? Why is it that some of you would feel guilty about offing the butterfly but not the cockroach? Isn't killing, killing? Regardless of whether the victim is cute or not? Why do some of us feel different levels of guilt? Or no guilt at all, like the truly heartless (me)?
Posted by: dede | December 05, 2008 at 12:12 PM
Poor Cheeto! I don't even have words to say about his needs right now. After all I'm the one that has had to suffer for 9 months of throwing up, back aches, heartburn, let alone labor. He will be just fine. :) No worries!
Posted by: Shena | December 05, 2008 at 11:25 PM
Well, I guess you had to see that coming. Dede weighed in on Shena's comment privately to me this morning, however her comment was not appropriate to post, even for this blog. Needless to say she was in violent agreement with Shena.
Apparently no one gives a rats about the beautiful butterfly, as most are willing to torture and kill it without much thought, but we have wandered into a topic that may actually have some emotion around it.
Perhaps I should have asked a different question: "For sex, would you be willing to kill a beautiful butterfly by pulling of its wings? What about stepping on a cockroach?" I suspect many women readers would be saying "be free little butterflies, fly away" While the men would be out in great numbers trying to exterminate the species.
Posted by: Ed Plummer | December 06, 2008 at 09:03 AM
Sorry guys but I would have to let the butterfly live. After all, butterflies are relaxing to watch, provide pollination for your gardens and are a productive part of our life cycle.
I would kill the cockroach...I can do without that part our life cycle. Guess the Sellmer's are staying home.
Butterflies or sex ?
What kind of question is that Ed ? Death to all butterflies of course.
Posted by: Glenn S. | December 06, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Glenn, certainly I hope we never have to make this choice, but if we do I know where we can find lots of butterflies. One of us can create a diversion and the other can start peeling off wings:
http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/butterflies/?src=h_h
I'll get some nets!
Posted by: Ed Plummer | December 06, 2008 at 04:06 PM