Saturday, November 24, 2007

Suicidal Spider Mystery Solved

In January 2006 I wrote on the case of the suicidal spider. As I showered today I found myself again in the same situation. From as much of a distance as I could, I watched the spider...and sure enough this spider began it`s downward climb towards its watery end. I thought that surely evolution should have produced spiders with an instinct to travel upwards away from doom by now...

Then I had an enlightening moment....
I realized that heat rises, as does steam. I also realized that spiders breathe oxygen, and like us, find it hard to breathe when there`s too much moisture in the air. Being creatures of pure instinct, they automatically chose the option that offered a more immediate relief. The option still led to certain demise, but was definitely not suicidal behaviour.

A great reminder to never think you have all (or even none of) the answers. We should never stop questioning...

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

why didn't you turn off the water shower to save this spider from his "certain demise"?

Sphinx said...

Good to see you still questioning, Palden. lol

I did turn the shower off, but by then it was too late. The spider had already made its choice. Compassion does have its limits I suppose, because there was no way I was touching it... :(

Anonymous said...

poor thing - wadda way to go

but you've already solved the mystery by realizing that the spider had NO choice

it means something to you - you've bothered to think about it - good energy for balance - YOU were the only one there with choice possible and you made the best practical one i can think of