Enslaving Insects For Our Entertainment -- Maybe We're A Lot Dumber Than We Think?!?

Human beings are the most sophisticated and highly evolved creatures walking the planet and accordingly, we've earned a permanent place at the top of the totem pole -- at least that's what many believe. You rarely ever hear anyone declaring, "Let's do it for the good of all Mother Nature's creatures!" More likely, the phrase uttered is, "We've got to do it for the good of humanity." We're the chosen ones (compared to other creatures populating the earth), or more appropriately, we've CHOSEN OURSELVES as most likely to succeed. The most remarkable thing about you and me is that with the right level of education, we can acquire the skills necessary to calculate complex algorithms, build rockets that shoot into the deepest realms of outer space and figure out how to cure some of the most debilitating ailments known to mankind. Conversely, with very little academic training under our belts, we're are also capable of spending our days drinking cases of Pabst Blue Ribbon while filming a multitude of stupid human tricks, keeping our fingers crossed that the clips will go viral on YouTube and somehow make us bazillions in greenbacks. Whether brilliant, idiotic or somewhere inbetween, we are all very fortunate to be homosapiens rather than the majority of the other creatures walking, flying, swimming or crawling across our planet.

Perhaps it's our relatively lengthy average lifespan that helps us to justify why we should be the supreme rulers of the universe. Of course, to nail down that number, genetics, environment, education, diet and nutrition must be factored in among other considerations. If you hail from the South African kingdom of Swaziland for example, where people generally live to be 39.5 years of age, rampant HIV/AIDS cases and deep food insecurity contribute significantly to compromised longevity. On the Japanese island of Okinawa however, people regularly live well into their 90s and 100s due to what researchers believe is an exceedingly healthy lifestyle (by Western standards), marked by a largely plant-based, low calorie diet.

We possess intellectual capability, and if we treat our bodies with care, we can also influence the likelihood that we'll be around for a good long while...so it stands to reason that we are #1 on the food chain. Can the same be said of animals or insects? Some animals are known to possess particularly impressive intellect -- orangutans, chimpanzees, elephants, pigs, squirrels, rats, crows, pigeons and dolphins are the first that come to mind -- but bugs...are they worth all the fuss? We so frequently wage an all-out-war against them and we're quick to stomp down on them when they invade our personal space, but we make the mistake of presuming that they aren't a valuable part of the whole equation. Scientists have concluded that many types of critters are capable of some remarkable cognitive processes, including bees, paper wasps and termites...but when push comes to shove and they infringe on our personal space, let the arm flailing begin.

So, where do you stand on the topic of insect rights? Do they deserve to live if they mistakenly take a left turn into your living room? Just because their brain capacity is perceived to be microscopic at best, will you go out of your way to spare a life, even if it takes two extra minutes out of your day? If you are among the relatively small percentage of the population who believes that the tinyest members of Mother Nature's universe deserve a fighting chance, then you may be vehemently opposed to what a German company is doing with flies. Eichborn has somehow managed to attach advertising banners to their bodies using natural wax, creating a quirky and attention-grabbing yet somehow seemingly cruel way of garnering attention for their products (view the video for clarification). Compared to the long-lived nature of human beings, a fly is on this Earth for a brief moment -- from 20 to 30 days maximum. For the 200 flies who became the unwitting work horses of Eichborn, one has to wonder if they suffered from premature burnout at our entertainment expense. Although the company claims that their banners ultimately dropped off without harming the flies, I question whether the flies themselves would agree.