h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well, Hi there Az,

I promise not to ignore you and I will not be offended if I am ignored!!!! I am used to that!!!!

My son asked me yesterday why God created crocodiles, anyone know?? come to think of it why did God create cockroaches and other Ikky creatures that I can,t stand!!!

Jane

God likes crocodiles! That's why!

Ben
*parachuting in, and not even pretending to look at the backlog - maybe the cockroaches will eat it for me instead!*

Jane, welcome!

"Christian Who Cannot Resist a Little Sinning", eh? You mean there's another kind?



I'm gonna have to agree with Ben about the crocodiles. God created crocodiles because they're totally awesome! Crocodiles evolved because there was a niche for an animal like that. There is no crocodile, there is no God, there is only the illusion of reality. Those three answers, delivered back to back without batting an eye, should satisfy any kid's curiosity, and give 'em an early lesson in paradox swallowing - a more and more marketable talent these days.

hi Ben! (waves!)

First Jane, now you . . . glad I came back! (though was 'gone' so briefly that I'm sure nobody noticed )

az (the oversensitive)

Actually, God loves beetles.
Crocodiles can swim, so they couldn't be wiped out in the flood even though that was the plan. Most of them, of course, died from hypothermia, or fell asleep and drowned. (It was a long flood remember.) But those in warmer waters, with access to floating logs, survived easily.
And apropos a line of thought I won't bother writing down. Kangaroos aren't kosher, right?

hi Naita,

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Really?

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There was a God plan to wipe out crocodiles? Why crocodiles and not cockroaches?

Anyhow, I always thought crocodiles *were* floating logs.

Re: kangaroos. I've never seen them for sale at the Jewish deli so I think one can safely assume they are not kosher.

az
(feeling somewhat confused, but what else is new)

"It appears that the Creator is inordinately fond of beetles." Huxley.

For the truth about cockroaches read the Last Continent by Terry Pratchett.

Noggin

If you subscribe to the theory that God created everything with a grand plan in mind, surely you would also subscribe to the theory that God loves all of His creation and that crocodiles, being undeniably a part of it, are therefore also loved by Him (love apparently distributes over containment).

I don't believe that though. Crocodiles just are.

hi MaW,

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Well, yes, but doesn't this hold true for everything, including us?


Noggin,

Have to wonder about God loving His beetles. I mean, cockroaches are the ultimate 'survivors' it would seem. Instead of getting cancer when exposed to various killing agents (or even nuclear weapon fallout) they just mutate and mutate and become even hardier than ever. Also, sometimes when they have been stepped on and totally crushed, they can be seen a few days later still feebly moving their little legs about. Ick.

az

Yes, that does apply to everything, including us.

We're here - how we're going to deal with it is still a highly relevant question though.

Rule 1) You have to start from where you are.

Rule 2) Thou shalt mow the lawn while the grass is still short enough to find the mower.

I'll be back.

Noggin

hi MaW (oh, are congrats in order - now that you are a BSc? Good for you!)

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So, how do you deal with this highly relevant question?

az

hi Noggin,

Yes, the reality of grass and its relationship with lawnmowers is quite a tricky one. Which is why I prefer to live in a flat.

Rule 1) Never have children unless you have some other means of transport other than public transportation.

Rule 2) Never have a garden unless you can afford to have a gardener. (or at least a neigbourhood kid handy to cut the grass!)

Rule 3) Don't make silly rules. Life happens anyhow and will thwart most rules one attempts to make.

az

Hi azahar, congrats are technically in order since I just acquired a BSc in Computer Science

As for how I deal with this highly relevant question - well, I'm not exactly sure at the moment, I'm a little confused. Generally attempting to live life to its maximum fulfilment seems to be a good way to go - provided of course that you don't diminish anyone else in the process (neo-Pagan ethics, since I'm a hedge witch that of course applies!)

MaW,

Well then ! ! !

Hope you have been celebrating your new BSc very well and in high style.

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Have seldom heard any wiser words expressed about how to live one's life. You don't sound confused at all.

You're a pagan? Well, I am apparently a pantheist. It seems people like it when you can call yourself *something* so I chose pantheist cos that seems to suit me best.

az

I have been known to refer to myself as a Zen Materialist.

It doesn't *actually* mean anything, but still manages to capture the spirit of the thing. A bit like being a Hedge Witch B.Sc. Subtly paradoxical, and yet somehow not.

Noggin

I rather like Pratchett's "Yen Buddhists" - They only turn up in a footnote or two, but they are one of the things which delighted me in his books.

B

I'm a Pagan, yes, but it's a little bit of a loose category! By saying that I could mean I'm a Wiccan (any one of the innumerable varieties), a Druid, an Asatruar... so I'm a hedge witch. Not that many people know what that is I have to say - I described it a few hundred posts back, I think around the time Fathom joined in.

It is nice to be able to describe oneself with a label like that - although it is not nice if that label forces us into a particular role in which we don't quite fit. If we don't quite fit into a label, then a new label is clearly required, wouldn't you agree?

Nice one, MaW!

Pattern-chaser

"Who cares, wins"