I heard a noise. It was one large scorpion:
I captured it.
What should I do with this little fella?
Two days from now I'll have a party at my house.
It is an unwelcome guest.
I can't free it in this urban setting, I guess I could bike to free it somewhere safe, but I won't do it now, it is 18:30 and it's already dark.
I could feed it to the chickens. Would it be safe? Allow us to identify the kind of scorpion we are dealing with. This might take some time. Allow us to observe, and to prepare some tea.
After some unsuccessful googling I put the picture on r/whatisthisbug. Let's wait.
While waiting for an answer, let us ponder the ethical dilemma:
If I free it at the park outside my house, I'm dumping the problem somewhere else.
If I free it in the land behind my house, it is possible that it stings a guests or myself.
Let us imagine that I find this scorpion the day of the party. Children are observing. There are two ways of being assertive: one is to minimize the threat, the other is to understand the threat. Should children be observing, I would eliminate the threat, because I am ignorant in the matter of scorpions.
But here is the chance to be curious about it. Should I go to the hospital if it happens to sting me? What should I do if one of my guests was stung? I lived in this house fifteen years a long time ago, but I had never seen a scorpion.
I must consider: Europe is wonderful because there are no threats. This is since ancient times, threat has been removed. The average European has no idea what privilege he lives in to be able to enjoy nature without worrying about spiders, scorpions, snakes and human snakes too.
Should all threat to humanity be removed without question?
What if this scorpion were a new specimen unknown to science? Would it not be stupid and foolish of my part to squash it with a rock. How would I explain my philosophy: "I think all threat to humanity should be immediately removed". That is roboto-discourse.
Let us see if there is any answer on Reddit. 35 minutes ago, no ID yet. I suspect it will be better to wait off before passing judgement.
Let us consider, if this scorpion were deadly, would it merit to die too? Should deadly animals who wander into households be killed on the spot? What if that animal were exceedingly rare? Or exceedingly common?
It feels as if this scorpion were relatively common yet a threat, it should be executed. If it were rare and harmless, it should be cherished. Yet, the answer will almost surely lies somewhere in-between. Stories about scorpion stings in Mexico are usually benign.
No new answers. Let us secure the scorpion and continue this narration tomorrow.
Today memories of my childhood surfaced: we went camping to the beach with extended family, and I went "hunting" (capturing) crabs with my cousins at night. We had a bucket and went back to camp with a good bounty of some five good sized crabs, not for eating but for our entertainment.
Along the way we came across a scorpion. I don't know who proposed it, but for us kids it was inevitable: we put the scorpion into the bucket to fight with the crabs. We crowded around the bucket and saw the events unfold.
The fight was long, grueling and I will spare the details, except for the end: one of the larger crabs lifted the scorpion with one pincer and with the other ripped it in half. The howls and the cheers were so loud the adults came to see what the fuss was about and promptly put an end to what had already ended.
I don't have any moral or teaching from this anecdote, I was just compelled to share it.
I put the scorpion in a spacious tin box. Tomorrow is the posada party. Should I perceive that it is educational and safe to show it to children, I will. Parents, on the other hand... After the party it will be free to roam the land behind my house.
I did not come to this decision by reason or heart. I woke up in the morning and I knew it was the correct thing to do.