FW: killing butterflies for fun???

[Neil Jones]

On Saturday 06 July 2002 09:17 pm, jh wrote:
> And to add to that thought....
>
> Anne wrote -
> however, John, your grand statement that "we don't live in a society
> where we need to collect butterflies and moths" is based on a sad lack
> of scientific curiosity. If you are subscribed to leps-talk, you see
> continual chatter about various cryptic species of butterflies ... some
> that you have been looking at every day, and apparently misidentifying.
>
> Anne -
>
> I read this again to make sure I was responding to directly to what you
> wrote
> in your post, and to say I have a sad lack of scientific curiosity based on
> my
> statement that society won't end without collecting butterflies, is greatly
> inaccurate.
> There are many natural things, lepidotera included, that I am curious about
> to the
> verge of [happy] obsession.  But I am not under the illusion that my life
> in society
> would come to an end should the collection of butterflies cease!  Sorry.
>
> You don't know me too well ;^) - And I am surprised to read this kind of
> statement
> from you, since yours are usually more thoroughly thought out.
>
> And a pleasure to read.
>
> Almost poetic at times, and with a point.
>
> However...,
>
> You are attempting to sell me on the importance of collecting, but are in
> effect
> preaching to the choir.  Collecting is important if you want to protect
> a particular species of lep, or a population of leps.  I know that!
> Collecting is important
> if you want to discover new species.  I know that!  Collecting is important
> if you want
> to distinguish between similar looking species.  I know that!  Collecting
> is important if you want to
> deal with pest management.  I know that.  I have a book coming out this
> fall on moths
> of the northeast where I talk about that ("Discovering Moths" Down East
> Books - shameless plug).
> I have interviewed collectors from around the country, Canada and Panama
> and have lauded their
> contributions.  And the importance of the work they do for those interested
> in lepidoptera, agriculture,
> the understanding of biology in general, etc.
>
> But again, would society end if we were not able to sort out the
> difficult-to-identify butterflies?  I still don't think so.  It wouldn't be
> as good of a society,
> but we would still go on. And, again-again, so would the butterflies - not
> all of them, but
> probably enough of them.
>
>  If you disagree with that, than so be it.  We probably
> agree on far more than you think, since you know less about me that I do
> you (you
> post more than I do).
>
> And now look what has happened!  AHHHH!  I have been forced to make an
> argument for collecting!
> I've tried to avoid getting into that.  It's not what this was about!  It
> was about comparing accidents to
> on-purposes!
>
> But as I said earlier, I should have known better..  Touchy topic.
>
> Will there now be a slew of anti-collecting posts hitting me from the other
> side?
>
> John

No I don't think so. I don't think there is anyone on this list who disagrees 
with you.


--
Neil Jones- Neil at nwjones.demon.co.uk http://www.butterflyguy.com/
NOTE NEW WEB ADDRESS
"At some point I had to stand up and be counted. Who speaks for the
butterflies?" Andrew Lees - The quotation on his memorial at Crymlyn Bog
National Nature Reserve

 
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