DenverBachelor Posted November 25, 2009 Posted November 25, 2009 A scorpion was walking along the bank of a river, wondering how to get to the other side. Suddenly he saw a fox. He asked the fox to take him on his back across the river. The fox said: "No, if I do that, you'll sting me and I'll drown." The scorpion assured him: "If I did that, we'd both drown." So the fox thought about it and finally agreed. So the scorpion climbed upon his back and the fox began to swim, but half way across the river, the scorpion stung him. As the poison filled his veins, the fox turned to the scorpion and asked: "Why did you do that? Now you'll drown too." "I couldn't help it", said the scorpion. "It's my nature."
USMCHokie Posted November 25, 2009 Posted November 25, 2009 It's in our nature to want something or someone we can't have...even if it drowns us...if we could have it, we'd just go out and get it...like going to the supermarket to get a loaf of bread...simple... But if it's something that's out of our control or out of our reach...we fill our minds with thoughts of that unattainable thing...whether it's scheming ways to get what we can't have...or drowning in sorrow of how we can't get on with our lives without it... As much as we can try to convince ourselves that we'll be strong and change our ways, human nature takes over and we sometimes let our emotions control our minds...and all rational thinking goes out the window...which means you sting your ride across the river and kick the bucket...
threebyfate Posted November 25, 2009 Posted November 25, 2009 This literally and figuratively falls onto the shoulders of the Fox, of why he would trust someone with a dysfunctional nature. While I know this isn't your creation, do you write or are you considering writing for a career? If not, you should.
mickleb Posted November 25, 2009 Posted November 25, 2009 This literally and figuratively falls onto the shoulders of the Fox, of why he would trust someone with a dysfunctional nature. This is true but just because the fox chose to trust the pesky scorpion, doesn't mean he is, also, dysfunctional. It just means he's nice. Sometimes, when you're nice, you get burned. Luckily, we're not foxes bearing scorpions in rivers and we'll all survive. Sore, a little wiser but essentially, unchanged because of someone who wasn't able to love as deeply as we are. x
threebyfate Posted November 25, 2009 Posted November 25, 2009 This is true but just because the fox chose to trust the pesky scorpion, doesn't mean he is, also, dysfunctional. It just means he's nice. Sometimes, when you're nice, you get burned. Luckily, we're not foxes bearing scorpions in rivers and we'll all survive. Sore, a little wiser but essentially, unchanged because of someone who wasn't able to love as deeply as we are. x If viewed from a romantic perspective, are people mercy dating now? Otherwise, they're getting something out of this, so niceness has nothing to do with it. No risk, no return...hmmm?
mickleb Posted November 25, 2009 Posted November 25, 2009 If viewed from a romantic perspective, are people mercy dating now? Otherwise, they're getting something out of this, so niceness has nothing to do with it. No risk, no return...hmmm? Being nice gives me great rewards, personally. I'm not suggesting we all go out and date scorpions but if we have made that mistake we shouldn't beat ourselves up about it. Great news re. your signature, three, btw. x
threebyfate Posted November 25, 2009 Posted November 25, 2009 Being nice gives me great rewards, personally. I'm not suggesting we all go out and date scorpions but if we have made that mistake we shouldn't beat ourselves up about it. Great news re. your signature, three, btw. xI agree if it's once. Even twice. But once it becomes a repetitive cycle, it's a problem. Thanks.
northstar1 Posted November 25, 2009 Posted November 25, 2009 I've never dated Scorpions, but I have dated a few Black Widows.
johan Posted November 25, 2009 Posted November 25, 2009 It's an old fable. I think I remember seeing it on Rocky and Bullwinkle. The problem for the fox is that he has a good heart and is willing to trust. Without that he'd never get anywhere with anyone. And furthermore, he doesn't know the scorpion's nature. If he did, he obviously wouldn't get involved. The fact is, you can't go around trying to avoid getting stung. In fact, you should expect to get stung. And so you should take care of yourself so that when it happens you aren't stuck in the middle of the river.
threebyfate Posted November 25, 2009 Posted November 25, 2009 I've never dated Scorpions, but I have dated a few Black Widows.I've gotten involved with a couple of scorpions and lived to tell the tale! Lesson learned. They couldn't have been very effective Black Widows, if you're also still alive to tell the tale.
northstar1 Posted November 25, 2009 Posted November 25, 2009 I've gotten involved with a couple of scorpions and lived to tell the tale! Lesson learned. They couldn't have been very effective Black Widows, if you're also still alive to tell the tale. Did you know that the male black widow will sometimes give the female a gift wrapped in silk (sometimes it is a leaf, sometimes the gift is actually empty), and attempts to mate with her while she is preoccupied opening the gift. It's a risk that if she opens it and finds it empty before he is done, she will spin around around and kill him faster. More interesting is the mating habits of the Praying Mantis. The large green ones you see are the female, the male is about about 1/3rd her size and rather unimpressive His subterfusion comes by trying to sneak up on her and copulate with her from behind before she can kill him. But, through an interesting development of natural selection, he has a special ability. The female will typically bite off his head during copulation. But the crafty male has a secondary nervous system in his hindquarters which allows him to finish the job with no head, before wandering off blindly andd dying. How is that for romance in nature?
threebyfate Posted November 25, 2009 Posted November 25, 2009 Did you know that the male black widow will sometimes give the female a gift wrapped in silk (sometimes it is a leaf, sometimes the gift is actually empty), and attempts to mate with her while she is preoccupied opening the gift. It's a risk that if she opens it and finds it empty before he is done, she just turn around and kill him faster. More interesting is the mating habits of the Praying Mantis. The large green ones you see are the female, the male is about about 1/3rd her size and rather unimpressive His subterfusion comes by trying to sneak up on her and copulate with her from behind before she can kill him. But, through an interesting development of natural selection, he has a special ability. The female will typically bite off his head during copulation. But the crafty male has a secondary nervous system in his hindquarters which allows him to finish the job with no head, before wandering off blindly andd dying. How is that for romance in nature?Tsk, tsk, what men will do to get laid! I should also ask the question about how smart the Fox really is, in this scenario. Of the times I got involved with scorpions, I still consider myself pretty dumb.
johan Posted November 25, 2009 Posted November 25, 2009 That's nothing. Random homo sapiens females spend years slowly and quietly draining the life out of their unknowing mates before discarding the shriveled and destroyed shell of what once was a good man. The problem is it's random. At least the praying mantis knows what's coming.
angelface78 Posted November 25, 2009 Posted November 25, 2009 What this fable tells me is that you cant change people. People will screw you over and they cant help it..its who they are. You gotta be careful who you carry on your back.
USMCHokie Posted November 25, 2009 Posted November 25, 2009 Hmmm...looks like I totally read that one wrong...
deux ex machina Posted November 26, 2009 Posted November 26, 2009 Hmmm...looks like I totally read that one wrong... Haha. Well, I for one enjoyed the change in perspective! In the link I put up, one of the creatures survived at least. Score one for optimism. The thing I took away from this fable is that I am happy I am not a scorpion or a fox. And if you want to cross a river, build a sturdy bridge.
The Collector Posted November 26, 2009 Posted November 26, 2009 Take me in, tender woman... Reminds me of that song too. I love this fable. I've been both scorpion and fox, and it's better to be the fox. Better still is to be a fox who knows and distrusts a scorpion when he sees one. To stretch the analogy further, another problem is that many scorpions disguise themselves as innocent looking rabbits.
threebyfate Posted November 26, 2009 Posted November 26, 2009 Reminds me of that song too. I love this fable. I've been both scorpion and fox, and it's better to be the fox. Better still is to be a fox who knows and distrusts a scorpion when he sees one. To stretch the analogy further, another problem is that many scorpions disguise themselves as innocent looking rabbits.Who would mess with a Fox with a wiper-blade whip? This fable is fun to mess with, turning it upside-down with all kinds of implications.
DenvyH22 Posted November 26, 2009 Posted November 26, 2009 A wolf found great difficulty in getting at the sheep owing to the vigilance of the shepherd and his dogs. But one day it found the skin of a sheep that had been flayed and thrown aside, so it put it on over its own pelt and strolled down among the sheep. The Lamb that belonged to the sheep, whose skin the Wolf was wearing, began to follow the Wolf in the Sheep’s clothing; so, leading the Lamb a little apart, he soon made a meal off her, and for some time he succeeded in deceiving the sheep, and enjoying hearty meals.
Tamia78 Posted November 27, 2009 Posted November 27, 2009 What this fable tells me is that you cant change people. People will screw you over and they cant help it..its who they are. You gotta be careful who you carry on your back. I sorta agree with this. Surely these scorpions know what they are doing? I mean, surely they are aware that they are slowly stinging us to death? How can they be unaware of what they are doing to other people? Just a thought. --T
cheergirl Posted November 27, 2009 Posted November 27, 2009 I sorta agree with this. Surely these scorpions know what they are doing? I mean, surely they are aware that they are slowly stinging us to death? How can they be unaware of what they are doing to other people? Just a thought. --T They know, but it's their nature... "Take me in tender woman...":eek:
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