Introduction

source: pixabay

People are naturally scared of tiny critters. Be it centipedes, spiders, earthworms, cockroaches or other wondrous miniature creatures of Mother Nature, a good deal of these creepy crawlies can make us flinch at mere sight of them and may reduce us into a shrieking, fleeing mess if we are provided with an opportunity to come into physical contact.

While such actions are entirely understandable, ordinary and possibly my preferred course of action as well, our involuntary reactions should not cloud our judgment of these tiny critters. Yes, the bees buzzing makes my heart go into an overdrive. That said, I should still give credit where it is due and recognize what a great boon they are to our community. If a creature is beneficial to the world, it is simply that. Fear is fear. Fact is fact.

However, this is easier said than done. When we are scared by something, we are inclined to dislike it. When we dislike something, we are inclined to remove it, or distance ourselves from it, to feel better.

As the picture above might have hinted, the topic of the blog involves the bees. However, the blog is not completely about bees. The blog’s purpose is not to advocate and champion the conservation of bees (although that is definitely the right outcome) but to lessen the fear people may feel towards bees and empower them to react rationally in an encounter with a bee.

In a urban setting such as Singapore, a person having aversion to bees could often result in removal of bees from the area. Needless to say, that spells bad outcome to the bees, which get no say in the matter. If people who is scared by a bee’s appearance can still deal with it rationally instead of just snuffing it out, I would consider this blog a success.