Comments on: Bug eating in the Wall Street Journal http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 26 May 2013 07:31:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Crashproof http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033513 Crashproof Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033513 Nononononono. Kill it with fire, and then do NOT serve that as a meal. Gah. Nononononono. Kill it with fire, and then do NOT serve that as a meal. Gah.

]]> By: The Mudshark http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1034027 The Mudshark Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1034027 I tried both grasshoppers and scorpion from a street food vendor in Bangkok a few years ago. The grasshoppers were fine, crispy and felt quite a bit like potato chips. The scorpion was a big black one, about 8 cm long, and it was pretty gross. Thick shell with gray gooey stuff inside. I had a pincer and threw the rest away. I guess some people would probably force it down for purported aphrodisiacal effects. I tried both grasshoppers and scorpion from a street food vendor in Bangkok a few years ago. The grasshoppers were fine, crispy and felt quite a bit like potato chips.

The scorpion was a big black one, about 8 cm long, and it was pretty gross. Thick shell with gray gooey stuff inside. I had a pincer and threw the rest away. I guess some people would probably force it down for purported aphrodisiacal effects.

]]> By: Rayonic http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033518 Rayonic Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033518 Sure I'd eat those bugs. After they'd been processed so hard not even a Homeopath would claim a relationship to their original form. Sure I’d eat those bugs. After they’d been processed so hard not even a Homeopath would claim a relationship to their original form.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033531 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033531 Feeding them to a chicken might be a good start. Feeding them to a chicken might be a good start.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033532 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033532 quoting Aloisius > I'm genuinely confused when people will happily chow down on a > prawn, but think eating a scorpion or a grasshopper is somehow > icky. Now worms, caterpillars and grubs? > Meh. I think it is a texture thing. ---- quoting Jonathan Badger > Meanwhile, most of the same people who find this repulsive eat > the "delicacies" of crabs and lobsters, which being fellow > arthropods, are basically the same thing. ---- Aloisius, it's more than a texture thing. Let's change Jonathan's comment a bit... meanwhile, most of the same people, who find eating cats and dogs as repulsive , eat cows and pigs, which being fellow mammals are basically the same thing. I agree, it's a texture thing quoting Aloisius
> I’m genuinely confused when people will happily chow down on a
> prawn, but think eating a scorpion or a grasshopper is somehow
> icky. Now worms, caterpillars and grubs?
> Meh. I think it is a texture thing.
—-
quoting Jonathan Badger
> Meanwhile, most of the same people who find this repulsive eat
> the “delicacies” of crabs and lobsters, which being fellow
> arthropods, are basically the same thing.
—-

Aloisius, it’s more than a texture thing. Let’s change Jonathan’s comment a bit…

meanwhile, most of the same people, who find eating cats and dogs as repulsive , eat cows and pigs, which being fellow mammals are basically the same thing.

I agree, it’s a texture thing

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033534 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033534 Once upon a time, lobsters were something poor folks ate. I don't know how they made the transition to gourmet. Once upon a time, lobsters were something poor folks ate. I don’t know how they made the transition to gourmet.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1034047 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1034047 Eating bugs is pica, a type of eating disorder. The vast majority of the protein in insects is not digestible by humans. It's even worse than eating sawdust because it actively interferes with digestion of fats. That's the principle behind Chitosan. Oh, anyone allergic to eating shellfish is also allergic to eating insects. There's also a long, long list of of parasites that insects can carry that are deadly to humans and hard to spot. The same is true with reptiles and amphibians. Plants and algae are both much safer to eat and have a much higher net food value. Eating bugs is pica, a type of eating disorder.

The vast majority of the protein in insects is not digestible by humans. It’s even worse than eating sawdust because it actively interferes with digestion of fats. That’s the principle behind Chitosan.

Oh, anyone allergic to eating shellfish is also allergic to eating insects.

There’s also a long, long list of of parasites that insects can carry that are deadly to humans and hard to spot. The same is true with reptiles and amphibians.

Plants and algae are both much safer to eat and have a much higher net food value.

]]> By: Metlin http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033550 Metlin Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033550 To express the sentiments of someone I greatly admire, I think that this is unfortunate because the marginal novelty of the experience is outweighed by the fact this will contribute to an environment of demand where these insects will be killed off for consumption. Buy a bag of fruit and nuts instead. Use the money that you save and take a trip to see these insects in the wild, learn about their volatile ecology, and celebrate your modest but contributory act of staving off a future where the only living things in the planet are man and the things that he eats. To express the sentiments of someone I greatly admire, I think that this is unfortunate because the marginal novelty of the experience is outweighed by the fact this will contribute to an environment of demand where these insects will be killed off for consumption.

Buy a bag of fruit and nuts instead. Use the money that you save and take a trip to see these insects in the wild, learn about their volatile ecology, and celebrate your modest but contributory act of staving off a future where the only living things in the planet are man and the things that he eats.

]]> By: ill lich http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033556 ill lich Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033556 "Waiter, I would like a Unicorn Chaser with this." "I'm sorry sir, we are fresh out of unicorn, might I suggest some griffin?" “Waiter, I would like a Unicorn Chaser with this.”

“I’m sorry sir, we are fresh out of unicorn, might I suggest some griffin?”

]]> By: yosemite http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033562 yosemite Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033562 No muss no fuss with Oaxacan-style chapulines (grasshoppers): you don't remove any of the appendages. Fry 'em with chiles and lime for a delectable appetizer.... No muss no fuss with Oaxacan-style chapulines (grasshoppers): you don’t remove any of the appendages. Fry ‘em with chiles and lime for a delectable appetizer….

]]> By: imag http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033571 imag Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033571 There is *no way* that the bugs served will be from the wild. They will, like restaurant snails, be carefully bred and fed on clean food. There are reasons not to like this, but endangering insects is hardly one. awjtawjt: Nice. There is *no way* that the bugs served will be from the wild.

They will, like restaurant snails, be carefully bred and fed on clean food. There are reasons not to like this, but endangering insects is hardly one.

awjtawjt: Nice.

]]> By: dancentury http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033322 dancentury Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033322 I ate some giant ants from Columbia last night. Smelled like honey, tasted like smokey bacon shavings. Not bad. I was waiting for lock jaw to kick in, or some allergic reaction, but it was all good. Soylent Orange... it's cicadas! I ate some giant ants from Columbia last night. Smelled like honey, tasted like smokey bacon shavings. Not bad. I was waiting for lock jaw to kick in, or some allergic reaction, but it was all good.

Soylent Orange… it’s cicadas!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033328 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033328 I think my leopard gecko is a big fan of the largish brown grubs displayed on the center of the plate (below the pinkish ones and above the black ones). If I'm not mistaken they are what is marketed in pet stores as "Superworms": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zophobas_morio Does anyone know what types of grubs are displayed on the plate? I kind of get a kick out the image of my leopard gecko enjoying a "bug sushi" meal such as this one. I think my leopard gecko is a big fan of the largish brown grubs displayed on the center of the plate (below the pinkish ones and above the black ones). If I’m not mistaken they are what is marketed in pet stores as “Superworms”: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zophobas_morio

Does anyone know what types of grubs are displayed on the plate?
I kind of get a kick out the image of my leopard gecko enjoying a “bug sushi” meal such as this one.

]]> By: Mister44 http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033585 Mister44 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033585 If your land bugs aren't your flavor, try some aquatic ones. Lobsters are giant bugs that live in water. Arthropods - bleh. If your land bugs aren’t your flavor, try some aquatic ones. Lobsters are giant bugs that live in water. Arthropods – bleh.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033330 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033330 Leave them bugs alone! Leave them bugs alone!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033331 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033331 Call me sarcastic but I'm all for the filthy rich eating bugs in fancy restaurants. It makes me feel warm inside. Call me sarcastic but I’m all for the filthy rich eating bugs in fancy restaurants.
It makes me feel warm inside.

]]> By: Coxswain http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033333 Coxswain Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033333 I know it's 100% cultural, but this is one food trend I'll happily be skipping. Bugs are gross! I know it’s 100% cultural, but this is one food trend I’ll happily be skipping. Bugs are gross!

]]> By: MarkM http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033334 MarkM Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033334 Chaser, please. And, No, not some sort of insect smoothie chaser, thank you! Chaser, please.

And, No, not some sort of insect smoothie chaser, thank you!

]]> By: Art http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033337 Art Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033337 No fun unless lock jaw sets in :) Simply Scrump-Dee-Lee-Umptious! No fun unless lock jaw sets in :)

Simply Scrump-Dee-Lee-Umptious!

]]> By: racerx_is_alive http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033343 racerx_is_alive Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033343 There's some seriously broken links in this entry. The only ones that work are the amazon ones. There’s some seriously broken links in this entry. The only ones that work are the amazon ones.

]]> By: Krüzεr ΦΘΩδ∞ http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033855 Krüzεr ΦΘΩδ∞ Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033855 It's cultural, there are cultures where people think eating fish is disgusting. It’s cultural, there are cultures where people think eating fish is disgusting.

]]> By: anatidaeling http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033612 anatidaeling Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033612 In "Beetle McGrady Eats Bugs" by Megan McDonald (also author of the Judy Moody books and a former children's librarian) second-grader Beetle McGrady eats an ant and learns all sorts of delicious bug recipes -- included in the book. In “Beetle McGrady Eats Bugs” by Megan McDonald (also author of the Judy Moody books and a former children’s librarian) second-grader Beetle McGrady eats an ant and learns all sorts of delicious bug recipes — included in the book.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033364 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033364 I'd like to see the upper-eschelon readers of the Wall Street Journal eat some bugs, alright. And maybe some rats, as well. But preferably each other. I’d like to see the upper-eschelon readers of the Wall Street Journal eat some bugs, alright. And maybe some rats, as well. But preferably each other.

]]> By: Aloisius http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033369 Aloisius Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033369 I'm genuinely confused when people will happily chow down on a prawn, but think eating a scorpion or a grasshopper is somehow icky. Now worms, caterpillars and grubs? Meh. I think it is a texture thing. I’m genuinely confused when people will happily chow down on a prawn, but think eating a scorpion or a grasshopper is somehow icky.

Now worms, caterpillars and grubs? Meh. I think it is a texture thing.

]]> By: Jake0748 http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033633 Jake0748 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033633 To quote Jake when Elwood told him they had to go see the Penguin... "No fucking way". To quote Jake when Elwood told him they had to go see the Penguin…

“No fucking way”.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1034158 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1034158 People eat insects every day. Crab and lobster are in the arachnid family, along with spiders. Shrimp, and other seafood are the insects of the ocean. People eat insects every day. Crab and lobster are in the arachnid family, along with spiders. Shrimp, and other seafood are the insects of the ocean.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033392 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033392 OMG!!! Tarantulas aren't bugs, they're arachnids! OH MY GOD! Stop the insanity!!!! OMG!!! Tarantulas aren’t bugs, they’re arachnids! OH MY GOD! Stop the insanity!!!!

]]> By: Unmutual http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033404 Unmutual Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033404 I dont have anything against eating bugs, but stripping the wings and antennae off of 20-30 tiny crickets to yield a cup of roasted crickets? Sounds like an awful lot of work, I'll stick with sunflower seeds, thanks. I dont have anything against eating bugs, but stripping the wings and antennae off of 20-30 tiny crickets to yield a cup of roasted crickets? Sounds like an awful lot of work, I’ll stick with sunflower seeds, thanks.

]]> By: demidan http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033422 demidan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033422 "Excuse me waiter, my meal just pooped on my plate and then bit me." “Excuse me waiter, my meal just pooped on my plate and then bit me.”

]]> By: Jonathan Badger http://boingboing.net/2011/02/22/bug-eating-in-the-wa.html#comment-1033423 Jonathan Badger Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033423 Meanwhile, most of the same people who find this repulsive eat the "delicacies" of crabs and lobsters, which being fellow arthropods, are basically the same thing. Meanwhile, most of the same people who find this repulsive eat the “delicacies” of crabs and lobsters, which being fellow arthropods, are basically the same thing.

]]>