September 25, 2021

"I just feel like they don’t have a purpose, and he was like every bug and insect has a purpose."

Said the woman set up on a blind date with a man who is an entomologist with the Smithsonian Institution, quoted in "Date Lab: Would these two become lovebugs?" (WaPo). 

The "they" in "they don’t have a purpose" are mosquitoes. 

It was nice to read one of these "Date Lab" pieces where both participants rate the date at 5 out of 5. 

They have a religious difference and commonality. Though their background religions are different — Islam and Catholicism — both experienced a culture that somehow caused them not to date until they were in their 20s. The man says, "None of my friends dated, I never really considered it as something that I could do, and even through my college years." The woman was forbidden to date in high school.

20 comments:

rehajm said...

She is looking for someone who is working on their flaws

Run away now!

rehajm said...

'I'm 36 and ready to start a family. I'm looking for someone I can berate without retaliation and in return offer them my incessant nitpicking and micromanagement.'

Sebastian said...

"Though their background religions are different — Islam and Catholicism"

Uh, oh. They didn't happen to meet in Vienna, did they?

Tom T. said...

"Purpose" can mean less than one might think, though. Whenever I ask, "what role do mosquitoes play," people tell me that bats eat them. But then I ask, "what role do bats play," and people tell me that they eat mosquitoes.

Mr Wibble said...

Uh, oh. They didn't happen to meet in Vienna, did they
-------

"She's a Turkish Muslim, he's a devout catholic Pole. They met over coffee and croissants..."

Mr Wibble said...

If he wants to start a family, a 36 year old woman is a bad bet.

daskol said...

Rachel Carson thought she was a bird lady, but in retrospect is more correctly regarded a bug lady. Henceforth she’ll be known as Skeeter Carson.

Bender said...

People not dating until their 20s has little to do with religion these days. All the kids aren't doing it. For many, many years now, high school and college kids have been exclusively into the group outing thing. Many if not most don't do much real couples dating.

Roger Sweeny said...

Whenever I ask, "what role do mosquitoes play," people tell me that bats eat them. But then I ask, "what role do bats play," and people tell me that they eat mosquitoes.

All is for the best in this best of all possible worlds.

Birches said...

I was pleased to be able to read the entire article.

I'm not surprised they continued dating. They both seem like they would rather be married at their age than single.

What is culturally Muslim? Pretending to be a religious minority when it's convenient? I wonder if she drinks alcohol...

mikee said...

The purpose of every mosquito is to produce mosquito eggs. Not understanding basic biology is sad.

Achilles said...


The "they" in "they don’t have a purpose" are mosquitoes.

God she is dumb.

Mosquitos and their larva are a primary food source for everything from frogs to dragonflies.

Scott Patton said...

"somehow caused them not to date"
Somehow? The woman was forbidden. That's how. It says so right there in the same paragraph.
Why Catholicism caused the man to not date is certainly unclear. So unclear as to make the assertion absurd.
"I never really considered it as something that I could do"... says exactly zero about anything having to do with Catholicism.

Mary Beth said...

The existence of mosquitoes saved the world! (Did they not see "Lilo & Stitch"?)

Greybeard said...

Aren't bats also pollinators?

Smilin' Jack said...

The purpose of mosquitoes is to make more mosquitoes.

Earnest Prole said...

I'm Nature's Mosquito
Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers

Little mosquito, there must be
Some reason for you that I just can't see
Well, there is, well you're right, sir
You see, God put me here
Just the same as he put you, so
I'm nature's mosquito

And that means I'm gonna go bite-bite-bitie-witie-wite-sir
Yes, I'm nature's mosquito
I'm gonna go bite-bite-bitie-witie-wite-sir
That's what he told me to do

And God loved me when he made me
The same as he loves you, so
I'm nature's little mosquito

Well now, Mr. Mosquito, is there not
Some beauty in you that I simply can't spot
Well there is, well you're right, sir
You see, God put me here
He made me just like you, so
I'm nature's mosquito

That means I better go bite-bite-bitie-witie-wite-sir
Yes, I'm nature's mosquito
I'm gonna go bite-bite-bitie-witie-wite-sir
That's what they even asked me to do

And God loved me when he made me
the same as he loved you, so
I'm nature's mosquito

(Boys, let's rock it)

And God loved me when he made me
the same as he loved you, so
I'm nature's mosquito

Well now, little mosquito, come bite me on the hand now
And explain it to me so I can understand
Well, okay, well all right, sir
You see, I have my reason
sure as I have my season
I'm nature's mosquito
Bite-wite-bitie-witie-wite-sir
I'm nature's mosquito
Bitie-witie-wite-sir
I'm nature's -- well I'm a rockin' mosquito now -- I’m a rockin' mosquito now —-
I'm nature's mosquito

Yancey Ward said...

Mosquitos fill their own purposes as a species such that they have "purposes" as we understand them. The world and the rest of its lifeforms would go on existing if every single mosquito disappeared tomorrow.

Skippy Tisdale said...

"what role do bats play,"

They create ammonia.

Ann Althouse said...

“ "somehow caused them not to date"
Somehow? The woman was forbidden. ”

Forbidden in high school, it says.

What about college? She’s in her 20s. And she’s only “culturally Muslim.”