Parable

[flexibeast]

The year is 1720. The place is England.

A bestiary is being compiled. Dragons, unicorns, griffins; all are there. But why not add another creature even more fantastical than a griffin?

Someone proposes the following:

"Let us imagine something akin to a beaver. But this beaver has the bill and webbed feet of a duck. What makes it dangerous, however, is its poisonous hind foot, with the sting of a scorpion."

The idea is met with amusement. "Indeed, no-one has ever reported such a creature! The very idea is as nonsensical as that of a griffin. But it is novel. It shall be included."

The bestiary is finalised. The new monster is discussed. "There is no evidence whatsoever for such a creature. It is contrary to reason that such a creature could even exist. Those who imagine otherwise have succumbed to an irrationality that merely serves to demonstrate the smallness of their intellects."

How ignorant people can be!

Comments

[tiaramerchgirl]

ha! considering the platypus has become a significant animal for me in many ways, this rings true to how people approach my life.

[flexibeast]

Interesting! If it's not too personal, could you elaborate?

[tiaramerchgirl]

It's mostly for the very reasons you elaborate in this post: the platypus and I are made up of parts that shouldn't normally go together, but do. It's also kind of a foil to the Queer Unicorn, which people *want* to have exist for its special-ness, but platypus exist in the real world and people still don't know quite what to do with them.

[flexibeast]

Ah! i definitely get where you're coming from. :-)