Absurdity: One of my favorite forms of comedy. And I love this story, because I really don't have to say anything...PETA discredits themselves. Awesome.

PETA scares me. It appears to be an organization composed of angry, humorless twits.

If I was Obama I'd mail it back to them. With a big old slab of meat in it was well.

Until I scrolled down, I thought it was meant for his hag wife, Worf.

Once again, PETA beclowns itself.

Bugs are animals. If they aren't threatening you, there is no need to kill them. I'd use this thing for spiders & whatnot. I don't echo the comments above. This product is a good idea.

Why should killing flies be the only way to get rid of them? If a human is annoying you, is it fine to just kill them?
I'm glad this product gives people a convenient choice.

Why animal spieces don't have organizations like PETA ? To survive

Hey PETA, when are you going to ban cars. How many insects die by going SPLAT on our windshields EVERYDAY?

They really need a reality check.

I agree that flies should die! Most other bugs, however, I go out of my way to save & relocate. This thing would be great for spiders, beetles and any other insect that doesn't need to die.

Most insects breed by the hundreds if not thousands in their lifetime all you bughuggers (I really hope I coined that term, you all can use it, but try to give me credit, OK) can cover yourself in honey and go lay down in a field, or if you love bugs so much why don't you marry them. Also, I'm glad to see the President kill something out of annoyance, maybe there is some GWB in him afterall.

In reponse to Orochimau above - to put humans and flies on the same level is the height of absurdity and foolishness.

Obama should just nationalize PETA... and then abolish it.

They take animal rights way too far... Hypocrites.

Let me preface what i'm about to say by first saying that i like dvice.com and i follow you guys every day.

That being said, i don't think PETA's response was absurd at all. They didn't get all preachy or go on a rant . They were quite reasonable and gave the Prez a gift that incorporates their philosophy. I give them props for showing some common sense restraint from their usual knee-jerk over the top reactions.

I'm not a bug hugger, buddhist, or radical anything. In fact i kill tons of flies all the time. But i save spiders (they are creepy crawly and i hate them but they are the good guys so I take care to set them free). The humane bug catcher thing looks well designed for that purpose.

Wake up. PETA just wanted publicity, they don't give a damn about flies.

If you guys don't see such an obvious exercise of publicity mechanics, you should go watch Zeitgeist or something.

I was not impressed with Obama's fly swat. Now, if he had caught the fly then I would have been impressed.

When I was in my prime (reflexes were at their peak about 30-40 years ago) I could not swat a fly and I tried. Now comes a person far from his prime reflexes and you expect me to believe that he can swat a fly, give me a break.

Orochimau: You're annoying me.

Some PETA members are a special kind of crazy, you're entitled to your own view but when you want to force your beliefs on others it becomes a problem.

Why should we want a commander in chief that won't hurt a fly? That is a great way to ask for an invasion. Our president should have a vengeful wrath feared by our enemies and revered by our allies.

All flies must die at our hands. And while we are at it, mosquitos too.

I used to kill bugs, but I had a spiritual awakening several years ago and became aware of the fact that all life is sacred. Yes, it is true that within the context of our limited perception of the universe we are far from "equal" to insects, but once you step outside the confines of our finite perception everything changes. In all of reality EVERYTHING is equal. Infinity exists, and we all know this to be true deep down inside, and if this is true then it only follows logically that by taking the bigger picture into account all things become the same size..... in other words infinity itself is perfectly unified as one (mathematics proves this). So it isn't just a metaphor when Buddhists or other spiritual philosophies say that "we are all as one". Mathematically and logically it is the only way thing(s) actually exist.

Anyway, with all that said it can only follow that "life = life = life", no matter how "big" or "small".

Besides, it is only human egocentric ARROGANCE for us to presume that WE are somehow more important than any other life-form. And it is this same ignorant arrogance that has allowed us to continue destroying the environment as well as abuse animals by the thousands. To make matters worse our egos have prevented us from even cherishing other HUMAN life, and so millions of people starve to death or get slaughtered by others every single year. It is a problem that most people refuse to acknowledge....... even as they read this.

@ONE: Hahahaha.....hahaha....ha.

Wow, just wow. Tell you what, get a house cat and a bunch of mice. Put them in a good size box and see what happens. If the cat is hungry, it will kill and eat a few, if it is not hungry it will kill a few for fun (instinct, practice whatever you want to call it). Take that same cat and put it in a box with a bear. That bear will ice that cat.

The punch line, death happens one way or another. We as humans just seem to be able to pick and choose when this occurs more often then not. An insect wandering into our midst is no different then a slug getting too close to an anthill. It is an intruder and it will be disposed of. Nature does it instinctively, we get to enjoy it.

But hey, if you are down with abundant, simple, fast breeding disease carrying creatures hanging out with you in a mud hut somewhere then be my guest, malaria is organic right? Organic things are good for you!

@karpet

Coming from a finite or atheistic point of view you are absolutely, unequivocally right. Sure, nature does it.... nature is f**kin' brutal! And we're all just animals, right? Or could there be something about us that elevates our being from mere aggressive survival instinct? Personally I believe that we all have a soul (and I'm not religious) and that there is such a thing as spiritual evolution (which coincides with our physical evolution). As humans we have reached a state of consciousness that is more evolved than most other life-forms on this planet. Where a cat or a bear has no choice but to act on it's instinctual impulses, we DO have a choice-- and THAT is what separates us. Does this mean we are all aware of this choice? Obviously not. Does it mean that making this choice is easy? Definitely not. But first you must realize that existence completely transcends your finite awareness before you know that such a choice is yours..... or know that it even matters.

This is ridiculous. PETA is ridiculous.

I agree with PETA! I LOVE ANIMALS!....
Cause they taste so good!

its a frickin fly. as for our conscious choice, if its not buggin me, bug will live. if its staffing me, crush it. nuff' said.

I've had a phobia of spiders, and using this humane trap has helped me deal with it. I can look at the spider closely without fear
that he will jump on me so I can appreciate their beautiful coloring and delicate physiology. It also helps with beetles and other creepy-crawlies. I don't feel the same way about flies, but I'm sure gonna buy one of these things!

What I find absurd is paying $8 for this contraption when a cup and some paper from the recycling bin work just as well.

Just make sure to wash the cup after.

Hm, for some reason my previous post was moderated. Maybe because I suggested watching a certain documentary full of things Americans don't like to hear. Whatever.

PETA just wanted some publicity, they don't care about flies at all. And it worked, the story is popular all around the world. Let the inflow of new supporters begin. Maybe these people should spend the money on something else, like starving children. Oh wait, the president doesn't swat those.

Hm, for some reason my previous post was moderated. Maybe because I suggested watching a certain documentary full of things Americans don't like to hear. Whatever.

PETA just wanted some publicity, they don't care about flies at all. And it worked, the story is popular all around the world. Let the inflow of new supporters begin. Maybe these people should spend the money on something else, like starving children. Oh wait, the president doesn't swat those.

@One: Ok, let's say that every living thing has a soul, from the HIV virus to humans, souls for all. Then what? In the next plane of existance are we to expect company from all these other souls? And if that is the case, will we have to swat flies in the afterlife? Are mosquitos going to buzz around our heads and bite our arm or are they going to land on our shoulder and regal us with tales of wiping out an entire African tribe?

I'll tell you what, if all living things get their souls remanufatured then I wish I were an eagle right now. If I don't have to suffer this mortal coil as a human then why they would I want to?

Your move.

@gRis: I don't know what you did but I have had my stuff edited too. They are sensitive little buggers at DyVyc.

Im gonna start my own little PETA: People Eating Tasty Animals!

I would not want a President who wouldn't harm a fly.
PETA is entitled to their viewpoint, no matter how wrong they may be. Just don't force that addle-pated, malnourished rhetoric down my throat, or I will be forced to respond with pork rinds, the meat that goes crunch!

ps. Did PETA make Captcha?

@karept: Umm, viruses are not living... and there is no such thing as a soul to begin with...

@karpet

I can tell this is exchange will continue to go in circles, but that's okay, I'll make one more response (so I'll let you have the last word if you wish).

My perspective comes from an enlightened awareness of the way life works beyond what most of us see on the surface. As imperfect beings we tend to simplify things, but I can tell you this: the "big" picture isn't so black & white. To ask "will we have to swat flies in the afterlife?" is a question that comes from a relatively limited point of view on what the afterlife means, assuming there IS an afterlife. But even if there isn't, who's to say that there is not some greater secular reason for life to exist other than what we give life credit for (which as a whole isn't very much)?

Let's say that there's no separate soul and no spirit world. This would mean that our very consciousness and intelligence is a direct product of the subatomic particles that make up matter. This would mean that every single atom in the universe has the potential to be "awakened" if joined with other atoms in just the right configuration of a collective which we would call organic matter. So in a very real sense every atom in existence has a "sleeping" consciousness to it, and that an extraordinarily few of "us" atoms are lucky enough to be organized in just the right way with other atoms to be awakened and become self-aware with each other (to whatever degree) into a unified consciousness that we call a life-form. So whichever particles in the universe actually get this chance to finally become self-aware are incredibly lucky beyond belief to have such an experience (given that %99.99999..... of all matter in the universe will NEVER get this chance to know itself as "life"). So, given this "secular truth" all life could be cherished as much as possible. It is truly remarkable that the atomic particles that make up a fly were even given a chance AT ALL to become conscious... even for the short time that they get that chance.

And if all life-forms DO have a soul? Well then the "meaning of life" obviously multiplies exponentially (from a mere secular view). What would this meaning be? I would sure be willing to bet that it's NOT unimportant-- that it's something much greater than what you or most of the population seem to regard it to be. So if you try very hard to see beyond our limited perception of what life means you'll begin to realize that no matter how you look at it (secular or spiritual) life, ALL life, is the most miraculous phenomenon in existence. And YOU'RE lucky enough to be apart of it as well (with all of life's suffering aside of course...).

I dare you to think about it.

@ One Thought about it.......kill those flies, cause those conscious fly's are carring around thoughts of puking on my mad cow burger.

As to the use of the above device.....what, do you have to ask the fly to "please land over here so I can put this device on top of you and capture you"? How the heck are you supposed to use this thing if the fly is buzzing around a lightbulb......smart creatures that they are and all. I use a fly swatter, shoe, hand, vaccum, or any other dvice at hand to kill fly's, cockroachs, spiders, ants & those super smart mosquitos. Cause that 99.9999% chance gave me the opposable thumb and a will to use it, not to mention the thought process to be able to think about killing those sentient beings, along with the matter of the Universe to be able to do it. Admit it One, your a tree-huggin, bug-loving, power saving.....oh, your using power to view things on the web....do you realize how many trees went into the power plant to get you that electricty & how many bugs were displaced by removing said tree??
I wouldn't normally try to bust someones bubble, but One's comments just seemed a little to "above everyone else". We are all stuck on this rock until we can all get along and figure a way off this rock or blow it up, whichever comes first only "God" knows.

People Eating Tasty Animals!

I am suprised that the Secret Service didn't have that fly removed from the area 2 hours previous to the President showing up. Or, at least have the fly in an holding pattern somewhere else. Actually I'm really suprised the Secret Service didn't "take out" that pesky fly so it wouldn't be given the chance to bother the "President", oh wait, even mules A.K.A. "Ass's" have a tail to use to swat away fries much like an arm.

Orochimau: if people are annoying you, it is our god diven right to kill them, i promise, its in the bible, right next to where it says if you say gullible really slowly it sounds like green bears

haha PETA is such a laugh sometimes.
yes its for ethical treatment for animals and would like EVERYONE to become humorless yups, but not one person can say that they've never swatted a fly.
he could have ripped its legs and wings off slowly while laughing maniacally at its suffering while he fulfills his pleasure with the fly's pain.
Chill out.
It's a bug.

A fly is swatted. I wonder what enigmatic act the President does next that the media will focus on.

It's time we humanely put PETA down.

I think we already know das leader is the type to hurt a fly - he did order those 15 year old Yemen pirates killed, after all.

Oh that's right, PETA only cares about animals.

We've actually had one of these, except at the time it was labled as a japanese Spider catcher, and cost a bit more.
They're nice...I guess. But really, if you see a fly, leave the room to get the catcher, and come back, that fly will have already pooed on your dinner and died on the plate.

Sure, using them for big things...spiders, caterpillars, even large moths, I can see.
But usually it's just better off killing the bug.
It was just going to die soon anyway.

We've actually had one of these, except at the time it was labled as a japanese Spider catcher, and cost a bit more.
They're nice...I guess. But really, if you see a fly, leave the room to get the catcher, and come back, that fly will have already pooed on your dinner and died on the plate.

Sure, using them for big things...spiders, caterpillars, even large moths, I can see.
But usually it's just better off killing the bug.
It was just going to die soon anyway.
(my apologies if this goes through twice, the server was having some issues)

A "humane" bug catcher. If they're bugs, how can it be "humane" ?

People Eradicating Terrible Animals? Sorry, when it comes to flies, they are better off dead. Basically they are nothing more than disease proliferation mechanisms that we can live without.

Do you know how many itty bitty bugs are on your food when you harvest and eat them? All the vegetable in the world have insect on them. Like the "potato bug"! So Peta can preach all they want about animal rights but we all end up hurting something else to survive. If a insect was a disease vector that treated the life of every other animal in the immediate eco-system you saying you wouldn't exterminate them? Relax PETA I doubt he'll be carrying a bug catcher every where he goes. People are too gimmicky nowadays. PETA Probably gets some of the Proceeds from the sale f those things.

At least the fly found peace on Twitter! http://twitter.com/aflyobamakilled

@One and all you others who are so concerned with bugs.

I find it amazing how everybody can be so concerned with the wellbeing of animals (and bugs) while people starve all over the world. A fly has a lifespan of what, two weeks? They carry all sorts of diseases and parasites. Why is it such a sin to kill a little bugger that lays 500 eggs in its life time? I don't think extinction is going to be much of a problem when we kill the few that get into our houses/offices and annoy us.

Now, if we consider how much Americans spend on pet food each year, we find that we could feed quite a few starving children. Using the more than $50 billion per year that Americans spend on pet food, we could feed nearly a billion children for a year.

I don't know where PETA's $30 million annual budget comes from, but could we put that money to better use feeding well over half a million children?

How long before people realise PETA is all about getting their name in the news? It's called a publicity stunt. It also works every time as is readily obvious in the comments people have left.

P people E eating T tasty A animals

Why does a humane fly catcher look so much like a sex toy? Maybe PETA is trying to send Obama a hidden message.

@One: Who is enlightened? And what is true without thought?

I dare you to think about this Mr. "enlightened awareness" before you go off again about "knowing the mind of god (for lack of a better word)".

Is it just me, or does the top half look like it should be on some kind of adult oriented website? It sure looks like a dil do to me, but what do I know?

We've been catching flies and spiders for years using a clear plastic cup and a piece of thin, sturdy cardboard. It's free, and it's a great way to improve your hand-eye co-ordination besides being a way of sidestepping useless killing. It's easy to make fun of a fly's life, much harder to save its life.

@One...

Your enlightened, "civilized" diatribes are reminiscent of one of my favorite authors, Douglas Adams and his famous series of novels starting with "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."

If I may, this silly discussion on this site is like falling through the atmosphere on "Magrathea." You strike me as the "very surprised sperm whale" while I am "the bowl of petunias"...

For those of you who understand, I need not explain any further, but the implication here is that I, and the other bowls of petunias present, understand a great deal more about the universe than you believe.

PETA is a bunch of idiots. I love animals, but PETA carries it to an entirely different level. Boneheads.

PETA is a bunch of idiots. I love animals, but PETA carries it to an entirely different level. Boneheads.

PETA is a bunch of idiots. I love animals, but PETA carries it to an entirely different level. Boneheads.

FYI... Per PETA rep being interviewed on Red Eye: This product admittedly does the exact same thing as a piece of paper and a plastic cup.

PETA has got to be the worlds most stupid group of idiots around a HUMANE FLYCATCHER? and what about the VENUS FLYTRAP? Its pretty humane one chump and its all over for the fly

Issue seems to be about consistency of care and justification of killing as a means to solve problems.
Although,ignorance, arrogance and misuse of power is a dangerous mix !
Regarding PETA i would not throw the "baby" out with the bathwater.
Regarding publicity....good or bad for the President ? Does he care ?
Also would it not be better to continue the use of rational argument rather than using insults ?

It's ridiculous and disgusting when people start equating the value of a human life to the value of a fly. The comments: "You wouldn't kill a human who was bothering you..." are incredibly stupid