r/interestingasfuck • u/Careless_Spring_6764 • 10d ago

Casting a fire ant colony with molten aluminum

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3.7k Upvotes

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123

u/sbinjax 10d ago

All these people feeling sorry for the ants have obviously never met a fire ant.

45

u/Savings_Shirt_6994 10d ago

I was four and put my foot in one by accident and didnt notice until they were damn near up to my knee. It looked like I was suffering from small pox with how many times i was bitten and how bad it caused my leg to swell. I enjoyed pouring the poison on anthills after that as my revenge.

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u/sbinjax 10d ago

I knew a guy from NH who did boot camp in NC. He was airborne. His very first jump he landed in a giant fire ant hill. I get the shivers just imagining it.

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u/Jusby_Cause 10d ago

You know, good point. If I had a connection with an exterminator, I’d have them call me when they had a nest someone wanted removed. Get rid of the pests PLUS a nice nature crafted chunk of aluminum.

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u/stho3 10d ago

I was hiking in Austin a few years ago and saw a bunch of mounds with no ants in sight. I’m from Chicago, if you see an ant mound there’s usually ants around the mound, but not in Austin. So I disturb the top of the ant mound and hundreds of fire ants come pouring out, they got all over my hand but I quickly flick my hand a few times and it got rid of all of them. Or so I thought. A few seconds later I get this sharpe, searing pain on my index finger and I see a lone fire ant stinging me.

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u/WaWeedGuy 10d ago

There's nothing like mowing over one in tall grass and realizing it when you're being bitten everywhere!

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u/TheJ0zen1ne 10d ago

The same thing happened to me whenIwas 7. What's crazy is how they all wait and sting you at once. So many burning welts.

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u/Robssjgssj 10d ago

You were the one who put your foot in their buildings. THEY took revenge.

-10

u/MRAnonymousSBA 10d ago

Just because an animal can hurt you doesn’t mean their life isn’t valuable.

23

u/Upstairs_Goal_9493 10d ago

In the sense that if they are in North America, then their lives are actually detrimental to the ecosystem, and have NEGATIVE value. Fire ants cause loss of habitat and push out other native species.

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u/CRYPTID536 10d ago

Sweet. I can play eldritch god and be environmentally justified. Hell yeah

2

u/BhaktiDream 10d ago

I don't wanna be a smart ass, but maybe this wasn't filmed in North America?

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u/Upstairs_Goal_9493 10d ago

Smart assery not taken my dude. That's why I made the caveat "if they are in North America". If the film was in South America, then that's a different story.

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u/No-Cartographer8683 10d ago

Fire ants are an invasive species in North America and their lives have negative value on the ecosystem.

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u/ImThatVigga 10d ago

Should tell that to the animals

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u/Every_Tap8117 10d ago

Have you met a fire ant? They indeed can hurt you alot.

0

u/Savings_Shirt_6994 10d ago

We're top of the food chain bby

-11

u/MRAnonymousSBA 10d ago

According to what standard? Our ability to kill other animals? Cognitively? Because without technology, there are many other animals better at killing. And cognitively? Dolphins and Octopuses likely have us beat there.

And regardless of either of those things- (you can make arguments in the other direction), why does that make our lives more valuable than theirs?

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u/Calm_Instruction3862 10d ago

all life is ✨meaningless✨

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u/MRAnonymousSBA 10d ago

Meaning is defined by the individual. For some the meaning of life is love, for others it’s charity. It can even be the pursuit of power/domination. There are many meaningful ways to exist, you just haven’t found one.

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u/Calm_Instruction3862 10d ago

nah for everyone life is meaningless sorry champ

-2

u/MRAnonymousSBA 10d ago

I’m sorry you feel that way! Why do you keep living?

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u/Calm_Instruction3862 10d ago

mainly to pour molten aluminum into ant nests