One of my favorite moral stories is the one about the frog and the scorpion. It has a good lesson, but when I discuss it with others, many unfortunately miss the point.
If you get it, it can save you a whole lot of heartache when dealing with others.
Let’s see if you get the point…
One day a scorpion is hanging around the side of a stream. A frog happens by on his way across the stream. The scorpion cannot swim so he stops the frog and asks if he can climb on his back for a ride across the water.
“Do you think I am crazy?” The frog says. “If I let you on my back, you’ll certainly sting me and I’ll sink in the water and die.”
The scorpion replies, “hey just think about it for a second, I can’t swim. If I sting you, then you’ll die and I’ll sink and die too.”
The frog thinks for a second and decides that makes sense, so he proceeds to give the scorpion a ride across the stream.
About half way across the stream, the scorpion stings the frog. The frog screams “What are you doing? Why did you sting me? Now I am going to drown and die and you are going to sink and die too.”
The scorpion says “because I am a scorpion.”
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The frog was just being a nice guy while thinking ahead reasonably. But the point is that the frog should have accepted the (small) risk that the scorpion might screw him over anyway. Some scorpions are assholes. Is that the lesson?
(I heard this story watching MacGyver.)
People won’t change their nature. They can’t help it. It was natural for the scorpion to sting the frog. That’s what any scorpion would do if he met the frog anywhere else.
Nice thing about people is predictability – they are just like scorpions – doing what they are used to do, even if it causes them harm. Sometimes they don’t think, sometimes they can’t help it.
Also, believe your own instincts and don’t let yourself be talked into something you don’t think is good idea.
Sarcastically: Other WILL stab you in the back whenever you give them a chance. Just because they can.
This is also one of my favorites. Being like a frog myself if I meet an scorpion I usually ask someone to come in rescue just in case. I’ve learnt the lesson the hard way.
I always thought it was a fox instead of a frog. The pessimist in me is screaming that old wheeze about good deeds won’t go unpunished. I thought I got rid of him. Nerts.
Eric, I think there is more than a small risk when there is a scorpion on your back
Premek, I think you’ve got it.
Silvia, what about avoiding the scorpion altogether?
Joey, hadn’t thought of the “no good deed” saying. But I think there is a better meaning.
No, I avoid many scorpions but not all of them because life has its surprises and I am still open to them. But I assure you I won’t go across the stream without having a big fish nearby with an antidocte.
Plus, I like so much this story that I always give its copy to all frogs I meet…
Seems rather mean-spirited. I’ve seen this fable used to illustrate the “lesson” that “members of [insert ethnic group] can never be trusted”.
MiGrant, glad you pointed this out. I’ve never heard of it used in those terms, but that’s another example of someone messing up the meaning of the story. I am going to shed some light on the subject.
I remember my dad telling me that parable many times, but he always added an extra sentence to the scorpion’s final words.
“Because I’m a scorpion. It’s in my nature.”
I think that extra “it’s in my nature” goes a long way towards helping people understand the point of the story.
Hi Brad,
I agree that Premak’s meaning is far better. I was just surprised at how fast my pessimistic side appeared.
Sometimes the answer is right in front of you. You know the answer. It enters your mind, it’s on the tip of your tongue.
And then you talk yourself out of it. You add in beliefs, politics, whatever.
But the first answer, the one in your gut is the right one. You should stick with it.
If you know someone can’t be trusted (as the frog knew about the scorpion), don’t trust them, certainly not with your life or anything else important. Misplaced trust can have fatal consequences.
As Jack Welch’s mother used to say to him when he was a kid, “Jackie, don’t kid yourself!”
Jason, I added that comment to the most recent post on the subject.
Bill, I am glad you posted this. I didn’t want to be the one who mentioned you can usually sense a scorpion. When you feel it in your gut about someone, think scorpion and get away.
I heard these types of people once described as “image masters” they present exactly the type of image they want you to see – all the while working on a plan that meets their own selfish needs.
If it sounds to good to be true…then it probably is!
I just had a loving 4 year relationship with someone who left without talking via an email. Then I got this parable from him. It’s very hurtful. How can a scorpion allow someone to carry them lovingly for 4 years and then hurt them so.
Can people with such natures not really change? If they are so hurtful then why don’t they try to work on themselves, to become better people?
And the ironic thing is he is an “ordained minister”!
Annette, sorry for your pain. I don’t have many answers about why scorpions are the way they are. But I will say this. Seems to me an ordained minister should be better equipped to deal with human relationships than to simply drop them an email.
I reunited with a friend I knew long ago. He told me he had an ineptitude for hurting people verbally. He shared the fable with me and identified himself with the scorpion. Ironically, I have the frog personality. We have been writing- over 100 posts in 2 months. And we have had times when he hurt me, but I don’t believe he does it knowingly. He has actually changed over time and become more sensitive to me. I hope that “nature” can be overcome. Humans aren’t really scorpions.
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