And, Still More Bed Bug Notes

As already said, the chances that anyone looking for bed bug information would find this obscure little place are very slim.  Out of curiosity, yours truly decided to do a little searching in different ways to see what was available if someone did any hunting at all.  There are the likes of newspaper articles in a number of places.  There are the likes of university “bug departments” with professors studying the creatures taking notes and even writing papers.  There is advice from pest control companies.  There is experienced word from neighbor, friend and passing stranger. 

The bottom line that the search produced is that there is a virtual sea of data of different sorts.  It wasn’t possible to get a handle on it, although a considerable amount of time was spent trying.  The biggest thing noticed was that business interests may be going hog wild in advertising trying to gain customers.  There are claims and counter claims all laid out in useless promotional wording saying little.  One must plow through it to get a few fragments of real information. 

In all the talk there is an exceptionally annoying aspect.  Some people think it’s clever (or cute) to chant the old ditty about “Don’t let the bed bugs bite.”  They probably have no idea of what to do themselves and are desperate to avoid people helplessly afflicted.  Others who have no idea of what to do may react otherwise, like hang up if someone calls.  The latter is bad, but not like a chant.  Anyone afflicted is going to have to go it alone, and it’s a long. long haul. 

Thoughtless people are anywhere.   

More Notes On Bed Bugs

As a result of having had a load of the creatures twice now, yours truly has no expectation of ever again having anything like “ordinary” furniture, among other things.  Having ditched two sofa beds (sleeper sofas to some) in less than two years rather than to continue to suffer with trying to get the bugs out of them  – and those are expensive things when new – it’s logical that investing in any reasonably substantial furniture at least presently is a waste of money.  There’s no known safe, cheap and easy method for getting rid of the bugs in existence yet.   Even being aware of some of the ramifications doesn’t seem wide-spread, never mind addressing things.  Buggy furniture is not the only “ramification.”   

Older people rather limited to urban apartment life (which, of necessity, may be true of others such as some disabled people as well) may not live long enough to be around when it will again be possible to carry on what might be called a fairly standard way of living.  “Modern” living is likely to be little more than with bare essentials, not just because that makes for fewer places for the insects to hide, but also because of exactly what methods or notions any given manager or owner of a place may decide to use.  It wouldn’t be unthinkable to suddenly see a need to move to another place.  The less there is to carry the better it is. 

Being minimal enough to be almost as essential as someone transient wouldn’t be difficult for some people, such as those who have had reason to move every few years (military personnel comes to mind) and who think in such terms.  It is, however, likely to be a radical change for some, such as pack rat kind of people who have stayed put for a decade or two, be it for practical reasons like having school-aged children or job proximity or just out of choice.  It might even mean emptying out a fairly large house, leaving empty rooms.  Regardless, bed bugs are sparking some undercurrent of social change that is largely unspoken. 

Radical change comes any time.