Question

I post this question twice, please don't answer this post if you already answer the other one, if you can answer different answer that's fine. REASON WHY I POST IT TWICE, I NEED TWO DIFFERENT VIEW.

Discussion: Suicidal Crickets, Zombies Roaches and Other Parasites Tales

Please watch the TED Talk ‘Suicidal crickets, zombies roaches and other parasite tales' and post something that you learn as well as whether you believe there could be parasites living inside of humans possibly controlling human minds.

Link: https://www.ted.com/talks/ed_yong_suicidal_wasps_zombie_roaches_and_other_tales_of_parasites#t-73256

Answer 1

In the talk, science writer Ed Young takes a very anecdotal yet ever is informative approach of setting up an analogy between the natural world and the social political environment in which human beings live. He draws a comparison between the parasites such as the worm, the Emerald wasp on one side and political illusionists, hate propagandists, and fascist groups to show how the universal idea of human will and free thinking is ‘naturally’ vulnerable and under constant stack and threat. In the natural world, Young shows how the Emerald was lures the male cockcraoch towards her and she stings the brain of the male roach such that he become paralysed and follows her to her bill where she finally injects the eggs into his body till the eggs hatch into offspring wasps. Thus, the male roach becomes an unknowing host who although still alive and free, remains paralysed against any mobility and escape. Similarly, Young raises questions about the way human beings propagate strong beliefs about will where in actuality we let other people, powerful political figures, sectarian groups, state regimes like the NSA control our mind by their manipulation of facts about our reality. Thus, to use Young’s analogy, parasites can take control over human mind and determine our actions. The second implication of his talk is about a requestioning of the privileged position of human beings in the food chain. He uses the example of the ‘toxo parasite’ which is found in mammals like rodents, cats and even human beings which though a rare instance but has been nonetheless recently studied to influence driving behaviours and even behaviour of schizophrenic patients. Thus, the survival mechanism of worms and parasites, and beyond the scope of the TED talk, even some fungi indicate to us how extended and complicated the ecosystem is and the idea that human beings are far distant from the control of even the minutest and invisible organisms merely because of their complex thinking and highly technological social environment. Personally, while this idea is not easy to accept because of the rarity and lack of scientific evidence, I nonetheless believe that there is a great harmony built in the environment and human beings are intricately affected by even the smallest and the most insignificant creature stand phenonmenon. We all have heard of the certain parasites in cabbage that tends to attack the brian of those who consumed the infected cruciferous vegetable. But Young’s talk opens the influence of the hidden parasitic world in a more profound direction.