Russian Bus Drivers and Scorpions

[thefisherman]

I have a simple request for anyone who wishes to express themselves. I am going to tell you two short stories, and I want to read about your real life experiences that match the storylines or the point of the stories, which are very similar to each other. Here goes:

1. Back in the old USSR, bus drivers made barely enough rubles to feed themselves and live in a ramshackle apartment and their lives were miserable. Buses were not temperature controlled and the passengers, equally miserable souls, were surly. In short, Russian bus drivers had no power or control over anything in their own lives which, over time, almost always made them small-hearted, nasty people inside [emotionally]. It was a quite common occurence, during the Cold War era, for workers to run blocks in the snow to catch the bus while the bus driver, door open, sat and watched them through the side mirror. Just as they arrived at the bus, the driver would shut the door. Why? Because doing that little mean, nasty deed was the only exertion of power or control over others that was available to them. Thus, those who do small nasty things to others for no legitimate reason are sometimes referred to as Russian Bus Drivers.

2. A great flood overflowed the riverbanks in the forest and was rising so quickly that one area, surrounded by rising waters, was sure to be completely underwater within minutes and all the creatures who could not swim were surely to be killed, including a scorpion. As the scorpion stood at the edge of the water, he spoke to a turtle in the water: "Turtle, please let me crawl on your back and swim me to safety on the other side of the river." The turtle replied, "You are a scorpion and have a viscious nature and will sting me if I let you onto my back." Scorpion: "Don't be ridiculous. If I sting you, we will both die. I will act in my own best interest, which is not to sting you in return for my own survival." Reluctantly, but out of a sense of moral obligation to others, the turtle agreed, and the scorpion climbed on his back. Halfway across the river, the turtle felt the sharp sting of the scorpion's tail in his neck and felt the warm poison enter his bloodstream. "What are you doing?" said the turtle, "Now we shall both die. Why did you do this to us both?" Said the scorpion: "I am a scorpion. I stung you because stinging is what I do."

Now, tell me about the Russian Bus Drivers and Scorpions you know. Thanks. And if you are interested in why I ask this question, I'll answer you right up front: I'm thefisherman. Fishing for information is what I do.

 

[voltaire]

Here's a humorous adaptation of the scorpion story:

A frog and a scorpion were sitting on the bank of the River Jordan. "Hey frog," said the scorpion. "I need to go to the other side of the river. Would you carry me across on your back?"
"No way," said the frog. "If I let you come close to me, you'd sting me and kill me."
The scorpion said, "That would be stupid. If I stung you while we were in the river, we'd both drown."
"Hmmm, that's true," said the frog. "OK, hop on."
So the scorpion climbed on the frog's back and they headed out into the River Jordan. Halfway across the river the scorpion stung the frog.
"What did you do that for? Now we're both screwed!" cried the frog, as they were both drowning.
"I couldn't help it," said the scorpion. "This is the Middle East."


and then there's this oldie but goodie:


In Heaven the cooks are French, the lovers are Italian, the mechanics are German, the police are British, and the whole place is run by the Swiss.
In Hell the cooks are British, the lovers are Swiss, the mechanics are French, the police are German, and the whole place is run by the Italians.

 

[PVPuff&Stuff]

I could give you prime examples of both...some of which would be Russian bus driving scorpions. Just don't ride the bus...and swim by yourself.

How about another parable that kind of fits with the other two instead. The scorpion and the dog/frog/crocodile parable is one of my favorites. Here's another.

The Mouse, the Frog, and the Hawk

A Mouse who always lived on the land, by an unlucky chance, formed an intimate acquaintance with a Frog, who lived, for the most part, in the water.

One day, the Frog was intent on mischief. He tied the foot of the Mouse tightly to his own. Thus joined together, the Frog led his friend the Mouse to the meadow where they usually searched for food.

After this, he gradually led him towards the pond in which he lived, until reaching the banks of the water, he suddenly jumped in, dragging the Mouse with him.

The Frog enjoyed the water amazingly, and swam croaking about, as if he had done a good deed.

The unhappy Mouse was soon sputtered and drowned in the water, and his poor dead body floating about on the surface.

A Hawk observed the foating Mouse from the sky, and dove down and grabbed it with his talons, carrying it back to his nest.

The Frog, being still fastened to the leg of the Mouse, was also carried off a prisoner, and was eaten by the Hawk.

 

[Mac]

The FDA is a russian bus driver and the pharna industry is a drowning scorpion. I am turtle. Hear me roar!