Why do people always say to "stay still" when you're being pestered by a wasp? (feddit.uk)

submitted 1 week ago by Flax_vert@feddit.uk to c/casualuk@feddit.uk

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When I was younger and started being pestered by a wasp, I ran away from it as fast as I could. People very condescendingly told me "if you stay still, it won't bother you 🤓". Then I'd later hear these same people mention how they were recently stung by a wasp. I am now an adult and still avoid wasps. People still condescendingly tell me the same thing. I ask them if they have ever been stung and they quite proudly tell me they have. I've never been stung. I don't see the logic of sitting still eating an ice cream while a wasp buzzes around you, and that somehow doesn't agitate the wasp.

I can understand why swatting would aggravate them. But not running. Running has always worked for me

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[-] lurch@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 week ago

Those people who got stung likely weren't able to stay still, panicked and flailed around. They couldn't follow their own advice. Also, it's possible they didn't notice a wasp and sat on it or something. In that case that advice doesn't help, of course. Generally it works to stay still, but it's super uncomfortable.

Running away also usually works, but sometimes you can't. For example, in a ferris wheel gondola or while driving a car on the highway, etc.. Also, if you have something on you, that attracted them and there isn't more interesting stuff near, you can't outrun them and they can track you down from kilometers away.