"The Bad Seed"

How does our culture view plants that refuse to conform, specifically weeds? Society's perception of weeds is that they are uncontrollable and disobedient plants. Some people describe weeds as simply “an unwanted plant.” Others consider weeds “plants that do not want to be managed.” When we can’t run the show anymore, we decide to just rip it up, remove it.

Is it non-invasive? Is it useful to us? Is it staying in its place? If the answer is no, then humans decide that it is bad and must be gotten rid of. Our view on weeds, is similar to our view on other exotic or invasive species like lantern flies, moths, raccoons, mosquitos, and especially rats and roaches. Not only do humans consider rats and roaches invasive, but we also often kill them without hesitation. Why should we kill it, just because we don't want them here? Why do we feel like they deserve to die? We wouldn't feel this way about a butterfly that flies into our living room. Why? It all comes down to what we (humans) feel we can or cannot control in nature.

How does this societal view of plants that refuse to conform (like weeds), affect our view of people who do not conform (such as the LBGTQ+ community or binary people)?