Sermon Illustration

Parrots Separated After They Teach Each Other Swear Words

An English tourist attraction had to scramble after one of their exhibits was temporarily less than family friendly. Officials at Lincolnshire Wildlife Park were forced to remove five newly adopted parrots after the birds were discovered swearing at park guests. They were unsure how it happened exactly, but after the five parrots had been quarantined together, they came out with quite the blue vocabulary. Apparently, the park staff found it amusing at first, but that only encouraged the parrots to say more obscenities.

Park CEO Steve Nichols explained the dynamic:

For the last 25 years, we have always taken in parrots that have sometimes had a bit of blue language and we have really got used to that. But, just by coincidence, we took in five in the same week and because they were all quarantined together it meant that one room was just full of swearing birds … the more they swear, the more you usually laugh, which then triggers them to swear again. But when you get four or five together that have learned the swearing and the laughing so when one swears, one laughs. Before you know, it just got to be like an old working men’s club scenario where they are all just swearing and laughing.

Possible Preaching Angle:

If we consistently spend time with those who use words carelessly, we will eventually join them in their foolishness.

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