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Why do flies come back to me after I try to swat them and miss? Doesn’t it register into their fight or flight response?

Mark Sterling
Mark Sterling
Research Editor · Mar 2, 2026 · Updated Apr 13, 2026

They can't really comprehend that you're actively targeting them. The most they deal with outside of humans are animal tails swinging in their general direction. Flies don't understand hatred, they are beautiful, shit-eating beings like that.

36
Words

1 min
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#389
of 500 in Science

-50%
vs Category Avg

The Short Answer

They can't really comprehend that you're actively targeting them. The most they deal with outside of humans are animal tails swinging in their general direction. Flies don't understand hatred, they are beautiful, shit-eating beings like that.

Analysis

Key Concepts: Can't, comprehend, you're

This explanation focuses on can't, comprehend, you're and spans 36 words across 3 sentences. At 50% below the average Science explanation (72 words), the answer takes a direct, no-frills approach — sometimes the simplest explanation is the most effective.

What This Answer Covers

The explanation opens with: “They can't really comprehend that you're actively targeting them.” It then elaboratesultimately building toward a complete picture across 3 connected points.

How This Compares in Science

Ranked #389 of 500 Science questions by answer depth (top 79%). This is a brief primer — the answer is intentionally short. For questions with a single core mechanism, brevity can actually be a strength.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a simple explanation for why flies come back to me after i try to swat them and miss? doesn't it register into their fight or flight response?

They can't really comprehend that you're actively targeting them. The most they deal with outside of humans are animal tails swinging in their general direction. Flies don't understand hatred, they are beautiful, shit-eating beings like that.

How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Science questions?

This is a brief answer at 36 words, ranked #389 of 500 Science questions by depth. The key concepts covered are can't, comprehend, you're.

What approach does this answer take to explain flies come back to me after i try to swat them and miss? doe?

The explanation uses direct explanation across 36 words. It is categorized under Science and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.