The ocean sunfish, or mola mola, is doing its best to survive. However, Scout Burns made a Facebook post that said it shouldn’t even exist in the first place. In her now-viral Facebook sunfish rant, Burns explained why she believes the sunfish to be the world’s most useless creature, comparing it to giant dinner plates that “God must have accidentally dropped while washing dishes one day and shrugged his shoulders at because no one could have imagined this would happen.”
Image credits: Daniel Botelho
Common Mola Has a Questionable Reputation
As VICE pointed out, it’s understandable why someone would think so little of the sunfish. The mola has many nicknames: schwimmender kopf (“swimming head”) in German, putol (“cut short”) in the Philippines, and “toppled car fish” in Taiwan are just a few of them, and they’re not doing its reputation any good either. The last one is an especially accurate insult since the mola grows to roughly the size and shape of a trash-compacted car.
Marine Biologist Shares His Opinion on the Sunfish Rant
To explain this amusing text, Bored Panda contacted Andy Lister, a marine biologist from Lincolnshire, UK. Lister called the rant about the ocean sunfish “fantastic” for its artistry. “It’s well thought through for the most part but largely flawed,” he added.
“A lot of what Scout posted is accurate, but her viewpoint on it all is somewhat biased against them,” the scientist said. “[But] apart from the fact that sunfish are decently powerful swimmers using those massive fins, it isn’t far off the mark at all.”
According to Lister, the sunfish is actually pretty well suited to survive. “Jellyfish aren’t exactly motorized, so it can eat its way through them pretty well. Coming to the surface to be cleaned by birds is actually pretty smart. Similar idea to the Rhinos and Oxpeckers. As much as they can get to 5,000 pounds too, it is very unlikely that will happen now. Similar to saying Humans can reach over 7 feet tall,” he explained. “Whilst they may not be stupid as f**k, they certainly are, however, dull as f**k.”
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The comment section below Burns’ rant was full of praises
Some People Disagree with the Ocean Sunfish Rant
David Masad asked a biologist friend what they thought about the sunfish rant post. The response was as intense as the rant itself.
“[She] has no idea what she’s talking about!” his friend Zenia Sherman said. Furthermore, she explained that any animal that eats mainly jellyfish is helping the environment because overfishing of the ocean has led to a huge increase in the number of squidgy jelly animals. They even fact-checked all of Burns’ arguments and came to similar conclusions as Lister, highlighting that sunfish aren’t drifters but active swimmers instead, controlling where they go with as much thrust as penguins. “Not bad for a 5,000-pound fish head with wings.”
“The fact that ocean sunfish utilize birds to rid them of parasites is actually quite clever,” the biologist said. Sunfish have also been proven to have learning behaviors, which means they can adapt to their changing surroundings (also smart).
Image credits: badnetworker
However, that doesn’t mean that Zenia disliked the post altogether. “I thought the rant was pretty funny, honestly,” she told Bored Panda. “My friend asked for my thoughts on it, and I’ve always loved fish and thought sunfish are pretty neat because of their odd body shape, so I was happy to ‘defend’ them in an equally humorous way; it was a nice distraction from studying. He asked to share it, and we were both very surprised when it went viral.”
Even though Zenia hasn’t been able to spend that much time researching them because of school, she did come to the conclusion that the ocean sunfish is so wonderfully weird. “Nothing else looks like it, and it’s been around for millions of years! That indicates a pretty successful survival ability, I think. I hope they can be in our oceans for many more millions and that humans don’t ruin those chances.”
Here’s what others said
Haha some take her comments way too seriously. She is just making fun, and i like her humour. I don't believe she really hates the fish, just exaggerates for laugh.
The only truly worthless species on the planet is human beings. Every other creature on Earth has a function in the ecosystem, except us. We are the ones who are growing beyond limit and destroying everything, even threatening our own survival. I've never heard of any other species which is so stupid to destroy its own habitat! We are the ones who should disappear!
I have utmost respect for your opinion, and I also totally disagree with it.
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I do too, it has nice personality, not like cruel, hateful people.
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I agree with the biologist. Remarkable and useful. Targeting some creature as an object of hate is ignorant and juvenile. May she get b***h plated by a sunfish!
Ah the comments are a logical reaction by smart people who have been obviously duped by beautiful sleek pictures of instagrammers models and capitalistic high efficient design objects. And now those people feel the need to comment on a fish who is really not giving a damn about them or this blog. Fish wins this game without knowing it ;)
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Not all people, unfortunately majority are useless and compassionless.
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Amen. People are all kinds of upset because this girl is roasting a damn fish. It was hilarious and we should be friends.
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Bit stupid to claim you're sealife obsessed, and then go on about all fishes supposedly having a swim bladder except this one (sharks, blennies, ... ). They'd still have theirs if needed it. As the fish weighs as much as the water around it, why this worry about toppling?? A minor fin flap rights it.
Completely defenseless in the open water and not just surviving, but thriving. Respect sunfish, respect.
I love sunfish, they are just so weird they seem unreal. By the way in German they are called moonfish which I always found really fitting because of their coloring, and makes me wonder where the sun part came from...
I guess they're named "sunfish" because they sometimes expose themselves to the sunlight. (There's a hypothesis that they do this to regulate their body temperature.)
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Who hates ocean sunfish, hates life itself! I mean - what's not to love on these c h o n k y dudes? ^_^ My theory is that this woman once wanted to befriend one of those gentle giants and fishy said "No-No!" for some reasons. And this means she must have made a really, really bad first impression, because Mola Molas are not able to hate and they do rarely reject anyone. What about therapy swimming with some sunfishes to work things out? But take care there are no rocks near the water... ;)
Who is this "f-----g" woman??? I did not see so much f-----g in any comment. This fish is not useless and it does not kill for fun and does not plunder and destroys the planet like many f-----g people do.
Since I saw a sunfish on a sealife poster when I was a small girl, I find them fascinating in a positive way. So I literally felt bad for those big floppy guys when I read her rant. Now I want to hug one of those ocean giants, but my arms are too short - so who's imperfect? ;)
Why the f-bomb? Authors best go to adjective or adverb in her vocabulary?
BP has reached a low point in publishing this unreasoned rant against, of all things, a fish, written by, or spewed, by a person who can't express himself without excessive indulgence in the F-word and capital letters. That so many people applauded this idiocy is also disappointing; it brings down the tone of BP considerably.
Anyone with such a terrible grasp of punctuation has no right calling any other creature stupid.
Everything on this planet has a purpose. It might not be obvious, but once lost, keenly felt. Flies are pests, but they also help break down dead bodies and garbage, so I would never say they need to be eradicated. Ocean sunfish is a natural predator of jelly fish, thereby controlling the jellyfish population—-which can be a problem if it gets out of hand.
Don't you guys have something better to do than debate someone's obviously exaggerated/sarcastic rant of a ridiculous fish?
When my sister and I were little we would go through a book of the world's animals and fish and pick out the ugliest one and claim that was what the other sister looked like. The mola mola was always a favorite. ... Life was different before the internet ....
One or 2 Fbombs for comedic value in a rant is kind of ok, but this poster went a little overboard. Way to be so edgy....
Interesting. An animal I know nothing about, but have seen as they drift by.
Found one washed up on the beach when I was a kid. Those things are HUGE!
LOAN OFFERS FREE OF CHARGE A VERY DYNAIC TEAM TO THE TASK Need I say more a hand to quit a financial stalemate that has lasted for a while because of your bank's refusal for a loan or financing, no problem even if you are stuck in your country and do not have access to financing leave an email to: greniernathalie1@yahoo.com To know the conditions of granting loans and financing from major European banks without harassment and say goodbye to your financial problems. Note the areas in which I can help you to carry out your projects or break the deadlock * Financial * Real estate loans * Investment loans * Auto loan * Consolidation debt * Line of credit * Second mortgage * Credit redemption * Personal loans Ps: Know that we work to your satisfaction, you can follow your file to know its evolution. Also benefit from exceptional rates for investment loans, real estate and agricultural.
You’re British girl so I get the humour, but the poor thing looks like an adorable dorky sea cow and every creature on this earth has a purpose. Well maybe not wasps, even though I hate mosquitos more but they sure do control human population so there probably should be more of them lol
Scout claims that the Sunfish is "the biggest waste of space", others would argue that that title should go to the space between Scouts ears.
I agree! Why do people keep downvoting this? Is it less funny because the target isn't a helpless fish?
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This fish kinda resembles Trump with it's mouth agape in a 'b******e' shape.
Scout claims that the Sunfish is "the biggest waste of space", others would argue that that title should go to the space between Scouts ears.
Haha some take her comments way too seriously. She is just making fun, and i like her humour. I don't believe she really hates the fish, just exaggerates for laugh.
The only truly worthless species on the planet is human beings. Every other creature on Earth has a function in the ecosystem, except us. We are the ones who are growing beyond limit and destroying everything, even threatening our own survival. I've never heard of any other species which is so stupid to destroy its own habitat! We are the ones who should disappear!
I have utmost respect for your opinion, and I also totally disagree with it.
Load More Replies... I do too, it has nice personality, not like cruel, hateful people.
Load More Replies... I agree with the biologist. Remarkable and useful. Targeting some creature as an object of hate is ignorant and juvenile. May she get b***h plated by a sunfish!
Ah the comments are a logical reaction by smart people who have been obviously duped by beautiful sleek pictures of instagrammers models and capitalistic high efficient design objects. And now those people feel the need to comment on a fish who is really not giving a damn about them or this blog. Fish wins this game without knowing it ;)
Load More Replies... Not all people, unfortunately majority are useless and compassionless.
Load More Replies... Amen. People are all kinds of upset because this girl is roasting a damn fish. It was hilarious and we should be friends.
Load More Replies... Bit stupid to claim you're sealife obsessed, and then go on about all fishes supposedly having a swim bladder except this one (sharks, blennies, ... ). They'd still have theirs if needed it. As the fish weighs as much as the water around it, why this worry about toppling?? A minor fin flap rights it.
Completely defenseless in the open water and not just surviving, but thriving. Respect sunfish, respect.
I love sunfish, they are just so weird they seem unreal. By the way in German they are called moonfish which I always found really fitting because of their coloring, and makes me wonder where the sun part came from...
I guess they're named "sunfish" because they sometimes expose themselves to the sunlight. (There's a hypothesis that they do this to regulate their body temperature.)
Load More Replies... Who hates ocean sunfish, hates life itself! I mean - what's not to love on these c h o n k y dudes? ^_^ My theory is that this woman once wanted to befriend one of those gentle giants and fishy said "No-No!" for some reasons. And this means she must have made a really, really bad first impression, because Mola Molas are not able to hate and they do rarely reject anyone. What about therapy swimming with some sunfishes to work things out? But take care there are no rocks near the water... ;)
Who is this "f-----g" woman??? I did not see so much f-----g in any comment. This fish is not useless and it does not kill for fun and does not plunder and destroys the planet like many f-----g people do.
Since I saw a sunfish on a sealife poster when I was a small girl, I find them fascinating in a positive way. So I literally felt bad for those big floppy guys when I read her rant. Now I want to hug one of those ocean giants, but my arms are too short - so who's imperfect? ;)
Why the f-bomb? Authors best go to adjective or adverb in her vocabulary?
BP has reached a low point in publishing this unreasoned rant against, of all things, a fish, written by, or spewed, by a person who can't express himself without excessive indulgence in the F-word and capital letters. That so many people applauded this idiocy is also disappointing; it brings down the tone of BP considerably.
Anyone with such a terrible grasp of punctuation has no right calling any other creature stupid.
Everything on this planet has a purpose. It might not be obvious, but once lost, keenly felt. Flies are pests, but they also help break down dead bodies and garbage, so I would never say they need to be eradicated. Ocean sunfish is a natural predator of jelly fish, thereby controlling the jellyfish population—-which can be a problem if it gets out of hand.
Don't you guys have something better to do than debate someone's obviously exaggerated/sarcastic rant of a ridiculous fish?
When my sister and I were little we would go through a book of the world's animals and fish and pick out the ugliest one and claim that was what the other sister looked like. The mola mola was always a favorite. ... Life was different before the internet ....
One or 2 Fbombs for comedic value in a rant is kind of ok, but this poster went a little overboard. Way to be so edgy....
Interesting. An animal I know nothing about, but have seen as they drift by.
Found one washed up on the beach when I was a kid. Those things are HUGE!
LOAN OFFERS FREE OF CHARGE A VERY DYNAIC TEAM TO THE TASK Need I say more a hand to quit a financial stalemate that has lasted for a while because of your bank's refusal for a loan or financing, no problem even if you are stuck in your country and do not have access to financing leave an email to: greniernathalie1@yahoo.com To know the conditions of granting loans and financing from major European banks without harassment and say goodbye to your financial problems. Note the areas in which I can help you to carry out your projects or break the deadlock * Financial * Real estate loans * Investment loans * Auto loan * Consolidation debt * Line of credit * Second mortgage * Credit redemption * Personal loans Ps: Know that we work to your satisfaction, you can follow your file to know its evolution. Also benefit from exceptional rates for investment loans, real estate and agricultural.
You’re British girl so I get the humour, but the poor thing looks like an adorable dorky sea cow and every creature on this earth has a purpose. Well maybe not wasps, even though I hate mosquitos more but they sure do control human population so there probably should be more of them lol
Scout claims that the Sunfish is "the biggest waste of space", others would argue that that title should go to the space between Scouts ears.
I agree! Why do people keep downvoting this? Is it less funny because the target isn't a helpless fish?
Load More Replies... This fish kinda resembles Trump with it's mouth agape in a 'b******e' shape.
Scout claims that the Sunfish is "the biggest waste of space", others would argue that that title should go to the space between Scouts ears.
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