Tentacles

The closest I've ever come to octopuses/octopi (take your choice) is when I have calamari.  That's usually at the Chinese restaurant that happens to be the favorite of my eldest son and his wife.   I do like calamari; I just never think to order it when I'm alone.  This particular restaurant makes it very nicely and I think the next time I order take-out from there, I may go for broke and get an order of fried calamari. 

But as far as tentacles are concerned, one doesn't have to be near an octopus to observe how they reach out and touch many things at one time.  Often, a single word, or deed, can have far-reaching consequences, intended or unintended.  In an effort to hurt someone, the unintended consequences reach out like the tentacles of the octopus to hurt those who care about the someone and are thereby hurt by proxy.   Families have been rent asunder by such unintended consequences. 

Living in a large family, it's not unusual for an off-hand remark to upset, offend, or otherwise cause one or a couple of the group to get in a snit.  Fortunately, it mostly gets resolved by the next family gathering or, heaven forbid! the next funeral.

But when the intent is to inflict hurt, it will not be so easily forgotten.  Especially for those touched by the tentacles.  And sadly, the original target, who probably wasn't nearly as upset as was intended, will continue to be reminded by the expressions of disgust and anger from the tentacle-touched sympathizers.

If you make a thoughtless remark, you will surely be forgiven.  If you intentionally attempt to wound a person, the scars will last longer than you could have anticipated.   And all the King's horses, and all the King's men...