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As for getting soft, etc. - to an extent, and to an extent it's cultural, but there is also the fact that as I said above, we live in artificially close quarters and yes, that will be much more intrusive, and make everything more offensive (including odors), than if we lived in smaller "tribes." Sure, how "smelly" a person can "appropriately" be varies from culture to culture but there are limits, IMO. Saying anything but artificial smells are acceptable, given these facts, is pretty much hyperbole.
I was once on an airplane near someone whose BO made my eyes water. I can't imagine that was just me being "soft."
Well, I know people who send their dogs -- even cats -- off to the groomer to be bathed and perfumed; totally unnecessarily, in my view. My pets smell like, well, my pets; not terrible (unless there's been some mishap), but not like a bouquet of roses either. They aren't supposed to... Different strokes!
Likewise, cloying perfume and cologne can make your eyes water and even trigger an asthma attack.
Which still leaves showering and actually being clean (v. either ignoring the shower because it's "soooo unnatural!" or swinging the other way and being dirty and dousing ourselves with fake scent) as the best option given we must live in a society and we are forcing others to be near us (and we are forced to be near them). N'est-ce pas?
It really seems pretty simple to me. Am I overlooking something?
This thread reminds me of a story I heard years ago; some people I know told that they were working in a small room with a woman who refused to wear deodorant - apparently she felt artificial fragrances/deodorant caused cancer, so she didn't wear any - she was also obviously against wearing perfume.
Anyway, everyone in the room was hot & sweating, and this woman stunk the place up. I'm glad I wasn't there!
Quote:
Originally Posted by otterhere
Well, I know people who send their dogs -- even cats -- off to the groomer to be bathed and perfumed; totally unnecessarily, in my view. My pets smell like, well, my pets; not terrible (unless there's been some mishap), but not like a bouquet of roses either. They aren't supposed to... Different strokes!
Yeah, it depends on the pet. Cats keep themselves clean so wouldn't necessarily need to be sent anywhere to be cleaned. Dogs, however, can really stink sometimes.
Yeah, it depends on the pet. Cats keep themselves clean so wouldn't necessarily need to be sent anywhere to be cleaned. Dogs, however, can really stink sometimes.
This is one of many reasons I couldn't have a dog. I think they're precious, loving, smart, emotional/caring, but the stink, well...just no. And I wouldn't want to torture the poor beast by sending it to the salon to be sprayed with water and scented bubbles and get its nails done constantly just so it could be deodorized enough for my nose. So it's cats for me. Their box would be smelly, but I scoop it all the time so...there ya go. (And yes, I do test that all the time by taking a deep whiff re-entering the house after being out of it for a period of time...that "noseblind" thing is no joke.)
My 23 year old niece won't bathe or shower on a regular basis. She takes a shower about every 5 or 6 days and at times she smells pretty bad. I've run into men or boys who won't bathe, but I don't think I've ever run into a girl in her 20's who won't bathe. Is this a sign of some other problem? I think this is very strange behavior.
I don't typically reply to topics with so many pages of posts, but I guess I find this one too interesting to resist.
It can be a sign of depression but not necessarily. She may simply just not care (and there IS a difference).
She could get away with this if she at least took a soapy rag to certain places daily to avoid stench. Sounds like she doesn't. And for most people hair starts smelling bad in that many days, too.
My parents were Europeans who didn't regularly either, but they cleaned important areas daily and they never "stank".
People don't need to bathe every day, and they surely don't need to shampoo every day. Nor do you have to launder your clothes after one wearing. Americans are so neurotic about this!
Sorry, but I DO need to shampoo everyday. Everyone's hair is different, so I don't know how you can make a blanket statement like that. If I don't wash mine, it is extremely oily about half-way through the day and I can't stand it. I have some friends who have very dry hair that can't be washed more than maybe twice a week. It's different for all of us.
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