Author
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Topic: Creeping Cleanliness
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robinrohan
Inactive Member
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Message 1 of 11 (262182)
11-21-2005 8:51 PM
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During Hurrican Rita, my older brother (who is in a wheelchair) had his house demolished, and so he and his wife came to stay with us for awhile. It would have been more practical and more fitting if he had gone to his son's house which is much larger (we were cramped) and is also quite a bit closer to his home. He did not do that. Why? The villain here is this penchant toward cleanliness. His son's wife will not allow dogs in her house (my brother has 2 small dogs) and she will most certainly not allow anyone to smoke in her house (heaven forbid!). Hell, nobody is allowed even to smoke in her yard. Her house is immaculate, and she means to keep it that way. At our house things are rather different. Visitors can do what they like (well, almost). But nonetheless I have found concerns with cleanliness creeping into my habits. We used to have indoor-outdoor pets. However, no matter what we did, we couldn't get rid of all the fleas. So now we have either strictly outdoor pets or strictly indoor pets. So as a result of this concern about cleanliness, my brother was prevented from staying with his son and I am kept from the pleasure of having indoor-outdoor pets. Did a few fleas really matter that much? This is a trend of modern society. We are kept from otherwise pleasurable or helpful activities by our creeping concern with cleanliness. At bottom, I think there's a snobbish motive at work here. This message has been edited by robinrohan, 11-21-2005 07:53 PM
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AdminRandman
Inactive Member
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Message 2 of 11 (262187)
11-21-2005 8:59 PM
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Reply to: Message 1 by robinrohan 11-21-2005 8:51 PM
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shouldn't this be in Coffee House?
But I suppose we could put in Biological Evolution in discussing the rise of female dominance among homo sapiens.
This message is a reply to: | | Message 1 by robinrohan, posted 11-21-2005 8:51 PM | | robinrohan has replied |
Replies to this message: | | Message 3 by robinrohan, posted 11-21-2005 9:01 PM | | AdminRandman has replied |
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robinrohan
Inactive Member
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Re: shouldn't this be in Coffee House?
faith and belief.
This message is a reply to: | | Message 2 by AdminRandman, posted 11-21-2005 8:59 PM | | AdminRandman has replied |
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AdminRandman
Inactive Member
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Message 4 of 11 (262194)
11-21-2005 9:04 PM
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Reply to: Message 3 by robinrohan 11-21-2005 9:01 PM
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Made me laugh out loud, but then...
Made me laugh for a variety of reasons, but then I wondered, if I am interpreting you right? Should I move it to Coffee House?
This message is a reply to: | | Message 3 by robinrohan, posted 11-21-2005 9:01 PM | | robinrohan has replied |
Replies to this message: | | Message 5 by robinrohan, posted 11-21-2005 9:06 PM | | AdminRandman has not replied |
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robinrohan
Inactive Member
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Re: Made me laugh out loud, but then...
Yes, Randman, coffee house. Thanks.
This message is a reply to: | | Message 4 by AdminRandman, posted 11-21-2005 9:04 PM | | AdminRandman has not replied |
Replies to this message: | | Message 7 by randman, posted 11-21-2005 9:12 PM | | robinrohan has not replied |
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AdminRandman
Inactive Member
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Message 6 of 11 (262201)
11-21-2005 9:10 PM
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Thread moved here from the Proposed New Topics forum.
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randman 
Suspended Member (Idle past 4921 days) Posts: 6367 Joined: 05-26-2005
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Message 7 of 11 (262203)
11-21-2005 9:12 PM
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Reply to: Message 5 by robinrohan 11-21-2005 9:06 PM
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Re: Made me laugh out loud, but then...
sly comment, btw....considering Faith and Beliefs' most recent thread.
This message is a reply to: | | Message 5 by robinrohan, posted 11-21-2005 9:06 PM | | robinrohan has not replied |
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crashfrog
Member (Idle past 1489 days) Posts: 19762 From: Silver Spring, MD Joined: 03-20-2003
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Message 8 of 11 (262205)
11-21-2005 9:14 PM
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Reply to: Message 1 by robinrohan 11-21-2005 8:51 PM
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We are kept from otherwise pleasurable or helpful activities by our creeping concern with cleanliness. At bottom, I think there's a snobbish motive at work here. Or, maybe just the fact that fleas make you itch and carry bubonic plague.
This message is a reply to: | | Message 1 by robinrohan, posted 11-21-2005 8:51 PM | | robinrohan has not replied |
Replies to this message: | | Message 9 by Omnivorous, posted 11-22-2005 10:31 AM | | crashfrog has not replied |
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Omnivorous
Member Posts: 3985 From: Adirondackia Joined: 07-21-2005 Member Rating: 7.2
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Message 9 of 11 (262354)
11-22-2005 10:31 AM
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Reply to: Message 8 by crashfrog 11-21-2005 9:14 PM
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Even more insidious are those aspects of obsession with cleanliness that are counter to good public health practices: e.g., the antibacterial movement. Antibacterial soaps, wipes, lotions, clothing--even antibacterial countertops--are all the rage. Of course, they are less than 100% effective, so we are in effect incubating antibacterial-resistant bugs, as we do when ptaients successfully besiege their doctors for antibiotics for their little ones' viral illnesses. This message has been edited by Omnivorous, 11-22-2005 11:12 AM
This message is a reply to: | | Message 8 by crashfrog, posted 11-21-2005 9:14 PM | | crashfrog has not replied |
Replies to this message: | | Message 10 by robinrohan, posted 11-22-2005 12:53 PM | | Omnivorous has replied |
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robinrohan
Inactive Member
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Message 10 of 11 (262422)
11-22-2005 12:53 PM
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Reply to: Message 9 by Omnivorous 11-22-2005 10:31 AM
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Even more insidious are those aspects of obsession with cleanliness that are counter to good public health practices: e.g., the antibacterial movement I was thinking of an insidious and unspoken, but currently operative, moral idea: "If I'm clean, I'm better than you."
This message is a reply to: | | Message 9 by Omnivorous, posted 11-22-2005 10:31 AM | | Omnivorous has replied |
Replies to this message: | | Message 11 by Omnivorous, posted 11-22-2005 1:32 PM | | robinrohan has not replied |
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Omnivorous
Member Posts: 3985 From: Adirondackia Joined: 07-21-2005 Member Rating: 7.2
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Nay, Madam, I know not "cleans"
Ah, yes, the "next to godliness" crowd... Most folks with those tendencies have found some justification for feeling morally superior long before they get close enough to judge my hygiene or housekeeping. Besides, I can smell 'em: Eau de Lysol Aerosol. They don't get past my door. AbE: Reminds me of this great bit of dialog; IIRC, from Samuel Johnson: Lady: Sir, you smell! Johnson: No, Madam-- you smell, I stink. This message has been edited by Omnivorous, 11-22-2005 03:10 PM
This message is a reply to: | | Message 10 by robinrohan, posted 11-22-2005 12:53 PM | | robinrohan has not replied |
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