Monday, July 09, 2007

HIDING THE EVIDENCE!


Humans are strange creatures. We are no more that occasionally intelligent animals but, for a variety of reasons, we tend to hide those things which are a natural part of our animality.

Take breastfeeding. In America, according to Reuters, a woman received compensation from a store after she was stopped from feeding her child in their showroom. She was told she was causing embarrassment to the other patrons. Breastfeeding is embarrassing! For whom? And what about the embarrassment caused to the mother who was simply attending to the needs of her child?

Of course there are other functions which all of us engage in every day which are also hushed up, hidden behind locked doors where, in small rooms, sanitised white tiles and patterned paper and exhaust fans and deodorisers prevail.

Perhaps it derives from the fact that we really don't want to confront ourselves, admit to what we really are. When two dogs mate on a public street it tends to cause discomfort, averted eyes. In Western nations, our own messy coupling is hidden behind lacy curtains, locked doors, and inevitably there is an ensuite close by with plenty of hot water and fragrant soap and thick, soft white towels.

Perhaps if we accepted what we are we might all get along better, lose some of our false airs and graces, our unfounded arrogance!

14 comments:

pissed off patricia said...

If we accepted who we are we might have to also accept we aren't as great as we try to feel that we are.

Daniel said...

Exactly, Patricia. Perhaps if we all walked around nude (in summer) it would be a great leveller, expose us for what we are.

billie said...

i would love to walk around nude- it is so hot and humid here. i have a feeling that i would be arrested. i don't think i want to be in jail nude. :) i know what you mean though. i don't know that i have another controversial post in me right now though :)

Daniel said...

Nude in jail! Now there's a thought. Perhaps it might deter criminals.

DivaJood said...

I can't possibly walk around nude during sunlight hours or I will suffer the terrible consequences of sunburn. Trust me.

But if we all went through airport security nude, now that's something that would really be a great leveler.

Found you off of Enigma's blog. I love Australia.

Daniel said...

Welcome, Divajood! Airport nudity: there is a case.

Coffee Messiah said...

Now there's a way to cut down on air traffic and the whole idea of flying!
; )

MarcLord said...

(In reply to your visit on the wings of Fleming:)

Thanks Daniel. Like the good Doctor Fleming (doctor of logic), I am not immune to even the most base of praise. Far, far from it. And thank you for linking.

I've already seen some dynamite thinkers and writers in Fleming's network, so I'm off to check out your blog.

(And sure enough, you're great. I'll return the favor, so you're one of my Caravanserai. In real life I'm an ex-Mormon, ex-Wall Street, ex-Microsoftie, ex-AT&T Labs techie who works with speech technology and runs a small business. And you're the next best thing to visiting Australia, the continent I've never been to. Cheers!)

MarcLord said...

Done! Link added. Seeking utopia is now adored by hordes. =)

Daniel said...

Coffee, it could save the world!

Marclord, your visit is appreciated and you now adorn my Link's Role of Honour. I'm an ex of so many things I'd need a whole post to list them.

Anonymous said...

It will be interesting seeing how my daughter handles the demands of a six week old at lunch time today in a crowded restaurant. I don't know what all the fun is about a bit of bare skin.

If I had to choose between a screaming hungry baby or a beep of flesh nuzzled by a contented babe, I know which one I want

Daniel said...

Mary, I agree fully. Noise aside, it is interesting how, selectively, we have tried to cover up certain 'blemishes' that nature gave us. Who are we kidding?

Anonymous said...

Slipped behind a pillar, for a boob - and no one was the wiser, at one point babe was under the table! and that was without any alcohol being blamed! Funny how mums are no so precious about the third one! Any arms were welcomed, any offers gratefully received!...

Gadfly said...

Puzzles me that people gawk, stare, and snigger but fully accept bare boobs on the nude beaches but have a cow over a breast feeding baby.That's stupid. Even on some non-nudie beaches the bikini bra tops barely cover the nipple and some women's brown spots peek out. A suckling baby's head and face covers more than that. So what's the big deal? People are wierd.

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