And the wise shaman cured all the parasitical infections... Hey you. Yeah, you. Are you one of those tight-asses who prefers indoor, hygienic plumbing and shit-free floors? Yeah, me too. Wanna join my club for the promotion of the Evil Empire of Western Parenting?

OK, I'm slow; the diaperless baby story has been all over the place, but I just saw it at Iain Murray's. As one of his commenters remarked: "Some people's ability to sanitize their images of nature are truly amazing". True, but there's something pathological in a willed ignorance of the real purpose behind sequestering human waste. It occurs to me that these people have a psychological disorder comparable to religious ascetics and penitents who've gone off the deep end in their compulsive quest to be worthier than the rest of us fallen mortals, and to make sure we know all about their sanctity. "What can I do next to mortify myself and display my purity and holiness? Live on rice and soybeans? Eat scabs? Refrain from diapering my babies?"

Posted by Moira Breen at April 28, 2004 02:39 PM