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You aren't being very fair to people.

There is a scientific reason for the gut-level responses - human beings evolved or have been socialized to associate certain senses of grime or uncleanliness with something that could hurt them. Maybe it goes too far at times, but it has worked remarkably well.

Part of the scientific process is not just a hard question about whether it works or whether it doesn't, but is instead a psychological evaluation of how do we as people adjust to that if it is the case.

When you start saying you are disappointed in others and that we're better than this, you are getting on an intellectual/moral high horse which stifles discussion.




>> human beings evolved to associate certain senses of grime or uncleanliness with something that could hurt them.

Given that bathing habits and frequency have varied widely by time period and region, I doubt this gut level response is the result of some biological evolutionary process. It seems much more likely that the response is cultural in nature.


You are right, I edited to my comment to fit that.

That being said, being socialized to believe something starting at a very young age and continuing throughout your life creates a gut level response in the same way physical evolution would.

People aren't going to just dismiss that gut level response, the reasons behind those feelings have to be discussed to break through them.


Well, that's what he was calling for, for people on HN to be more rational and critical about their gut response.




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