I'm skeptical of this for several reasons, not the least of which is experience being around people who weren't bathing for a long time.
Every single time I read about this, it's the person adopting it who claims they don't smell. Not others around them.
Then there's the unspoken but critical exceptions, which seems par for the course in health social media now. The acquaintance doesn't use soap, with the asterisk (there's always an asterisk today) that he "does wash his hands with soap and, in the cases where there’s actual dirt or grime on him, will lather up." He doesn't use shampoo, but maybe in another asterisk he uses some other cleaner instead? Toward the end of the article the author mentions someone who doesn't use soap, with the asterisk that he means "everything but his armpits and crotch"... which seems significant especially given that lather is likely running elsewhere.
I do wonder if cleaning routines could change, to use gentler cleansers, or different strategies to moisturize and condition skin and hair. That would be a different and maybe more productive discussion.
You wrote: "Every single time I read about this, it's the person adopting it who claims they don't smell. Not others around them."
This article breaks your observational streak: "And before you ask: He appears well-kept, dresses stylishly, and always seems to be dating an impossibly beautiful woman. Also, he doesn’t smell."
> “Because, evolutionarily, why would we be so disgusting that we need constant cleaning? And constant moisturizing and/or de-oiling?”
I am highly sceptical of every argument starting with "evolutionarily". Many times it just doesn't make any sense. "Evolutionarily, why would we travel in cars? I have this friend who stopped travelling in cars and hasn't been sick ever since".
Not that the soap question is not interesting, but anecdotal evidences ("I know a guy who...") never convince me.
Besides, evolutionarily speaking, everything is about reproduction and raising children to sexual maturity. If women tend to prefer to mate with men who wash themselves regularly (there's strong evidence that's the case), and/or if washing regularly increases the chances of boys reaching sexual maturity (there's also evidence that's the case) then that's the behavior evolutionary pressure is encouraging.
And, evolutionary, why would cats and dogs be so disgusting that they would have to clean themselves? And why would raccoons be so surrounded by bacteria that they would evolve to rinse their paws in water? And why would birds evolve to take water or dust baths, and preen their feathers?
This article makes me concerned not only for the physical hygiene of our species, but for its mental hygiene as well.
derbOac|4 months ago
Every single time I read about this, it's the person adopting it who claims they don't smell. Not others around them.
Then there's the unspoken but critical exceptions, which seems par for the course in health social media now. The acquaintance doesn't use soap, with the asterisk (there's always an asterisk today) that he "does wash his hands with soap and, in the cases where there’s actual dirt or grime on him, will lather up." He doesn't use shampoo, but maybe in another asterisk he uses some other cleaner instead? Toward the end of the article the author mentions someone who doesn't use soap, with the asterisk that he means "everything but his armpits and crotch"... which seems significant especially given that lather is likely running elsewhere.
I do wonder if cleaning routines could change, to use gentler cleansers, or different strategies to moisturize and condition skin and hair. That would be a different and maybe more productive discussion.
eesmith|4 months ago
This article breaks your observational streak: "And before you ask: He appears well-kept, dresses stylishly, and always seems to be dating an impossibly beautiful woman. Also, he doesn’t smell."
palata|4 months ago
I am highly sceptical of every argument starting with "evolutionarily". Many times it just doesn't make any sense. "Evolutionarily, why would we travel in cars? I have this friend who stopped travelling in cars and hasn't been sick ever since".
Not that the soap question is not interesting, but anecdotal evidences ("I know a guy who...") never convince me.
JohnFen|4 months ago
Besides, evolutionarily speaking, everything is about reproduction and raising children to sexual maturity. If women tend to prefer to mate with men who wash themselves regularly (there's strong evidence that's the case), and/or if washing regularly increases the chances of boys reaching sexual maturity (there's also evidence that's the case) then that's the behavior evolutionary pressure is encouraging.
treetalker|4 months ago
This article makes me concerned not only for the physical hygiene of our species, but for its mental hygiene as well.
musicale|4 months ago
But having more smell might be attractive due to pheromones.