Taboos

If you want to see psychologists normalize 'crazy' people, then you need to watch "Taboo" on the National Geographic Channel. Yes, they frame a set of people who are borderline or fully crazy. Of course, it is all a matter of perspective. Cambodia fathers building 'sex huts' for their teenage daughters? Yeah, that is a cultural thing and we westerners should not meddle. But, leaving your sick wife for hundreds of reptiles and other animals? That isn't exactly crazy, but I would choose my sick wife over an animal. Keeping rattlesnakes and other venomous reptiles is another thing. That is crazy. I guess that none of the above is really pathological, but it sure makes you raise an eyebrow. The shrinks on the show are quick to point out what is harmful and what isn't.

Having sex with animals? I've not seen that one, if their is one. That is just wrong and there is no way you can spin it to make it right. Furries? People dressing up as stuffed animals and acting like those animals then having "furry sex?" You got to be kidding! I was on CSI. People do strange things to get a little. There isn't that much difference in paying a prostitute or dressing up as Pooh!

"Taboo" has people with "off the wall" collections, people with excessive collections and obsessive collection. We all have collections of our favorite knickknack. The psychologists were nice to point out the difference between a hoarder and a collector. I'll share it with you (aren't I nice). A hoarder collects items, often without distinguishing a specific interest, and makes piles and piles of the stuff. There is no cataloging or display. A hoarder will bury themselves in stuff.  A collector on the other hand takes pride in the collection, often having them on display, neatly organized. They guy that had over 100,00 plus butterflies is a collective, albiet an obsessive collection.

Taboos aren't necessary bad. You have to taken them all in persepective. The "Taboo" psychologist, or was it the feminist, who railed agasint teenage girls for taking purity pledges. Oh, sex huts are okay, but purity pledges aren't? You have to look at things from a wider viewpoint. The show is really interesting and you might want to catch some of it. No, I do not work for the National Geographic Channel.