[UNCeventer]

I think Bo is offensive. We are in America and most abide by the unwritten social rules. I continue to agree with those who say to politely and diplomatically tell them. Kids at this age are mean and they will way harsher and taunting than an adult such as Duramax- WHOSE BDAY IS TODAY!!!!

Anyways, I keep thinking, If I were the kid, what would I want. I would want someone to tell me- seriously. I'd rather be informed and become more conscious of my hygiene, than be at school and done with gym and have the little middle school brats holding their noses, giving my the stink eye, and passing notes saying "PINK PINK SHE STINKS!" HEHE

What about fart smells? Do those of you in favor of BO and all of its naturalness feel the same way about the fragrance of fart?

[Candle]

I always get just a shade offended by these types of conversations. I was born in America and have lived here all my life. My personal preference is not to enjoy BO and to shave my body parts that need it. I get a little weirded out by hairy legs and BO and whatnot, but not to the point where I would be rude about it. I think this is perfectly acceptable. I've had people go off on me before because apparently, I am somehow a more fake, cleaner, hygiene obsessed wuss than someone with hairy legs. I think I just like my legs smooth thankyouverymuch.

IMHO It's not a matter of who's tougher, or what human nature was two hundred years ago. These kids live in American culture, and it's perfectly acceptable to explain to them behaviors that are commonly embraced by our culture.

I'm not trying to target anyone with my reaction here, this just gets a bit of a rise out of me every time.

[Nicker]

I can remember my young teen years very vividly. Especially one night while playing pool with my Dad. He helped me with a shot then stepped back and said, "Go get some deodarant, you stink." From then on I wore it, that simple. I agree with meanmom. Maybe put some supplies in the bathroom. My best friend growing up didn't have parents who bothered to explain anything to her. She stunk to high heaven! Finally one night when she spent the night I said hey did you bring any deodarant? Of course the answer was no so I said no big I have extra. I remember how horribly she got joked on(behind her back) and I wanted it to stop without embarrasing her. Have some pity on the kids and find a round about way to clue them in.

[Heinz 57]

It may be just an American thing...

but these kids are in America. People DO make fun of kids who stink, and they do it ALOT. We've grown up around people who admittedly yes have their own smell- everyone does - but not BO. We've grown up in families that were hygiene conscious, and IMO lets continue the tradition. Personally I'm a very BO-phobic person. I don't like or want to smell so rank that other people notice and move away.


I've been gagged by various types of BO - including the non-deoderant type...and its much worse. I don't think its a big deal to mention to someone that they smell a bit off.. SO heinz frequently comes straight from work as a car techie/mechanic and can definitely smell a little funky and has no beefs when I say hey honey, why dont you go put on a little more deoderant. He's glad to know.


I say you should tell the kids, albeit in a nice, non-embarassing way. I had a PE teacher that would make an announcement everyday in the locker room - GIRLS, you've been sweating. NOBODY wants to smell your stink, so take a shower, and put on some deoderant. PLEASE. Thats why we have showers and towels.

It won't ruin their lives to know that they need a little cover-up. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_c...icon_smile.gif

[Green Eggs]

I'm sorry, but I have to laugh at this. How can you even smell the person over the smell of the horse? Horse BO vs. Human BO - sorry, but horse wins.

Trust me, riding is a work-out and no matter how much deodorant you put on, you are going to smell, but in my 20+ years riding, I have never had anyone complain about anything but the horse smell.

[Penthilisea]

This discussion is really fascinating to me. I agree with other posters that in the professional field it is status quo in the US to be well kempt, clean, and without body odors. However, thats not the rule- written or unwritten. I had a coworker who had SEVERE skin allergies to any and all anti perspirants or deoderants. I found out because - she smelled. And I politely said something along the lines of, hey do you go to the gym before work? She was pretty blase about it.
While having sweat or BO may be unprofessional (although I havae had MANY teachers, profs and TA's who stank!) it is by no means offensive in the rude sense of the word. It may be a smell you dislike ( and I can understand that 100%) but as us citzens we have a certain bias in this matter. No one here is "wrong", we just need to realize that things like BO are natural, nothing to be ashamed of, simply a fact of life that we all deal with differently.

[nhwr]

Hey guys, no deoderant does not necessarily equal poor hygiene. And wearing deoderant isn't the bulletproof shield from body oder. Yes, kids do routinely razz each other about BO whether it is a problem or not. It is like accusing each other of being the one who "dealt it".

But then what do I know? The last time I had lunch with Coreene I was wearing pink, if I remember correctly http://chronicleforums.com/images/cu...ilies/uhoh.gif

[Coreene]

My darling nhwr, I would never have guessed in a million years that you are of the Unadorned Pit persuasion. No stinkage coming off you.

However, as for those stinky girls, please. They are old enough. Tell them "Hey, dunno if you noticed it, but it's time for you to wear deodorant. At least when you're here." If they get their knickers in a twist about it, well, those probably stink as well. Ugh.

The PC-ness of life, oy vey, just tell 'em, they'll get over it.

[WhiteSwan]

UNCeventer:

What about fart smells? Do those of you in favor of BO and all of its naturalness feel the same way about the fragrance of fart?
_______________________________

The fragrance of fart Ba-hahahahaha! OMG, what a question. Crossing my legs, that was pee-your-pants funny!

I like the idea of setting out a container of baby wipes with a small basket of travel size deodorants in the barn bathroom. You may want to post a note,

"Because we don't have shower facilities at the barn, [OR, because you may not have time to freshen up/shower before you ride], please feel free to freshen up with these. Help yourself, PLEASE!."

OK, you may not want to put PLEASE in bold. But, they will get the hint. If not, the toiletry gift basket idea is nice, especially for the pre-teen girls.

A clothespin on your nose during their lessons may get the point across, as well, but not as nicely. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_c.../icon_wink.gif

[Daydream Believer]

For all you folks who can't live without your Secret or Sure need to read this. I just found something this on Snopes that I heard on UDBB not long ago about health concerns with antipersperants...not deodorants per se but you can't find a deodorant without an antipersperant easily. Apparently there are some concerns about breast cancer and Snopes is saying it is "undetermined" but they aren't saying it's garbage either....

http://www.snopes.com/toxins/breast.htm

I do use deordoant too but I am concerned about this enough that I'd like to try to find something without the antipersperant in it.

[terra]

Kids smell. Riding kids really smell.

If the smell will keep them from a job, tell 'em. If the smell will keep them from acceptance into an important peer group, tell 'em. If the smell is unique to riding, forget it.

Onions. My kids smelled like onions for years. They don't now.

They got interested in boys/girls and it all stopped.

[ise@ssl]

What a joke - unique to riding? Really we all played other sports besides riding horses - BO from your underarms doesn't vary in odor depending on what you've done to make yourself sweat for God's sake. It's the same - it stinks - who wants to be around people that stink?

And yes we've all heard the "rumor" that anti-perspirants cause breast cancer. I have to believe there's a HUGE LIST of other factors that are ahead of deoderant.

I'd just make a sign for the barn. NO B.O. ZONE. All Violators will be fined - $25.00 per armpit. Repeat Violators will be banned from the barn. http://chronicleforums.com/images/cu...milies/lol.gif

[3dazey]

Oh gosh the replies on this thread are priceless! I haven't laughed this hard in a LONG time... http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_c...on_biggrin.gif

But on a serious note, some kids don't have the benefit of really attentive parents who would be on top of these things or even imagine that their little darlings are of an age to need personal toiletries. It happens. So if someone these girls trust and respect (such as yourself, dear Duramax) gently and tactfully nudges them in the right direction as suggested by others here, I think it would be very kind.

[RoyalTRider]

I find something very ironic about part of this. People say how rude Americans are because of how we act towards customs in other countries, but those same people think they can come on over here and just do whatever they want.

This, as was said, IS America!! Therefore, the issue is NOT what is done in other counties. I certainly do not wander down the streets of London and complain at the top of my voice about the ciagrette smoke being blown in my face as it is accpeted there. And here, it is accepted to wear deoderant.

[IFG]

Haven't read the whole thread, but as a mom to twin twelve year old girls, I have suggested deodorant (sometimes vehemently, as in you stink, do you need more deodorant...). From me, they laugh it off. If anyone else said it, they would be mortified. So MYOB.

[ise@ssl]

Well who cares if they are offended - if they need it - they should use it. The people smelling them are offended too! http://chronicleforums.com/images/cu...ilies/dead.gif

[Madame Butterfly]

Say something humorous...like...

"uh, did you get sprayed by a skunk.."
"Did you just come from a soccer game..."
"I think your shirt needs washing...it has that musty odor..."

Maybe, just maybe, the person will get the point. Hopefully...

[terra]

ise@ssl - "unique to riding" = as in any sport? Of course it's any sweaty sport. D'oh.

????

[Tupa]

RoyalTRider!!! Thank you!
It never fails to annoy the he$$ out of me that americans are blasted for not following local norms when visiting other countries (and well they should be, when in Rome....) BUT are then blasted AGAIN for not letting other countries norms supercede ours in our OWN country. I don't care in people in France don't wear deoderant, I won't expect them to. But it is socially expected in America, so please DO!

[HungarianHippo]

RoyalT et al,
I want to clarify: I have not addressed your right to consider certain smells "bad", or to not want to be around someone who smells bad to you. Nor have I weighed in on whether these particular American teens should be told that they smell bad. I only took issue with the statement that YOUR sense of smell is the only "human" one. If you accept and agree that YOUR personal sense of smell is culturally programmed and subjective, and not a prerequisite to being human, then we have no disagreement.

Lots of seriously evil ideas throughout history have been predicated on feelings that one group is less human than another. So yes, I think it's worth being careful about defining what is human and what is not.