flea, you might want to check out an article on cultural habits of the Nacirema. Not sure when it was published, except it had circulated pretty widely by 1980. Your friendly neighborhood Sociology Department should be able to put you on to a copy.

Basically, it's a look at American culture ("Nacirema" backward) from an outsider's perspective, much as Western anthropologists would write about a tribal culture.

Botox is a poison, people!

Eh, we inject all sorts of harmful things in non-harmful doses to get a desired effect. Maybe a lack of wrinkles isn't a good enough reason, but what about all the others? Medically used botox is still as poisonous, and not that dangerous.

You're a weirdo if you're a woman and go out without painting your face

I've never gotten that. I mean, there are tons of women out without much or any makeup on. At my past job, a woman with foundation and eye shadow stood out terribly, just like a man in a tie.

Sorry, Plei. I meant Not!Dean. I confuse myself.

Maybe a lack of wrinkles isn't a good enough reason

My only issue with cosmetic botox is that it doesn't make you look younger, just perpetually surprised. Which for most people is not an improvement over natural aging.

I've never gotten that. I mean, there are tons of women out without much or any makeup on.

I've never worn makeup in any workplace, except at the interview, and it's never once been commented on. Even when I was temping at Revlon, where you'd think it'd be an Issue.

I assumed Flea meant cosmtic botox. We use all sorts of poison for medical reasons.

My only issue with cosmetic botox is that it doesn't make you look younger, just perpetually surprised. Which for most people is not an improvement over natural aging.

I assume that is bad botox and there is good ones we don't notice.

[link] The Nacirema article is now public domain, linked from wikipedia. I haven't read it yet, but there seems to be something about tooth-brushing...

I assumed Flea meant cosmtic botox.

I read that as 'cosmic catbox.'

Yeah, I definitely feel like compared to everyone else I know/work with, I'm wearing entirely Too Much Makeup.

But I like it, so, whatev.

ok...maybe that is a regional thing. I do live in the Land of the Hooples.

From the (1956) article: "Still other rites are used to make women's breasts larger if they are small, and smaller if they are large. General dissatisfaction with breast shape is symbolized in the fact that the ideal form is virtually outside the range of human variation. A few women afflicted with almost inhuman hypermammary development are so idolized that they make a handsome living by simply going from village to village and permitting the natives to stare at them for a fee."