NationStates Jolt Archive

Why do people find certain things gross. What's so icky about insects about eating insects, about incest(ultimate ickyness), about that scene in exorcist where the girl is coming down the stairs all weird, about people who are unnaturally flexible, and those who flip their eyelids inside out? Why do we find things so... well, gross? Is there anything in particular you find icky, and if so why?

Individual preference and the influences thereon (cultural, parental, etc.).

Why do people find certain things gross. What's so icky about insects about eating insects, about incest(ultimate ickyness), about that scene in exorcist where the girl is coming down the stairs all weird, about people who are unnaturally flexible, and those who flip their eyelids inside out? Why do we find things so... well, gross? Is there anything in particular you find icky, and if so why?

personal preference

...people throwing up is icky to me.. cuz i'm a sympathy spewer

Individual preference and the influences thereon (cultural, parental, etc.).

so you're sayin individuality is icky?

so you're sayin individuality is icky?
No, I'm saying we are all individually "icked" by different things depending upon our own experiences and bias.

No, I'm saying we are all individually "icked" by different things depending upon our own experiences and bias.

i know :p

but i want to know about people's own experiences and bias and stuff... i'm real bored :(

RIP thread :(

it's just too young.....

I was reading somewhere a while back about just this subject in realtion to food that ha gone off etc.. Evidance seem to suggest it is a protective reaction, rather like fear. Fear is usefull to us humans as it helps keep us away from dangerous situations.

Ikyness when it comes to food that is dodgy, scientist belive, is all about saving us from takinging in harmfull bactiria etc.

Heh perhaps not the sort of answer you wanted, but intersting anyhoo.

I believe humans in themselves are ultimately disgusting, what with eating like slobs, jerkin the gherkin, if you know what I mean, drinking out of bottles and leaving backwash, barfing, taking a leak, and leaving a s***.

Mostly there are psychological reasons behind it. However there is an evolutionary reason behind why rotting meat makes us feel ill. Carrion (rotting meat) is poisonous to humans.

The ick factor of rotten food makes perfect sense, as already mentioned. But what about other things mention in the OP? I suppose humans have certain instincts for what is not natural/expected that protects us.

Eating insects is deffinately up there in ickiness for me. No idea why. Just.... eewwww!

Vomit is also gross, I'm a sympathy gagger at least, never been sick myself in response to it, but holding my friend's hair back while she spews is not something I'm willing to do lightly.

Why do people find certain things gross.
Because we can.
What's so icky about insects about eating insects?
I don't know about you, but, the thought of eating roaches seems rather gross.

...about incest(ultimate ickyness)?
...uh... because society forces us to think that way.

...about that scene in exorcist where the girl is coming down the stairs all weird?
That movie was boring. I don't even remember that part; I fell asleep.

...about people who are unnaturally flexible?
No idea. I think it's damn cool.

...and those who flip their eyelids inside out?
I can do that! It's fun!

Why do we find things so... well, gross?
No idea...

Is there anything in particular you find icky, and if so why?
Brussel sprouts! Ew!

Protection reaction that has been adapted by people in the modern world.

No idea. I think it's damn cool.

well, flexibility's one thing- doing the splits and what not, but having someone put both legs behing their head and start jumping about? ughh.... yucky

That movie was boring. I don't even remember that part; I fell asleep.
It was actually cut from the theatrical release, I think it must have been included on one of the many variations released on DVD. I saw it on a documentary about the film. But hey ho. It is weird, very scary, especially the tongue flick thing. Isn't is supposed to be spider-like? I'm arachnophobic, maybe that's why it gives me the heeby-jeebies.

The eyelid thing is also icky, I have an "eye thing", can't stand checking in someone else's eye for a lash or anything, took me years to be able to do eyeliner. Now it's really just other people's eyes. Ick!

The eyelid thing is also icky, I have an "eye thing", can't stand checking in someone else's eye for a lash or anything, took me years to be able to do eyeliner. Now it's really just other people's eyes. Ick!

oh i have that too, i'm sensitive about eyes. that's why i hate wearing contacts, i can go without seeing anything to avoid touching my eye. all my friends know not to tell me any eye stories- no mentioning of eye-gouging eye juice seeping out(no, not tears :p ), touching of eyes, eye-poking, anything like that. you know there's such irony in this....

oh i have that too, i'm sensitive about eyes. that's why i hate wearing contacts, i can go without seeing anything to avoid touching my eye. all my friends know not to tell me any eye stories- no mentioning of eye-gouging eye juice seeping out(no, not tears :p ), touching of eyes, eye-poking, anything like that. you know there's such irony in this....
Eww, I know! I wear glasses, can't even contemplate contacts, and laser surgery?! Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Freaks the hell out of me! So many people have it done now, it's just a little opperation, but ewwwwwwwww! Nooooooooooooooooo!

Eww, I know! I wear glasses, can't even contemplate contacts, and laser surgery?! Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Freaks the hell out of me! So many people have it done now, it's just a little opperation, but ewwwwwwwww! Nooooooooooooooooo!

I know how you feel.:fluffle: