Why Do People take Bad Hygiene so Offensively?

Question

They make it a big deal than it already is. Why is that? If a person smells bad, why do people judge or make a statement that they don't bathe regularly? Or if the person who has bad hygiene, they take it offensively or get rather pissed. Why is that? No stupid or ridiculous answers please.

Answer 1

Sometimes people are just plain ignorant.  Not ignorant as in stupid but ignorant as in uneducated.  Myself included.  Before I was a nurse, I thought the same thing.  Once I became educated, I understood that there are other reasons for body odor, one being different types of illnesses (one being cancer).  Another reason for body odor is obesity sometimes, even under the best of hygiene, the folds of the skin becomes infected causing an odor because of the bacteria growing there.  With that education (which you would only get if you went to some sort of medical training), I'm more patient.  You also have incontinent people, regardless of those incontinent briefs that are scented, are NEVER scented enough to cover the smell.  People are just people and you can never educate everyone, so what I personally do is when the opportunity arises, I try to educate one or two at a time.  When I hear someone becoming the underdog, that's the person I defend.  :).  Be well.

T

Answer 2

It is ridiculous, however there is a fine line somewhere in the middle. If a person chooses not to shower to whatever - - - if they choose to be odorous, they need to respect others rights to not to have to smell their...*smell*

But then again, those who shower everyday and smell like candy, well, they gotta realize it's someone else's choice to shower and clean when they want. It's their own body. Unless it is blatent and rude, like farting in a full room, or chillin' in a chair, arms behind their head stinkin up the place, nothing needs to be said.

Answer 3

Human nature and experience are the reasons for the remarks and the reactions, obviously.  You don't have to live long to realize that the major reason folks smell bad is due to poor hygiene practice.  It may not always be the explanation, but it is accurate a majority of the time.  Most people won't actually come out and tell a person they stink- but yes, when a person is told they are offensive smelling they do tend to react badly.  Human nature means we don't like criticism, even when it's accurate and deserved.  We especially don't like personal type criticisms.   It can also be made worse if the remark was worded poorly or cruelly.  There's a big difference between telling somebody quietly you think their antiperspirant failed and publicly/loudly telling them they smell like a sewer, you know?  Think this one through a bit, and you will understand I think.  Sometimes it's not what you say, but how you say it.  The best guidance I can provide-

If wisdom's way's you wish to seek, these things observe with care:  of whom you speak, to whom you speak, and how and when and where.  Taking care to guard each of those items will often help you avoid sticky situations.  And a few manners, and a bit of consideration go a long way, even if your nose is offended.  You can't always control the other person's reaction, but you can control the things leading up to it.  Offence is often in the eye of the reciever, but if none is offered, none is generally taken.