Parabanes between the public and the intimate

The reason why the title of this work does not accurately announce the topic that it will cover is pure linguistic courtesy. A headline saying something like “the city, a large public urinal” could really be unpleasant.

And in question this is the matter. It is almost common for us to see, at any time and anywhere, men who, faced with the urge to urinate, simply turn their backs and, as if a paraban were spread around them, they evacuate their bladder as placidly as if the stage outside the comfortable bathroom of his home.

It is not about people drunk for a day or those who live in that permanent state, who, urged by the abusive ingestion of alcoholic beverages such as beer, and in full imbalance due to the effect they produce, find in some dark city ​​corner the shelter to alleviate their need. Rather, it is a practice that little by little begins to become daily and if we do not do something to stop it, it will soon be like sneezing or coughing in public.

It is true that there are not many public baths in the city as places to help these natural instincts, and although some with very good services in personal treatment and available water can already be seen in central spaces, they are still not enough. But these deficiencies are not a justification for such shows.

There is a shamelessness in the fact of believing that these habits are to be carried out in the presence of others. Some even finish adjusting their pants as they join the flow of pedestrians who, among many other images, have just seen a very intimate scene that is also disrespectful and shocking.

But what is most worrying is that some are beginning to assume —judging by their performances— the fact as a common practice. It is not uncommon to see mothers with little ones who, without the slightest qualms, are at best, slightly pushed aside to unzip boys or bend over girls, and stripping them of their undergarments, making them feel that they can fully calle be physiologically happy.

At what point, if not at all possible times, is it necessary to talk to our children about modesty and human decorum without which we cannot be dignified and respected? Will our future offspring be able to behave like socially civilized people if, from the moment they open their eyes, they see as permissible acts those that without question are sovereignly intimate?

The education that today's adults receive from our parents and grandparents led us to distinguish very well between public and private events. They taught us that even the most urgent demands of a baby that asks to be breastfed require certain scruples and that is not why it is necessary to exhibit oneself without due care.

When did we start erasing those boundaries? Offering ourselves in full swing of those physiological acts can become one day by dint of repeating it like having a glass of water held up to the light. The setback will be very unfortunate and perhaps in almost tribal whispers someone will tell their fellow man that in a not so distant time urinating in public was unacceptable.