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I imagine that if they managed to convince him is because he wasn't feeling too well.
In other words, maybe what killed him wasn't having bath but what made him change his mind about the bath.
That's also why some people believe in snake oil. People get desperate to try something after a few days of illness and then suddenly feel better after doing the thing. They would have gotten better without it, but the timing makes it seem like the thing cured them. It's why we use double blind studies instead of anecdotes like this.
Did you know actual snake oil was used in traditional Chinese medicine for arthritis. Aparently it's quite high in Omega-3. But it got popular and then grifters started selling random concoctions and calling it snake oil and that's how it became synonymous with quackery.
Not really related to the point of your comment, I just read about it recently and thought it was interesting.
Neat! Thanks for sharing
Almost certainly a correlation ≠ causation situation. Bathing wouldn't suddenly destroy his probably insanely resistant immune system.
That is true, but bathing after avoiding it for 60 years is still a significant change in environment that probably isn't great if you're 94 years old.
"But, local media say, Amou Haji finally succumbed to pressure and washed a few months ago.
According to Iran's IRNA news agency, he became ill shortly afterwards and died on Sunday."
In today's news: In the fight between correlation vs causation most people will still bet on correlation.
You’re right but:
Despite his extreme uncleanliness his health remained remarkably intact for most of his life. Medical experts in Iran observed that while he tested positive for a parasite infection called trichinosis the condition appeared asymptomatic. One public health professor speculated that his unconventional immune system may have adapted to his environment.
I’d bet on causation here.
Not sure if I'd bet on it but I genuinely don't think it should be ruled out
"I'm indestructible..."
"Oh my, no. Even a light breeze..."
"Indestructible..."
More likely is the extreme stress of him thinking he had violated the superstition's rules. At 94 it doesn't take much to push a person over the edge.
He most likely died of being fucking 94.
That was probably a big stressful change after a lifetime of avoiding bathing. I wouldn't rule out incidental causation.
No. It was the curse.
Destroying the Horny Layer on someone who is already not feeling their best: solid call.
He used to smoke dried animal shit through an old car exhaust pipe too.
Why though
Might be nice.
Have you tried it?
And to honor this man, I’ve never showered since.
No offense, StraponStratos, but imma keeping a few feet away...
Your loss. I’ve been told I’m very funky and cultured.
By 'cultured' they actually meant 'fungi'.
Thanks, I am pretty fun. I like to get out on the weekends and work up a sweat.
Talk to you again in 60 years. Until then, would you mind keeping your distance?
There are USAians who believe that showering is bad for health and don't do it. They say "everybody says I smell fine". I'd have to find the article about it.
A shower is just a bidet for the whole body, and some people are weirdly opposed to bidets, so I guess being anti-shower could just be an extension of that
From what I've been told, the smell of BO disappears after a while. Instead, they smell like a farm animal. But they have to skip bathing long enough for that change to occur, and it gets undone whenever they bathe.
As for people saying they smell fine, as obnoxious as we are, very few people are willing to tell someone they smell like shit. Most of us will even directly lie to them to avoid the difficult conversation.
So young. Taken too soon. Who could have known this was coming?
Villagers: “Amou, you have infections all over your body. You have a very slim chance of survival if you take a bath.”
The internet:
We needed a negative control, dammit!
Proving him right.
Bummer. Bath time is glorious.
Sometimes we create our own prophecy. I wonder if he had a lot of skin issues.
His last words were:
You mother fuckers!
this post was submitted on 18 Jul 2025
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