I am sure that you have used this expression – either figuratively or the next morning after eating Chinese Food late last night.“It Left A Bad Taste in My Mouth !”
More often the expression is used to describe a feeling or sense when we encounter something that goes against our value system. Something that “rubs us the wrong way” or “goes against the grain” in our life leaves a bad taste too.
Hanah Chapman a graduate student along with Adam K. Anderson, Ph.D. and their colleagues asked the question about ‘Bad Taste’ and then did their research… in fact a lot of research.
They are trying to connect the sense of “Disgust” with something called “Morality”. The two are connected in the fact that there are facial muscles that react to both Disgust and Morality Issues in our lives.
A Filthy Toilet Bowl and Foul Play – both make a muscle react – indicating that we object or are repulsed by the situation in front of us. The muscle is the “Levator labii” above our lips. When it goes to work we crinkle our nose.
See – you just tried it – and it works. The muscle is powerful in that it almost closes the nostril off from the disgusting smell. But it is also does the same thing when the foul play is taking place in the sporting event… and the group watching opens their mouth in disgust at the call of the referee/umpire. “What?!?” is often a word that will be voiced loudly when that “disgust” is felt strongly.
When something smells real bad our “Levator labii” needs assistance and we either cover our noses with our hand or fingers. And if you think of it… try the many actions/reactions connected to the “Levator labii” – you will suddenly become amazed at how many times the old “Levator labii” is working.
At a Flea Market recently we hovered over a table of old junk. The junk had a definite old smell to it… and our interest in what was available for sale had us press close to the table. At least that was true until the Filthy, Dirty Old Man pressed in beside us to take a look too. He had not bathed or washed his clothing for a long time. His beard was scraggly and dirty with food particles still stuck in the edges around his mouth. His odor was pungent and foul. He smelled like $%!##. As he pressed forward we all pressed backwards. The poor person selling the old junk was caught behind the table smelling him and watching all her potential customers back away. The gal was activating her “Levator labii” and then applying her tissues from her pocket as if she was blowing her nose. I imagine she was also activating more muscles down lower as she started to gag.
So the “Levator labii” is a strong indicator of what we are sensing.
Hanah and her helpers picked up on something that we have known for a long time and have conducted research on it. They applied sensors on the volunteers’ “Levator labii”. Then they exposed the volunteers to a whole array of “things” that would fall under everything from “Physical to Emotional” stimuli.
Now what has been deduced from this extensive study is Morality is Related to Disgust. But they are not the only ones investigating and asking the question. I plugged that simple phrase into the Google Search Engine and it gave me 822,000 response (mind you many were about the same deduction and reports about the same).
This posting will make it 822,001 in the search conducted later I am sure.
I think that they know a lot about the “Levator labii” but not so much about Morality. They know lots about bad smells but not so much about bad actions. In fact the whole idea that Morality – a personal Moral Code is connected to bad smells and bad scenes… is a quantum leap that cannot be made.
Morality for most and for a long time has been deeply connected to the Spiritual of an individual. It has been connected to a code of relationships with other people. And for a long time this link existed between the Spiritual and Relationships.
The Spiritual involved a connection to God and a connection to community – both were relationships. The Morality that was involved and kept as a personal guide maintained the balance of community.
Now if you take away God and the Spiritual – you have little left except the curling up of your “Levator labii”. Then the study providing a potential Doctorate for someone is relevant. Then you can connect the Emotional and Physical through a muscle.
Let’s test this idea out.
Go back to the turn of a Century – 1899 to 1900. Find a street with a sleazy bar on it. Watch the men walking into the bar and then later staggering out of the bar. Walk home with them and then witness what happens with the interaction with their families. My “Levator labii” would crinkle as I say, “Oh no… that is so sad…”
Take the same scenario in 2009. The bar is no longer sleazy. It is bright and chipper – but has good music and great decorations. The men have good suits on and are clean. They also have their wives(or someone else’s) with them. This is okay. In fact it is a sign of success.
Now if I can take away the Spiritual and the God Stuff… this is a norm for 2009. No “Levator labii” reaction.
But if the actions of this man in the bar scene results in one where his children are hurt and his wife is left in a Woman’s Shelter as he goes off with a New Bimbo… my “Levator labii” curls up in Disgust as I react.
My Morals have kicked in. But the guys sitting in the Bar next to him cannot see that anything is wrong – at all. It is a norm in other people’s world.
As long as we allow enough time for society to “get used to the idea” – the shift will take place and the “Levator labii” will stop curling up because the inside Moral.
Christians are well known for their curling up “Levator labii”. Their strong stance against certain community actions and reactions have left them isolated from the “real changing world” out there.
I mean look at their reaction to “abortion” – talk about silly. Don’t they realize that it is a Woman’s Choice is al that matters. Come on!
But consider their Victorian attitudes to sexual preference and expression. Christians are so legalistic. They are high and mighty and seem to condemn all the others that have found a new way.
Can you remember when the Gay Pride Days began? Remember when the first Gay Pride Day came to your town of city? Remember how the “Christians” reacted. It is almost too funny when you think of it. Now everyone has a Gay Pride Day and a Parade. Still a little opposition but for the most part Christians really have been able to get over it – and accept the new norm.
For me as a Christian Pastor and Leader for 35 years I have witnessed the shift take place.
But there is a line drawn deep inside. There is still smudge of Morality left that curls the lip up.
Murder used to do it. But now it is easier and only makes our “Levator labii” curl if we get enough details of the evidence. If it aint close to us – it doesn’t matter.
Rape gets a pretty high curl of the “Levator labii”. So does Child Porn. So does Child Abuse. So does kidnapping.
But if you give it enough time – even some of the most evil ones of today will not matter tomorrow.
Did you know that in some parts of Africa – like Kenya the rules are different. Out of the 25,000 in one jail system – there are only maybe two men convicted of molesting a child. Children are not treated the same as they are here. Theft is the big issues that will get you a huge amount of time in prison.
In Canada we have that completely reversed. The Child molesting will get you life in prison and society. Child Porn will get you worse – yet thousands are producing it. Theft will get you a variety of punishments from a slap on the hand to some actual time in jail. But if you are really rich you may get more time – especially a person like Conrad Black.
Hmmmm?
This is way too long today… but when your old “Levator labii” curls up you just have to do something about it. May you have a “Levator labii” contracting day.
~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/
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