The Outhouse Dilemma

Once a common fixture in every home’s backyard, the dilemma of what to call the “outhouse” is still a mixture of debate and prudery. A less offensive name than its vulgar alternative, “s--thouse,”is not likely to change. Humans aren’t very good at naming any activity that goads decency and propriety when gritty truth demands bare-bottom honesty. Then, too, sanitizing its name to one least offensive freed sub-angelic human vanity from embarrassment and shame. With the advent of a simple flush humans could relieve nature in the comfort of their homes without angry threats to rush. Yet given grunts and groans and other cacophony hardly justifies calling it a “bath” or “rest” room, frankly. All euphemisms aside, no name better fits that room’s basic purpose than what to our ears and noses is most obvious and odious. At their worse euphemisms are an affront to our humanity, and will continue to be until we flush clean our ingrained prudery.