No mere industrial accident, ladies and gentlemen — they were born this way!
Circus
Is this site just a carnival freak show?
These days, it's not generally socially acceptable to put people on display for their irregularities. Going to point fingers at midgets and bearded ladies has fallen out of style.
In the sense that such treatment is dehumanizing, this is a good change. But the deformities and variety still exist, and if we go too far in the other direction — where we avoid acknowledging these realities — we encourage an insulated mindset that has trouble dealing with the unusual. The sort of mindset that, when confronted with something strange, grotesque, or irregular, can do little more than gawk and point.
So, in some sense we do want to put the weirdos on display (to increase awareness), but at the same time we don't want to treat them as mere objects.
Zoos have a similar dilemma.
Part of this is cultural. In many countries, if you are black (or tall, pale, blonde, etc.), people might stare and take their picture with you. In the United States, that sort of behavior would potentially be seen as offensive, or at least a display of ignorance — something a child might do, not an adult.
Fascination with the unfamiliar is perfectly fine; we want people to be curious. The problems come when those differences are used to make judgements; when fascination turns into ridicule.
eeek!
Don't be ashamed. But don't be an ass, either.
With that having been said…
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! COME SEE THE BURGERCANDY!
Looks like burger! Tastes like candy!
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