Stay With Me...#3: What Is This Thing Called A \"Tan\"?

Don Smith · 09-04-2002, 12:41 AM

FYI To Ask Don's Army:

[Note: Please read "Stay With Me #1 and #2" before you read this post.]

So now we know that the word "tanning" has negative connotations in the mind of a large segment of the American public and that this came about through (1) the activities of the dermatology community and the sunscreen industry to "link" tanning with "skin cancer", and, (2) our own stupidity.

Question 3: Exactly what is this thing called a "tan"?

Don "We're Getting Close" Smith

fungirlz · 09-04-2002, 07:27 AM

My 16 year old Keeli explains it this way Don.. When asked what is a "tan"?.
She says
"We know that a BURN is bad.. You should NEVER burn.
Our skin has the ability to "protect" itself against the elements from our living enviorment. Take the eyes for example.. when something enters the eye that is a little aggressive to it.. it waters..
If you scrape your knee you get a scab to protect the open tissue.
A "tan" is our bodys way of "protecting" itself against aggressive UV.. it is the reaction our skin has in defending itself from the "bad" burn"..
She will also add.. "We know a burn is bad..I am not saying a tan is good.. I am saying a nice tan is our protection..and we all know protection is good".

C. ( A proud mommy of a very smart tanning young lady)

Teresa · 09-04-2002, 07:47 AM

You should be proud of your daughter, I think very few people are aware that a tan is the body's natural defense against the sun.

Don Smith · 09-04-2002, 09:37 AM

Christine:

Give Miss Keeli an "A" and move her to the head of the class! The word "protective" will feature PROMINENTLY in where we are going.

Not only is this thing called a "tan" protective, it is contravolitional.

Anyone remember the article I wrote for Looking Fit magazine where I defined the word "contravolitional"?

Question 3A: What is the definition of the word "contravolitional" and why is that so important in the context of tanning?

Don "Who Says 'Congratulations' To Keeli" Smith

CancunRayz · 09-04-2002, 12:01 PM

Contravolitional:

Defined as something that is done in opposition to the will.

fungirlz · 09-04-2002, 03:06 PM

Dear Don Smith; Does it mean,
to deny the truth????
from Keeli Carlton
Transformations Lk. Mary, Florida
using my moms code name to post to you on this question.

Don Smith · 09-04-2002, 04:18 PM

Kent/Keeli:

You are both (in your own way) getting to the essence of the word "contravolitional" as used in the "process" of tanning.

Kent stated (correctly) that a contravolitional act is one that is done in opposition to the will and what that means for us is that, when we are exposed to a sensible, moderate and responsible dose of UVR, we will begin to tan WHETHER WE WANT TO OR NOT. If, on the other hand, we are overexposed to a dose of UVR, we will sunburn WHETHER WE WANT TO OR NOT. Why? Because both sunburning and tanning are the normal, natural (contravolitional) way that has evolved over the millenia to help the body The important thing to keep in mind is that protect itself from OVEREXPOSURE to UVR. Keep in mind that we cannot control this automatic (autonomic) process anymore than we can control breathing, our heart rate, the way our bodies automatically "adjusts" for temperature, etc. All of these are contravolitional functions that happen whether or not we want them to.

For instance, we don't get into a tanning bed, turn it on and then have to say - OK, body, start tanning because that normal, natural process in contravolitional!

Keeli brought up an interesting wrinkle when she suggested that contravolitional can also mean "to deny the truth" and that is ABSOLUTELY at the heart of this discussion. Why? Because when the anti-tanning segment of the dermatology community ignores the fact that the "tanning response" is a normal, natural (and contravoliltional) reaction to UVR, they are "denying the truth" about what is taking place.

Tanning IS NOT a sign of skin damage; rather, a "tan" simply indicates that the normal, natural contravolitional process of tanning has taken place.

OVEREXPOSURE (sunburning) is a sign of skin damage and should always be avoided.

Thank you both for your insightful answers!

Don "Who Is About Ready To Move On To The Heart Of The Topic" Smith

BooBop · 09-04-2002, 04:38 PM

this is very good and fun too. keep us going Don.

Keeli, I know your parents are proud of you. I see why.

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09-04-2002, 12:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
Don Smith Join Date: Feb 25 2000 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 1,619 Rep Power: 10	FYI To Ask Don's Army: [Note: Please read "Stay With Me #1 and #2" before you read this post.] So now we know that the word "tanning" has negative connotations in the mind of a large segment of the American public and that this came about through (1) the activities of the dermatology community and the sunscreen industry to "link" tanning with "skin cancer", and, (2) our own stupidity. Question 3: Exactly what is this thing called a "tan"? Don "We're Getting Close" Smith

09-04-2002, 07:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
fungirlz Join Date: Jan 17 2002 Posts: 4,753 Rep Power: 8	My 16 year old Keeli explains it this way Don.. When asked what is a "tan"?. She says "We know that a BURN is bad.. You should NEVER burn. Our skin has the ability to "protect" itself against the elements from our living enviorment. Take the eyes for example.. when something enters the eye that is a little aggressive to it.. it waters.. If you scrape your knee you get a scab to protect the open tissue. A "tan" is our bodys way of "protecting" itself against aggressive UV.. it is the reaction our skin has in defending itself from the "bad" burn".. She will also add.. "We know a burn is bad..I am not saying a tan is good.. I am saying a nice tan is our protection..and we all know protection is good". C. ( A proud mommy of a very smart tanning young lady)

09-04-2002, 07:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
Teresa Join Date: Dec 29 2001 Location: Davenport, IA Age: 44 Posts: 2,803 Rep Power: 9	You should be proud of your daughter, I think very few people are aware that a tan is the body's natural defense against the sun.

09-04-2002, 09:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
Don Smith Join Date: Feb 25 2000 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 1,619 Rep Power: 10	Christine: Give Miss Keeli an "A" and move her to the head of the class! The word "protective" will feature PROMINENTLY in where we are going. Not only is this thing called a "tan" protective, it is contravolitional. Anyone remember the article I wrote for Looking Fit magazine where I defined the word "contravolitional"? Question 3A: What is the definition of the word "contravolitional" and why is that so important in the context of tanning? Don "Who Says 'Congratulations' To Keeli" Smith

09-04-2002, 12:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
CancunRayz Join Date: Feb 20 2002 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Age: 45 Posts: 140 Rep Power: 7	Contravolitional: Defined as something that is done in opposition to the will.

09-04-2002, 03:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
fungirlz Join Date: Jan 17 2002 Posts: 4,753 Rep Power: 8	Dear Don Smith; Does it mean, to deny the truth???? from Keeli Carlton Transformations Lk. Mary, Florida using my moms code name to post to you on this question.

09-04-2002, 04:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
Don Smith Join Date: Feb 25 2000 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 1,619 Rep Power: 10	Kent/Keeli: You are both (in your own way) getting to the essence of the word "contravolitional" as used in the "process" of tanning. Kent stated (correctly) that a contravolitional act is one that is done in opposition to the will and what that means for us is that, when we are exposed to a sensible, moderate and responsible dose of UVR, we will begin to tan WHETHER WE WANT TO OR NOT. If, on the other hand, we are overexposed to a dose of UVR, we will sunburn WHETHER WE WANT TO OR NOT. Why? Because both sunburning and tanning are the normal, natural (contravolitional) way that has evolved over the millenia to help the body The important thing to keep in mind is that protect itself from OVEREXPOSURE to UVR. Keep in mind that we cannot control this automatic (autonomic) process anymore than we can control breathing, our heart rate, the way our bodies automatically "adjusts" for temperature, etc. All of these are contravolitional functions that happen whether or not we want them to. For instance, we don't get into a tanning bed, turn it on and then have to say - OK, body, start tanning because that normal, natural process in contravolitional! Keeli brought up an interesting wrinkle when she suggested that contravolitional can also mean "to deny the truth" and that is ABSOLUTELY at the heart of this discussion. Why? Because when the anti-tanning segment of the dermatology community ignores the fact that the "tanning response" is a normal, natural (and contravoliltional) reaction to UVR, they are "denying the truth" about what is taking place. Tanning IS NOT a sign of skin damage; rather, a "tan" simply indicates that the normal, natural contravolitional process of tanning has taken place. OVEREXPOSURE (sunburning) is a sign of skin damage and should always be avoided. Thank you both for your insightful answers! Don "Who Is About Ready To Move On To The Heart Of The Topic" Smith

09-04-2002, 04:38 PM	#8 (permalink)
BooBop I love Derf!! Join Date: Apr 5 2001 Posts: 9,497 Rep Power: 13	this is very good and fun too. keep us going Don. Keeli, I know your parents are proud of you. I see why.

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