12/21/2002: Ukrainian child abuse

In the Ukraine they believe that ice-cold showers, winter swimming, and just generally freezing is good for the health. It's a centuries-old tradition.

And so, these kiddies are waiting for their turn to have ice-cold water dumped on their head, as the outdoor temperature reaches -10 C (14 F).

Shrinkage
Warning: the above link is over 900k (but worth it).

Yea, and these kids are so hard-ass at 10 they'll beat your ass fierce!

Oh ya, I jump in a freezing lake on New Years (Boulder Polar Bear Club), but it ain't easy enough to do daily.

Hm. Didn't the Spartans live the same way? They thought it built character or something. Who knows, maybe they were right. Maybe the Ukrainians are building the Master Race.

I, for one, welcome our new frozen Ukrainian overlords.

I doubt the kids are being harmed. Normal well kids have great circulation, great cardiovascular reserve, and seem to be happy at colder temperatures than adults. I'm not sure I'd advise this activity, but the kids in the picture don't seem especially unhappy.

A minor quibble: the country goes by the name of 'Ukraine', now that it's an independent nation. I know, it's hard to switch, after we've called it 'the Ukraine' for the last several centuries that it's been a vassal state to other European powers.

If this system produces Ukranian women who wear miniskirts in negative 10 degree weather, then I'm all for it!

I'd definately second that. That area of the world has some great looking women.

Ukrainian child abuse

Perhaps if American children were given this frozen torture they would behave and do better in school. There would probably be less crime and we would raise decent human beings.

With my body, I would welcome some shrinkage. I did the polar dip a few years ago and I stayed the same size.
Hmmph.

I'm glad I'm not Ukrainian, but to each his own. Lots of things we do in this country could be considered child abuse by people in other societies.

A friend of mine married a Swedish guy and moved to Sweden. One winter when their first kid, Jesper, was about 2 he was at a birthday party. At some point all the kids went out into the snow, and - as kids do - they started stripping off their clothes and running around naked. None of the Swedish mothers seemed concerned. She said surely the kids should come in or put their clothes on, as otherwise they'd catch a cold. They all gave her a bemused look and carefully explained to her that colds are caused by a virus and not by temperatures. She said she felt like shouting "yes, I know that, but... but...!!" but instead she just bit her lip and let it go. And Jesper didn't catch a cold.

Here in Australia it's considered healthy for your feet if you walk around barefoot, even if it's cold (toughens you up, that sort of thing). I lived in Germany for 7 years, and my flatmates would have a fit if I walked around - in our carpetted, centrally heated, third floor flat - in bare feet. They said it would kill my kidneys if I did that. Another one that upset Germans was opening a window in a moving vehicle: car, bus or train. Again, because it would kill your kidneys. It didn't matter if it was stiflingly hot inside AND outside the vehicle. "Better to suffocate than to die like THAT!" an old lady screamed at me one day. Even doctors there told me that was a fact.

Makes you wonder just how many of our ailments really are psychosomatic - I'm SURE if I jumped through a hole in the ice for a swim it would kill me!

It was something that best wrestlers always did after a long hot practice. Last thing was to turn off hot water - run the shower ice cold. That shock considered essential since every good wrestler did it. I don't know. But when I started doing cold showers, I achieved their position. Superstition? Probably. But that shock of cold water did eliminate fatigue and the pain.

How painful? The coach recruited 120. In three weeks of brutal workouts, that number was down to less than 40. Even many 'in shape' soccer and football players quit early. That 45 degree water was considered necessary to be good.

I don't think that's good, tw. It's too much of a shock. Like gunning your car down the highway, then throwing it into reverse.

I'd forgotten this IOTD. I think the best part, aside from the anticipation on the kids faces is the outfit the lady is wearing; leather boots with heels and a miniskirt, looks like someone from a game show.

What game shows do you watch??

Better ones than you, obviously.

Yeah, obviously. I want to expand my horizons. Alex Trebeck just isn't cutting it in this light.

I'll take freezing my nut's off for a thousand, Alex.

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce I'll take freezing my nut's off for a thousand, Alex.

Ukraine Child Abuse

It seems to me that this teacher is really enjoying pouring ice water over these childrens heads. She is not dumping the water but she is ever so slowly pouring the ice water so that these children feel every last drop of water.

Ukraine Child Abuse

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad In the Ukraine they believe that ice-cold showers, winter swimming, and just generally freezing is good for the health. It's a centuries-old tradition. And so, these kiddies are waiting for their turn to have ice-cold water dumped on their head, as the outdoor temperature reaches -10 C (14 F).

Welcome back, Bikernut2. You have an affinity for this thread, no?

These children are not protected from the elements at all. There is nothing wrong with the procedure but it should be done inside so that the children can get warmed up quicker.

Somebody call a whaaaambulance

Try that in the US and some parent will claim child abuse.

can't say I'm too disturbed--they all look pretty happy.

Akin to Scandinavian sauna, where they jump in the snow after. Or yogic cold showers in the morning.

Well hello HM 25 welcome to the cellar

Is that SG's HM?

Highly unlikely. Given that HM is just how she refers to him because he was her House Mate. No reason why he'd adopt the initials himself.

Yeah, it was kind of a joke.

I did read an article about what woman do to remain cold- free. One of them said she takes cool showers and in the winter will take a warm one but before they shut it off you rinse in cool. Somehow it is good for your skin, etc.

Hmmm...I wouldn't have even thought that bikini's were marketed to the Ukraine region.

On the coast it has a climate not dissimilar to Italy or Greece.

Southern Ukraine is where the Soviet Navy was tethered, also where all the well to do went for vacation. Sort of like our Florida or So.Cal.

Man, the chick pouring the water is HOT. She could pour ice cold water on me any day.