Remember that kid in elementary school who would do anything for a laugh? He'd eat worms or roll in the dirt if it meant the attention of the class. Gross, right? Is there anything that could be more embarrassing?

Well it's possible that budding clown had the right idea. It turns out human beings have a natural predisposition to be fascinated by the gross and disgusting. Psychologists have likened the phenomenon to the appeal of scary movies: we get a kick out of experiencing things that could harm us, without actually putting ourselves in danger. Rollercoasters and first-person shooters have a same appeal. And those are so popular! Hence the appeal of all the most gross things on the planet. Maybe little Johnny Booger-Eater was right all along: disgusting is just interesting.

So it might be useful to think of this video like a rollercoaster. Sure, the practical side of your brain could be saying, "Stop! Why are we doing this???" But the thrill here is in exploring the far side: the things that we just don't see every day. After all, how did humans first discover which foods we could eat, and which animals were harmful? Some pioneer had to try it out for herself. Therefore, as you watch, it's fair to consider yourself as just another entry into the pantheon of great human innovators. Learning about the world of Ugh and Yuck so you might bring the knowledge back to your tribe.

Good on you soldier. Go boldly where no man would like to go at all.