taboo adult babyWhile I try not to judge others, occasionally I come across something that makes me stop and say to myself, “Wow. That’s disturbing.” Such a moment happened this week when I stumbled upon a story about Adult Babies. Fully grown humans that like to wear diapers, sleep in giant cribs, and suck on pacifiers.

If I can’t say this is weird, then I might as well not be able to call the sky blue, because that stuff is messed up.

Thanks to the Internet and prime-time network television (hello CSI and the "Furries" episode!), I’ve become aware of some of the stranger oddities that people sometimes choose to indulge in. Being someone that doesn’t understand the appeal of defecating in a giant diaper or putting on a bunny suit to get it on, I’m always strangely fascinated by these people. Take a look:

My thought process goes something like this: What the ...? Why would someone ...? Did his mother ever love him? How very strange and sad. And weird. Totally weird. And creepy. FREE COUNTRY JENNY! He can be as weird as he wants, and it doesn’t affect anyone but himself and those who choose to play along.

Then I move on. Life is too short to waste time thinking about adult babies.

So why am I wasting time writing time about Stanley Thorton, the 30-year-old California man that sleeps in a custom-built crib and plays on the floor in a diaper? Because now his questionable lifestyle choice is affecting me as a taxpayer.

Mr. Thorton receives Social Security Income (SSI) benefits instead of working. SSI is handled by the Social Security office, and is intended to financially help those who are disabled and therefore unable to work. Last time I checked, living out warped fantasies did not qualify a person as disabled.

Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) has requested that Inspector General Patrick P. O'Carroll Jr. conduct an investigation into the matter:

Given that Mr. Thornton is able to determine what is appropriate attire and actions in public, drive himself to complete errands, design and custom-make baby furniture to support a 350-pound adult and run an Internet support group, it is possible that he has been improperly collecting disability benefits for a period of time.

In response, the baby threw a tantrum and threatened to kill himself if his SSI benefits were taken away. The man takes his playacting seriously, if nothing else

What do you think? Should the taxpayers support this man?