Sociologically, urine's smell and the potential harm it can cause in terms of infection make it [[taboo]] in many cultures. Urinating on objects [[desecration by urine|is sometimes done]] in order to show extreme disapproval, or to humiliate, although such behavior has no place in civilized society. In [[James Clavell]]'s novel ''Shõgun'' the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] ship's captain Blackthorn is punished for insulting his Japanese captor, by literally doing to Blackthorn what Blackthorn had figuratively said to him, as a "lesson". | Sociologically, urine's smell and the potential harm it can cause in terms of infection make it [[taboo]] in many cultures. Urinating on objects [[desecration by urine|is sometimes done]] in order to show extreme disapproval, or to humiliate, although such behavior has no place in civilized society. In [[James Clavell]]'s novel ''Shõgun'' the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] ship's captain Blackthorn is punished for insulting his Japanese captor, by literally doing to Blackthorn what Blackthorn had figuratively said to him, as a "lesson". |