Why would you give your kid chicken pox on purpose?

Chicken pox is a common childhood disease and once you've had it, you'll never get it again. But there are some parents who would have their kids sleep over at a friend's house just so they'd catch chicken pox. Mine weren't that cruel and heartless. Take an episode of South Park I watched today, for instance. Stan, Kyle, and Cartman were sent to Kenny's house just so they would get the chicken pox. These "pox parties" are stupid and could constitute child abuse, especially if it's to provide the children with an immunity towards something more serious like swine flu. If you want to make sure they don't get such viruses, then take your kids into the doctor and give them the relevant shots.