What are the TABOOS in your culture?

[Divinus Arma]

Think about it. What would be offputting in your culture? Try and keep in mind your sub-culture as well. For example, smoking marijuana, although illegal, is taboo in U.S. Christian society, but not in U.S. libertarian or liberal circles. ALSO, try not to mention just what is taboo, but what is NOT taboo that you think would be in other countries!

Also, the FCC bans cursing and nudity on public airwaves and certain cable channels during specific hours...

Hmmm. Talking politics and religion in casual conversation with someone you just meet is also fairly taboo, unless it is in private and the gathering is related to the topic in some way.

Urinating and deficating in view of the public is certainly taboo, as is nudity of any sort. Public displays are mildly taboo, but same-sex PDA is totally taboo everywhere but gay communities.

If your are obese, you'll be stared at. Same thing goes if you are a man and dress like a woman (except in Los Angeles), are male and wear a thong while roller skating, etc. Cursing in public is generally frowned on everywhere except youth events where rebellion against adult tradition is "cool". Drunk driving is illegal and despised by most. We are also required to wear seatblets in most states, and helmets on motorcycles as well.

In the U.S. it is NOT taboo to eat pig, though I suspect that would be offputting in Islmaic and Jewish areas.
It is also NOT taboo to show violence on TV, but I am not sure who would think otherwise elsewhere.

[GoreBag]

I can't speak on what is considered a 'Canadian taboo', even there is such a thing as some kind of uniformity among Canadians to constitute a cultural group.

As far as the metal community goes...short hair could be considered a taboo. Monotheism isn't popular much, either. There's a bit of a dress code and vulgarity is an everyday thing.

The more I think about this, though, the more I'm reminded that I'm also a culture of one, and that my views aren't necessarily common ones, but there's no real way for me to tell if they're from 'my' culture - how I think is how I think.

[Samurai Waki]

...cannibalism. Curse Humans for being so tasty, yet illegal to eat.

[Don Corleone]

Well, Mrs. Corleone has made it pretty damn clear that lap dances are taboo. Not sure if this qualifies as a cultural taboo, but I'm too terrified to think of the consequences.

Interesting question. I was raised by a 3rd gen Irish-American mother, and 2nd gen Italian-American father, both of whom grew up up in ethnic enclaves in Boston (Brookline and the North End, respectively).

The only real 'strange' taboos I grew up with were around the Catholic Church, and I've broken all of those. I think my parents 'respect' my choices, but they can't bring themselves to accept them, and constantly pray I'll leave my wicked Methodist ways behind and come home to the aristocracy. Not going to happen.

Only real taboo I can think of in my house was nudity. My parents were very free with colorful language (as am I, as Ser Clegnane can attest). But we were hardcore over on men only see men naked and women only see women naked. I changed in a pool cabana with my sister one time when I was 8 and my father spanked me right there in front of the whole pool party.

Oh, that's another one. Very Italian-American thing. I was very free in terms of what rules were laid upon me, but when I broke one, my Dad broke me. I was 16 and had no curfew.... My sister on the other hand (who was older) had a zillion rules, but at the end of the day, no hard consequences.

[Shahed]

Think about it. What would be offputting in your culture? Try and keep in mind your sub-culture as well. For example, smoking marijuana, although illegal, is taboo in U.S. Christian society, but not in U.S. libertarian or liberal circles. ALSO, try not to mention just what is taboo, but what is NOT taboo that you think would be in other countries!

Also, the FCC bans cursing and nudity on public airwaves and certain cable channels during specific hours...

Hmmm. Talking politics and religion in casual conversation with someone you just meet is also fairly taboo, unless it is in private and the gathering is related to the topic in some way.

Urinating and deficating in view of the public is certainly taboo, as is nudity of any sort. Public displays are mildly taboo, but same-sex PDA is totally taboo everywhere but gay communities.

If your are obese, you'll be stared at. Same thing goes if you are a man and dress like a woman (except in Los Angeles), are male and wear a thong while roller skating, etc. Cursing in public is generally frowned on everywhere except youth events where rebellion against adult tradition is "cool". Drunk driving is illegal and despised by most. We are also required to wear seatblets in most states, and helmets on motorcycles as well.

In the U.S. it is NOT taboo to eat pig, though I suspect that would be offputting in Islmaic and Jewish areas.
It is also NOT taboo to show violence on TV, but I am not sure who would think otherwise elsewhere.

What's the purpose of acquiring this knowledge ?

Once US soldiers knew that it's forbidden for Muslims to eat pork, they forced it on their prisoners. Knowing that homosexuality is forbidden, they forced homosexual acts on their prisoners. Once they knew that desecration of the Koran is a crime to Muslims, they desecrated it, flushing it down the toilet. They knew that destruction of holy places, graves, mosques is a crime, they did that too. They knew that Muslim women are only to reveal themselves to their families yet they routinely walk into homes where women are have no choice but to show themselves to the occupation soldiers. Then again how can one expect anything to be respected in war, specially when the Muslims themselves have lost all sense of morality.

You are a soldier are you not ?

I'm wary of discussing any such thing that it may be used in a dishonorable way to further the aims to brutality of the criminally insane.

[Don Corleone]

Yeah Sinan. Beheading civilians on videotape clearly shows just how one-sided this all is. Give me a break.

[Shahed]

Nobody said it was one sided, Capo.

Then again how can one expect anything to be respected in war, specially when the Muslims themselves have lost all sense of morality.

That's exactly the point each person is now willing to use the knowledge of the other's culture to hurt them.

[Don Corleone]

First, Capo is a 17 year old high school student in New Jersey. I am a 36 year old electrical engineer formerly in North Carolina, now New Hampshire. Please try to keep the differences (though, having been here for over 2 years, and 4K posts, I'm finding this a very odd explanation).

Second, Eclectic posted a topic about 'what strange taboos did you grow up with' and you come back with "Why, you're a western soldier and will use them to torture poor muslims" and you're asking why I think you have a chip on your shoulder?

Grow up and get a life.

[Incongruous]

Saying that All Black Dab Carter is not that good, i s a major Taboo over here and one which I frequently break.

[Big_John]

I'm wary of discussing any such thing that it may be used in a dishonorable way to further the aims to brutality of the criminally insane.

whoa, whoa, whoa! maybe E is just curious.. no need to start another 'us vs them' flame war. also, Sinan, your first post in this thread could be construed as implying that you believe E is fishing for torture methods, which i'm sure isn't your intention. but you might want to be more carful with your wording.

[Don Corleone]

Never mind. Pointless.

[Divinus Arma]

What's the purpose of acquiring this knowledge ?

Once US soldiers knew that it's forbidden for Muslims to eat pork, they forced it on their prisoners. Knowing that homosexuality is forbidden, they forced homosexual acts on their prisoners. Once they knew that desecration of the Koran is a crime to Muslims, they desecrated it, flushing it down the toilet. They knew that destruction of holy places, graves, mosques is a crime, they did that too. They knew that Muslim women are only to reveal themselves to their families yet they routinely walk into homes where women are have no choice but to show themselves to the occupation soldiers. Then again how can one expect anything to be respected in war, specially when the Muslims themselves have lost all sense of morality.

You are a soldier are you not ?

I'm wary of discussing any such thing that it may be used in a dishonorable way to further the aims to brutality of the criminally insane.

Woah. Easy. This isn't supposed to be political.

I just thought it would be interesting to learn about different cultural taboos, be you Asian, Russian, Dane, African, Moroccan, Venezuelan, Martian, or Klingon.

Please try and refrain from firebombing this innocent topic. I only posted it in the backroom because I knew there would be at least a slight potential for offense, so there was no need to share it with members-to-be.

Now let's go smoke a hookah and have a bit of tea. Peace here, my friend. Peace.

[lars573]

Think about it. What would be offputting in your culture? Try and keep in mind your sub-culture as well. For example, smoking marijuana, although illegal, is taboo in U.S. Christian society, but not in U.S. libertarian or liberal circles. ALSO, try not to mention just what is taboo, but what is NOT taboo that you think would be in other countries!

Well every Canada day (July 1st) the commons puts on Canabis day. Where in the confines of the Halifax commons (public out door recreational facilities in the downown core given to the people of Halifax by the crown for common use in purpetuity) you can toke-up and the police let it go. Vancover police let pot heads go about there buisness unmolested 24/7. Marijuana bars exist there. Vancover PD's position is "We got better things to do than arrest and process pot-heads. They don't really hurt anyone but themselfs."

Also, the FCC bans cursing and nudity on public airwaves and certain cable channels during specific hours...

The CRTC says that after 10 pm and before 4 am (local time natch) swearing and nudity (pron might be crossing the line) is perfectly fine on any channel on the dial is fine. Also all TV channels (and radio stations) have to broadcast 33% Canadian content.

Hmmm. Talking politics and religion in casual conversation with someone you just meet is also fairly taboo, unless it is in private and the gathering is related to the topic in some way.

Not true here. While on my work term one of the guys would rant about anything that bothered him for 15 minutes at a streatch. Bush and Harper were his favorite subjects.

Urinating and deficating in view of the public is certainly taboo, as is nudity of any sort. Public displays are mildly taboo, but same-sex PDA is totally taboo everywhere but gay communities.

This is a family thing. but my dad if he really needs to tinkle will park the jeep open the door get in the angle it forms face it and whip it out and let fly. I'm waaaaay to paranoid to evacuate in public though. More polite sectors would frown on public evacuation. PDA are perfectly fine, although schools will frown on them. Same-sex PDA are not really taboo. Ever since they got the right to marry they don't care who sees any more.

your are obese, you'll be stared at. Same thing goes if you are a man and dress like a woman (except in Los Angeles), are male and wear a thong while roller skating, etc. Cursing in public is generally frowned on everywhere except youth events where rebellion against adult tradition is "cool". Drunk driving is illegal and despised by most. We are also required to wear seatblets in most states, and helmets on motorcycles as well.

I see enough obese people and cross-dressers that I don't give it much mind. Cursing in public. No one cares, and if they really do they ask you to tone it down. Drunk driving is the same here. Given that all laws (anything set by a provincial or municipal government is a by-law or regulation) are federal here seat belts and helmets are mandatory across the nation.

It is also NOT taboo to show violence on TV, but I am not sure who would think otherwise elsewhere.

Not sure if the violence level shown in native productions is different.