http://www.englishforums.com/English/CulturalAnecdotesSimilarities-Differences/Forum19.htmAll topics related to cultural interaction. Please register if you wish to post here.enXMOD (Build: 3615.39139)http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/3/cwqgp/Post.htm#850445Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:11:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:850445AaronAgassi0http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/3/cwqgp/Post.htm#850445http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments19-850445.xmlYou are not arguing, you are merely gainsaying. You have not backed up a single assertion of your own, nor actually countered any points of mine, much less researched the question.http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/3/cwqgp/Post.htm#849613Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:47:20 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:849613Ahmedali1111http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/3/cwqgp/Post.htm#849613http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments19-849613.xmlIts clear that weren’t getting anywhere with such debates; I’m standing upright on my feet and you’re standing on your head. You will never see things in their right places that way!http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/3/cwqgp/Post.htm#849401Thu, 06 Aug 2009 05:21:17 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:849401AaronAgassi2http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/3/cwqgp/Post.htm#849401http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments19-849401.xmlAhmedali111, history teaches us how human beings become jaded even to such horrors as poverty, oppression, plagues and corpses in the streets one the one hand, and even such blessings as life saving medicines, affluence and comfort on the other. By comparison, the entire range of sexual attitudes and practices are as nothing. Yet the empirical evidence overwhelmingly converges to the conclusion that more sexually open people are happier and healthier. So investigation of the Universe demands also to question all of your prejudicial bogus certainties to the contrary. Tolerance is among the blessings of social progress. By contrast, for example, forcing the native Hawaiians to exchange their grass skirts for muumuus was both criminal and...http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/3/cwqgp/Post.htm#848206Wed, 05 Aug 2009 10:16:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:848206Ahmedali1113http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/3/cwqgp/Post.htm#848206http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments19-848206.xmlAll the three (kindness, respect, responsibility) are included in what I mentioned above. You are free to adopt whatever point of view you’d prefer and apply the system that suits you most, but you have to regard others interests! Don’t forget the fact that culture is created by man, and it’s easy to destroy but harder to build; its easy to destroy ethics and delude people, but harder to build healthy attitude and inculcated high values and principles in new generations. I’m not deceiving people when I insist on the common attitude that certain activities might shock people if performed in public, a matter they already know; or when I call for modesty, for example. But those who advocate nudity or promiscuity, as another example, should...http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/3/cwqgp/Post.htm#847804Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:54:55 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:847804AaronAgassi4http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/3/cwqgp/Post.htm#847804http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments19-847804.xmlAhmedali111, to just ignore all that we know about the powerful mechanisms of culture and circumstances in shaping the individual, all that we have discovered about the genetics of the brain and encoding of experience, and simply to disregard all that has been discovered about entirely different cultures, and instead simply to assume that our own prevailing attitudes are innate, is merely provincial arrogance and failure of imagination, ignorance claiming monopoly upon truth. But look into this for yourself. Then again, sexuality does seem to entail a particular and special universal vulnerability, so that it is especially easy to shame people about their most natural and fundamentally innate desires for uplifting pleasure and...http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/3/cwqgp/Post.htm#847044Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:40:41 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:847044Clive5http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/3/cwqgp/Post.htm#847044http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments19-847044.xmlHi, Where I live, people who want to pray normally do so in church or at home. In most cases, praying in other, public places would be seen as odd. Best wishes, Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/3/cwqgp/Post.htm#847031Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:31:46 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:847031Ahmedali1116http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/3/cwqgp/Post.htm#847031http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments19-847031.xmlWhat I meant is clear: it is natural to feel embarrassed about sex in public as an intuitive sense and judgment; the same thing is true for getting rid of your body’s waste( sorry to broach a subject like this). Is it natural to do it in front of others? Could you blow or pick your nose before others without causing disgust and resentment????! Theses feeling are instinctive feelings. Till this day the majority is against these acts in public, but only God knows how things are going to change in the future. On the other hand, is it an embarrassing act to pray? To guide people to purity? To urge people to give many to charity? To discipline their children?http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/3/cwqgp/Post.htm#846953Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:22:39 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:846953AaronAgassi7http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/3/cwqgp/Post.htm#846953http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments19-846953.xmlLet's just be civil, and ask him what he meant.http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/2/cwqgp/Post.htm#846495Tue, 04 Aug 2009 05:20:49 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:846495Cool Breeze8http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/2/cwqgp/Post.htm#846495http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments19-846495.xmlActually, what he said was: "To consider religion a taboo subject but sex as something normal is quite against nature!" So, what he deems so unnatural, is a conjunction of two distinct conditions/attitudes. You are right, but I'm not sure he meant what he said! CBhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/2/cwqgp/Post.htm#846318Tue, 04 Aug 2009 02:26:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:846318AaronAgassi9http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/2/cwqgp/Post.htm#846318http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments19-846318.xmlActually, what he said was: "To consider religion a taboo subject but sex as something normal is quite against nature!" So, what he deems so unnatural, is a conjunction of two distinct conditions/attitudes.http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/2/cwqgp/Post.htm#846067Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:01:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:846067Cool Breeze10http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/2/cwqgp/Post.htm#846067http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments19-846067.xmlI didnt say sex is against nature in itself, No, actually this is what you said: "To consider religion a taboo subject but sex as something normal is quite against nature!" To consider sex as something normal is (quite) against nature (in itself). I would omit the words in parentheses as they sound a little unnatural and unnecessary to me. However, they add nothing important to the meaning of the sentence. What you said is: to consider sex normal is against nature. CBhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/2/cwqgp/Post.htm#845873Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:04:02 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:845873Ahmedali11111http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/2/cwqgp/Post.htm#845873http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments19-845873.xmlI didnt say sex is against nature in itself, but it is socially unacceptable to become a public activity as eating , drinking........ or practising your relgion.http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/2/cwqgp/Post.htm#845636Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:05:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:845636Cool Breeze12http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/2/cwqgp/Post.htm#845636http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments19-845636.xmlTo consider religion a taboo subject but sex as something normal is quite against nature! I consider neither subject taboo but I feel sorry for anyone who thinks sex isn't normal. Every time they go to bed with someone they think: "Damn it! Again I have to put up with this abnormalcy!" Everyone in a society like that is the result of abnormal action. (No wonder I consider so many exotic people a little weird!) CBhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/2/cwqgp/Post.htm#845618Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:48:43 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:845618AaronAgassi13http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/2/cwqgp/Post.htm#845618http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments19-845618.xmlNature Vs. Nurture? Surely all of that is actually cultural. Actually, some of us are perfectly proud of our sexuality, thank you. Rather, it's the antics of the religious extremists that often make one squeamish nowadays.http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/2/cwqgp/Post.htm#845490Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:24:49 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:845490Ahmedali11114http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/2/cwqgp/Post.htm#845490http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments19-845490.xmlTo consider religion a taboo subject but sex as something normal is quite against nature! look at those who practise their religion how proud they are when they are about it,and look at those who are having sex how they seek privacy and anxious not be seen.http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/2/cwqgp/Post.htm#842728Sat, 01 Aug 2009 07:38:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:842728aonlin15http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/2/cwqgp/Post.htm#842728http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments19-842728.xmlIn Thailand if this question ask before now 3-4 years maybe my answer is about sex but in this time I think it should be the politic topic because of politic problem in my country set people have been to 2 side and very differencs in opinion .. we don't talk about this in office , public place or maybe in family too if other in family be in opposite side . so if someone ask about this issue it made people uncomfortablehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/2/cwqgp/Post.htm#808764Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:05:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:808764Proto16http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/2/cwqgp/Post.htm#808764http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments19-808764.xmlIn Poland it is very rude to ask woman how ols she is. With regard to sex, we are rather promiscuous in this sphere of life (at least my generation is). We have no problem with talking about it if asked.http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/cwqgp/post.htm#808750Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:50:31 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:808750Clive17http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/cwqgp/post.htm#808750http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments19-808750.xmlHi, . . it is tactless to ask whom are you going to vote for, it might be awkward to both of you. In the culture I live in, I can think of lots of situations where this seems like good advice. Best wishes, Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/cwqgp/post.htm#808747Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:43:57 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:808747AaronAgassi18http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/cwqgp/post.htm#808747http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments19-808747.xmlAh, the flower of democracy, free discourse and healthy controversy!http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/cwqgp/post.htm#808589Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:15:50 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:808589Green Caterpillar19http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/cwqgp/post.htm#808589http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments19-808589.xmlIn Ukraine a lot of people don't like to talk about politics, in particular young people. We aren't indifferent to our government, but the discussion about parties and election campaigngs annoyes the majority of the people. Also it is tactless to ask whom are you going to vote for, it might be awkward to both of you.http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/cwqgp/post.htm#799826Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:24:51 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:799826Cool Breeze20http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/cwqgp/post.htm#799826http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments19-799826.xmlFor the UK, I'd have to say religion and money are taboo subjects - you can skirt around them but not get too seriously involved in discussing them as they are seen as very private matters. It's pretty much the same in Finland, at least as far as my generation is concerned. The young may act somewhat differently, though. I'm not sure. I never thought about it but I think very few people actually take an interest in other people's religious beliefs. This applies to Helsinki and other cities. Again, things may be different in some areas in the countryside where religion has a more prominent place in many people's lives.http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/cwqgp/post.htm#799643Sun, 28 Jun 2009 18:31:51 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:799643AaronAgassi21http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/cwqgp/post.htm#799643http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments19-799643.xmlAnonymous, I think that what makes proselytizers so obnoxious, is that being so dogmatic, really they are only preaching to the choir, and alienate themselves from everybody else, despite the pretense of loving outreach. Rarely do they show interest in the perspective of those they accost. And this seems somewhat hypocritical, not to mention simply antisocial and certainly not very persuasive. As for taboo topics of conversation, my cousin, a teacher by profession who writes about education, complains, bitterly, that democracy and autonomy are taboo, despite elaborate presences otherwise. My own experience is similar. Indeed, see if you can spot the taboo topics on my website at: (URL removed)http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/cwqgp/post.htm#344322Sat, 25 Apr 2009 06:49:45 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:344322Neversaynever22http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/cwqgp/post.htm#344322http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments19-344322.xmlIn Turkey, generally sex and money issues are considered as taboos..http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/cwqgp/post.htm#343525Sun, 25 Jan 2009 07:49:45 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:343525Anonymous23http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/cwqgp/post.htm#343525http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments19-343525.xmlGreetings Nona and Nyla, We all have our little quirks. In general, it is our choice what we decide to accept as apropriate topics for discusion. I think, in the US, we have become much more tolerant in the past 10 years or so. Much of our reluctance to accept certain things comes from the religious "Right", but I think their efforts are often misguided. I am a Christian, but I don't feel a responsability to stuff my ideals down everyone elses throat. The very basic foundations of Christianity are rooted in "spreading the news", and it is often hard for a Christian to resist the urge to spout off about it. I am a psychology student, and enjoy very much being able to learn more about other cultures. If nothing else, maybe we...http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/cwqgp/post.htm#211207Mon, 25 May 2009 06:49:45 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:211207Nyla24http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/cwqgp/post.htm#211207http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments19-211207.xmlHi Nona! In Italy we don't like to talk about sex,instead. As a matter of fact sex is often associate with sin,and is a taboo in itself,because of Catholic religion's heritage,I think.It's a very private matter for us,indeed when you say the word "sex",or everything is concerned with,you are whispering. (However,it depends in which region you are!) Religion:we don't have problem to talk about.The majority of italians are Catholics,and the Church is a very strong presence,so we discuss often about religion,moral,ethic,religion choices,etc. Money:it depends.Some people like sooo much to tell how much they earn every month,other people,instead,feel really unconfortable when you ask what is their economic situation. Best regards!http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/cwqgp/post.htmWed, 25 Feb 2009 07:49:45 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:211087nona the brit25http://www.englishforums.com/English/TabooTopicsOfConversation/cwqgp/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments19-211087.xmlWhat are the topics of conversation that make people in your culture uncomfortable? What topics do you discuss that might be difficult in other cultures? For the UK, I'd have to say religion and money are taboo subjects - you can skirt around them but not get too seriously involved in discussing them as they are seen as very private matters. Yesterday I met someone from another culture who kept pushing and pushing me to tell him how much I earn - and couldn't understand why I was so reluctant to do so. I know that in his culture it's a perfectly valid topic of conversation so I tried just politely fobbing him off but he wouldn't take no for an answer. In the end I exploded "I'm English and we don't talk about money.There is no way I'm...