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“Shoes on or off?”, you might wonder stepping into someone’s house. Well, it depends on where that house is located: if it’s somewhere in the US, for instance, walking inside with outside shoes might not be that big of a deal, but doing that in Japan is likely to be frowned upon.
This is just one example of how the same situation might be viewed very differently in different locations; and there sure are many more. Members of the ‘Ask Reddit’ community recently discussed such situations, after one of them asked netizens what is considered a taboo in their country but absolutely fine elsewhere. If you’re eager to learn something that might be good to remember when visiting one country or another, scroll down to find redditors’ answers on the list below, and feel free to share what are some things considered taboo in your own country in the comments.
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#2
In Alaska you can be put in a phone registry to go and pick up a road kill moose off the side of the road. This is considered a super lucky phone call as even the worst road kill moose has 100’s of pounds of good meat. Everyone is normally stoked for you if you get this call also and if during the day time people will normally honk and cheer driving past you getting the dead moose. I never realized the weirdness of all of this till explaining the excitement of road kill moose to some friends in San Diego. .
#3
Sitting on a desk or table. In Maori culture it's insulting to plonk your a**e on a surface where food might be prepared.
Some things in the world are pretty universal, that’s true. However, one can’t argue that most things we say, do, or experience differ not only with each country but with each region or household, even; what is completely normal in one might be considered out of line in another.
Such out-of-line things are usually considered taboo – “a subject, word, or action that is avoided for religious or social reasons”, as dictionaries describe it. And they can relate to any and every thing there is, from food to periods, and beyond. According to the person who started the thread, redditor ‘Auelogic’, even such a seemingly humdrum thing as chewing gum can be a taboo in certain places.
#4
Universal healthcare
Tobias Reaper 1 month ago
I don't understand why so many yanks are opposed to this its nice to have to worry about how much it costs to go in an ambulance or get treated at hospital. Its absolutely scandalous how much you have to pay for things And health insurance being linked to you job that just takes the p**s.
#5
Not offering a cup of tea to anyone entering the home including servicemen.
In the UK not doing so is punishable by death.
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 1 month ago
I have black teas, yellow teas, green teas, purple teas, red read and more. if drink the teas in the correct order then later on in the day I am pissing a rainbow.
cerinamroth 1 month ago
A new spin on the Skittles slogan "p**s the rainbow!"
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Ace 1 month ago
I think by "servicemen" they mean tradespeople, like a plumber or a decorator. And yes, of course.
Steve Sharpe 1 month ago
Came here to say exactly that - servicemen and men who come to your house to provide a service are definitely *not* the same thing. Unless you lived in Ulster in what some call "the troubles" and others call OP BANNER that is. Although getting a brew on might not been at the top of your to do list at that point. Or so I've heard...
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Paul C. 1 month ago
I fitted a lounge carpet for a little old couple in a terrace house. Room was empty, took only an hour to do. At the end, lady said come through to the kitchen for tea and a snack. Walked through a back room that was floor to ceiling full of lounge furniture! In the kitchen there was enough sandwiches, cakes and biscuits, for about ten people. My apprentice and I ate as much as we could, then spent more time putting the furniture back than it did to fit the carpet. The poor couple must have spent hours clearing it, God love them.
Julie S 1 month ago (edited)
Definitely you've got to have something to do whilst waiting for the police.
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Certainly not Dan 1 month ago
The photo is of another beverage that is not tea. If you offered this to someone you’d have an awkward moment of them expecting milk to be offered, then if it wasn’t forthcoming an awkward but obvious drinking of the not tea drink with utter dispondance.
Gavin Johnson 1 month ago
Tea, coffee, Vimto and biscuits always available at my (English) house, biscuits vary, digestive, chocolate digestive, hobnobs, custard creams or on a bad day just malted milk.
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Matt Du 1 month ago
British as well and this is 100% `tongue in cheek` true. Can't remember a time I didn't put the kettle on for visitors. In fact it's the easiest way to show them, they are not welcome. I think @emma has taken it a bit to literal
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StrangeOne 1 month ago
If I have anyone over for more than 15 minutes, and I've got a brew going, I'm offering a cuppa. Don't care if it's a contractor, caretaker, family, friends, you name it. The only exception is solicitors and anyone bringing hostility in. Out with the lot of them.
“In my country, there are many minor taboos, like the idea that selling gum is frowned upon. This made me curious about what other taboos exist in different countries,” the OP told Bored Panda in a recent interview, sharing why they decided to ask this particular question.
Discussing the netizens’ answers, the OP shared that they were interesting to read, especially as they related to numerous different countries. “I’ve learned a lot from this,” they admitted.
#6
As an iranian, where do you want me to start?
#7
I just went to Germany for the first time (I’m from the US). My colleague (from Germany) went to grab me a glass for my beer and I said that I could just drink it from the bottle, and you could almost hear a pin drop when about 10 Germans spun around to stare at me. One of them said “….. wafflekween, that’s a WHEAT beer. It must be drank out of a glass!”.
#8
Child marriage (thank god).
It’s safe to assume that the redditor wasn’t the only one who learned new information while browsing the list, as while we might be well-familiar with things that are considered taboo in our country, we might also be completely oblivious to what we shouldn’t say or do elsewhere.
That’s because our morals and values, as well as our mindset, tend to be shaped—or at least, largely influenced—by the culture we find ourselves in. As one TED speaker put it, “We all see the world through cultural glasses.”
#9
Foraging or even walking through private land (“safe passage”) -
In many countries foraging on private property is quite acceptable if you are only taking small amounts, as well as safe passage (hiking through private property but not staying there).
But in the USA, even WALKING onto someone’s personal property without express permission can get you shot. And taking something?? Omfg you have a death wish.
Foraging isn’t permitted on most public lands either. “Take nothing, leave nothing,” is the rule.
Every European person I have told this to is stunned.
Simon Chen 1 month ago
Then this person has not been to germany yet. Walking trough someones garden here is not something normal. You will not get shot, most likely, but people are not very excited about it either. That is why we have fences and hedges....
#10
USA: eating horse meat. Apparently this is relatively common in France or Italy, but would be greeted by horror over here.
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 1 month ago
Used to be common in the UK. Gained popularity in WW2 as beef was rationed, horse meat wasn't. Also became unknowingly common not so long back when horse meat was found in Iceland beef lasagnes.
#11
Standing next to a stranger closer than 6 ft, unless the lack of space forces you to stand thay close.
(Google "Finnish bus stop".).
The aforementioned TED speaker, a cross-cultural expert and a rocket scientist, Julien S. Bourrelle, suggested that people tend to view the behavior or emotions of others through their own cultural glasses.
“The lens through which your brain sees the world shapes your reality,” he said, which explains why people might be surprised to find that something that seems completely normal to them is considered taboo in other places of the world.
That’s why lists as such can be not only fascinating, but useful, too, as not knowing that something is considered taboo when visiting a foreign country can create some rather awkward situations.
#12
Being gay
#13
Any kind of physical punishment for children. Maybe not exactly a taboo, rather downright illegal, but it’s shocking how normalised using physical punishment is in so many parts of the world.
Cammy Mack 1 month ago
For the right age, and the right temperament, there's absolutely no harm with a little swat on the bum. This is not beating, just light reinforcement. It is not always appropriate, though. Discipline takes many forms. Kids get away with murder these days.
#14
The word “c**t”. It’s a HUGE insult here in the US but it’s barely a swear in the UK and practically term of affection in Australia. (I might be stereotyping a little here though).
If you enjoy browsing content about cultural differences and life in different parts of the world, you might like this list of funny illustrations that depict the cultural differences between the East and the West, too. You might also want to consider viewing these stories about the biggest culture shocks people have ever encountered.
#15
Waltzing in someone's home wearing shoes.
LaserBrain 1 month ago
I grew up in Japan and I still find it mildly shocking if someone walks into a house with their outside shoes on.
#16
Any form of nudity shown in public. Americans sexualize everything, so nudity here is far more taboo than in France, for example.
Cathy Roberts 1 month ago
Which is dumb, right? It's a human body. We were all assigned one at birth.
#17
Mowing your lawn or other noisy activities on a Sunday.
#18
Being a bubbly positive person in eastern europe = you're crazy and delusional and lots of red flags
being not bubbly positive person in USA = something is wrong with him avoid him.
#20
Not exclusive to my country, Sweden, but we have draconic d**g laws here.
You can be dead drunk in the streets and ppl won’t bat an eye, but if you smoke weed you’re treated as criminal.
Hans Georg 1 month ago
We legalized weed in Germany. I do not care about people smoking weed, but the smell is awful and does not belong in public places or on playgrounds.
#21
Men who are friends or family casually holding hands in public. It'll never happen here.
I notice it's very common in the Middle East India, and Egypt. It's a safety thing as I understand and how to get across insane streets.
Cathy Roberts 1 month ago
Love it and wish it were a thing in the US, rather than the toxic masculinity.
#22
Children being naked.
In the US, people would lose their s**t and call CPS over a young child not wearing clothes in their back yard or on the beach. In Europe, it’s considered pretty standard for
#23
In my country, discussing mental health openly is taboo, but accepted elsewhere.
#25
Belgium: call them “French fries” and get effed up!
(Also: there is no such thing is as “a Belgian waffle”. You are likely referring to a Brussels waffle and not knowing there are quite a lot of different kind of waffles in Belgium.).
Gavin Johnson 1 month ago
I met a Belgian who loved to talk, you should’ve heard that Belgian Waffle……
#26
Talking to a stranger on public transport.
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 1 month ago
I read books on public transport. A sign meaning leave me alone. People still ask me what I am reading, then go on to tell me their life story.
#27
Abortion, divorce, not "paying back" your parents even when they were deadbeat.
Pandarosa 1 month ago
In Australia, it's becoming increasingly clear that even though a hospital or clinic may say they provide abortions, privately the board members/leadership will cancel or withhold the service because of their personal beliefs. It's a huge issue that is only now being covered in the news.
#29
Public displays of affection are taboo here, but normal elsewhere.
#30
Celebrating your birthday before its actually your birthday.
What do you think ?
Paul Rabit 1 month ago
This would have been a better article if they specified the country of the taboo in question.
Ellinor 1 month ago
Best way to not be hated in France : When you enter a room, say "Bonjour". It doesn't have to be to each person, but in general. And in waiting rooms, we don't do small talk. We say "Bonjour", go sit, and sh*t up.
Alexandra 1 month ago
And if you don't, they will tell you you should in no uncertain terms, Seen it happen. It was humiliating, on both sides.
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Júlia Fortes 1 month ago
In my country if you make eye contact with someone (even if its a stranger) you need to smile and nod (kinda like a way of saying good morning/afternoon/evening without saying it), its considered rude if you dont And also, if you're waiting in the crosswalk and a car lets you pass, you need to raise your hand to say thank (also valid if you're inside the car in a crossroad)
David Beaulieu 1 month ago
I was thinking of starting a website that just farms reddit for content. You find posts and then you just pretend they are your site's content. But that is frowned upon where I live.
Katie Allen 1 month ago
Some guy from the middle east asked me right after he met me why I wasn't married. I told him that question is considered rude in the US. His IMMEDIATE response was to ask me again.
Paul Rabit 1 month ago
This would have been a better article if they specified the country of the taboo in question.
Ellinor 1 month ago
Best way to not be hated in France : When you enter a room, say "Bonjour". It doesn't have to be to each person, but in general. And in waiting rooms, we don't do small talk. We say "Bonjour", go sit, and sh*t up.
Alexandra 1 month ago
And if you don't, they will tell you you should in no uncertain terms, Seen it happen. It was humiliating, on both sides.
Load More Replies... Júlia Fortes 1 month ago
In my country if you make eye contact with someone (even if its a stranger) you need to smile and nod (kinda like a way of saying good morning/afternoon/evening without saying it), its considered rude if you dont And also, if you're waiting in the crosswalk and a car lets you pass, you need to raise your hand to say thank (also valid if you're inside the car in a crossroad)
David Beaulieu 1 month ago
I was thinking of starting a website that just farms reddit for content. You find posts and then you just pretend they are your site's content. But that is frowned upon where I live.
Katie Allen 1 month ago
Some guy from the middle east asked me right after he met me why I wasn't married. I told him that question is considered rude in the US. His IMMEDIATE response was to ask me again.
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