Taboos

[LittleNipper]

Not always..way to make another great sweeping generalization.

Rules, as proverbs, are not to be considered 100% foolproof. They are to be understood as practical words of wisdom that have consideration merit.

 

[TheManeki]

One non-sexual taboo I'm glad appears to be on the way out is criticizing the Bush administration's invasion and conduct of the war in Iraq. Before, anyone who criticized things would be shut up by accusations of "not being a patriot" or "not supporting the troops" -- but fortunately, this is changing.

 

[psychedelicist]

i agree with the taboo about death. it is much too covered up in our society, and it's almost as if society would like you to believe that you will never die. this goes double for you nonsmokers who entertain this eternal life fantasy because they choose to not smoke (non smokers die every day too... have nice day) sorry for that rant, but i dont like health nuts telling me its such a better way of life, if they still die in the end.

and yes theres much too big of a fuss about homo-, bi-, and trans-sexuality. i just cant see the problem that everyone is so worked up about... but maybe im just wired too sensibly.

 

[Aeris]

i think all taboos should go, i dont really consider rape and molesting children a "taboo" because they actually hurt someone, but things dont hurt people (that really are only taboo because some people are uncomfortable talking about) that people make up "nicer" words for or avoid talking about all together, obviously there are times when certain subjects are inappropriate, such as talking about sex in front of children, but i dont think that things like sex should be avoided all together or thought to be something to be ashamed of.

 

[firefinger2]

and yes theres much too big of a fuss about homo-, bi-, and trans-sexuality. i just cant see the problem that everyone is so worked up about... but maybe im just wired too sensibly.

Word. It doesn't matter. You are who you are, and nothing can change that.

Also, the "shame" of reporting sex crimes - or, well, any crime - should not be considered taboo.

 

[sparklecat]

Here's one: what about consensual, adult incest?

 

[TheManeki]

Here's one: what about consensual, adult incest?

Interesting you bring that up, sparklecat. You're reminding me of the excellent science fiction short story "If all men were brothers, would you let one marry your sister?" written by Theodore Sturgeon in the late 1960s. The ostensible subject of the story is a planet named Vexvelt where consensual, adult incest is considered natural. But the underlying theme is how this subject is such a taboo to the other civilizations that they pretend the planet doesn't exist. It's a great story, and I recommend it to everybody who has been interested in this thread.

The excerpt below is a conversation between one inhabitant of the planet Vexvelt and an off-planet visitor who was shocked by their practice of incest:

"What's really wrong with it?"

"You breed too close, you get faulty offspring. Idiots and dead babies without heads and all that."

"I knew it! I knew it!" crowed the big Vexveltian. "Isn't it wonderful? From the rocky depths of a Stone Age culture through all the brocades and knee-breeches sort of grand opera civilizations all the way out to the computer technocracies, where they graft electrodes into their heads and shunt their thinking into a box -- you ask that question and you get that answer. It's something everybody knows. You don't have to look at the evidence."

"Where do you go for evidence?"

"To dinner, for one place, where you'll eat idiot pig or feeble-minded cow. Any livestock breeder will tell you that, once you have a strain you want to keep and develop, you breed father to daughter and to granddaughter, and then brother to sister. You'll keep that up indefinitely until the desired trait shows up recessive, and you stop it there. But it might never show up recessive. In any case, it's rare indeed when anything goes wrong in the very first generation; but you in the bar, there, you're totally convinced that it will. And are you prepared to say that every [mentally challenged person (edited to get through the filter-TM)] is the product of an incestuous union? You'd better not, or you'll hurt the feelings of some pretty nice people. That's a tragedy that can happen to anybody, and I doubt there's any more chance of it between related parents than there is with anyone else."

 

[MrAtheist]

The biggest one I'd like to see gone is the taboo of not respecting other peoples faiths (primarily the whole mess over the pictures of Mohammad, why should a person of another faith be bound by the rules of another persons religion?) Open discussion and criticism of religion seems to be a taboo subject in general, and culturally I think that needs to change.

 

[MrAtheist]

Here's one: what about consensual, adult incest?

I actually have known a couple (cousins) that had a successful life together for a very long time. The danger comes in the form of producing children and that's where I think the consenting adults need to be mature enough to know that producing children could be detrimental to the children. Do what they want with their own lives, but don't bring all the potential risks upon another person.

 

[gwenmead]

Taboos against women's sexuality need to go. Especially taboos against women having sex for pleasure, or financial gain.

Oh - and taboos against talking about money. That's another one.

 

[cantata]

Here's one: what about consensual, adult incest?

That's a taboo that definitely needs to go.

And I wholly second gwenmead with regard to female sexuality. We have a ridiculous double standard with regard to women's sexuality which definitely needs to be addressed.

 

[TheManeki]

This is is turning into a pretty interesting thread so far. Great work, folks!

Can anybody think of a subject that needs to stay taboo or should become taboo? I sure can't -- I don't see the advantages of forbidding discussion altogether on a particular subject -- but maybe that's because I haven't finished my morning coffee. *Yawn!*

 

[gwenmead]

Taboo as in it shouldn't ever be allowed, or taboo as in nobody should ever talk about it if it happens?

 

[TheManeki]

Whichever you prefer.

I was thinking more along the lines of taboo subjects being something about which discussion is prohibited, but a quick check of the dictionary shows me that taboos can also relate to actions as well.

 

[sparklecat]

I don't think there should be any taboo subjects, no.

 

[RangerJoe]

One non-sexual taboo I'm glad appears to be on the way out is criticizing the Bush administration's invasion and conduct of the war in Iraq. Before, anyone who criticized things would be shut up by accusations of "not being a patriot" or "not supporting the troops" -- but fortunately, this is changing.

Especially since the troops are starting to criticize the situation. Ya can't call a solider/marine/airman/sailor unpatrotic. However, you will notice the majority of the people who dish out that term have either A) never served or B) dodged draft when they were called

A lot of others, including myself, have taken a bullet for the cause and were critical before hand.

 

[RangerJoe]

Taboos against women's sexuality need to go. Especially taboos against women having sex for pleasure, or financial gain.

Oh - and taboos against talking about money. That's another one.

Yep. The whole concept of men sowing their oats and women being harlots is rediculous.

If a woman enjoys sex then so be it. Heck...It's a pretty enjoyable experience when done correctly. Men shouldn't be the only ones to enjoy it freely.

And as far as money goes...Everything is a form of prostitution in some way. Dinner and a movie?

If I could get people to pay me for sex I'd do it in a heart beat

I give this post a resounding, "Hooah!"

 

[stan1980]

If I could get people to pay me for sex I'd do it in a heart beat

I give this post a resounding, "Hooah!"

You're imagining though, that the people that would pay you for sex are going to be supermodels.

A girl i knew at uni was an escort, and i jokingly asked if i could get any work. When she said she'd ask i said don't worry about it, but she asked anyway and got me a job. So anyway i had to get suited up and meet this, shall we say mature, lady for a meal. I could not get out of there fast enough, she asked me if i was ok, and i said i was ill. I thought everyone was staring, when they probably just thought i was having a meal with my grandma. Needless to say i didn't work again. Happy days.

 

[CCGirl]

All vice laws should go. Across the board.

 

[CCGirl]

A touch OT; what legitimate reason is there for more powerful countries to not cripple and destroy the Saudi Government and replace it with a puppet? Or do we only do that when we stand to gain monetarily?

The saudi government is already a puppet govt.