On taboos, ways they are valid, and obligation to examine them

[raincrystal]

The ever-analytical eclective has written a piece on the function of perceptions and taboos that I think everyone should read. She points out why we should figure out the reasons for our discomfort with certain things. It's refreshing to see someone online discuss the idea of taboos (gah, I typoed that as "tabooks") without framing their entire argument by

Comments

[imperialmog]

What would be interesting is seeing how societal taboos change over time, especially if they alternate one way or the other on the same issue. One thing would also be is to try to figure out why someone has a particular taboo as well. It's hard since we are trying to explore who we are in all our possible biases and prejudices but self-anaylisis is an important step towards self-improvment.

A taboo I have is not so much a particular action, but more on where it is done. I have concernes about behavior in public while also thinking that as long as one doesn't infringe on rights of others, they should be free to do so. I just think that prudence would dictate that one should decide to do it somewhere else. That's why I note that maybe the idea of the "red light district" is good. It's where we all know where to get certain things, but also keeping a sence of decency *however that is* in public. I don't think it's hypocritical to differentiate between public and private actions, I see it as realist and a way of generally getting most of what people want.

[raincrystal]

One thing would also be is to try to figure out why someone has a particular taboo as well.

That's what eclective's argument was essentially about, I think... the idea that the taboos come from somewhere (argh... I wrote "tabooks" yet again.)

[imperialmog]

The taboos seem to most oftentimes comes from what enviroment your were raised in and the like. I got some real stressful things right now as well, like finals and being likely to have to take a class over too.

[raincrystal]

Oh, good luck-- I'm in finals week too.
Are you teaching/TAing?

[imperialmog]

Well I have one week of classes left and then finals. I don't do any teaching/TAing, actually this university doesn't have those. I just note I'll likely not pass Physics II and have to take it again next semester.

[raincrystal]

Oh, retake... I thought you meant "take over the class." Silly me. *has been reading too many grad school websites*

[imperialmog]

I won't likely get to grad school until after I'm in a job a couple of years. Mainly since I plan on moving to Florida and wait until after getting residency for cost reasons. That and the school I'm looking at won't have a program ready until around 2008. There is a large demand for enviromental engineers and what's good is I plan on getting loans paid off within 2 years since I took two years at a Comm. College and having a high starting salary. You'd be surprised at some of the research that is involved in this field as well.