What do you think are the most taboo subjects in America today? (think of your answer before hitting the link, so you aren't biased by my thoughts!) ( notes )
I would add: depression loneliness any lifestyle that involves less than a 40 hr work week (unless you're rich, then exempt) being rich homelessness alternative medicine (being taken seriously) the inconvenience of children (which manifests the overuse and abuse of "ADD" drugs) anyone who doesn't get As and Bs in the school system illegal substances
Good ones! Esp the inconvenience of having children. I have two girlfriends who will admit to me that they never meant to have kids and only had them because they got pregnant and refused to abort or give up the child. Both did a pretty darned good job of mothering compared to may who supposedly wanted and planned to have children. And then the sacrifices....these things are not discussed publicly.
I was agreeing until you got to religion, then I realized that it's not a subject I'd even think of around the religious. So now I'm not sure. I'm willing to defend my stance that I don't believe in any god, but not so keen to upset others.
TABOO - My personal opinions, before reading your thoughts, on subjects I believe to be taboo in American culture.
alcoholism/drug addiction socialism incest (this one is pretty much universal) religion - meaning it is taboo to consider other religions than your own, if you belong to one
It is difficult to draw the line between what is taboo and what is deviant behavior. My understanding is that taboo behavior is shunned or absolutely not tolerated by all groups - deviant and non-deviant alike, and deviance is variation from societal norms.
Thanks for your thoughts. Hmmm interesting distinction to try to draw, between taboo and deviance. Both are socially/culturally delineated. Many things that are deviant are taboo. Not all things that are taboo are deviant---such as going to the bathroom, or just plain old nudity...yes I see....pardon my thinking out loud.
Taboo behavior is not so much shunned as it is closeted. We all poop, but here in American, there is no discussion of poo. This is different in Europe, and elsewhere. ...
Awesome brainstorm, thank you! And another interesting distinction, between taboo and stigma. Taboo seems to be all about morality, and stigma is what you get when someone thinks that you've been immoral and that's why you've got a problem. So they're related.
I'm mulling on these levels of tabooness (new word). For example, it seems taboo to BE homeless/mentally ill/HIV positive, but it's not taboo to talk about someone ELSE being that way. I think the "forbidden" definition is incomplete.
If you ask your HIV+ clients what THEY think is taboo, I'd be psyched to hear about that.
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depression
loneliness
any lifestyle that involves less than a 40 hr work week (unless you're rich, then exempt)
being rich
homelessness
alternative medicine (being taken seriously)
the inconvenience of children (which manifests the overuse and abuse of "ADD" drugs)
anyone who doesn't get As and Bs in the school system
illegal substances
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alcoholism/drug addiction
socialism
incest (this one is pretty much universal)
religion - meaning it is taboo to consider other religions than your own, if you belong to one
It is difficult to draw the line between what is taboo and what is deviant behavior. My understanding is that taboo behavior is shunned or absolutely not tolerated by all groups - deviant and non-deviant alike, and deviance is variation from societal norms.
Reply
Taboo behavior is not so much shunned as it is closeted. We all poop, but here in American, there is no discussion of poo. This is different in Europe, and elsewhere. ...
Reply
Reply
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I'm mulling on these levels of tabooness (new word). For example, it seems taboo to BE homeless/mentally ill/HIV positive, but it's not taboo to talk about someone ELSE being that way. I think the "forbidden" definition is incomplete.
If you ask your HIV+ clients what THEY think is taboo, I'd be psyched to hear about that.
Reply
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