Give an example to illustrate how the idea of what is taboos changes with time
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Hey everyone. I just wanted to know what you thought of the "taboos of society". How much are you dictated by what the rest of society does?
I was wondering why does the majority of a particular culture, nation etc dictate rules? And why is something "taboo" in one culture, and not another? Why is something "taboo" in one time and not another? And why should we be following others? Why is it that some elements of society can cast off their taboos and others can't?
I personally think that a lot of this notion of "society's taboos" is nonsense. Once upon a time, women did not even have the right to vote. Some women took it upon themselves to challenge this "taboo" and gain the right to vote and equality. Nowadays, it is "taboo" for women not to vote or not be considered equal. This is an example of how taboos change.
I've had a debate with another poster here on this forum, regarding gender distinctions in clothing. Again, women once did not wear pants/slacks. That was once "taboo". Now, women wear pants and jeans and ties and boots and everything men wear. Just who makes all the rules and says that this is taboo and this is not, and this is taboo for this time and this is not taboo anymore?
Also, for those who slavishly believe in submitting to society's "taboos", that also means that they shouldn't engage in anything that is unconventional either. You know, just to be on the safe side. If you're a woman, then you shouldn't be a mechanic or truck driver. If you're a man, don't do ballet. Be consistent, if you believe that the rest of society dictates your every move, then listen to what society is telling you and follow it to the letter of the law.
I personally believe that the only real "taboos" are what I would call human taboos-not society taboos. That is, real and not imaginary taboos that apply to all periods in human history, and for all cultures and nations.
Real taboos are not abusing children, not engaging in incestual relationships, not practising slavery, not allowing children to work like an adult etc, not state legislated murder, (eg, Stalin and Hitler). The reason why I say this is that I've been commented on from another poster which made me think. I said in another thread that I (a male) have been wearing support hosiery for leg and circulation problems. In relation to psychology, another poster said that this was "not breaking any societal taboo". However, this poster added, that if I wore any form of hosiery, tights etc "for fun", (hey, you never got back to me what you meant by that and I'm still confused!), then psychology could investigate that, as it was "breaking a societal taboo".
That made me think. What is the difference between unconventional and taboo? Are the 2 the same or different? To clarify, I don't go running around in hose "for fun". However, I came to the conclusion, that even if a male did wear for the heck of wearing, that is not a legitimate "taboo". It is merely unconventional and unorthodox, relative to the society around him. How can it be a real "taboo" when men wore stockings centuries ago? So you're telling me that something is "taboo" based on other people only, and that can change and shift in different times and from culture to culture?
There is "unconventional" and there is "taboo". Don't confuse the 2.
You may call it a taboo, but just because you say it doesn't make it so. I've recently been apologised to from another poster on CF for personally attacking me for my affiliation with Black Sabbath, in my username, avatar and signature. If I listened to everyone else, I'd have to throw away all my Sabbath cds, let alone change my name etc. Why should I change based on the ideas of others? Black Sabbath is "taboo" for some other Christians, but that doesn't mean it's actually taboo.
Conversely, all manner of evil can be considered "normal" or "acceptable" or "appropriate" just because it is practised in the rest of society. Was rounding up Jews and putting them in the concentration camps "taboo" in Nazi Germany? No! Why? Because of the rest of "society". Can you not see how all this classification of something as either taboo or acceptable is ridiculous, based on the society around you?
These imaginary "taboos" I laugh at. If something is a real taboo, it will not change in any time in human history or from culture to culture. It will either be "taboo" always or never. A real taboo is something that harms someone else or yourself.
I was wondering why does the majority of a particular culture, nation etc dictate rules? And why is something "taboo" in one culture, and not another? Why is something "taboo" in one time and not another? And why should we be following others? Why is it that some elements of society can cast off their taboos and others can't?
I personally think that a lot of this notion of "society's taboos" is nonsense. Once upon a time, women did not even have the right to vote. Some women took it upon themselves to challenge this "taboo" and gain the right to vote and equality. Nowadays, it is "taboo" for women not to vote or not be considered equal. This is an example of how taboos change.
I've had a debate with another poster here on this forum, regarding gender distinctions in clothing. Again, women once did not wear pants/slacks. That was once "taboo". Now, women wear pants and jeans and ties and boots and everything men wear. Just who makes all the rules and says that this is taboo and this is not, and this is taboo for this time and this is not taboo anymore?
Also, for those who slavishly believe in submitting to society's "taboos", that also means that they shouldn't engage in anything that is unconventional either. You know, just to be on the safe side. If you're a woman, then you shouldn't be a mechanic or truck driver. If you're a man, don't do ballet. Be consistent, if you believe that the rest of society dictates your every move, then listen to what society is telling you and follow it to the letter of the law.
I personally believe that the only real "taboos" are what I would call human taboos-not society taboos. That is, real and not imaginary taboos that apply to all periods in human history, and for all cultures and nations.
Real taboos are not abusing children, not engaging in incestual relationships, not practising slavery, not allowing children to work like an adult etc, not state legislated murder, (eg, Stalin and Hitler). The reason why I say this is that I've been commented on from another poster which made me think. I said in another thread that I (a male) have been wearing support hosiery for leg and circulation problems. In relation to psychology, another poster said that this was "not breaking any societal taboo". However, this poster added, that if I wore any form of hosiery, tights etc "for fun", (hey, you never got back to me what you meant by that and I'm still confused!), then psychology could investigate that, as it was "breaking a societal taboo".
That made me think. What is the difference between unconventional and taboo? Are the 2 the same or different? To clarify, I don't go running around in hose "for fun". However, I came to the conclusion, that even if a male did wear for the heck of wearing, that is not a legitimate "taboo". It is merely unconventional and unorthodox, relative to the society around him. How can it be a real "taboo" when men wore stockings centuries ago? So you're telling me that something is "taboo" based on other people only, and that can change and shift in different times and from culture to culture?
There is "unconventional" and there is "taboo". Don't confuse the 2.
You may call it a taboo, but just because you say it doesn't make it so. I've recently been apologised to from another poster on CF for personally attacking me for my affiliation with Black Sabbath, in my username, avatar and signature. If I listened to everyone else, I'd have to throw away all my Sabbath cds, let alone change my name etc. Why should I change based on the ideas of others? Black Sabbath is "taboo" for some other Christians, but that doesn't mean it's actually taboo.
Conversely, all manner of evil can be considered "normal" or "acceptable" or "appropriate" just because it is practised in the rest of society. Was rounding up Jews and putting them in the concentration camps "taboo" in Nazi Germany? No! Why? Because of the rest of "society". Can you not see how all this classification of something as either taboo or acceptable is ridiculous, based on the society around you?
These imaginary "taboos" I laugh at. If something is a real taboo, it will not change in any time in human history or from culture to culture. It will either be "taboo" always or never. A real taboo is something that harms someone else or yourself.
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