I have some lingering nervousness about posting anything on this account - fear and shame around taboo violations. I think I'll use this as an opportunity to delve into the nature of taboos, in particular sex taboos.
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First, what is a taboo? A taboo is something a society forbids through implicit social norms. Interestingly, taboo is stolen from pacific languages, meaning not just forbidden, unclean, and cursed, but also *holy*. So far as etymology reflects reality, this is interesting.pic.twitter.com/P9a6zfJ85y
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Obviously, sex in full generality can't be taboo. You have to make babies somehow. Specific acts usually are, though, depending on culture: incest, bestiality, homosexuality, etc. But talking openly about sex is awkward, embarrassing, and discouraged, at least in modern society
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I recall an anecdote about Chinese parents gifting newlyweds with a block carving describing how to have sex so they didn't have to have The Talk. (Not modern China, I want to say this was ~1000 years ago, but I really don't know.)
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This chart by
@Aella_Girl is interesting - it implies that generally people are more willing to taboo things that don't interest them. Taboos as weapons to point at your enemies?pic.twitter.com/l1hOa3MIER
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super-taboo things are usually pretty gross or harmful look at the bottom right corner this probably makes them better weapons though, you just have to lie about your enemies
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