Why is going barefoot considered rude or offensive?
Yes, some people may frown on it (or worse) but most people aren't bothered at all. Some people simply get upset by anything that departs from what they consider normal, or more narrowly, what they themselves might normally do, or want to do. To some people your choice to go barefoot looks like a direct challenge to their own choice to wear shoes. They come up with all sorts of 'reasons' why you should wear shoes like everybody else does (and like they do). Some are so bothered by your choice that they are even willing to make up lies about imaginary "laws" or "health regulations" against bare feet. Ignore it. You're the one who has chosen to stand up for your own freedom to make your own choices, and in doing so stand up for everyone else's freedom to make their own choices. As to the "reasons" you shouldn't go barefoot: *** Feet do _not_ smell unless they have been encased in shoes. Any other body part confined the way shoes confine feet would acquire the same bad smell that people who wear shoes associate with their own feet, and, by false extension, with yours. Feet left bare do not have any more odor than hands do. *** Your bare feet are not likely to be any dirtier than their shoes. In fact you, being barefoot, are likely to be as aware of your feet as you are of your hands, and thus likely to be far more careful of what you step in than they are. If anybody tracked in anything really nasty it's a pretty safe bet it was somebody who was totally unaware of it because they were wearing shoes. *** It's no more unsafe for you to go barefoot than it is for your cat or your dog to do so.
What sort of clothing may be considered offensive in Greece?
I am going to the Peloponnese in May but I won't be visiting tourist resorts. Because I am going to villages (and the suburbs of Athens and Corinth) I need to know what may be considered offensive or not. My main casual clothes appropriate to the weather are generally ¾ length shorts (i.e. trousers cut off below the knee), football (soccer) shirts with England and Plymouth Argyle on, leather shoes, snow boots (sounds silly but I do plan to do a lot of walking) and worn in trainers/sandals. I suppose my question is this, what are the yes's and no's of casual fashion in Greece, to stay on the right side of the populace, the police and the terrain?
Would it be considered offensive to a Sikh if a non-Sikh wore a turban?
Yes and No, NO, I won't be offended, because there are many cultures, where turban is a daily wear. like in Iran, Afghanistan, Chaudhries, Raajputs, and many more. Turban is also wear by the head of family or village (Sarpanch). turban is a Sign of Pride and Respect, every human being has a right to wear, and yes including women. In fact I will feel proud to see a youth of india to get back to their turban roots, as we had before Mughals. Mughals banned turbans, horse ridding by common man and speaking any Indian language and keeping swords. I take a great pride wearing it two times a day (one in the morning, and one after office), So i feel good when i see a youth taking very good care of his turban and wear it like a art.Yes, I'll be offended, when people will try to wear it as a fashion gear only. cos in Sikhism you are not wearing just a 7.5 Mtr cloth around your head, you are wear your respect towards your Mother, Father, Sisters, The Guru, The Martyrs (Shaheeds) and the Brother hood. Doing a wrong deed is out of the question then. Following things makes me angry:1. Keeping Turban with bunch other sweaty/dirty clothes.2. Turban touching the floor, or anyone's feet. Your head should not bow to anyone but GOD and parents.3. Tossing it, when not wearing.4. Wearing like a Cap, Taking it of like a CapThanks A2A
Am I being offensive?
I recently posted (and deleted) a post about 'Native Americans'. I mentioned that I was fascinated by them, as weird as it sounds. I said I liked their fashion I do not mean what people mistaken as Native American fashion nowadays, I mean their headdresses etc. I had asked for a title for a set of personal rules related to Native Americans (long story), and I got some horrible and explicit feedback. I had basically asked because I had read the book Raspberry Rules, and she had chosen raspberry because she loved the food and colour, and I wanted to do the same. I was not trying to offend anyone, I wasn't acting like a know-it-all, because all my knowledge is from books, movies etc. and I wasn't trying to use it as a fashion statement or anything. As I said, I got some pretty horrible feedback, and to be honest, I'm only fourteen, so I don't really have a lot of knowledge on it. Was I out of line? I feel really bad...
Do you encourage men wearing womens’ clothes?
I don’t discourage it. If a man knows he likes something but is caught up in the fact they came from the women’s section of the shop I will encourage him to buy them. If he asks for my opinion I try to give the most honest opinion I can without being offensive or rude.I myself love women’s jeans. My main two pairs of jeans came from the women’s section of the shop. I have never had anyone judge me actually I have had women checking me out way more since I started wearing more fitted jeans. I have had women checking me out reasonably often. I was unsure myself to start with but I have become more and more comfortable with it until I realised that my fear of being judged really was just in my head.Sorry women if you can’t find that pair of jeans you want in the shop I have probably bought them. LOL, lets just call it pay back for all the women that raid the men’s section in the shops. Actually I am not sorry not one bit haha :P :)Anyway to answer your question if the man wants to wear something and it looks fine on him and he is just hung up on the fact it was made for women I encourage him to buy it.
Is it offensive for Indians to wear their swastika in the West?
( Disclaimer : It's a long answer . I plead you to read the whole answer. If you don't have time then do please read the description of the nazi symbol)First , do you note some difference between the swastika and the nazi symbol :Image Credits : GoogleI will return to this question shortly. First I will give the description of both the symbols.Swastika :The Swastika is an ancient religious symbol originating from the Indian subcontinent, that generally takes the form of an equilateral cross with four legs each bent at 90 degrees.It is considered to be a sacred and auspicious symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism and dates back at least 11,000 years.Swastika in Sanskrit means any lucky or auspicious object, and in particular a mark made on persons and things to denote auspiciousness, or any piece of lukck or well-being. It is composed of su, meaning "good, well" and asti, the third person singular of the verbal root as, "to be", meaning "it (he, she) is". The phrase swasti therefore means "it/he/she is good". The two words spoken together become "swasti" through sandhi, a process by which sounds modify other sounds spoken close to them. The expression "swasti" is used as a word on its own, meaning good health or good fortune. The added suffix ka forms an abstract noun, and swastika might thus be translated literally as "that which is associated with well-being", corresponding to "thing that is auspicious" or "lucky charm".Credits : https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/...Nazi symbol :It is an adapted form of the Swastika symbol. Here the word adapted is important because it is not exactly the same as the Swastika symbol. It is a tilted Swastika . Hitler chose this sign because he knew that Swastika was considered sacred and it stood for non- violence in the east therefore he chose the tilted swastika which would represent the opposite meaning of the Swastika symbol i.e. violence.Nazi symbol credits : MyselfSo you must have understood that it is not an offense to wear swastika in the West. People don't understand the difference between a tilted swastika and an erect swastika . They get confused . This is the same reason why people in the West confuse between Sikhs and Muslims. Muslims don't have moustaches . They only have beards . While Sikhs have both.
Is it considered culturally appropriative to get henna tattoos done if you are not Indian?
Contrary to what seems like most of the answers on this page, getting your henna done is cultural appropriation. Eating Biryani actually has no immediate significance to Pakistani and Hindi culture because you are not reinforcing racism that has systemically oppressed Pakistani and Indian people for years. Unfortunately that makes Siddharth Pathak’s argument invalid, as there is no comparison there. Though he stated many people’s foundation on this appropriation just fine: “The claim is that henna tattoos being used by white Americans is disrespectful to Indian culture as it appropriates a key part of "culture" without doing anything to increase awareness about the cultural significance of henna.” This is true. You see someone (who is not Indian, Pakistani, Middle Eastern, etc.) wearing Henna on the street; they probably have no idea of the religious and cultural significance that occurs in wearing Henna. They have no idea of the symbols of love and beauty that have been prescribed into their hands. The same white people who had once mocked Indians and Pakistanis for wearing henna, who held prejudice against them, who showed disdain and a lack of understanding for the culture, now find it beautiful and are willing to wear the henna to further their own beauty is quite hypocritical. This shows that Western culture finds something beautiful only when it is worn by white people, not by Indian, Pakistani, or Middle Eastern people. When people of non-western descent wear something that is culturally significant to them, it is disgusting, but when a white person wears it, it is trendy and fashionably and gorgeous. This is why it is cultural appropriation. I understand that many people of Indian and Pakistani background might be okay with you or anyone else wearing it, but you need to do what is right. The right thing to do is not to wear it.
Why is it an offence to wear camouflage clothing in St.Lucia?
It's got nothing to do with "rebel terrorists".... In many countries, not just countries in the Carib, "Camo" is considered to be a military uniform...not a "fashion statement" like in some other countries. (It would be somewhat like walking around in the U.S. in full military dress clothing..without actually being in the armed forces) It is considered not only rude and disrespectful, but also looked at as "lying" or kind of like "impersonating an officer".