What are examples of things that are highly offensive/emotive in another culture that I could be ignorant about?

[bedunkalilt]

I’m sure there are plenty of things that are different between cultures when it comes to causing offence, particularly on day to day etiquette. I’m thinking of that, as well as of things like significant historical events, or very important symbols (whether they’re important because they’re considered highly special, or they’re important not to be used because of their history). Something where you could cause outrage or offence by not knowing the significance.

I was promoted by this article on the BBC about a Thai girl band member who wore a t-shirt that had a Nazi swastika. I’ve seen that type of thing come up before, where the historical significance of the Nazi swastika isn’t as well known or certainly isn’t reviled in some countries.

I imagine there may be other symbols, or historically significant events, that are highly emotive for many reasons, across the world, and I wouldn’t know (I’m British and have lived here all my life so assume most of my knowledge is of history from the British taught perspective), as well as day to day etiquette.

I was wondering if any MNers have some examples they could share so I could learn more? Like common offensive errors that people not culturally aware make in other countries, or significant historical events or symbols about which the unaware could cause offence through ignorance?

DrCoconut it kind of goes along with what I said earlier about being invited to a party and expecting the host to provide the booze. If you’re invited to someone’s house and are welcomed in as a guest, then it’s an unspoken rule that the host will provide food/drinks. This isn’t rude or forward in Poland like it is in the U.K.
They probably only asked because usually you wouldn’t have long stepped over the threshold of a Polish home before someone is wafting food or drink in front of your face expecting you to dig in

in Syria it's not the done thing to mock the president; even laughing at a poster of him at the airport does not go down well

but it is the done thing to bomb the shit out of 'his' country

Oh you should read the websites that give cultural tips for foreigners moving to or visiting the UK! How others see us

I thought they were satirical, but they're not

Ha Bread I love the thought of JP's face all crumpled on a tea towel I did see the Pope fridge magnets when I was in Krakow last year!

In Syria I was bemused by the huge billboards of al-Assad everywhere and innocently stupidly asked what happened to people who defaced them. I was told that only one man had ever done that and He Was Taken To Prison And Never Seen Again.

Helmut Fridge magnets are just the tip of the JP iceberg Tea towels, crockery, wall hangings, tankards, key rings. General rule of thumb: if you can find it in a souvenir shop, you’ll also find one with his face on it in the same shop.

On holiday in Tunisia once years ago, I gave a waiter "thumbs up" when he served my drink. He chuckled and told me to be careful as it is a sign for anal sex and/or implies that a man is homosexual. I was mortified, DH thought it was hilarious

I was warned in Greece not to use the British style “holding up the palm of your hand” to say thanks or acknowledge a car driver giving way to you or letting you across a pedestrian crossing. The flat of the hand is apparently a rude gesture! They use a touch of the index finger to the head, like an informal salute instead.
Confusingly, in Bulgaria apparently a shake of the head means yes and a nod means no. Human variation is endlessly fascinating!

Generally using a single finger gesture is rude somewhere in the world. Thumbs up, using an index finger to beckon people, making an o with thumb and index finger etc

Crossing your fingers is a sign of a vagina somewhere.

In Britain, it is considered extremely rude and a punishable offence if you do not apologise to inanimate object after walking into it

Crossing your fingers is a sign of a vagina somewhere.

@goldengummybear but where? I tried googling - I couldn’t find where this might be, but I’ve learned several new techniques that will apparently delight the ladies.

Body language/gesture is a mine field.

In Greece NO is signalled with raised eyebrows and an upward backward flick the head, often accompanied by a soft clicking sound. Done at speed, it's not unlike a UK nod!!

I was warned in Greece not to use the British style “holding up the palm of your hand” to say thanks or acknowledge a car driver giving way to you or letting you across a pedestrian crossing. The flat of the hand is apparently a rude gesture!

Yup. I was nearly mown down at a junction in Rhodes. A chap in a car waved me across, i raised my hand in thanks and he accelerated in a very aggressive manner. I had to scurry pretty bloody fast.

I later found out I had inadvertently stick 2 fingers up at him.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountza

Queuing fairly is important in the UK: if someone was there
before you, let him/her be served first

In the UK it is not usual for gifts to be exchanged in a business setting.

In the UK people eat soup quietly, without lifting the bowl off the table!

In the UK, When in a pub, it is common practice to pay for a round of drinks for everyone in your group (unless on Mumsnet when you pay individually for drinks so divide to the last penny )

redexpat you made me laugh too.

My Danish DM may have forgiven the Germans but the Swedes for being neutral? Never!

In the UK, you do not ask personal questions such as how much someone earns

The thumbs up sign is offensive in quite a few places, as is the trump favourite 👌.

Blowing your nose in public is very gross in some parts too.

this may not be the case anymore but in India it was seen as wrong to show your armpits in public - I was there in 100 degree heat and had just arrived at the airport in a sleeveless white cotton shirt and I felt so uncomfortable being stared at, I put on a jumper!

I don’t really want to see anyone’s sweaty armpits either tbh. Even my own.

In China, do not write someone's name in red. It is seen as a death threat/ death omen.

I know this because a previous employer needed to shred thousands of business cards they'd printed in corporate colours, not knowing about this....

I though that in Thai culture the soul was at the top of the head so you can’t pat children on the head because that’s where their soul is.

Gwlondon I’ve never heard that, but I’ll ask MIL and see what she says!
I know the not showing soles of the feet thing is because Thai people are very superstitious, and it’s because the feet are the part of the body closest to hell (or their version of it) all the time