BeMyBro, my response was intended to be general but you picked up on a couple of my points, so I'll respond. Actually, I lived in Holland for nearly ten years!! I learned to speak the language, immersed myself in the culture and have many erudite Dutch friends, but I never came across any bestiality! So, what's "legal" is one thing; what's common practice is another!
Here in Qatar, it's ILLEGAL to smoke in an enclosed space, but you still see people lighting up beneath the no-smoking signs in shopping malls and get asked in a restaurant whether you prefer to sit in the "smoking or non-smoking" area which is actually within the same space. What happened to the "rules" here?
Re the washing ritual, urine is virtually sterile but saliva is laden with bacteria, so how laudable is it to wash one's hands meticulously after going to the loo, then go outside and spit in the street? I saw a sign above a carpet the other day requesting "No Spitting". Lovely.
By the way, I see nothing wrong with men showing platonic affection by holding hands, arms around shoulders, etc., as I saw it often in Spain and India as it's their culture too. Showing affection in public should not be taboo if it is non-sexual, in my opinion. I didn't know about the Thai issue about touching heads, so I'll be careful next time not to ruffle any little kids' heads next time I'm there! But then again, one might get offered a child for rent - so I reiterate - it's a matter of common sense whether one decides to go native or not!
BeMyBro, my response was intended to be general but you picked up on a couple of my points, so I'll respond. Actually, I lived in Holland for nearly ten years!! I learned to speak the language, immersed myself in the culture and have many erudite Dutch friends, but I never came across any bestiality! So, what's "legal" is one thing; what's common practice is another!
Here in Qatar, it's ILLEGAL to smoke in an enclosed space, but you still see people lighting up beneath the no-smoking signs in shopping malls and get asked in a restaurant whether you prefer to sit in the "smoking or non-smoking" area which is actually within the same space. What happened to the "rules" here?
Re the washing ritual, urine is virtually sterile but saliva is laden with bacteria, so how laudable is it to wash one's hands meticulously after going to the loo, then go outside and spit in the street? I saw a sign above a carpet the other day requesting "No Spitting". Lovely.
By the way, I see nothing wrong with men showing platonic affection by holding hands, arms around shoulders, etc., as I saw it often in Spain and India as it's their culture too. Showing affection in public should not be taboo if it is non-sexual, in my opinion. I didn't know about the Thai issue about touching heads, so I'll be careful next time not to ruffle any little kids' heads next time I'm there! But then again, one might get offered a child for rent - so I reiterate - it's a matter of common sense whether one decides to go native or not!