On Tuesday, Reddit user u/Faking_Faker asked, "What is considered disrespectful in your country?" This led to people sharing things — some obvious, some super shocking — that are considered disrespectful in their countries.
And while these are not verifiable, they're super fascinating to read. Here's what people shared:
1. South Africa:
"It's rude to not ask someone 'How are you?' before discussing anything else or making a transaction or interacting in any way. Always greet the checkout person or car guard or waiter or doctor or anybody before you do anything else. It’s considered impolite otherwise."
4. Canada:
"If you bump into someone, it's expected that you say you're sorry. Makes sense. But if someone bumps into you, you also say sorry. And if you almost bump into someone, you still say sorry. So when someone bumps into me or almost bumps into me, and I say sorry, but they don't say it back, I feel a deep rage within me that the Canadian Code has been disrespected. I don't need to be sorry! But, I said it! How dare you stay silent?!"
5. India:
"Wearing your shoes inside someone's home or a temple is considered disrespectful. Now, I am happy about this, LOL. Who knows where their shoes have been?"
6. India, part II:
"For some Indian weddings: Please don't come on the dot, as written on the invitation. Come an hour later. If you come on time, or good forbid, early to a wedding and you're not one of the immediate family members or assistants to the couple, it would be assumed that you believe that their hospitality is lacking and want to help them for an event that they meticulously planned."
7. Japan:
"Slurping noodles isn’t particularly polite in Japan, but it’s also not rude at all and almost everyone does it. It’s meant to cool the broth as you slurp, and to get some air into the mix for the best flavor. It’s neither rude nor polite, just a normal table manner here. However, slurping pasta in Japan is extremely rude because that’s not how pasta is meant to be eaten by its source culture."
8. Japan, part II:
"Japan is interesting because there are a lot of customs that are disrespectful. Absolutely don’t tip. That’s very disrespectful and implying they need to work harder or maybe it implies their work is insufficient enough. Basically complete opposite of the American idea of tipping. Eating on the go, for instance, is disrespectful. Also, Japanese people will hand you things with both hands. And not doing so is considered disrespectful."
9. New Zealand:
"In New Zealand, you yell, 'Thanks, driver!' to the bus driver, or you're an uppity asshat."
10. Ireland:
"There are very specific rules about offering tea to someone in Ireland. When someone offers you tea, you have to say no. Then they have to say 'Are you sure?' and you have to say 'No, thank you. I'm certain.' Then, they have to go 'Ah, go on. You'll have a bit. Then, you have to go 'No, I'm fine, thanks.' It keeps going on like this until one person gives in. So if you offer someone tea, and they say no, you have to keep pushing. If you don't, it's just not Irish."
11. United States:
"It's considered disrespectful, perhaps even irreverent, for a man to wear a hat in church. Women can wear hats in church, if they wish, but not men."
13. Philippines:
"It's rude not to offer food to anyone who interacts with you while you're eating. You are expected to say 'kain po' (let's eat) whenever someone even as much as meets your gaze while eating. And the person you offered to is expected to decline. Seems stupid, but it is what it is. Makes for some funny stories though."
14. France:
"In France, when you eat at someone's table, you are supposed to not completely finish your plate. You have to leave a bit of food, otherwise, it means that you weren't served enough. Another thing that we do is we almost always talk about food when we eat. Like, 'What was your best meal ever?' 'What do you like to eat?' and 'What restaurant do you like to go to?' It's a lot of fun."
15. Denmark:
"It's rude to ask someone you've just met or barely know, what they do for a living. If you're trying to break the ice, better think of something that doesn't judge strangers."
16. China:
"You never gift someone a clock in China, especially the elderly. 'To give a clock' sounds the same as 'to hold a funeral' in Chinese."
17. China, part II:
"You don't share a pear with someone you love. 'To share a pear' sounds the same as 'to separate.'"
18. Netherlands:
"It's more something that annoys them, but in the Netherlands, people consider it rude to bike in big groups."
19. Brazil:
"In Brazil, people will get offended if you criticize the government, its institutions or policies."
20. Russia:
"For all the constantly smiling Americans, don’t do that in Russia or Ukraine. People will think you're up to something. Smiling is reserved for when you’re actually happy or for friends and loved ones."
21. Israel:
"Making noise between 2 and 4 p.m. is disrespectful. That's when people take a nap, which they take very seriously. It's disrespectful to make any unnecessary loud noise that affects people's peaceful time of the day. One time, I didn't think about it and let my dog bark outside, and one of the neighbors shouted out the window, 'Silence!' I had to run out and get my dog inside."