# Conflicts and hot topics you never knew existed **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 2, 2007, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflicts-and-hot-topics-you-never-knew-existed/402434 "2007-05-02T09:06:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflicts-and-hot-topics-you-never-knew-existed/402434/61 "2007-05-02T20:55:29Z")
[QUOTE=anu-la1979] But **featherlou** , what about us privileged lot who have both passports??? Are we shoe-swingers? \ [/QUOTE] Yes. Yes, you are. 😃 I would love to get into the shoes off in house thing, but this really isn’t the place, unless **Priceguy** want his thread to be about nothing but that now. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflicts-and-hot-topics-you-never-knew-existed/402434/62 "2007-05-02T20:55:30Z")
[QUOTE=anu-la1979] In my experience not everyone in the world is attuned to the intricacies of foreign cultures and religions so the whole arch etiquette tralalala attitude doesn’t really fly with me. It’s better to nicely tell your guests who don’t know anything about Indian culture that you’d rather they not wear their shoes in the house so they don’t stomp around ever other desi’s house in their shoes. [/QUOTE] Oh, absolutely. Sorry, with “around these parts” I meant that in a very “general social expectations” kind of way. In this multi-cultural city, it’s _very_ common for people to have to let each other know about more specific cultural expectations and it’s not considered rude to educate a guest visiting a home that has cultural norms they aren’t accustomed to. But for “personal preference stuff” you’ll find most guests offer to remove their shoes and the the hosts will let them know if they can keep 'em. :: sorry about the hijack :: Non-hijack question: What’s the deal about milk in a bar? Is there a link to the old thread (I didn’t see anything in a search.) ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflicts-and-hot-topics-you-never-knew-existed/402434/63 "2007-05-02T22:08:29Z")
> [@](#): > > What’s the deal about milk in a bar? There was me, that is Alex, and my three droogs, that is Pete, Georgie, and Dim, and we sat in the Korova Milkbar trying to make up our rassoodocks what to do with the evening. The Korova milkbar sold milk-plus, milk plus vellocet or synthemesc or drencrom, which is what we were drinking. This would sharpen you up and make you ready for a bit of the old ultra-violence. ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflicts-and-hot-topics-you-never-knew-existed/402434/64 "2007-05-02T22:52:29Z")
One last shoe related point. You’d think it would have a lot to do with culture and all, but in Denmark it isn’t so clear cut, and we can get a lot of snow here in the winter. I’ve been to many houses here in DK and it’s not generally expected that you take your shoes off as a guest. However, the owner of the house usually has a place to keep the shoes at the door. I’ve never done this, and it isn’t universal though. For instance, at a house party, it isn’t generally expected, in my experience. In Sweden, however, it’s always done. I don’t think the climates are that different either. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflicts-and-hot-topics-you-never-knew-existed/402434/65 "2007-05-02T23:02:06Z")
[QUOTE=Swallowed My Cellphone] Non-hijack question: What’s the deal about milk in a bar? Is there a link to the old thread (I didn’t see anything in a search.) [/QUOTE] [Longest thread I’ve ever started.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=302800) ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflicts-and-hot-topics-you-never-knew-existed/402434/66 "2007-05-02T23:35:15Z")
Circumcision. I had no clue that there were people that thought of it as mutilation or having other negative effects on guys. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflicts-and-hot-topics-you-never-knew-existed/402434/67 "2007-05-02T23:46:34Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] Circumcision. I had no clue that there were people that thought of it as mutilation or having other negative effects on guys. [/QUOTE] Not only was I surprised at how vehement people can get over the issue, I was surprised at how pissed off _I_ get over it. I never imagined that I even had an opinion on circumcision, until I read people disagreeing with it. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflicts-and-hot-topics-you-never-knew-existed/402434/68 "2007-05-02T23:52:42Z")
Wow, I inadvertently triggered two of these. The first was a stupid story about a naive female friend who got the date that she hoped for with a major foodie who owns a major gourmet dessert factory. They left for their date from the New York Fancy Food show and went to a nice bar/restaurant together. He picked a great wine. She ordered milk. I thought it was a clear-cut violation of etiquette and common-sense but lots of others chose otherwise. The other was the Southern versus Boston accent. I am trying to protect my daughters from the Boston accent in small ways because it is awe-inspiring in its crudity and harshness. By small ways, I made sure I picked an area for us to raise kids where it is much more rare. A Southern Belle accent is much more charming and refined for a young lady but I only encourage it by situational choices rather than direct coercion. However, I never said that a Southern accent is more intelligent sounding than a Boston one. Jeff Foxworthy freely admitted that you never want to hear your new brain surgeon walk in and start speaking Southern. People with Southern accents get complimented constantly as I can personally attest at least until I lost mine. People with Boston accents just get mocked. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2007, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflicts-and-hot-topics-you-never-knew-existed/402434/69 "2007-05-03T01:15:19Z")
Not on the SDMB, but on some other Christian message boards, “Once Saved, Always Saved” vs. “Once Saved, Not Always Saved”. It was _vicious_, and I had no clue it was even a topic of disagreement. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2007, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflicts-and-hot-topics-you-never-knew-existed/402434/70 "2007-05-03T01:42:08Z")
I honestly thought gin martini vs. vodka martini was a simple matter of preference until I came here. Now I know the gin people regard the vodka drink as every bit as egregious an offense to good taste as the chocolate, apple, fill-in-the-blank sugarfests in a funnel shaped glass. ---
**Author:** ![Jet\_Jaguar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jet_jaguar/32/3562_2.png) [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2007, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflicts-and-hot-topics-you-never-knew-existed/402434/71 "2007-05-03T03:06:10Z")
Go on any motorcycle message board and ask what’s the best way to clean the chain. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2007, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflicts-and-hot-topics-you-never-knew-existed/402434/72 "2007-05-03T04:44:16Z")
Then there’s the whole gas-guzzling SUV thing, and using cellphones while driving thing, but those are probably hot topics all over the internet. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2007, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflicts-and-hot-topics-you-never-knew-existed/402434/73 "2007-05-03T05:28:33Z")
> [@](#): > > **Shagnasty** : Jeff Foxworthy freely admitted that you never want to hear your new brain surgeon walk in and start speaking Southern. I swear to you. Within the next thirty-six hours, I have an appointment with a Southern brain surgeon. But then, what do I know? I’m Southern and brain-damaged, right? 😃 This topic really surprised me: I never thought that I would live to seriously debate with intelligent people whether it is okay for the American government to torture people. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2007, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflicts-and-hot-topics-you-never-knew-existed/402434/74 "2007-05-03T13:53:57Z")
A couple that always come to mind: steak, well-cooked versus rare; and lint traps, emptied before or after. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2007, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflicts-and-hot-topics-you-never-knew-existed/402434/75 "2007-05-03T16:15:43Z")
Ghosts. I knew that there were believers and non-believers, but I thought they pretty much ignored eachother’s oppinion. I had no idea there was a whole other sector that goes into a mind boggling rage, at the mention of the word “ghost”. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2007, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflicts-and-hot-topics-you-never-knew-existed/402434/76 "2007-05-03T16:25:26Z")
[QUOTE=Batsinma Belfry] Ghosts. I knew that there were believers and non-believers, but I thought they pretty much ignored eachother’s oppinion. I had no idea there was a whole other sector that goes into a mind boggling rage, at the mention of the word “ghost”. [/QUOTE] Indeed. It’s not enought that THEY think they know the truth, but they won’t stop until everyone agrees with them. They’re like anti-supernatural fundamentalists. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2007, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflicts-and-hot-topics-you-never-knew-existed/402434/77 "2007-05-03T17:13:20Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] Indeed. It’s not enought that THEY think they know the truth, but they won’t stop until everyone agrees with them. They’re like anti-supernatural fundamentalists. [/QUOTE] This drives me nuts, too. Also, when a religion thread devolves into name calling, that makes me crazy. I realize that belief in a higher power is a hot topic for this message board due to the nature of the board (i.e., “fighting ignorance”), but it’s hard to have a debate with each side calling the other morons. Regardless of what people believe, you can’t change an opinion by bashing someone over the head again and again. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2007, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflicts-and-hot-topics-you-never-knew-existed/402434/78 "2007-05-03T17:26:23Z")
The argument over neutral terms for words like men, him, his, etc. That one got ugly. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2007, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflicts-and-hot-topics-you-never-knew-existed/402434/79 "2007-05-03T18:37:17Z")
Also not trying to start up the shoes on/shoes off thing again, but people in that thread talked about comfort. If you kept your shoes on in my home, I would assume that you were uncomfortable and getting ready to leave. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2007, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflicts-and-hot-topics-you-never-knew-existed/402434/80 "2007-05-03T19:09:28Z")
[QUOTE=Raygun99] Also not trying to start up the shoes on/shoes off thing again, but people in that thread talked about comfort. If you kept your shoes on in my home, I would assume that you were uncomfortable and getting ready to leave. [/QUOTE] If you took your shoes off in my home, I’d assume you where getting ready to take a nap. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflicts-and-hot-topics-you-never-knew-existed/402434.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflicts-and-hot-topics-you-never-knew-existed/402434.md?page=5)