# Cultures Different From Ours

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultures-different-from-ours/380313>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [November 13, 2006, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultures-different-from-ours/380313 "2006-11-13T22:27:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultures-different-from-ours/380313/1 "2006-11-13T22:27:28Z")

</div>

[Ahem.](http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/eunuchs_dc)

So it seems that in India professional eunuchs shame shopkeepers into paying taxes.

> [@](#):
>
> The new shock strategy, in which sari-clad and heavily made up eunuchs accompany officials on their rounds of crowded shopping areas in a country notorious for tax evasion and non-payment, has been declared a success.

```
                                        And

```

> [@](#):
>
> “People may be afraid of them, but they are very much part of society and are useful,” Prasad said, adding that authorities would pay the eunuchs a four percent commission on the total tax collected.
> 
> Eunuchs are still common in India, where they live in closed-knit communities. Some are castrated men but others are transsexuals and hermaphrodites who have been ostracized by their families

```
                                        Also

```

> [@](#):
>
> Those unwilling to pay sometimes face lewd dances, lifted saris, and abuse.

“All’s for the best in this best of all possible worlds!”