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If you've ever had your penis cut off and/or been executed while on holiday, you'll probably know that it's easy to offend people from other cultures. Unless you learn the ways of the place you're visiting, even the most well-meaning tourist can regularly find his oesophagus stuffed with burning goat. But surely just plain common sense and good manners will save you, right? Wrong. Extend Your Hand, Palm Outward in Greece
What you are actually saying:
What the hell?
SHIT, is what we're saying here. Their faces would be covered in SHIT. If you really want to piss a Greek person off, you can go for the double moutza, which features both hands splayed above your head. However, this will also make you look like a backup dancer from Cats, so it's your call.
Give the Thumbs-Up In The Middle East
What you think you are saying:
What you are actually saying:
What the hell?
The thumbs-up sign has been confusing people for thousands of years. Contrary to Hollywood legend, Roman gladiators were not spared by a thumbs-up, but by a hidden thumb. If the origins of both gestures are linked, we can only assume this meant, "Do not kill the prisoner, he seems the perfect solution to the emperor's arthritic finger."
Finish Your Meal In Thailand / The Philippines / China
What you are actually saying:
What the hell?
In China, if you finish every last bite of your meal, you are implying that you weren't given enough. Therefore, even if the meal is the most sexually delicious thing that has ever slid down your throat, you should still leave one last morsel on the plate to stare up at you mournfully while you eye it with ill-concealed resentment. That said, the Orient isn't as uptight as this example suggests. In China it's considered perfectly good manners to talk with your mouth full and to burp after your meal. Farting seems to vary according to the situation and your current company, so ask ahead of time. Lighting the fart is frowned upon in almost all provinces.
Say "Hi" to a Member of the Opposite Sex in Saudi Arabia
What you are actually saying:
What the hell?
Though, perhaps this is nitpicking considering women are not allowed to drive, vote, own shops, testify in court or ride bicycles there. Bizarrely, it's perfectly fine for women to fly high-powered jet planes, although they're clearly fucked if they feel like taking a bicycle to the airport. The point being, if you're a woman and are planning a move to Saudi Arabia, offending them with the whole public greeting thing is probably the least of your problems.
Give an Even Number of Flowers in Russia
What you are actually saying:
(Lean forward for kiss.)
What the hell?
Choosing the right gift seems to be a minefield of morbidity everywhere you go. Never give a clock to a Chinese person, as the word "clock" is almost identical to a word for "death." Don't wrap your present in white paper there either, as this suggests funerals. And for God's sake, don't give anyone in Bangladesh white flowers or they will presumably be obliged to buy a spade and bury themselves while muttering at you reproachfully. You know what, screw giving a gift. You may come across as a selfish douchebag, but at least no one will hail you as the fourth horseman of the apocalypse.
Give a Gift With Your Left Hand, Pretty Much Anywhere
What you think you are saying:
What you are actually saying:
What the hell?
Eating out? Don't even think about using your left hand. It's better to come across as some kind of retarded monkey child than to imply that you rate your host's food on the same level as a lightly-steamed assburger. Of course, poop is not the only reason left-handedness is bad. According to the Qur'an, Satan himself was a southpaw, which is why he was able to successfully fool the right-handed batter that is mankind.
Give the "OK" Sign in Brazil
What you are actually saying:
(Note: The above examples are only valid if you are US President Richard Nixon)
What the hell?
The most famous incident of a misapplied "OK" sign was, in fact, Nixon's visit to Brazil in the '50s. While alighting from the aircraft, he lifted both hands to the cameras and double-fingered the entire nation. Nixon went on to greet the Brazilian Prime minister with a savage kick to the testicles, and concluded his visit by urinating from the window of a moving limousine. If you're visiting Brazil, you should also never touch any food with your fingers. Even stuff like pizzas and burgers should be eaten with a knife and fork. Not that you'll ever need to apply this knowledge, because after reading this article, you'd be insane if you ever travel abroad again.
Tim Cameron is a recovering gaming addict. His blog, The Silly Addiction, catalogs his ridiculous struggle to go straight. Now find out what they'll probably be saying in response to those gestures in our look at The 9 Most Devastating Insults From Around the World. And don't forget to check out this video explaining why Jesus kind of sucked as a carpenter. Or head to the brand new Official Cracked.com Store and become a startlingly attractive walking advertisement for our site. |
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I'm Lebanese , and lived in the UAE ( for the idiots out there , both are in the middle east ) . And this is the first time I hear about the thumb thing , in fact we use it here all the time , and at as a sign for anal rape .
When I was China two years ago, I was taught that you weren't supposed to finish your meal completely, not because it's insulting, but because they'll just keep giving you more and more. So if you DO want more, it's perfectly fine.
This is my favorite article in Cracked.com next to the L. Ron Hubbard one and the bible verses one.
For all the religious and superstitious bullshit that is Mexico, my country, I've never had problems with my left handedness and it helps the talks with the ladies ("oh my god, you use your left hand?")
I've lived here in the philippines ever since... and I've been taught it's not nice to leave morsels on your plate...even up to the point of forcing down a failed meal just to appease the host.
Dude, I lived in Colombia and the thumbs up meant exactly the same as in the US
i'm Thai and i'd say that Thai people would be delighted if their guests enjoy their meal, especially if guests finish the meal. so, it's negative to say that Thais will have bad feeling if you completely finish their giving meal.
and we don't mind using left hand too.
Yeah MidnightZeph, - Devilbob is right. In Australia the peace sign is still peace, but turn it around, then it can also be interpreted as the middle finger. Its British. While the middle finger is more American. Some how we kinda ended up with both.
I think it's kinda strange that they consider the left hand to be the ass-wiping hand. I myself use my right hand. =P
Ha, the Russian one with handing flowers in even numbers is true for Romania also. Actually, i think it goes for the whole of Eastern Europe. I remember when i was a kid i was really nervous buying flower because I wasnt sure which numbers were even and which werent.
Also, in Romania, offering someone an even number of flowers is close to wishing their death, so it's really frowned upon.
Here in Brazil, the 'ok' gesture will get you, your friends, family and everyone you ever met in your whole life killed.
You can safely give the 'thumbs up' to a drug lord, though.
Nah, relax, at least here in Brazil things are not that serious.
The "Okay" sign is only offensive if it's upside-down. Then it means "butthole". Otherwise it just means Okay.
You can also eat anything you want with your fingers, your face, your dick... Have it your way. Actually, a lot of the food here HAS to be eaten using the hands (Rabada, frango a passarinho, barbecue meat, almost everything with chicken, almost everything with ribs...). Just wash your hands - and probably your face, too - afterwards.
In some fancy upscale places they may hand you your sandwich or burger in a plate with a fork and knife, but unless you want to look like a total snob, just ignore that s**t and dig in properly like a man. Seriously, i f****n HATE people who eat burgers with a fork and knife around here.
Anyway, I wipe my ass with my right arm :D
How are you supossed to not give someone a present with your left hand if you are shaking hands (like for a birthday or something)
MidnightZeph - Kind of. I know where your coming from - and it depends on the age group. People above the age of about 35 would find it offensive. Other than that - it's a common photo pose for people.
:)
A big one in Mexico, roughly equal to the finger, is the shave-and-a-haircut knock. It goes, at the risk of sounding overly technical, "da da-da da da, da da." (think Three Stooges) You hear it a lot from horns at traffic jams.
In France, if you're a girl and you smile at a total stranger, he'll think you're a whore.
like hook mentioned in brasil you can eat with your hands, things like burger and stuff, but pizza and most other food you eat with a knife and fork
Also, it would pretty much suck for me to visit any country with the left hand belief being left handed as I am. Stupid right handed dominated world....and Obama would have the same problem which could lead to some really bad international relations.
Sorry, Midnight, it's when the palm faces the giver and it's of British origin. There's a story behind that but I alredy feel like a nerd enough for knowing it.
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In Japan, it's apparently the opposite of the Chinese situation you described. Instead, they view every object, every grain of rice as having a divine spirit or god within it, that exists only to serve a given purpose. The rice's purpose is to be eaten. If you don't eat it ironically enough the god within it is said to have died. They even have a nice expression "kamikorosu" you've killed a god. Didn't finish your dinner? Bye bye baby jesus