Imagine this: you’re attentively sitting at a UT soccer game and something strange catches your eye.
It’s not the mascot or the painted fans in the stands, but a running boy.
Yes, a boy running is completely normal, but what really makes this interesting is that boy doesn’t play soccer, and most importantly, he seems to be lacking any clothing.
The crowd erupts in laughter as the referees try to catch the spirited boy, but some people appear truly offended.
See, this is where the dilemma of taboos and morals come into play.
What do we as a society define as taboo, and is it the same as our personal morals?
To me, taboos are set by the local culture and running nude is not accepted.
Religious groups, the local communities, law enforcement and society in general all set the scale for taboo.
If it weren’t for conditioning, would we think things such as homosexuality and adultery are wrong?
Would public nudity offend us if taboos were nonexistent?
Or would our morals come into play because of bodily insecurities?
I consider personal morals to be based on one’s experience and individual beliefs.
They can be used as synonyms, per say, but are really different in nature.
Taboos are society influenced, and morals are one’s personal beliefs between what is right and wrong.
Dictionary defined, a taboo is used to “regulate human behavior” and it “creates friction between individuals and the community.” Society looks down upon them, and because of set taboos are we losing who we really are?
Hiding behind a mask created by the world we live in?
I agree with James Baldwin (no, not one of the Baldwin brothers) that because of cultural taboos we are getting lost in life, caught up in the small, minor details and forgetting that the only guarantee we have is ultimately death.
It sounds a bid melancholic, but it’s really the harsh truth. I can be for or against any issue and still only be guaranteed one thing: my life has a timer.
My opinions may be thought of as bias or right-down insane, but that is why I ask again, “Are taboos and morals considered the same?”
Examples of prevalent cultural taboos are as varied as homosexuality, public nudity, sex before marriage, drinking, drug usage and adultery.
Even the little things like elevator etiquette. Upon stepping into an elevator, I usually hold the door for strangers, ask of their floor request, and of course face towards the door along with everyone else.
Sounds asinine, but if you were to walk into an elevator facing towards the people, I think it would make the remaining passengers a bit uncomfortable. Although it is a minor conditioned behavior that can mildly be labeled taboo, it is indeed a taboo. Try it out one time as you ascend within the Vaughn elevators. Let’s just say it’ll make for an awkward and tense elevator ride.
People of strong religious background may think homosexuality is socially unacceptable and therefore taboo. Then they may be convinced that because it’s taboo, it must then be morally wrong as well.
To me, homosexuality and same-sex marriage aren’t taboo. I don’t see it as morally wrong but instead as normal behavior.
Tampa is obviously gay-friendly.
Just take a walk down to Ybor and you’ll see quite a few clubs blasting Cyndi Lauper and Diana Ross.
Follow the eccentric music and the flashing lights as if it’s the Yellow Brick Road; if you keep walking, across the street you will see an old man holding a big sign saying: “Ask me why you’re going to hell.”
Maybe you’ll see a few more people preaching religion to the gays and drunken partygoers through a big megaphone.
All these people are allowed to express their opinion because it links to their morals, but to say homosexuality in this generation is taboo will hopefully wither away with time. It is becoming more accepted and practically every school possesses a gay-straight-alliance.
How about adultery? It happens all the time the world over, and our divorce rate is well above forty percent.
So society establishes it as a taboo because it is thought to be morally wrong. And that it goes against the sanctity and vows of marriage. But does that mean that morals are equal to taboos?
Once again, I say no because morals differ upon the person. Let’s go back to the analogy of the soccer game streaker.
Perhaps he is from a nudist community and believes nudity is a simple form of expression. However, the rest of society that lives outside his perspective on public nudity believes such an act is taboo.
Therefore, his morals contradict cultural beliefs on nudity being a taboo and thus will prove them different.
Once again, my views may highly differ from yours but I’m just expressing my opinion on a popular debate.
I believe with time ideas of taboos and morals evolve. When you were that six year old in elementary school it was taboo to begin dating because the opposite sex had “cooties.”
Then maybe when that kid grows up, it is taboo to drink underage or to date the same sex.
I suppose I may be wrong or completely out of my mind, but I see a small correlation between taboos and morals.
Concepts of taboo and morality correlate on certain levels but, when it comes down to it, it all depends on individual beliefs. Morality is based on the individual while taboos are societal standards.
Think about this next time you venture to a soccer game and see that random boy streaking.
Maybe discuss it over coffee at Einstein’s because I’m sure it’ll make for an interesting debate.
Narisa Imprasert can be reached at nimprasert@ut.edu.