[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Laneco

What is a benign gesture in one place, is definately not in another. The "OK" sign with thumb and fingers is benign in this country. In other countries, it has deragatory sexual meanings. The thumbs up sign is benign here but elsewhere in the world, it means something like "stick it in your hiney...." In some cultures, red is a "lucky" color, but if you wear it in certain neighborhoods in the US - you might be in a whole buncha trouble... Some foreign countries, when you sit a table and there are open seats, people will plop down (even if there are OTHER open tables) right beside you. In the US - we're a little taken aback by this - we like our wide open spaces.

If you were going to drive in a foreign country, you would learn a bit about the driving requirements or be VERY careful to do the same thing that everyone else is doing. As far as I'm concerned - the same thing applies to the cultural aspect. Learn enough to stay out of trouble, observe others, and enjoy the wonderful differences the world has to offer.

angela

You're right. I guess my point is obscure. I wouldn't flip a sign in any circumstance where I wasn't sure. I don't do that here. I also don't run my shopping cart into the back of the person standing in front of me. Wish I could say that for others in my 'diverse' city.