Hidden meaning in warning signs

Much can be learned about Culture by observing prohibition signs: what a society considers pure and impure; normal and taboo; acceptable and unacceptable; safe and unsafe; and good and bad.

Excess use of warning signs also reveals the struggle of the powerful and the rebellion of the powerless against compliance and conformity.

While you are at it, it is worth asking the natives what these warnings means to them. If their response is ‘nothing’ you have just entered their culture.

Do yourself just one favour – do not go into teaching, telling or instruction mode, you will wreck it all.

Instead, just say ‘tell me more’. You may unlearn something about yourself and learn something about the natives. That is where culture change begins.

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