One argument that rages from time to time (and has raged on NVS) is the issue of cultural relativism - whether it is fair to judge one culture as 'good' or 'bad', since what may be appropriate in one culture may be completely inappropriate in another. This is why some people may consider practices like homosexuality, overfamiliarity with elders and drug use as no-nos, while other people may consider them acceptable.

Some people who argue against cultural relativism say that it means...

In the olden days, culture was something you just did. You didn't need to train for it, you didn't need to think about it, you were as naturally as part of your culture as a nose is part of a face. You certainly never felt compelled to do the things that you did as a member of your culture.

Fast-forward to today, and the story has changed. You are now a foot soldier in the war of cultures, so you can no longer take your cultural practices for granted. You should dress up, eat, listen...

Just read this article by Churchill Okonkwo on what he calls 'the erosion of culture':

http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/...and-solut.html

This is not a new complaint. Since the beginning of time, people have always felt that the younger generation are running wild and that the youth were much more civilised when they were young.

Personally, I think that we're dealing with a perception...

My roving eye just caught this thread:

http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/...your-take.html

I'm kind of curious about the idea of fattening rooms. I guess it means that in times gone by, plump women were regarded as beautiful (before the advent of 'civilisation' with its admonitions to watch your calories and cholesterol).

But if this was the case, I don't quite get the need for fattening rooms. Surely,...