Taboos, prudishness, etc

From: Jane Williams <janewilliams20_at_...>
Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2005 19:30:06 -0000

> Do they have many such taboos? Adultery I recall from KoDP
> (and other sources, but the KoDP ones stick in my head best)
> but are there many "prudish" customs amongst the Heortlings?

I always have to remember that in a communal society such as the Heortling one, a lot of things that we'd regard as unthinkable in public would be the norm, due to lack of choice. A lot of it of course we just gloss over so as not to upset our modern sensibilities (and why not? this is meant to be fun!).

For instance, I doubt if the average tula has lavatories situated in convenient places. Nor are there service stations along even the Royal roads. And even when such things did exist in history, we know the Romans had those massive multi-seat jobs, where you're in full view of a LOT of other people, not even hiding behind a bush.

So do the Heortlings (and other Gloranthans) just do everything (not just that sort of bodily function) in public and not care? Or is there a set of elaborate manners where you "don't notice" certain things, the way we ignore the sound-effects from the next cubicle today?

And what *do* they find embarrassing to be seen doing in public, if anything? I seem to remember some recent TV advert telling me about a culture where showing the soles of your feet is incredibly rude - anything like that?