• MuhammadJesusGaySex@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    Serious question about cultural appropriation. What is it? Like, I wear non la, or Asian conical hat when I go fishing. The reason is because I hike through thick brush to get to spots where nobody else goes. Those hats allow me to tip my head forward, and it pushes the brush to the side as I walk through without getting hung in the branches. It helps to keep parasites out of my hair.

    It’s a superior design to a normal sun hat for what I do. Is that cultural appropriation? Or, is it only cultural appropriation if it’s disrespectful? But if it’s only when you’re being disrespectful. Then what about people that view just the very act of wearing or using something from a different culture as disrespectful?

    • Supermariofan67@programming.dev
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      9 months ago

      The idea that any entity or group can “own” an idea or concept is bullshit. Just as copyright and patents are bullshit, so is “cultural appropriation”

    • beteljuice@lemmy.ml
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      9 months ago

      The concept of cultural appropriation is mostly bullshit. Almost every single behavior and action every person takes is richly informed by multiple cultures, whether it language, clothes, food, or beliefs.

      I think the term only makes sense if it’s done in a disrespectful way, e.g. cracking a joke or wearing a sacred ceremonial headress to a frat party.

      But otherwise no culture “owns” any behavior or idea.

      • DreamButt@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        The key part here is the note about disrespect. If you are using aspects of a culture but doing so with honest intentions then most people from that culture would be delighted to see you participate in their traditions

        • EurekaStockade@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          Yeah absolutely, most people get a kick out of seeing someone else embrace a part of their culture. The key, as you say, is having a go of it without disrespecting the culture.

          The people who get offended over it tend to be white saviour types, which is in the picture, as it should be.

      • MuhammadJesusGaySex@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        I appreciate the well thought out response. I’m an old millennial and kind of a loner, hence a hobby that I do by myself away from people. So, until recently I would have had to rely on Reddit to answer a question like that. Which I think we both know how that would have gone.

        Once again. Thank you for your time.

    • lnee@lemm.ee
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      9 months ago

      Thing is with cultural appropriation oh yes there’s Chinatown oh and also people from China happened to live in Chinatown that’s cultural appropriation it doesn’t really matter who or what has a culture it is the freedom of speech to be able to poo on it and turn it into whatever now that may be cringe but cringe is part of the internet