[Tenchu]

Anyway, MMM, I think how the cultural respect thing is supposed to go is, when someone does something based on their culture, you tolerate and accept it/them.

For example, if you've a Muslim friend fishing with you at sunset and he wanders off for a minute and starts praying, you don't laugh at him and call him a dick, you give him space and respect.

Then when you pull your beers out while fishing, he's not allowed to start preaching to you about not drinking, either, because he has to respect you and your culture.

Or if you have a Christian friend, and you want them to come fishing on Sunday morn, but they say they're going to church; don't get pissed off at them, just ask them if they'll come in the evening or something instead.

What is not cultural respect would be, when your Muslim friend goes to pray in the evening, he doesn't try to make you come with him. He respects that you're not Muslim.

Or you don't try and force you Muslim friend to drink beer with you, because you have to understand his ways.

Or your Christian friend doesn't start shoving your mail box full of salvation pamphlets and what not, because he knows you're not Christian.

That is respect. It's about living together in harmony; not pushing your ways on others.

Of course, some things should be done as a courtesy; take your shoes off when entering a Thai persons house because they don't want a dirty floor. Perhaps when a Thai person gives you a wai (placing the hands together in front of the face to say hello) you should return it. Or, when a westerner offers to shake hands, don't refuse.

It's okay to do things as courtesy, but there's a limit, and there's a difference between respect and being trodden on.

It basically ends when they try to dictate your dress code, say you can't enter because of your skin color, or because you have tattoos. Saying certain religions are unwelcome. Forcing people to do things your way going over the top with it; asking someone to take their shoes off because you want your floor clean is way different than telling a Maori to get out because he's covered in tattoos.

It's funny how all you asiaphiles have made so many rules in your own countries to make sure everyone has the most equal rights and there's no form of social exclusion whatsoever, but when you go to Asia, and the favor is not returned, you just pay it off and say it's a different country and you have to respect that...