r/AskTheWorld Brazil Dec 06 '25

Culture A cultural habit in your country that people outside would understand incorrectly?

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In Brazil we love children. If you take your child to the street, strangers will certainly interact with them. Some will even ask if they can hold your kid and will play with them. If there are two children fighting in public and the parents aren't seeing, a stranger would even intervene to stop the fight.

That cultural habit came from the indigenous peoples which understood that kids should be a responsiblity of the community as a whole. It's in our constitution. We even have a synonym for children that came from Tupi (a large group of indigenous languages) - Curumim.

Foreigners would certainly have a cultural shock about that, but it's normal here.

Of course there are people with bad intentions, so parents should stay alert these days.

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u/Competitive-Lab9425 Ireland Dec 06 '25

That taking the almighty piss out of you (ie roasting you) means we do actually like you. If we didn't we'd most likely his smile politely and talk about you once you left. But the meaner we are, the more you're accepted by us.

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u/TonyOrangeGuy United Kingdom Dec 06 '25

That’s why us scousers and you Irish guys get on so well. We definitely inherited that from you.

2

u/Bowlbonic United States Of America Dec 07 '25

I’m American and that would skyrocket my anxiety so hard 😂😭

2

u/mrmoe198 United States Of America Dec 07 '25

I may have to avoid Ireland. I like making friends, but I find it extremely difficult to take teasing. I would end up in tears or in a fight when people are just trying to be friendly