Why Taboos Are A Thing Of The Past

In light of Jason Collins’ coming out, people are realizing that what was considered "taboo" in the past was essentially bullsh*t concocted to control people. The reaction to Collins’ come out could not have yielded a better reaction. Kobe and Shaq tweeted their praise and even Tim Hardaway, who six years prior said, “I hate gay people,” told Jason he is proud and supports him. We're entering a new age of sexual freedom and this is just the beginning.

This historic coming out of Collins will only mark the first revelation in major sports. Mark Cuban has even been quoted saying, “No question other athletes will come out after Collins.” The world is finally starting to realize that there is no reason to care about someone’s sexual orientation. Does this even affect you personally? No. Maybe you don’t agree with someone’s choice, but in all honestly it’s none of your business anyway. He is a professional athlete so as long as he’s performing well on the court, no one is going to be considered how he is performing off the court.

“I don’t’ think the idea of homosexuality is really taboo any more. Our culture is evolving. This is an exciting time to be living.”

Previous societal pressures discouraging different taboo actions are being lifted every day. Things that were once considered to be inappropriate have become much more prevalent in today’s culture. Thanks to “Fifty Shades of Grey” people are taking their sexual tendencies to a whole new level. Threesomes and orgies, once looked down upon, are becoming a normal activity. There are even private places you can go to that cater to such things.

Abortion, a highly and frequently debated topic, is one of the most taboo topics in America. Perhaps this is because it’s an emotional decision for a woman, but Lord only knows the second I got knocked up I’d be sprinting to the clinic. This topic that is frequently discussed in literature becomes a whole new type of discussion when asking a woman about her personal experience. This is not usually a topic of conversation, as many people who have gotten abortions tend not to tell anyone.

“Whenever a taboo is broken, something good happens, something vitalizing. Taboos after all are only hangovers, the product of diseased minds, you might say, of fearsome people who hadn’t the courage to live and who under the guise of morality and religion have imposed these things upon us.”

Cheating on a spouse or partner is generally looked down upon by society, but as the divorce rates waver around 50%, it is hard not to discuss this ever-growing concern. This is a harsh reality that many people have to deal with at one point in their lives, so it is best for this to be an open area of discussion. Too many tabloid covers are plastered with cheating scandals. This happens in today’s times way too often to be considered front page worthy.

Prostitution is a widely accepted and promoted profession in places such as Germany and Amsterdam, but most definitely not in America, as it has criminal consequences. If you really think about it: who are these women and men hurting but themselves? Politicians argue against prostitution in order to protect women. This makes zero sense. If a woman wants to engage in this type of behavior, who are they to stop her?

Drugs are illegal in America, but that doesn’t stop people from taking and selling them. I am pretty sure Rihanna singlehandedly removed the stigma attached to pot smoking. You go Ri Ri! According to a new Pew Research Center poll, 52% of Americans favor the legalization of weed. Colorado and Washington have already legalized the personal use of marijuana and it’s only a matter of time before more states follow suit.

There are few things as disturbing as the topic of suicide. As more and more people are becoming victims of cyber bullying, too many are turning to suicide as an escape. Suicide is not just something that plagues young adults; as the world descends further into financial chaos, suicide has become more prevalent. Mental health needs a greater amount of awareness. It is the final taboo that needs to be dealt with especially given the amount of school shootings that have recently occurred.

People need to realize that by placing stigmas on certain things, they become more difficult to discuss and as a result disasters can happen. If there wasn’t such a stigma against mental disorders, certain incidents could have been prevented. It is time for people to open their minds and embrace the direction the world is going in.