#Silence #Culture I would love a silence day in Denmark.
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#Silence #Culture I would love a silence day in Denmark. But I guess this Swiss young man visiting Bali didn't feel the same way? 1 year jail sentence for disrespecting it. Talk about cultural differences...
About Balinese Nyepi, Silence Day: https://thehoneycombers.com/bali/nyepi-bali-day-of-silence/
Euronews about the 1-year jail sentence to the young man: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/08/20/swiss-tourist-sentenced-to-year-in-jail-for-insulting-balis-sacred-day-of-silence
Cultural difference between Indonesia and Switzerland is actually not that big, except INDIVIDUALISM, and Power distance... https://geerthofstede.com/country-comparison-bar-charts/
@bettina Should foreigners who insult "danish values" also face that punishment?
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@bettina Should foreigners who insult "danish values" also face that punishment?
@mshdk That was the first question that popped into your head? The first question I had was: How long a sentence would a Balinese person have received for the same offence? And then: Was it possible he didn't know it was illegal? Third: How is a culture who values silence supposed to make visitors understand that once silence is broken, it cannot be unbroken? Just like you cannot unring a gong. Fourth: Why do we not appreciate silence just as much in the West? So yes, people are different.
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@mshdk That was the first question that popped into your head? The first question I had was: How long a sentence would a Balinese person have received for the same offence? And then: Was it possible he didn't know it was illegal? Third: How is a culture who values silence supposed to make visitors understand that once silence is broken, it cannot be unbroken? Just like you cannot unring a gong. Fourth: Why do we not appreciate silence just as much in the West? So yes, people are different.
@bettina Yes, I think that was the most striking thing in your post. I think its complete out of proportions, just like if someone in denmark had gotten a year in jail for insulting christmas would be absurd. Just because its part of their culture and laws does not mean we cant have opinions on it, just like people in the rest of the world can have opinions on danish culture and laws.
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#Silence #Culture I would love a silence day in Denmark. But I guess this Swiss young man visiting Bali didn't feel the same way? 1 year jail sentence for disrespecting it. Talk about cultural differences...
About Balinese Nyepi, Silence Day: https://thehoneycombers.com/bali/nyepi-bali-day-of-silence/
Euronews about the 1-year jail sentence to the young man: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/08/20/swiss-tourist-sentenced-to-year-in-jail-for-insulting-balis-sacred-day-of-silence
Cultural difference between Indonesia and Switzerland is actually not that big, except INDIVIDUALISM, and Power distance... https://geerthofstede.com/country-comparison-bar-charts/
At first glance this sounds ridiculous, but seeing that
1) this is normally resolved peacefully without prosecution, for this kind of violation
2) it seems like he had repeatedly chosen to not adhere to advise/guidelines from local people
3) he posted a lot on social media, making fun of the concept?it doesn't necessarily feel like a harsh sentence.
There were plenty of options to de escalate, had he chosen that. -
@bettina Yes, I think that was the most striking thing in your post. I think its complete out of proportions, just like if someone in denmark had gotten a year in jail for insulting christmas would be absurd. Just because its part of their culture and laws does not mean we cant have opinions on it, just like people in the rest of the world can have opinions on danish culture and laws.
@mshdk It's completey out of proportion seen from Danish customs and laws, yes. But the Western problem has been to judge everyone by our standards, not being willing to put ourselves in other's position. Do I think 1 year is a lot, of course. But he was a guest in their country, and it only takes one person to ruin silence. To me it's the perfect example of being tone deaf when visiting other countries. I bet the next influencer or mindless person will think twice before overstepping.
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At first glance this sounds ridiculous, but seeing that
1) this is normally resolved peacefully without prosecution, for this kind of violation
2) it seems like he had repeatedly chosen to not adhere to advise/guidelines from local people
3) he posted a lot on social media, making fun of the concept?it doesn't necessarily feel like a harsh sentence.
There were plenty of options to de escalate, had he chosen that.@folfdk I think it IS harsh but I also think silence is so difficult to protect that they probably needed to state an example. Now everyone will talk about it and think twice before overstepping. And maybe he will be let out early and has learnt his lesson.
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@mshdk It's completey out of proportion seen from Danish customs and laws, yes. But the Western problem has been to judge everyone by our standards, not being willing to put ourselves in other's position. Do I think 1 year is a lot, of course. But he was a guest in their country, and it only takes one person to ruin silence. To me it's the perfect example of being tone deaf when visiting other countries. I bet the next influencer or mindless person will think twice before overstepping.
@bettina @mshdk we have had blasphemy laws for a long time in Denmark. It's not that alien as you make it out to be. What is, though, is how a day of silence and meditation is deeply religious. The punishment before 2017 (can't figure out current law) is limited tp up to four months of prison however.
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@bettina @mshdk we have had blasphemy laws for a long time in Denmark. It's not that alien as you make it out to be. What is, though, is how a day of silence and meditation is deeply religious. The punishment before 2017 (can't figure out current law) is limited tp up to four months of prison however.
@reynir @mshdk Interesting, but I think it's no longer active?
"L 170 Forslag til lov om ændring af straffeloven.
(Ophævelse af straffelovens blasfemibestemmelse).
" - 3. behandlet, vedtaget 02-06-2017 https://www.ft.dk/samling/20161/lovforslag/l170/index.htmstraffelovens § 140 om blasfemi er ophævet i gældende lov: https://www.retsinformation.dk/eli/lta/2019/976
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@bettina @mshdk we have had blasphemy laws for a long time in Denmark. It's not that alien as you make it out to be. What is, though, is how a day of silence and meditation is deeply religious. The punishment before 2017 (can't figure out current law) is limited tp up to four months of prison however.
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@mshdk It's completey out of proportion seen from Danish customs and laws, yes. But the Western problem has been to judge everyone by our standards, not being willing to put ourselves in other's position. Do I think 1 year is a lot, of course. But he was a guest in their country, and it only takes one person to ruin silence. To me it's the perfect example of being tone deaf when visiting other countries. I bet the next influencer or mindless person will think twice before overstepping.
@bettina So people who are not western should not be allowed to see our customs and laws as problematic?
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