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jinlee

an Asian thing - Tanning

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In many cultures, a tan doesn't imply health and leisure, as it often does in Western advertising. Instead, it's seen as a connection to outdoor work, and the peasantry. Preserving one's pale skin, the thinking goes, implies that you lead a pampered, successful life.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/08/20/159366234/on-chinese-beaches-the-face-kini-is-in-fashion?utm_source=npr&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=20120820

Naturally occurring dark skin is looked down upon.

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Tanning wasn't cool in the Western cultures until the 20th century (and probably the mid-20th century at that)

Wendy P.
There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

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Dude they are Asian!
They are ninjas!
God do i have to teach you everything!
Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay.

The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools!

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Absolutely true.

When I walked across Spain this summer on my Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, There were a LOT of Koreans walking as well. Even on the days when it was 90 degrees and the route was 28km in the hot sun across the meseta (think CA's central valley, without the smog), the Korean pilgrims were covered head to toe, even wearing gloves!

I remember wondering how the heck they could stand it, especially the older women i saw. Social status is so important, they chose sweltering over comfort to prevent tanning.
Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

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Tanning wasn't cool in the Western cultures until the 20th century (and probably the mid-20th century at that)



Very true. My grandmother and grandfather would never ever tan, nor spend extended time in the sun. One simply would not want to look like a commoner.

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In many cultures, a tan doesn't imply health and leisure, as it often does in Western advertising. Instead, it's seen as a connection to outdoor work, and the peasantry. Preserving one's pale skin, the thinking goes, implies that you lead a pampered, successful life.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/08/20/159366234/on-chinese-beaches-the-face-kini-is-in-fashion?utm_source=npr&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=20120820

Naturally occurring dark skin is looked down upon.



Absolutely true, social status behind how one's physical appearance may imply is huge. Within the sub-group of Asian cultures I am aware, social status and its significance is pervasive within the language and how people refer to each other. For example, there are specific words used to refer to an "older sister", "younger brother", "maternal grandmother", "second paternal grand aunt", etc.

The funny thing is, even with strict adherence to these social practices, Asians these days are trying hard to adopt and assimilate into the Western culture. It's not uncommon to see an immigrated or even native Asian person to have a tan, bleached/blonde hair, wear blue contact lenses. Go to the larger more developed cities in Asia and I'm sure it will be a more common sight than you think.

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Am i the only one who is a little turned on by tan lines?



If you were the only one, there wouldn't be porn sites dedicated to them. That said, it's not really my thing. I find natural skin coloring more attractive on most women.

Blues,
Dave
"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

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Besides less than stunning engineering or weight challenged chicks is there anything that doesn't "turn you on"?


Girls who don't shave!
I am so not a fan of fuzzy women! :|
Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay.

The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools!

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Am i the only one who is a little turned on by tan lines?



If you were the only one, there wouldn't be porn sites dedicated to them. That said, it's not really my thing. I find natural skin coloring more attractive on most women.



wasn't that basically all 70s porn? I personally didn't care for the Coopertone girl separation of bright orange and pasty white skin. It's all or none (lightly tanned) for me.

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Yep, standards of beauty change with time. There was a time in Europe that obesity was the standard of beauty; it implied that the person was rich, and had access to all the safe food they wanted.



Similar phenomenon with clothing. Wealthy people tended towards overdoing layers in order to show off their collection of clothing. Having more than was needed was a status signal; with the historical remnant being the cultivated preppie look of at least 3 layers worn it a fitted manner, and perhaps another layer or two loosely draped (capes, scarves, sweaters tied around waist, etc).
" . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

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>they chose sweltering over comfort to prevent tanning.

Or skin cancer.



SPF 50 for the win. I was outdoors for 34 days straight, it only rained 4 times, it was above 25ºC for most of the time, and I never even got burned. Wearing short sleeves and shorts most of the time. I did get slightly darker, though. (meaning i went from "visible from space" white to slightly beige :P)
Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

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