What justification is there for laws against social taboos?

Question

Shouldn't people be allowed to be the way they want if it doesn't hurt anyone? What business is it of anyone else?

Answer 1

You don't give an example, but in general, it depends on what you consider to be "hurting" someone. A lot of the social taboos that are legislated against have to do with exposing nonparticipants to offensive acts...especially children. Example walking around downtown nude. The potential for such emotional or psychological "hurt" is what is being legislated against.

We are certainly seeing the validity of these concerns with studies of how our children are being damaged psychologically by nonstop exposure to sex, drug, and violent messages in the world around them.

Answer 2

There are no crimes that don't hurt anyone. Eventually, all crimes hurt someone else. A drug abuser might not be hurting anyone but himself while using the drug, but what happens when the drug runs out. They go looking for money, which leads them to break into people's houses. Prostitution is another "victimless" crime that still effects people. Anyone with a wife, relationship, or children will be affected eventually when their infidelity is found out. Furthermore, the possibility for the spread of disease comes to mind. Crime is crime, no matter the situation. While we shouldn't ruin peoples lives for some of the petty stuff, the hammer still needs to fall on those who do wrong.

Answer 3

Well, I think that the answer from the person with the
American flag icon is the best.
Perhaps you don't know it, but America was founded by Christian leaders. Harvard was originally founded to create ministers of the gospels, although that is not in their mission statement today.
Perhaps you don't live in America. Maybe you live in another country. They have their own codes of conduct. Some are for religious reasons. Or moral reasons.
A lot of people like to think that America is trying to cram Christian standards down the throats of others.
Are we? People in this country are free to worship whom they choose, and have great liberties compared to other countries. Those countries which have very lax moral standards have an extremely high rate of drug addiction and sexually transmitted diseases.
Without constraints, a country will destroy itself.

Answer 4

In a perfect world that would be just fine.

Problem is, there are people, and alot of them, who don't care who gets hurt and by what means.

Also,your definition of what hurts may be totally different than someone elses.

If a 50 year old man feels that he should be able to seduce a 12 year old girl and he doesn't feel it will hurt her, should he be allowed to do it?

If a drug pusher feels it is fine to sell pot to a 10 year-old kid because it really isn't hurting them, should they be allowed to?

If a woman decides it really isn't hurting anyone to molest a 2 year-old little boy since he probably won't remember it, shoud it be overlooked?

I don't want you to answer those questions. I want you to think about it.

Answer 5

Ears wanders for praise. Thus you wait for others opinion and that's how social taboos build up.

Answer 6

Define when something doesn't "hurt" anyone. Society defines what is normal and moral. If you want to do otherwise, you should be expecting acceptance for your "immorality".

Answer 7

It would be easier to answer this question if you provided the specific law/s you are talking about.

Answer 8

I'm not saying I agree, but...

People like to protect their comfort level. Sorry.

Answer 9

There is no justification.