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trowzerss t1_j8aoe76 wrote

Are you an Aboriginal or Torres Strait reader? if not, then the warning doesn't apply for you and you can go about your day, or you can do two seconds research and find out why, if you're curious.

Others have already answered, but I will add that it varies from tribe to tribe, but also includes that it's not just out of respect, but some tribes believe if you mention a deceased persons name too much or show their voice or image, they will not be able to properly rest, and it may call someone back from the dead, and that's how you get ghosts and unquiet spirits. Yes, not everybody literally believes that in modern times, but they still follow it out of respect. For some tribes though, this ban expires after a certain period of time (like a month or a year), others it does not. Other times family may waive this ban, especially if they were a prominent person, like a singer or political figure. But yeah, I have relatives who are only referred to by their relationship to others (e.g. his grandmother, their aunty) and not their actual name.

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Armyfazer11 t1_j8au193 wrote

Thank you for the education on this. I had no idea. Always learning.

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Stegasaurus_Wrecks t1_j8avcxv wrote

Is there something similar with people from Myanmar? A lady from there was murdered in Ireland recently and there was lots of people upset at media coverage mentioning her name for the same reason or one very similar.

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Taleya t1_j8awz2x wrote

it's actually common on a lot of cultures. Some others go the complete opposite, up to and including dressing remains up and celebrating with them. We're a rich and varied species.

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