My friend is very considerate. She said, "I'm not trying to offend anyone." But she is interested in this part of culture. Fair enough, right?
One person replied:
"An act is only offensive if you intend it to be."
In most circumstances, I'd agree with that. I mean, if you actually take time to learn about it and asj questions and be respectful, then yeah. ...but then a wild SJW appears!
I'm sorry, but ^That's some bullshit right there.^ and yes, wearing bindis is cultural appropriation. Bindis are an expression of a set of social and spiritual traditions that aren't yours. You (most likely) aren't fully aware of their true social significance and history in the way someone born to that culture would be. I'm not saying wearing bindis is the worse thing ever (it's not) but it's also not something you can do without potential offending someone from the culture you're borrowing them from. You have to assess your own comfort levels there.
And of course she's the typical well-off white girl, though in her 30's it seems.
Without addressing her specifically, I made a distasteful remark on the SJW subculture, then advised my friend this:
"I'd ask someone from the culture in question about it, myself, rather than listen to some self-righteous blathering jezebel article or whatnot. You'd be surprised at how often people are pleased that someone is taking an appreciative interest in their culture!"
