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Why do Americans and foreigners alike describe the USA as prudish? Why do I see nothing prudish about the USA society? USA feels like one of the loosest countries although Americans claim to be very reserved.

11.06.2025 07:20

Why do Americans and foreigners alike describe the USA as prudish? Why do I see nothing prudish about the USA society? USA feels like one of the loosest countries although Americans claim to be very reserved.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world still sniggers at American prudishness.

toilets being shown

couples in the same bed, even if married. (Laurel and Hardy came before the code)

Largest map of the universe announced revealing 800,000 galaxies, challenging early cosmos theories - Phys.org

Remember the Hays Code?

nudity, or even suggestions of it (e.g. a silhouette)

the display of bellybuttons

Carrying own bag after splitting with caddie, Max Homa fails to qualify for U.S. Open - NBC Sports

lustful kissing is to be shown with care

sexual perversion, including homosexuality (naturally), and sexual relationships between the white and black races.

The ridiculous 2004 Superbowl ‘Nipplegate’ was a more recent reminder of how US attitudes have not really advanced much since the Hays code.

Measles vaccination rates drop after COVID-19 pandemic in counties across the US - AP News

any profanity to the Christian religion, e.g. hell, damn, God (unless used in a holy sense), or ridicule of the clergy.

For 34 years, movie and TV studios censored themselves to appease the Puritanical whims of Will Hays.

disrespect of authority figures. Crooked judges are OK if they are also clearly portrayed as evil people

See a young star potentially giving birth to a giant planet in new image from Very Large Telescope - Live Science

Some ridiculous highlights of the code in effect banned or discouraged: