Austrian tourist brochure advises Arabs not to haggle or eat on the floor

[Malthus]

The association of pigs with filth is pretty strong, and it is backed up by the fact that pig meat has to be well-cooked because pigs carry diseases people get.

I've eaten pork cooked less than well done (including in restaurants).

It isn't recommended. However, in the US, chances of getting a disease from undercooked pork are slight, because of extensive anti-infection measures. In the third world, though ...

http://www.medic8.com/healthguide/food-poisoning/pork-food-poisoning.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichinosis

[derspiess]

Pork tastes better well-done or medium-well anyway-- particularly a bit crispy on the edges.

[Eddie Teach]

Well, it isn't because Americans are very religious. I mean, on average they are,

Wrong.

http://blow.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/29/why-is-america-so-religious/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

From your own link:

Despite its wealth, the United States is in the middle of the global pack when it comes to the importance of religion.

Also, possibly unlike your typical NYT reporter, I actually know religious people. Most don't treat it with that much importance, even if they claim otherwise when answering a poll.

[Valmy]

Me? I love me some bacon. Cooked nice and crispy. 

Are you aware you are bringing sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and sap your strength upon yourself?  Granted I guess you do the same thing every time you do not put to death a guy who you are reasonably sure recently laid with another guy as if he was a woman.

[Grey Fox]

I eat pork Rosé...Pink. Well done is for barbarian and babyboomers.

[Malthus]

Well, it isn't because Americans are very religious. I mean, on average they are,

Wrong.

http://blow.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/29/why-is-america-so-religious/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

From your own link:

Despite its wealth, the United States is in the middle of the global pack when it comes to the importance of religion.

Also, possibly unlike your typical NYT reporter, I actually know religious people. Most don't treat it with that much importance, even if they claim otherwise when answering a poll.

"... in the middle of the global pack ...".  Note the emphasis. When you compare the US to places like Lebanon or India, it is "average" in religiousity. Not when you compare the US with places like Germany or Australia.

From the quote you quoted:

"... Indeed, on this question, the U.S. is closer to considerably less developed nations such as India, Brazil and Lebanon than to other western nations."

The US is, famously, much more religious as a population in average than the First-world "pack". Note that over 80% in the US allegedly rate being religious as "important".

[Eddie Teach]

So "very religious" doesn't mean "more religious than most". It means "more religious than me". This is what I thought.

[Malthus]

So "very religious" doesn't mean "more religious than most". It means "more religious than me". This is what I thought.

"More religious than any others in the First world". 

[Valmy]

The thing you have to understand is that football is considered a religion here.  So when people ask us if religion is important the answer is pretty obvious.  At the end of the day it is the only way we can get people to continue to support public education.

[Malthus]

The thing you have to understand is that football is considered a religion here.  So when people ask us if religion is important the answer is pretty obvious.  At the end of the day it is the only way we can get people to continue to support public education.

I guess that also explains the pigs not being filthy thing - after all, weren't footballs traditionally made of pig-skin? 

[Valmy]

The thing you have to understand is that football is considered a religion here.  So when people ask us if religion is important the answer is pretty obvious.  At the end of the day it is the only way we can get people to continue to support public education.

I guess that also explains the pigs not being filthy thing - after all, weren't footballs traditionally made of pig-skin? 

It is a religious commandment to eat sausages at our religious festivals.

[The Brain]

Why would you compare America to countries in the First World?

[Ed Anger]

I refuse to believe that someone can "not like" pork. Tamas likes pork, he just hasn't had the right pork yet.

Don't be that guy. We don't need another food asshole on this planet.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

In the third world, though ...

that goes for about everything doesn't it :-/

[Malthus]

In the third world, though ...

that goes for about everything doesn't it :-/

The issue though is "why scarfing down raw pork is associated with bad stuff". The reason: until recently, it was strongly associated with dying of diseases, even in the first world, and it still is in the third world. It still isn't a great idea though even in the first world, as the medical website points out:

Ignore recipes which call for pork to be lightly cooked or undercooked.