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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.

Last Updated: 25.06.2025 16:24

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.

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

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

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

How John Cena recreated CM Punk’s Pipe Bomb promo and changed his farewell tour - Cageside Seats

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

Remember the Hays Code?

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

A traveler infected with measles flew into Miami. What are the next steps? - Miami Herald

lustful kissing is to be shown with care

toilets being shown

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

How are the brains of super geniuses (like Albert Einstein, Sir Isaac Newton, Elon Musk, James Clerk Maxwell & Donald Trump) different from the average person’s brain?

the display of bellybuttons

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

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

China’s Huawei plays down its chipmaking capabilities - ft.com

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