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PaperclipPerfector  10d ago (text post)   2683 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for June 12, 2026

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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Found an enticing Yemeni restaurant in Oslo, but then I checked their Yelp page and saw a massive Palestinian flag hanging on the wall, and they're selling some crappy coke knockoff that raises funds for charity in Gaza. What's the sentiment here? Do I look elsewhere, or do I separate the art from the artist? Whenever I'm in the mood for Somali or Pakistani food, I manage to find places that don't put up any pro-Palestinian virtue signaling. I'm sure their proprietors still harbor some problematic views, but if it's not pervasively advertised, I can at least grant them some plausible deniability. It just doesn't sit right with me to eat from an establishment that could very well chase a Jewish individual out of it.

When you think about having dinner, your primary concern is over their (likely nonexistent) Jewish customers? Israel and Palestine seem to be living rent free in your head.

Personally I would just avoid those cuisines if the problem is pervasive to you, surely Oslo has a lox sandwich or others foods that are free of such baggage?

Israel and Palestine seem to be living rent free in your head.

This is my first post mentioning the conflict, are you perhaps confusing me for another user? Sure the pool of prospective Jewish customers may be narrow, but I've observed restaurants putting up signs saying "Zionists not welcome" with stars of David as opposed to the Israeli flag. I'm not going around boycotting a place for advocating against the construction of new settlements, but when they are the ones who vociferously demonstrate their allegiance and are raising money for a dubious cause, I believe my concern is entirely legitimate.

Ah, I see, didn't know they were that open about their Zionist opposition. Is Palestinian or Somalian food that common in Oslo that it's hard to avoid? It is nonexistent in my neck of the woods.

Also, have you ever been to Japan? Some restaurants or hot spring resorts have "no foreigners" or "Japanese only" posted at their entrance. Is that also bothersome?

Is Palestinian or Somalian food that common in Oslo that it's hard to avoid

There's a vast array of cuisines available in Oslo, but for better or worse, my guilty pleasure is going to the seedier parts of town and indulging in food at Middle Eastern/West Asian places.

Also, have you ever been to Japan?

Nope.

Is that also bothersome?

As the other commenter said, it's a blanket rule to filter out the low-caliber rabble contingent of tourists as well as avoiding the rigamarole of having customers ordering in a language the servers have no command of. As I am currently not in Japan, I'm not in a rush to opine on the ethics of patronizing such businesses.

Some restaurants or hot spring resorts have "no foreigners" or "Japanese only" posted at their entrance.

FWIW in practice that means, "guests must speak Japanese and respect Japanese mores". If you're fluent to a reasonable level and behave yourself they're perfectly happy to have you.

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