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Photo by Giovanni Lamonica, Aralsk, Kazakhstan.

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Photo by Giovanni Lamonica,
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  #1  
Old 8 Oct 2016
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Possible offensive number plate
Evening,

Am planning on departing Darwin NT for Dilli Timor Leste in a couple of months on RTW trip.

I'm after thoughts on the possibility of the number plate on my 1200GSA which is PIG offending or causing me problems in any Muslim countries of which I'll be travelling a few.

Just thought I'd ask the question, I don't know anything about the religion and if there is a chance of causing offence I will change it.

Cheers

Josh
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  #2  
Old 8 Oct 2016
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Better hope there aren't any Muslim or Jewish traffic police in Darwin then.
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  #3  
Old 8 Oct 2016
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Originally Posted by Tony LEE View Post
Better hope there aren't any Muslim or Jewish traffic police in Darwin then.
Been ok in Darwin mate, might be thinking to much of it but thought I'd ask the question
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Old 8 Oct 2016
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You're worried about PIG? Maybe I should get paranoid about my KN OB 69 plate!

I doubt you'll have any trouble though.
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  #5  
Old 8 Oct 2016
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Originally Posted by NTJosh View Post
I'm after thoughts on the possibility of the number plate on my 1200GSA which is PIG offending or causing me problems in any Muslim countries of which I'll be travelling a few.
Hi Josh:

If the characters PIG are part of a larger string of letters & numbers (for example, 123PIG or PIG789), then I would not worry too much, I can't imagine that any official or citizen would be concerned or offended by that.

On the other hand, if the licence plate consists of nothing other than the three letters PIG, then I think it might be prudent to change it.

Michael
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  #6  
Old 8 Oct 2016
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I'd change it, at least because if it were mine I'd be *thinking* about whether it might be found offensive, and that alone would make me uncomfortable. Why add discomfort to a long journey? Plus: if I'm uncomfortable at borders and traffic stops, people in uniform are going to recognize that and check me out more carefully as a result. Why add to what are already sometimes exhausting periods standing by the roadside in ridiculous heat, over-dressed in riding clothes, boots and armor?

If you'll be spending any time at all in the USA, be aware that such a plate will almost certainly be taken as offensive by police (of any religion). To me, this seems far more likely than any risk in Muslim countries which use different languages and (often) alphabets. And American police can indeed cause you a lot of difficulty.

Just my thoughts, and of course YMMV.

Mark
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  #7  
Old 8 Oct 2016
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Think I might just change, easy to do now-not so on the road.

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  #8  
Old 8 Oct 2016
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Change it.

If you are thinking of it now, it will worry you during your trip. Not worth the worry.
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Old 9 Oct 2016
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Last edited by ChrisFS; 9 Oct 2016 at 11:06.
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  #10  
Old 9 Oct 2016
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Would "they" (the population of the countries you're visiting) be concerned about offending YOU in your own country with a stangley worded plate?
I doubt they'd even give the slightest concern over it (be that due to total unawareness or total ignorance), so why should you worry?
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Old 10 Oct 2016
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Think up a phrase that PIG stands for.

Put that in little letters beneath it on the plate.

IE: Perfection Integrity Grateful

Meaningless but something you can point to if asked.

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  #12  
Old 10 Oct 2016
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Originally Posted by Garth48 View Post
I think you're being a tad paranoid. If someone takes offence that's their problem. .not yours. ..


I am not saying the plate will cause offence. But there is the uncertainty and that can be enough to make you nervous and being nervous is something officials are trained to pick up on.

And then if the person takes some indication from the plate ... it can sway their option of whether they do a full customs inspection, issue a traffic ticket or impound the vehicle ... or just scratches your paint work in passing.

You want to appear to be 'one of them' .. a plain ordinary person .. possibly doing something adventurous but not someone causing any offence.
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Old 10 Oct 2016
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i find it incredulous that people think a muslim would be offended by a person having a plate that says PIG. muslims are not offended by pigs. they simply dont eat pork, as jews dont. muslims do not find the animal itself offensive.

this is political correctness gone MAD
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  #14  
Old 10 Oct 2016
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Originally Posted by Warin View Post
Change it.

If you are thinking of it now, it will worry you during your trip. Not worth the worry.
I totally agree. Why start a trip with negative thoughts when you can help it ?

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Old 10 Oct 2016
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Originally Posted by teevee View Post
this is political correctness gone MAD
Not a question of political correctness ... but a question of someone's feelings. And individual people can be very fixed in their ways .. however we might regard their view.

Best to 'fit in' as a visitor, if you confront these difference the result may well be unpleasant. Most will be tolerant of the stranger not knowing, but that said travellers should take their lead from the locals - do what they do. Much like the road rules .. if you do something like what the locals do you should be ok. You are a minority in another's territory, avoiding offence is good manners.

There are lots of cultural differences .. one of the reasons why we travel. Respect it and it may remain for the next generation of travellers.
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