[qwerty456127]

> There's a difference between knowing a subject is taboo, and having a real understanding of the subject.

Doesn't tabooing something make it particularly interesting to learn about it? If I know about some mysterious bad thing having happened at a square nobody is allowed to mention I would hardly be able to resist curiosity, I would get interested about this topic above all other and find ways to learn as much as I can.

[mattnewton]

What if you knew that seeking that information would notify the government and could harm you, your family, and possibly even friends? Would you still act on that curiosity?

[qwerty456127]

Yes. Cautiously.

[traderjane]

Why? Are you a journalist? What will you do with knowledge of taboo events?

It seems you would risk much for very little just to know?

[qwerty456127]

Not a journalist nor activist. I wouldn't even tell anybody but those who have earnt my genuine trust and want to know badly. Pure curiosity. What the heck in life can be more attractive than knowing a secret truth?

[traderjane]

Most people would say millions upon millions of things are more interesting than knowing taboo secrets when people are interested in hurting you for it, and especially when the motivation is nothing more than "to know".

[qwerty456127]

Perhaps, but I can't imagine any. By the way, did you know simply adding "banned" to a video title in YouTube immediately attracts more views? Banned commercials (I can't imagine myself voluntarily watching an advertisement if it was not banned), banned TED talks, books and movies banned in some countries (I've first learnt about some books and movies I've read/watched right from these lists). I probably wouldn't even ever try drugs if these were not prohibited (I'm not an addict but I'm really glad I had some psychedelic experiences and the ban was what made me curious initially). Of course this doesn't mean I would do something really bad like robbing people just because this is outlawed, it's more about knowledge and experiences. I don't know why does this work but knowing you are not meant to know something but actually can learn about it creates urge hard to resist and I only care to actually resist it when it's about other people's personal privacy or business ethics (so I never read other's emails although, being a system administrator, I can).