Eight "don't-asks" and other things to keep in mind when chatting with foreigners and handicapped athletes

We've all seen our fair share of rules and regulations compiled for the upcoming Olympics, but Peaceful Rise translates a novel set of prescriptions for Chinese citizens' interaction with Westerners during the Games, found on a new series of posters in Beijing. "Eight Don't-Asks" when chatting with foreign guests, one poster advises:

Don’t ask about income or expenses, don’t ask about age, don’t ask about love life or marriage, don’t ask about health, don’t ask about someone’s home or address, don’t ask about personal experience, don’t ask about religious beliefs or political views, don’t ask what someone does.

1. You should use polite and standard forms of address for handicapped athletes.
2. Try to keep as light as you can with handicapped overtones.
3. Pay attention to how you congratulate handicapped athletes.

Pay attention to avoiding taboo subjects, quit using bad platitudes, and do not use insulting or discriminatory contemptuous or derogatory terms to address the disabled. Say things such as, “You are amazing,” or “You are really great.” When chatting with the visually impaired, do not say things like “It’s up ahead,” or “It’s over there.” When chatting with athletes who are paraplectic in their upper body, do not say things like “It’s behind you.”