CLOSED CULTURES LIST
feel free to contact horroresque on discord if you see any mistakes / things that should be added. this resource is a reference list for decoding which names / symbols are closed. for open cultures, check out open-cultures (I may make my own list complimentary to this one, but this is still a good list!).
What is a closed culture?
A closed culture is a non-dominant culture that usually underwent some form of colonization. These cultures have language and names that hold cultural significance, and use of them can be viewed as cultural appropriation. By using these symbols / names because they're cute to you, disregards the original meaning and is disrespectful.
List of closed cultures
Avoid using names or symbols from these cultural origins unless you are (bodily) part of the culture yourself.
Japanese
Chinese
Thai
Cherokee
Indian
Bengali
Korean
Sinhalese
Tibetan
Hawaiian
Celtic
Saami
African
Hebrew (in some cases)
Georgian
Odias
Cambodian
Cameroon
Laotian
Malayali
Vai
Indonesia
Javanese
Arabic
Kannadigas
Scandinavia
Mayan
Cree
Blackfoot
Crow
Apache
Pawnee
Cheyenne