Originally Posted by aklim

I agree that local norms have some bearing but I would disagree that we have to simply use the local norms, whatever it is, as a standard.

Take the time I was in Nam. It wasn't a big deal to have a river run past the dining area that was black and with a few dead rats. Oh, BTW, there was a crapper (outhouse) upstream of the dining area. Yes, it was the local norm for that restaurant. However, I can't say that I would rate it highly either. However, according to you, it would be acceptable since it was the local norm. Local norm as it may be, I simply don't see how I can recommend that you dine there.

Up to 1996, I have seen food courts in Singapore that had rats running around at night. Again, it was the local norm but would you expect me to recommend it to you? To give you a context, the food was about comparatively priced to the local McDonnalds, less the rats.