You're probably right--it's semantics. When I wrote that, I was thinking about conversations with my wife, who came from a European country, about how Americans tend to be more uninhibited in their topics of conversation, even with people outside their family--friends, colleagues, and even virtual strangers like might chat at a cocktail party. Within five minutes of meeting a stranger, we Americans (I have been guilty of this) often ask, "What do you do (for a living)?" In some cultures, that strikes people as impolite, brash, overly forward, etc. Not necessarily taboo or off-limits, just not a topic to bring up casually. Granted, in this thread people have raised a number of different situations, ranging from casual conversation with a friend to attempting to sit down with a close relative and have a heart-to-heart, so I do not mean to make a sweeping statement. I do not believe impoliteness or taboo explains why a close family member would not agree to sit down and have a serious discussion about financial matters.