rio de janeiro is a city with a rich history, where various traditions and cultures combine to create a unique environment - cariocas have created a complex society, filled with seemingly contradictory elements - yet there is a harmony and a balance between these elements, that may be concealed from the eyes of outsiders, especially when looked at through the lens of a foreign culture. 

jumping to conclusions about certain matters can indeed cause issues and upset the locals - while cariocas in general are extremely friendly people, non-confrontational, and open to talk to anyone freely, there exists a fine line between engaging in an interesting conversation and offending or annoying someone by bringing up certain matters, that can potentially change the tone of the encounter from cheerful and friendly to awkward, uncomfortable and even defensive.