favelas are one of the most sensitive and difficult conversation topics - the subject is difficult to discuss for  many locals, and is perhaps best avoided by ocasianal and uninformed visitors who lack knowledge about context and underlying social structures.

when approaching the topic outsiders require a reasonable degree of cultural competency and tactfullness. an advisable stance is one of genuine interest and curiosity as well as the assumption that outsiders know very little about the subject, regardles of the amount of study and research done beforehand.