Like how we all face the door in an elevator or feel the need to say ‘ope’ when we almost bump into someone. What’s a silent rule of society that you find hilarious or totally unnecessary?
feel the need to say ‘ope’ when we almost bump into someone
Found the midwesterner?
Order of Adjectives. You do this unconsciously and don’t even know you’re doing it.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/grammar/british-grammar/adjectives-order
“The big black house up on the hill.”
Never “The black big up on the hill house.”
1 - opinion - unusual, lovely, beautiful
2 - size - big, small, tall
3 - physical quality - thin, rough, untidy
4 - shape - round, square, rectangular
5 - age - young, old, youthful
6 - colour - blue, red, pink
7 - origin - Dutch, Japanese, Turkish
8 - material - metal, wood, plastic
9 - type - general-purpose, four-sided, U-shaped
10 - purpose - cleaning, hammering, cookingMy favorite one of these unconscious linguistic rules is expletive infixation. We say “fan-fucking-tastic” but “fanta-fucking-stic” sounds completely wrong.
That’s a language rule, tho
One could argue language rules are social rules tho
Yup, if you mix up the adjective order, people will look at you like you’re an alien.
“Your leader, to him take me!”
No one alive today agreed to Daylight Saving Time.
In BC Canada we are now on permanent Daylight Savings time woohoo!
‘How are you today?”
“Good, you?”
“Good, thanks.”
I usually give an “eh I’m doing okay” since that gives a chance if they actually wanted to know what’s up.
“great!”
Hands clasped behind the back means, “just looking”. Seems pretty universal. People do this in stores all the time.
This was always just old man walk to me but I never thought about why old guys all seemed to do it
The elevator one seems pretty universal, but “ope” is regional.
These kinds of social norms aren’t universal.
One that I wish were more universal would be standing on the right when using an escalator, and leaving the left side for walking.
Interesting point! I guess ‘ope’ is my regional bias showing lol. The escalator thing is a great example of a rule that makes life so much more efficient, yet people still ignore it. I wonder why some rules like ‘facing the door’ stick so well, while others like ‘stand on the right’ are a constant struggle. Do you think it’s because one is about comfort and the other is about efficiency?
On the contrary, I’d say the elevator thing is only comfortable because it’s a social norm. Unless it’s a subconscious “face the door so you can see if any attackers enter” thing.
The escalator thing is less universal because it’s something that helps other people, and not ourselves. This isn’t valued as much in individualistic societies like the ones in most of North America.
“Sorry!”
When you accidentally bump into someone you say “watch where ya walkin’!”
“I’m walkin’ heah!”
“What are ya’, blind?!”
I always wish I was a “hey watch it!” guy but I am forever a “sorry!” guy even when it is clearly NOT my fault. 🤦🏻♀️
I like the tradition of “bless you!” when someone sneezes, but it is surely not necessary. And why do we say that for sneezing but not coughing?
I hate this tradition fiercely and I’m glad to have moved to a place where sneezes are generally ignored. As they should be.
I was at the urinal the other day and sneezed; someone said bless you from a stall.
It was awkward. Breaking one social norm to uphold another.
You can restore the social contract by putting your hand under the stall for a firm handshake. If he consents, you get a firm handshake and relief that the social contract is restored. If he refuses, then you have to deal with the shame and heartache.
If he doesn’t take the handshake the only appropriate thing to do is to wait outside the bathroom, follow him to the parking lot and then follow him home. Once you learn his address, you can start learning his routines and the routines of his family. There are many options at this point, but the one I recommend is applying for a job where he works. The next step could take a long time, potentially years. Work your way up the ladder. Take night classes to fit the roles you’re applying for internally, and dedicate yourself to the job. Delay finding “the one” and starting a family like you’ve always dreamed of. Nothing matters but the job. Bide your time and when you finally are promoted to this man’s boss, on your first day, offer a handshake. Of course, he won’t deny you. Relish this moment. Feel the warmth of his hand I yours. Smile and say “was it really that hard?” When he gives you a quizzical look, laugh it off like it was a joke. You want to call it there, but you’re in too deep. You’re making nearly 300k a year in salary and commissions and you have a clear shot at EVP if you play your cards right. Your lifestyle has changed and you have an expensive mortgage, a boat payment for a yacht you don’t have time to take out, and a number of women half your age that you spend what little free time you have with wining and dining. They have expensive tastes. You tried coke recently and you really like it. It makes your job so much easier because you need to be “on” all the time and you haven’t been sleeping well, but you’ve discovered that if you do just exactly the right amount, you can perform at peak. You have it totally figured out.
I have a friend who says ‘coughs you’ lol
A sneeze was a demon leaving your body - apparently. Way back in the day.
They don’t do that in Vietnam, and I find it odd
I’m not religious and just ignore people that say bless you. It’s entirely disingenuous anyway. No one is aware of what they’re saying, let alone means it. It’s just a thing for them to feel good and nothing to do with the sneezer.
I miss the days of stopping at a yellow light to let the person turning left go.
I haven’t driven in 4 years, and this has given me road rage on my couch.
“Ope! Lemme just scooootch on by ya!”
Like how we all face the door in an elevator or feel the need to say ‘ope’ when we almost bump into someone. What’s a silent rule of society that you find hilarious or totally unnecessary?
I look in the mirror when there is one.
And when i bump into someone i go “SORRY IM SORRY IM SO SORRY IM SORRY AREYOUOKAY”
Like how we all face the door in an elevator
That’s only a movie thing so that the camera can see the actors. People don’t do it in real life (at least not around here).
You face the wall?
The door is a wall too.
Some elevators have doors on opposite sides (e.g. this is common in places with a car park entrance)
When they’re alone or with other people? If I’m alone, I’m facing forward.
Not being able to have a video call in public b**** how is it any different than having a conversation with someone
Because people on video chat (or often on the phone in general) are usually not displaying good situational awareness.
Treating white conservatives like humans.
