created by Mountain-Ad8470 on 03/12/2024 at 03:02 UTC
424 upvotes, 85 top-level comments (showing 25)
I was at a coffee shop today, and I realized something funny—everyone somehow knows that the tiny table near the restroom is always the last-resort seat. No one talks about it, but you’ll see people walking in, scanning the room, and only sitting there if literally no other chair exists.
Got me thinking: What’s the weirdest unwritten rule we all just know to follow without questioning? Like how we all nod when someone lets us cross the street or pretend we don’t notice someone struggling with a door handle.
What’s your favorite “weird rule”? Let’s make a list!
Comment by BishImAThotGetMeLit at 03/12/2024 at 03:44 UTC
591 upvotes, 8 direct replies
Clapping. When there’s something we like, we all bang our limbs together in excitement. We’re so enthused that we all start hitting ourselves to show our interest.
Comment by mvachino67 at 03/12/2024 at 09:21 UTC
311 upvotes, 13 direct replies
When driving past cows, one must announce that there are cows!
Comment by Ohmmy_G at 03/12/2024 at 03:50 UTC
273 upvotes, 9 direct replies
The head nod is so weirdly accurate. Nod down for strangers. Nod up for acquaintance and friends.
Comment by Interesting-Credit-8 at 03/12/2024 at 03:55 UTC
124 upvotes, 6 direct replies
Getting into lines with no direction to do so. Walking on the right hand side of the sidewalk (hallway, stairs, etc).
Comment by natsugrayerza at 03/12/2024 at 04:28 UTC
118 upvotes, 5 direct replies
I don’t think bathroom one is weird! It makes sense that people don’t want to sit right next to a bathroom when they’re eating and drinking.
I think the way we get on an elevator and stare straight ahead is weird.
Comment by False_Plantain_1919 at 03/12/2024 at 03:18 UTC
220 upvotes, 7 direct replies
Oh, that restroom table thing is so real! Another one is how we all avoid eye contact in elevators, even if we're the only two people in there. Just an unspoken rule!
Comment by Inevitable_Vanilla_6 at 03/12/2024 at 06:47 UTC
99 upvotes, 6 direct replies
In the women's restroom, you skip the first stall and go for the second. If you have to poop, you go to the furthest one, out of courtesy.
Comment by thedoc617 at 03/12/2024 at 16:08 UTC
34 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Raised Catholic until age 18
"May the force be with you"
(Automatically without thinking)
"And also with you"
Comment by misterfuss at 03/12/2024 at 06:35 UTC
27 upvotes, 6 direct replies
I kinda get irritated when I ask someone “how are you doing?” and they simply reply “fine” without asking me how I’m doing. So, I guess the unwritten rule that I think exists is that if someone asks you how you’re doing, you tell them and ask them how they’re doing.
Comment by MissO56 at 03/12/2024 at 04:49 UTC
126 upvotes, 5 direct replies
taking a book from a big building full of books, then returning it 3 weeks later, and no one looks at you suspiciously
when you know you're going to make a loud noise, saying "loud noise!" ahead of time
when you've accidentally made a loud noise, and didn't say "loud noise" ahead of time, you follow it up with "I'm okay!"
if you're sitting in your living room and have a sleeping cat on your lap, someone else has to go get/do things for you
if you are going to use the kitchen tongs, you must perform the osha approved "test click" to ensure that they are functional
men using alternating urinals
the unspoken pressure to offer to split the "last bite" of something with someone, even though you really want it all for yourself
Comment by AdvetrousDog3084867 at 03/12/2024 at 03:20 UTC
85 upvotes, 4 direct replies
is that really a weird rule? it feels like just an extension of poop is gross and people don't want to be near it.
anyway to answer your question tho people saying "good morning" = hello. like why would a morning that is good mean hello?
Comment by Vuelhering at 03/12/2024 at 07:45 UTC
20 upvotes, 1 direct replies
That restroom table avoidance is from experience. Nobody wants to smell urinal cakes while drinking coffee. Or really, ever.
So, here's a funny weird rule. Never face the wrong way in an elevator. It's pretty funny to do, and even alone you know a security guard is probably watching and wondering.
Comment by [deleted] at 03/12/2024 at 11:01 UTC
38 upvotes, 2 direct replies
[removed]
Comment by TexAveryWolfEnjoyer at 03/12/2024 at 11:36 UTC
41 upvotes, 2 direct replies
In the Netherlands: only eating one hot meal a day.
There's no cultural superstition surrounding this. It's just something everyone does.
People even ask "heb je al warm gegeten?" (have you had a hot meal yet?) when offering food, as if it'd be bad for them to have warm food more than once a day. But again, no such superstition exists. Nobody actually knows why they care.
Comment by Improvgal at 03/12/2024 at 04:11 UTC
17 upvotes, 1 direct replies
No speaking in the elevator unless it’s about pushing the button for the floor.
Comment by WoodenHoop at 03/12/2024 at 06:46 UTC
33 upvotes, 0 direct replies
You see the nurse in the clinic waiting room and answer her greeting of how are you doing with good yep good. Get to the exam room and sit down and feeling good isn't anywhere to be found.
Comment by decadeslongrut at 03/12/2024 at 12:41 UTC
15 upvotes, 2 direct replies
mine are going to be linguistic ones, since i've exchanged these with non-native english speakers recently:
"adjectives in English absolutely have to be in this order: opinion- size-age-shape-colour-origin-material-purpose Noun. So you can have a lovely little old rectangular green French silver whittling knife. But if you mess with that word order in the slightest you'll sound like a maniac. It's an odd thing that every English speaker uses that list, but almost none of us could write it out. "
another one i was asked to explain recently was that you can say happy or merry christmas, unless one is also passing on new years greetings and then it MUST be merry christmas/happy new year and never the inverse or both happy, and we all follow this rule without question or without ever deciding on it
Comment by CuriousNoHolds at 03/12/2024 at 03:40 UTC
95 upvotes, 6 direct replies
“How was your day?”
There is no intention to learn how your day was. Only the desire to ask it.
Comment by arc777_ at 03/12/2024 at 14:16 UTC
11 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I don't know if this is unique to Americans, but when someone offers to do something for you or offers you something, you're almost expected to try and fight it.
Comment by Reasonable-Horse1552 at 03/12/2024 at 07:02 UTC
25 upvotes, 0 direct replies
When walking in the countryside, you must say hello to everyone you meet and say what a nice day it is.
Comment by friendly-skelly at 03/12/2024 at 07:35 UTC
35 upvotes, 2 direct replies
White at a wedding, honestly. My mum got some aghast reactions from family because she wore a tan dress from gap that cost about $40. Her and my stepdad paid for almost the whole thing by themselves, and we were pretty poor in those days. She was just trying not to burn through her savings.
I overheard my mum saying "I don't get it, they expect the virginity symbol to be a big deal when my kid is coming to the wedding?" I asked about it, and she tried to explain in PG terms. I asked if they only cared about it with the brides? When she said yes, I got indignant.
That was a long time ago, but I haven't revised my stance yet.
Comment by Damama-3-B at 03/12/2024 at 16:28 UTC
9 upvotes, 2 direct replies
I say hi to all animals I see.
Comment by corporateballerina at 03/12/2024 at 09:58 UTC
7 upvotes, 2 direct replies
In the US, at least, walking on the right side when going up and down stairs, in hallways, etc. It feels automatic, maybe because that’s how we drive.
Comment by Ok_Narwhal_9200 at 03/12/2024 at 10:52 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Not wanting to sit next to the restroom makes sense. I for one do not like the smell of human waste and disinfectant while trying to enjoy my coffee.
None of the rules you listed are weird. They're all reasonable.
And now I'm worried that there aren't any weird unwritten rules. :( I can't come up with any.
Comment by SUBHUMAN_RESOURCES at 03/12/2024 at 13:35 UTC
4 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Not sure if this counts…
I’m a lefty so I just realized this recently- switching hands when you eat. Most people (righties) apparently use their knife in the dominant hand when eating and then switch to the fork. I’ve just done fork left knife right my whole life and had no idea that people typically switch.