90 upvotes, 5 direct replies (showing 5)
View submission: What’s the weirdest “unwritten rule” everyone just follows?
When I was working in tech in Switzerland, people all started loudly knocking on the desks after a presentation in a meeting. I was very confused but was told that it's the "academic knock" or something like that as if was something people do in all academic circles around the world. I worked in academia before and I had never seen such a thing and after looking it up, it's only a Swiss/German thing, and my colleagues were unaware that it wasn't more widespread.
When you think about it, it's just as weird as clapping. But if you don't know about it and don't expect it, you really feel the weirdness of humans doing such things.
Comment by cs_k_ at 03/12/2024 at 13:32 UTC
44 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I'm from Hungary and we were told in freshmen orientation that it's customary to clap at the end of lectures in Uni. It's actually a nice way to formally close down the session. Works great in an auditorium of 400+ people, especially if the prof is well liked.
I met a guy later, who started the same course as me, but after a year transferred to another city. After his first lecture he was the only one to clap and everyone looked at him funny.
Comment by phunkjnky at 03/12/2024 at 16:12 UTC
4 upvotes, 1 direct replies
In my fraternity, and in various other organizations I have been in, snaps are substituted for clapping.
Comment by FireTheLaserBeam at 03/12/2024 at 16:52 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I first saw this in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein with Kenneth Branaugh.
Comment by WoodlandHiker at 06/12/2024 at 06:14 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
That's interesting. When I was doing debate & forensics in college, rapping on your desk while someone was speaking meant "shame on you."
Comment by Vast_Guitar7028 at 07/12/2024 at 01:17 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I’ve been at multiple weddings where people bang on the tables to get the bride and groom to kiss at the reception. I don’t know why it’s a thing or who started it.