Some rules exist because they had to be implemented. Like the speed limit or legal drinking age. Meanwhile, some rules have backfired big time and made the people who implemented them regret their decision. Check out our previous post about such instances right here.
But there are rules that need no introduction. They’re not documented in books nor authorized by law, and still, they govern our daily lives. This simple “common sense” is also known as “unwritten rules” and they refer to common behavioral constraints we all take for granted.
Things like not swiping sideways if someone shows a picture on their phone, or never making fun of someone else’s laugh. Sounds random, but people swear by it! Scroll down below for more unspoken rules listed by people online.
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Never ever make fun of someone who is overweight at the gym.
If someone comes up to you that you don't know starts loudly talking about being your friend you play along
If you're wrong, admit it.
So much this. This needs to be higher on the list. Being wrong and learning is a part of personal growth. Even if I am in a heated debate with someone and arguing my point and it all of a sudden dawns on me that they are right, I will immediately concede. Always good to be moldable, being rigid doesn't do anyone any good.
You having a bad day doesn't mean that you have to ruin other people's day.
Don't play your music out loud when in public.
For example: While walking down the street or sitting on a bus one should not be blasting music on their personal device. Buy a pair of damn headphones.
Always let people out before walking in. This applies to elevators, trains, or anything similar.
If someone is giving you a ride, be ready before the person arrives to pick you up.
When driving and someone lets you into the traffic stream, be sure to do the "Thank You Wave."
Don't wear white to a wedding, and don't propose at someone's wedding. I'm sure this sucks to hear, but that is not your day. Don't be a d*ck.
I agree! Don't steal the spotlight away from someone else's special day.
Unless you have the couple blessings to do so..... There are amazing videos online where the couple being married help their friends to propose....
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Or make any sort of announcement - don't announce pregnancy, don't come out of the closet, don't shine the light on you, period.
I was catering at a wedding... The bride & groom had done their thing & everyone was partying... then the grooms brother proposed to his sweetheart (she said yes) & everybody just partied harder. It was a lot of fun. It was a climax to the climax. But the timing seemed to be key. And if you want to propose, either do it quietly between the two of you &/or make sure you ask the bride & groom if it's okay to do on their day 😉
The problem with that is it doesn't allow for the possibility that the other person may want to say no. It isn't very considerate in many ways and people misjudge this a lot. Lots of online disasters where people say no. Do it in private and party with others another time. Make two celebrations rather than merge them. Even if the married couple are on board, it can go wrong.
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I ask all my guests to wear white to my gay (MM) wedding, just because of this rule.
Why don't people care about the groom(s) and them having an unique look anyways? It's like don't dress like the bride, but tuxes identical to the groom's(') are expected. (Brb, gonna find a suit color that works for me and my bf and ban it from the guests)
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No, good point, I've seen beautiful wedding dresses in Asian culture 😊
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Also, white wedding dresses only became popular after Queen Victoria wore a white dress for her wedding. Until then, brides wore their best dress, of any color. Bridesmaids also wore the same color dress as the bride as it was a way to "confuse evil spirits."
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I honestly wouldn't mind, but that's just me. I'm not planning on wearing a white dress, not my style. I don't care that it's traditional, still not wearing one. I'd rather wear blue or purple or another color.
How about don't be such a prima donna that you think your wedding is a production or a show, not a religious or secular joining of two people into a family?
Those types of people remind me of pregnant women who get mad at their friends for having a positive pregnancy test. It feels like they're taking the concept of someone joining their family, and using that person as a prop.
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My wife was pregnant while at my cousin's wedding. We kept our mouth shut about it because it was not our day. But, my godmother found out because my wife's hormones got the better of her (long story about weather conditions) and so I had to at least tell my godfather, who was the groom's father. Those two were the only ones to find out that day.
Yes, do all of that at the divorce proceedings that follow in about 50% of these expensive confabulations!
You should ASK before you plan to propose at someone else's wedding. I don't think it's a terrible thing. If my love inspired love in people I care about if consider that to be a great thing... I also couldn't give two peanuts of care about what my guests would wear I mean if it's not a wedding dress, who cares? I don't think a wedding should be about attention on my social day, it should be about sharing that moment with my loved ones, who is want to be as comfortable and happy as possible... But I went to the justice of the peace at 20 years old and haven't looked back. Never did the whole wedding thing. But I've been married long enough to watch some of my friends have a few weddings.
Why anyone would think either of those r ok is beyond me… it’s the mason basic of all common sense lol
I agree, the only reason you should propose at someone's wedding is because you go permission from the couple
I'd add don't reveal pregancy the same day someone else gives birth.
You guys wanna hear something funny? Someone in addition to my wife showed up to our wedding wearing a white dress. Was it the MIL? Jealous sister? Nope. Wedding photographer. And when she was taking pictures while walking backwards she fell and went spread eagle so everyone in the wedding party saw her bright red undies. The pictures were pretty bad too (unsurprisingly).
Don't announce your pregnancy, raise, new job, or anything else either. It's not your day.
At my funeral I want them to throw my bouquet into the crowd " Who's next ???
I think it's okay to propose, just don't make a big thing of it. Do it quietly in a corner.
ASKING THE BRIDE AND GROOM IF ITS OKAY TO PROPOSE, THEN THE PROPOSAL IS IN ORDER. FOR SOME COUPLES IT CAN BE A ROMANTIC BACKDROP TO PROPOSE MARRIAGE AT A WEDDING RECEPTION (JUST WAIT UNTIL TOWARD THE END OF THE EVENT SO AS NOT TO DISTRACT FROM THE BRIDE AND GROOM.
Goes for graduations, anniversary parties & birthdays as well. It's. Not. Your. Day.
I've heard of this being acceptable when given permissions from the Bride specifically. Not every bride will say yes but there are instances where they have helped plan the surprise proposal at their own wedding because it just adds to the love in the room.
i never been to a wedding before, what's wrong with wearing white? i mean, i look good in a white suit and tie, i'm going to wear it.
Because - o horror of horrors - it's not about YOU. Cry us a river.
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If you're the Bride or Groom and smash cake in the other's face, you are a total AH.
Guess the primary cause of people losing an eye at parties. Don't pop the cork off a bottle of champagne. Twist it off, holding it firmly in your hand.
unless they give permission to do so just check they might even help
I know that that the white dress thing is a western tradition but I'm wondering : at my step-sister's wedding (western) I was wearing a bright-red dress and was told it was too flashy... But the bride wore white... AITA?
Depends on the dress and the dress code. If it was a red ball gown at a casual dress wedding, then yes it was probably too flashy. I've never been to a wedding where there was drama over what someone wore (or drama of any other kind) so I guess it depends how uptight people are over things like clothes.
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Of course you and your other half can decide you want to get married at someone else's wedding! But keep the announcement to yourselves until another day.
I don't wear white but "white bride" is based on virgin bride and silly. Not many these days. Some of us should be married in black leather ;)
Same applies to baby showers. Don't announce your pregnant at someone else's baby shower
Or announce you're pregnant with the first grandchild at someone else in the family's wedding.
When I show you a singular picture on my phone, don't ever try to swipe left or right.
Dont hit on women when they're at work. They're not flirting, theyre just being nice, it's their job.
If someone holds a door open for you, then please acknowledge them or say thank you. I'm not your servant.
This may may be trivial, but also don’t hold the door open because of gender. Do it to be kind.
Don't [frigging] cheat on your SO. It's not cool. If you wanna f**k someone else, break up with your SO first instead of being a secretive c**t.
Happens way too often.
For the love of God, just return the shopping cart when you’re done with it
If you're walking side by side on a sidewalk and someone comes towards you, f**king make room.
Or if someone comes up behind you, obviously in a hurry, let them pass!!
Don't touch me or stand so close to me that I can feel you breathing if I don't know you!
Seems so simple, but so many people are disrespectful of personal space.
Be patient with the elderly unless they're being [jerks]
If you borrow a friend's car, fill up the tank when returning it as a thank you.
Leave it better than you found it.
Life isn't fair and thank goodness - imagine the horror of knowing that every bad thing that happened to you happened because you deserved it.
Don't bother someone with headphones in unless it's important. They have headphones in for a reason.
For women: always have an extra pad or tampon on you. You never know when another woman might desperately need it. You may not like her, but this is your one exception to be nice. We've all been there.
Always say please and thank you. Good to do it until it becomes second nature. Most people know this, but not everyone does it.
If you're going to ask someone to help you move, please have all the boxes already packed and ready to go.
Always start with the question "how might I be wrong?"
Everyone can figure out a reason to believe they're correct, but if you look for reasons you are wrong first you will make fewer horrific assertions and mistakes.
"How might I be wrong" is the core question of science and the start of all wisdom.
If a bro [passes away] while lifting, put more weight on the bar, then call 911
Common sense ain't that common, so explain things in the simplest manner you possibly can.
We have an ABC mantra at work:
Assume nothing.
Believe nobody.
Check everything.
Should be the rule of life! Just because you read it on social media doesn't mean it's true. How can there be so many legitimate sites to verify facts, but people choose Sally's "Uncle Joe"?
When letting cars into traffic, you let one then you go, just keep alternating.
The first time visiting someone's place you bring something. Anything. Bottle of wine, six-pack, food, origami penguin. Something.
Don’t touch another person’s hair just because you think it’s pretty.
This one right here!! When my son was born, he had bright red hair. Every damn time we went out, people would come up to us and want to touch his hair. Of course I had stupid people accuse me of dying his hair. But they still had to put their "god only knows what is on their fingers" all over my son's head. Even after I asked them nicely. Even after I was rude to them. Even after I threatened bodily harm. They would still try to touch his hair. People are rude!
Especially to your kids, don't make promises you can't keep. Also, don't ever threaten to do something you can't or won't follow up on.
Saw a shirt recently that says “No one is more full of sh*t than a parent who just said “maybe.” Lol
If someone clearly doesn't want to talk to you or needs to be somewhere else, let them be.
Never refuse when someone offers you a breath mint
Because your breath smells like a wet dog after he rolled in his own poop.
Don't touch a disabled person's mobility aids without being specifically asked to do so by the person. Wheelchair, scooter, cane, dog, walker, whatever they are using don't touch it unless they ASK you to. View it as a stranger trying to touch your legs, do you want rando to pick up your leg? Move your leg? Pet your leg? Probably not.
Never say something to someone you love that you can't recover from in the heat of an argument. You love that person for a reason.
and learn to forgive things that was said in the heat of the moment - no use letting them hurt you forever
Ask the person if they are at the back of the line before you join it.
Cover your mouth when you cough with your elbow, not your hands that you will then touch a bunch of stuff with. Applies to sneezes as well. In general, just keep your gross bodily fluid to yourself unless clearly requested to share.
If you're in someone else's home/car/yard- Anything of someone else's, ASK before you do something. No, I don't want you smoking in my car. I don't want you feeding my dog food from the table. Just stop.
Definitely agree with feeding my dog human food. It's my number one rule. He has his own food and treats I paid a lot for. Plus if it's something he is allergic to I'm sure you won't foot the vet fees. Just say no to him and he'll walk away.
If a street performer makes you stop walking, you owe him a buck.
The window seat gets an armrest and a wall, the middle seat gets two arm rests, and the aisle seat gets an arm rest and a little extra leg room. We're not savages, we live in a society.
After applying restraints to objects in the flatbed of a truck, saying "Yep, that's not goin' anywhere" is an absolute necessity.
Make sure you twang the strap when you say it. Otherwise it absolutely will go somewhere.
Don't break the rules of traffic in an attempt to be courteous to other drivers. It often just makes situations more confusing and stressful than necessary. Just obeying the regular rules is far more appreciated.
Don't go up to a cashier while talking on your mobile and expect to be served
I worked retail and in restaurants for years and if people were on their phone and trying to get me to serve them, I would just walk away until they are off. Some people would get angry but they couldn't argue with me about it because I'd tell them that I waited until they were off the phone to not be rude by interrupting their conversation. Usually people got the hint that they were being rude. If they had an issue with it, I'd show them the door. Be polite to those who are serving you in whatever capacity, we do not have to be there and we do not need to decode whether or not you are speaking to us. Also, please, please stop having conversations on speaker in public. I don't care what Jimmy wants from the grocery store. But, if people insist on having speaker phone conversations in public, I try to make sure I stare at them and listen intently as they want the public to. Sometimes I even join in on the convo. You make it public, let's play.
Smile at babies. Babies constantly look at their surroundings- especially faces- to learn if they're in a safe place. If you're smiling, babies feel at ease and grow up healthier and happier. If you don't, they're more likely to feel unsafe....and cry...
Call when it's urgent, text when it's not. respond to emails even with an "ok".
If a friend buys you a drink you don’t pay it back you just buy the next round
Don't buy a cheap bed or a cheap pair of shoes. You'll spend most of your life in one or the other.
Alternatively, buy a cheap, hard bed and invest in a memory foam pad. Better back support without cutting off your circulation.
Don't point out things about someone if they can't change it in the span of the next 5 minutes.
If there's one beer left in your friend's fridge and it's not yours, you don't take it. You leave it for him. Unless he offers it to you, in which case it becomes fair game. As a person addendum though: If you are the friend that DOES take the last beer without asking, then you owe that friend a case of beer. But that's my own rule, which you can use as your own.
And with communal refrigerators, just because something doesn't have someone's name on it, that doesn't mean it's yours to take.
If a restaurant has a nearly empty parking lot at what should be a busy time, eat somewhere else.
I don’t care how hungry you are, if a restaurant is about to close, don’t order food.
A word of advice. Worked in restaurants for many years. All ya'll who walk into a sit down restaurant 30 mins or less before it closes are getting the last of the food that's been sitting in a warmer all night. The kitchen has already started to shut down at that point, so nothing fresh is being made. Oh, and also you are going straight to hell.
When you get up from your office chair, push it the f**k back in
If you come across someone with your same shirt/outfit it's mandatory to salute or hi-five
I do this with my car, I just find it slightly amusing to see the same exact make, model, color of my car on the road. I'm like a little kid when that happens
If someone helps you move you help them move, no excuses.
I did this, but with our wedding. So many people helped us out. So when they asked us to help with their weddings, we dropped everything. I've done the flowers for three weddings now, I'm glad I can help with something that would otherwise be very expensive.
If you happen to be walking behind a woman and you two are alone, go to a different route/street or let her go far ahead.
Always wipe til white.
Let the tallest person sit in the passenger seat of the car.
When someone enters the bathroom sniffle or cough to let them know you are in there
If possible, every other urinal.
Nod up for an acquaintance, nod down for a stranger.
When you're finished in the bathroom: Don't shut the door fully! I don't want to be waiting to use the bathroom for ages because it appears it's occupied even though it isn't.
When someone gets banged up and is clearly in pain, just shut up for a minute or two and let him do a proper systems diagnosis. Only then should you ask if he’s okay.
er no? (blood pouring out... gonna wait a minute.... "hey buddy you done your system diagnositcs?")
True love is real......but there is no "ONE"
If you have to get up for a beer, you must ask if anyone else needs one.
If a bro is like, really upset about something, just crushed because of family s**t, or women, or work, or whatever, said bro is required to request one of his other bros to come over/go to the bar. It’s 2019, bro’s no longer let bros be bummed out alone. We talk it out now.
Don’t look over in the urinals. Just don’t.
But how else do you know whether you are the biggest in the room???? /s
We all have to be tough when sometimes the spider does scare you
Never "borrow" your roommate's underwear when all yours are waiting to be washed but you haven't bothered to do laundry.
If two people bump into each other if nobody says anything that's fine
If one says sorry you are a [jerk]
If you both say sorry then no-ones a [jerk]
Am I the only one who initially thought one person was saying “sorry you are a jerk” to the other? Lol
Unfortunately, not all guys follow this, but they all SHOULD: No talking in the bathroom!
Women: its OK to talk by the sinks/in the communal areas but don't talk to someone in a cubicle!
When hugging as a greeting or goodbye, two pats.
When hugging as a genuine, intimate embrace, three pats.
One is rude, four is just weird
What if you count instead of pat? I count to 5 for a greeting or goodbye. For an embrace, I hug until the other person lets go or I get to 30.
If your eyes meet another guys on the bus or train you have less than a second to look away
If bro #1 is attempting to woo someone they are attracted to, bro #2 is to at minimum not interfere, unless there is an emergency situation, which includes (but is not limited to):
The death/serious injury or illness of a family member or close friend of bro#1
A member of the bro group is about to have imminent trouble with law enforcement or venue security
Bro #2 having prior knowledge of the person of affection being crazy/not bro #1's preferred gender identity/being too intoxicated or underage to consent
The venue is on fire/major earthquake (however bro #2 should make an attempt to reconnect bro #1 and the person of affection in the parking lot)
There are plenty of ways to enter a pool. The stairs is not one of them.
You don't hold a door open for another guy. You push all the way out and then it's on the other guy to catch it before it closes.
You must question your masculinity or purchasing habits if you can't bring all the bags in from the car in one trip.
There are a few exceptions to this rule:
If it didn't fit in the main part of the cart it doesn't count as an extra trip.
Things like large bags of pet food, large bags of rice, packages of water bottles (just buy resusable ones), get a pass. Basically if it took two hands to get it in the cart and doesn't fit in a bag you are clear.
If you have to use a flat cart in the store you get a pass.
Fragile items get a pass.
If you had to put down your seats or couldn't close the trunk you get a pass.
If you have luggage of more than one person (especially if you have kids or a female SO).
Multiple shopping stops may require multiple bag trips. You are still required to try and do it in as few trips as possible.
You are exempt if you have to carry a kid.
Idk if this is supposed to be some joke, but it's not really funny. People don't have to question their masculinity because they don't want to break their fingers carrying all the bag in at the same time.
When at a stop sign and you are in the passenger seat, you lean back so the driver can see past you and if the way is clear. Girls seem to need to be told, but guys just seem to do it automatically.
If you're just teasing someone but they get upset by the remarks, stop. I've been through this kind of thing a lot and people don't seem to care or realize when my feelings have actually been hurt. Maybe it wouldn't offend you, but it could offend other people.
Yes, and never tell people how to feel or not feel.
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Oh yes. "It's a miracle I survived that cancer! God is watching out for me!" Er, how about all the doctors, nurses, therapists, scientists, and friends and family that helped?
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Offer a real apology when you are wrong. "My bad" is not an apology. Any apology that includes "you" after "sorry" is not an apology -- "I'm sorry that you were offended" / "I'm sorry you didn't like that." A real apology includes "I" -- "I'm sorry that I hurt you" / "I'm sorry that I acted like such a jerk".
"Any apology that includes "you" after "sorry" is not an apology." - I'm sorry, you were right.
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A friend used to remind me not to fish from the company pier.
Load More Replies... some good ones, but some patriarchal b******t at the bottom wihch will hopefully be voted out
Best two pieces of advice I got from my Grandfather: There is a world of difference between good, sound reasons and reasons that sound good. And: It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.
I smoke (cigarettes) and used to drive my friends around all the time- usually 2-4 friends each time. I had two absolute car rules= 1) everyone wears seat belts and 2) it doesn't matter how many of the passengers smoke, if just one person doesn't smoke, then they're is NO SMOKING in the car
Don't touch my kid unless I invite you to. Or their stroller. Or their toys. Or their food. Unless it's an emergency, stay back 8 feet and keep your appendages to yourself!
I'll sum it up - "Bro bro bro. Bro? Bro bro bro bro!! Bro?? Bro!! Bro... Bro? Broooo... Bro!"
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My goodness, there was some serious male fragility on display up there!
I would like to add, always, if possible, call a person on the phone before dropping by. Better if it's days in advance.Especially if the person you are visiting has small children and/or is taking care of an ill person.
Ss an older lady lady who has to use a cane I can't believe how many people will not hold the door for you. I'm not begging for mercy. It's if someone is cing out & see you're going to go in they just let the door slam shut.
Don't touch random people's babies or kids no matter how cute they are, same with a pregnant woman's belly. My friend had problems with that in public. People wanted to rub her belly or touch her kid's cheeks. She would ask people to please not do that and they would claim she was rude 🙄
Be kind to people on your way up. You never know when you'll meet them again on your way down.
This needs to state the rule of keeping to the right. Walking in a mall? Walk on the right side of the hallways. Going up or down stairs? Keep to the right. Always use the right side. Please. Lol.
Never get in a car driven by someone who is talkative, but can only hold a conversation by making eye-contact. You will eventually die. This should be a part of all driver education courses - talking while looking at the road.
I'm talkative & make eye contact. But when I'm driving, my eyes are on the road.
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If you're just teasing someone but they get upset by the remarks, stop. I've been through this kind of thing a lot and people don't seem to care or realize when my feelings have actually been hurt. Maybe it wouldn't offend you, but it could offend other people.
Yes, and never tell people how to feel or not feel.
Load More Replies... Oh yes. "It's a miracle I survived that cancer! God is watching out for me!" Er, how about all the doctors, nurses, therapists, scientists, and friends and family that helped?
Load More Replies... Offer a real apology when you are wrong. "My bad" is not an apology. Any apology that includes "you" after "sorry" is not an apology -- "I'm sorry that you were offended" / "I'm sorry you didn't like that." A real apology includes "I" -- "I'm sorry that I hurt you" / "I'm sorry that I acted like such a jerk".
"Any apology that includes "you" after "sorry" is not an apology." - I'm sorry, you were right.
Load More Replies... A friend used to remind me not to fish from the company pier.
Load More Replies... some good ones, but some patriarchal b******t at the bottom wihch will hopefully be voted out
Best two pieces of advice I got from my Grandfather: There is a world of difference between good, sound reasons and reasons that sound good. And: It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.
I smoke (cigarettes) and used to drive my friends around all the time- usually 2-4 friends each time. I had two absolute car rules= 1) everyone wears seat belts and 2) it doesn't matter how many of the passengers smoke, if just one person doesn't smoke, then they're is NO SMOKING in the car
Don't touch my kid unless I invite you to. Or their stroller. Or their toys. Or their food. Unless it's an emergency, stay back 8 feet and keep your appendages to yourself!
I'll sum it up - "Bro bro bro. Bro? Bro bro bro bro!! Bro?? Bro!! Bro... Bro? Broooo... Bro!"
Load More Replies... My goodness, there was some serious male fragility on display up there!
I would like to add, always, if possible, call a person on the phone before dropping by. Better if it's days in advance.Especially if the person you are visiting has small children and/or is taking care of an ill person.
Ss an older lady lady who has to use a cane I can't believe how many people will not hold the door for you. I'm not begging for mercy. It's if someone is cing out & see you're going to go in they just let the door slam shut.
Don't touch random people's babies or kids no matter how cute they are, same with a pregnant woman's belly. My friend had problems with that in public. People wanted to rub her belly or touch her kid's cheeks. She would ask people to please not do that and they would claim she was rude 🙄
Be kind to people on your way up. You never know when you'll meet them again on your way down.
This needs to state the rule of keeping to the right. Walking in a mall? Walk on the right side of the hallways. Going up or down stairs? Keep to the right. Always use the right side. Please. Lol.
Never get in a car driven by someone who is talkative, but can only hold a conversation by making eye-contact. You will eventually die. This should be a part of all driver education courses - talking while looking at the road.
I'm talkative & make eye contact. But when I'm driving, my eyes are on the road.
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