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People Share 30 Really Weird Things They Witnessed Or Had To Do While Visiting Somebody’s House Due To The Owners’ Culture, Religion Or Beliefs
People often say "my house is my fortress", but sometimes they mean completely different things by these simple words. Especially when people who are not quite familiar with their traditions or beliefs come over to their house.
For sure, traditions are simply wonderful, but there are particular situations when what is completely familiar to one person seems absolutely strange and weird to another. This, by the way, concerns not only traditions, but also religion and culture.
There is a popular thread on Reddit where people discuss the strange things they had to do in other people's houses in order to comply with the owners' cultural or religious requirements. The thread is quite extensive - to date it has over 33.4K upvotes and over 16.0K different comments.
Bored Panda has compiled a curated list for you with the most interesting and weird things from this thread. By the way, we also have our own tradition - everyone who reads the list must vote for their favorite items, and even better - leave a comment. So, traditions are traditions - they need to be obeyed, if you know what we mean...
More info: Reddit
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
I used to have a job that rented a lot of houses and properties in Southern California. Part of my job was meeting with property owners and to close a deal with them. One day I go to this man's house in laguna Beach, as in his house was ON the beach. I was meeting with an insanely wealthy but also insanely nice Asian man who I had met a couple of times before and we had somewhat of a work type relationship. As i begin to bring up the deal to be made, he suggests we walk to the beach first, (I was ready to get home, it was Saturday) so we start walking, talking about life etc. He then proceeded to hold my hand, interlocked finger style, for the whole walk. I was originally wielded out by it but when I brought it up to a coworker he said it's just a part of their culture. He also made me wear his personal house slippers to be allowed entry into his home. Just cultural differences but it still cracks me up that the most romantic beach walk I've ever had in my life was with an 75 yo something man millionaire.
Nikki Angulo 3 years ago
Very common in Korea for two men or two women who are friends to hold hands.
RandomFrog 3 years ago
When I went to my gfs (she’s Asian and her parents immigrated to USA) house she had personal house slippers for guests to wear if they go upstairs. Her culture is so different it’s cool tho.
Ovata Acronicta 3 years ago
Yo I am extremely touch-starved, but this sounds like such a marvelous platonic time? I'd largely prefer a friend, of course, but just walking on some sand talking about whatever and holding hands sounds so lovely.
RELATED:
#2
I didn't personally experience this because I left the one time they tried to force me but my friend's parents mainly her super ultra Christian preacher stepfather made her shower with a bathing suit on because he believed the only time you should be naked is when changing or to reproduce/when a man wants sex otherwise you'll be too "tempted by your own lust." and "nakedness invites the devil in." This poor girl hadn't bathed naked in years and we were in middle school. She never smelled cause she would rub soap through the bathing suit but she had yeast infections all the time if I remember right.
I started inviting her to my house as often as I could just so she could properly shower. Unfortunately her life hasn't been easy. We haven't spoken in years but I think about her sometimes. Her parents were raising her to be the "perfect" Christian housewife. They monitored everything she did. She developed a horrible eating disorder because they told her no one would love her if she was even chubby and that she was "letting the devil win" if she ever indulged. She was expected to "take care of the house" despite being the youngest child as according to them god designed women to be housewives. They refused to let her attend sex ed and basically told her when the time comes her futures husband's pleasure is the only thing that matters, that he will teach her what to do. They refused to even let her use tampons because they believe it would "deflower" her. She was always happy to be able to use them instead of bulky pads, I gave her the locker combo for my locker and showed her a little baggie of tampons she could get whenever she needed them. She was scared her controlling parents would check her locker and find them (they did regularly check it, her mom was a coach at the school) so they stayed in mine.
I ended up having to teach her sex Ed and encouraged her to eat more. The encouragement didn't work that great so instead I would bring her smoothies loaded with as many vitamins and calories that I could hide in it. I'm talking I using heavy cream instead of milk type thing. She had it in her head that smoothies couldn't possibly have a lot of calories. I know it's not right to purposely deceive someone into eating something but she was literally fainting from just walking because her body was so weak. I was a kid who didn't have any other resources to help, she did seem to get a little better once I started giving her the smoothies.
She ended up lashing out at her parents, having risky sex, and ultimately ended up in a car wreck that caused pretty extensive brain damage. The wreck killed 2 other people, my old friend was still in highschool and a teacher had been driving while texting on the way to school. Her seat beat failed and she went through the windshield but somehow survived. She had a long road to recovery but has gained most function back from what I've heard. Her childhood was tragic and very damaging but I love seeing the cute pictures of her with her girlfriend living far away from her awful family. We drifted apart when I moved away.
iseefractals 3 years ago
Nope, but does that really matter when the end result is variations of this twisted BS?
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Nikki Angulo 3 years ago
So was her dad watching her shower? Creepy, even with a bathing suit. Also, NOT Christian behaviour.
Kelzbelz79 3 years ago
How very sad for her and how very kind of you, even as a kid you had more sense than her parents.
Raccoon panda 3 years ago (edited)
Christ wanted us to have a friendly relationship with God, not to entrap each other in religious control. I hope she never marries, runs off to explore the world, makes a big chunk of cash, finds a cause she loves, and builds a family of friends and a career like no other. I hope she becomes the happiest and most fulfilled woman on earth. Poor girl.
Patrick Wilson 3 years ago
Yeeeeeaaaahhhhhhh...... THAT's not Christian behaviour. That's psycho controlling behaviour.
Karl Baxter 3 years ago (edited)
Religious belief and mental illness are very close siblings - both can engender irrational behaviour based on unsubstantiated “evidence”. Whether you did something because “God” or a “Giant Pink Elephant” told you to, neither have any basis in fact.
Earle Doudera 3 years ago
unless the pink elephant gives prophecy with 100% success rate
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Faith Treiss 3 years ago
I hate these kind of people using religion to make excuses for their awful behavior. It makes many believ that all religious people are bad. I myself am religious but this insane family is not a good example. Most Christians are not like this as many people are lead to believe , in the same ways that Muslims are not terrorists as many incompetent people believe. It irritates me so much that some people use what they day to be "religion" in this kind of way because that is NOT what it is supposed to be
cugel 3 years ago
Religion is entirely fictional, so it is whatever you say it is.
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#3
I had a good friend who's family were wealthy and very big on some weird sort of gift giving.
Basically there were two things:
1. You could not give them a present, no gifts at birthdays, Christmas, etc. If you gave them a gift they would either politely refuse or donate it
2. You always received a gift if you went to their house, even if it was for an afternoon.
I remember going to my friends house when I was 8 or 9 (1998/1999) and them giving me a playstation and each time I went over they'd give me a new game, which continued until they gave me a Nintendo game cube. Very weird, and it wasn't because I was poor, we lived in the same area etc.
This recently repeated itself when I visited my friends house (now lives with his own family) and when I was leaving his wife was trying to give me a bottle of scotch and my daughter a f*****g Nintendo switch.
Edit. They were middle eastern, not really sure what religion, his dad was a property developer and investor, this was in Australia Sydney. It just felt awkward after awhile.
Edit 2. Told my mate about this and he answer some of the questions for you all:
1. His family are part of the house of Saud but are not in the part that has any power or line of success unless like the other 10,000 people die. His last name isn't saud so this was news to me, but he made it clear it means nothing unless you are part of the inner circle.
2. The gift giving thing was/is part of their family custom and they weren't/did not expect you to refuse.
3. The didn't accept gifts because they just purchased anything they wanted and they made their children do chores to earn items so they had an appreciation for money.
4. The gifts while expensive for most didn't really register, as spending a few hundred bucks wouldn't make a dent, they also regifted tons of s**t, he said they probably had like 30 playstations in their cupboard.
5. His family also didn't want kids to be jealous of their son, because being a Arab in Australia was already pretty s**t.
6. He has a cupboard like his parents house, he doesn't have gaming consoles normally, as when he gets those he normally sells them, because hey why not.
7. He isn't accepting applications for new friends.
Kel_how 3 years ago
What if MY gift to him is my friendship? No take-backs!
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Al Saud would be the last name if he had it. Probably from his mother’s side, so it doesn’t count in terms of the Al Sauds who can become king. Also, it’s not who dies, there’s a council or something (made up of the elder royal Al Saud’s that decides who the crown prince is.) And if your last name is Al Saud and you live in Saudi, you do get preferential treatment.
Margrete Sonnenberg 3 years ago
Some neighbors that used to live down the block. My dad would talk to them. They gave us a lot of food. Most of the times homemade food. Na'an bread, baklava, a turkey, etc.
Hobby Hopper 3 years ago
They actually sound pretty cool. I really hope people aren't befriending them just for the gifts though.
#4
Not sit on the furniture because only the males were allowed to. Kneel facing the wall while the 3 males in the house stood behind me and prayed in a cadence that got louder and louder until they were screaming about how to wear makeup is to create attraction, to create attraction is to create lust and to create lust is to SIN. I was 18 and wearing makeup. Legit I thought I was about to be beheaded.
Wondering Alice 3 years ago
How terrifying is that? Unsure what religion this was, but don't most have something about how to treat guests?
Terry Tobias 3 years ago
Why did she stay for as long as she did?! I would have been gone after the "only males sit on the furniture" thing!
Karl Baxter 3 years ago
So many varieties of “crazy” mixed with a big dose of misogyny in this list that it’s making my head spin
#5
I was kicked out of a elementary school friend’s birthday party because another friend and I played “witches” in her treehouse. She was Southern Baptist. There was a literal cauldron in her treehouse, I stand by my decision.
Stardust she/her 3 years ago
If you have caldroun and are an advocate for equal rights, you’re a witch
Random Panda 3 years ago (edited)
One of my friends was not allowed to read the W.I.T.C.H. comic book, because of the title. Her family wasn't very religious, her parents were just weird and kinda assholish. To top it off, the father was a huge Tolkien fan, so him not allowing her to read a fantasy comic book that had little to do with witches, save for the title, was hella hypocritical.
#6
In secondary school, my best friend’s family were very devout Christians. For some reason, her mother would not let me use the toilet in their house. Their porcelain thrones were for Christian a***s only. Hardly Christ-like if you ask me.
When my friend moved away, we would write to each other, and her mother read all the letters. She told me I couldn’t sign off my letters by saying things like “Lots of love!” or “Love you loads!” because it was lesbian. Uh, okay, Susan, take a day off.
Libstak 3 years ago
What if your guest came down with a can't wait level stomach complaint?
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The Queen Of Upper Butt Crack 3 years ago
I was about 7-8 , playing outside with my friend at his house, probably 20 minutes away from mine. All of a sudden I had to poop BAD. I asked to go to the bathroom in his house and he said to go outside. Im a girl and it's not that easy dude, and I told him I needed to poop (I was mortified) and he said I still wasn't allowed in. So I ran into the woods, pooped, wiped my a*s with leaves and covered the whole mess with more leaves. When I came out of the woods he told me he wanted to see it and to show him where I pooped. Told him no way, ran home and never spoke to him again . Jonathan, you are a weirdo.
Karl Baxter 3 years ago
Religion as interpreted and practiced by the truly stupid are among the worst manifestations of belief on this planet.
AzKhaleesi 3 years ago
Ummm I'm Christian and have never denied anyone using our bathroom, unless it's the kids bathroom...because they're teens and gross. But that's the only reason.
#7
When meeting my Finnish fiancées’ family, I was invited to a sauna with her brother. No clothes allowed. 10/10 would sweat with my boy again
The Queen Of Upper Butt Crack 3 years ago
It's also popular to roll in the snow after Sauna (then you go back in) . Don't roll in yellow snow.
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MedusaWasBeautiful 3 years ago
The Sauna is part of Finnish culture. While in the sauna there are no peasants or kings, only equals.
Stardust she/her 3 years ago
So would a well known robber and a policeman be nice to each other in a Finnish sauna?
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similarly 3 years ago
In Japan, people go to public baths. There are two rooms, one for men, one for women. Inside there are short stools and shower-heads on flexibly extensions. You shower, then (when clean), you get into a kind of large, shallow pool of hot water. The best ones are natural hot springs, and my favorite are the outdoor ones. Being in a hot spring in the middle of winter is amazing. And Japanese people don't talk in the bath. You sit and enjoy the silence. Since my father-in-law passed away, it's just not the same. I miss him a lot.
Martine 3 years ago
Well it is normal to sit in a sauna without clothes. I was shocked when I walked into the sauna in a hotel in the US and everyone was wearing a bathing suit.
Hemminsleifwa E 3 years ago
I'm Finnish and I was taught bathsuits would melt by the heat! Bathing suits in sauna is a big no no! You shower naked, don't you?
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Yvonne Dauwalder Balsiger 3 years ago
In Switzerland, it is also common to be naked in the (mixed) sauna. No big deal an definitely not a sex thing. Most people look better with their clothes on anyway.
Nikki Angulo 3 years ago
Also, it’s pronounced Sa-ow-na, (with the a-ow blended together) not saw-na.
Karl Baxter 3 years ago
Fair play to them for their more open attitude to body confidence and sex. Wish I could be like that too but Christian indoctrination regarding shame, sin, etc. has unfortunately left its mark upon me.
Gehtdich Nixan 3 years ago
Saunas or nudity don't have anything to do with sex.
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Yoga Kitty 3 years ago
In Germany, sauna also means completely naked, no bathing suits and the like. However, if you are not used to that and feel very uncomfortable you can still wrap yourself into a towel though. You will get used to it pretty quick! There are all kinds of people in the sauna: Tall, small, thick, thin, young, old, hairy, bald, light, tanned, black, inked, pierced, with scars, with or without freckles, small breasts, large breasts, everything you can imagine - believe me, nobody gives a flying duck how you look naked. We are just here to enjoy the heat!
#8
I don't play with this group anymore, but had 3 "friends" who would regularly come over to game. I was the first of us to own a house, so it made sense for me to host.
One Christmas, the group all brings Christmas gifts for each other. They didn't tell me they were exchanging gifts at my house, and no one got a gift for me either. I was sad because I realized then that I wasn't their friend but rather a tool for them to play D&D.
Mary Jean Coyne 5 months ago
I trust you are not friendly with then any more. They don't deserve you.
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Mary Peace 3 years ago
I can't imagine turning up at someone's house with gifts, but not for the host. That is so rude, but yes they were using you.
#9
When I lived in Antwerp (Belgium), I once was stopped by an elderly, woman on the street. She was asking for help inside her house. Guiding me through a house where the temperature was way too hot, she stopped at every radiator and asked me to turn them down. In the end we went to the kitchen, where some jewish women and children were watching me silently while I was putting all the burning gas stoves on a low heat. Then she showed me out, thanked me and closed the door.
In Antwerp there is a big community of hasidic jews, I can imagine this was during sabbath.
censor 3 years ago
sorry, but as a person raised in a mixed (half jewish) household, I always found this pathetic and ridiculous. The allpowerful creator of the universe who can make planets and stuff definitely does NOT care if you turn the radiator down.
pebs 3 years ago
I agree. It is simply nonsense settled over the centuries.
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Jenny Shmurak 3 years ago
Actually, jewish people are not allowed to directly ask a non jewish person to do stuff on the sabbath. Only to imply. Something like "oh, it's so hot in here...".
Patti Vance 3 years ago
being jewish, i understand this custom very well. some families will hire a 'shabbat goyim', someone not jewish, to come into the home and do these things. this custom is also recognized in some of the larger cities in regards to lighting in building and elevators that stop on every floor during the sabbath. it's strange to people not accustomed to this but is very faith based behavior. where i live there is a resort that caters to many jewish clients who hire people during the sabbath for just this purpose for their guests
Zephyr Anthem 3 years ago
My BF is optician, he used to work for a store chain where the board of headquater was jewish. During Pessah, my bf wasn't allowed to bring food and food container at his job. Lucklily we used to live close to where he worked so he could eat at home, but his co-workers had to go at the restaurant or eat in their cars. Mind you, no one in the store was jewish but it's was company policy.
Lyone Fein 3 years ago
This is because one of the laws of Passover is that we cannot have any food in our possession, or on any property we own, unless it is kosher for Passover.
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Adrienne Mcginley 3 years ago
Very common in Hasidic households. Occasionally they have a deal w/ a gentile neighbor to perform tasks not permitted them on the Sabbath.
Tami 3 years ago
Many appliances have a "Sabbath mode." From the Whirlpool website: " During the Sabbath, or Shabbat, and religious holidays in Judaism, there may be restrictions on certain activities that can extend to the use of appliances. Restrictions may include turning appliances on or off, using control panels or activating lights and sounds. Sabbath Mode allows people to use their household appliances without violating their religious laws. When appliances are put into Sabbath Mode, certain features may be modified or disabled to accommodate these needs."
Grace Noyes 3 years ago
I was reading over the manual for my oven and saw "Sabbath mode." Now I understand what that means!
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Nina Khmielnitzky 3 years ago
In Belgium, my grandmother had an agreement like that with Jewish people in her building. She would turn on/off the lights at certain times for them.
#10
I grew up in a highly Mormon area, so most of my friends in school were Mormon, and I was occasionally invited into their more intimate Holiday celebrations for example.
One year, they gave me bags of food and drove me to a random house, then told me I had to go in and Deliver the bags to the people inside (A big family who currently have no means of financial support) as a secret Santa.
It was a wonderful gesture, but I felt really awkward being asked to do this in a stranger’s house, but they asked me to do it for the expressed reason that I was a stranger, and they wouldn’t know who had donated the food.
The Queen Of Upper Butt Crack 3 years ago
My mom used to work in homeware going to people's houses and quickly realized some didnt have enough or sometimes anything to eat. On the weekend she would often make healthy muffins, homemade baked beans, all kinds of things and bring them to the seniors who needed it. Not sure what went wrong but the company said workers were not allowed to bring or give food to clients. My mom and I would make up boxes ( canned goods, fresh veg, canned milk, oatmeal kinda stuff ) and I would drive to the house, knock on the door and I would ask if I could leave this box of groceries for them to use. I felt really awkward, especially the first time. I learned to do it quick, get the groceries in quick, wish them a good day and zoop off in my car .
Sally Barry 3 years ago (edited)
I can see leaving groceries, that is a wonderful thing to do....but I kind of see how bringing home-made food would be iffy, not because of your mom's kind intentions, but if something went wrong (the recipient was allergic or left it out overnight and it spoiled) the company and your mom could get in trouble.
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Karl Baxter 3 years ago
Looking after your neighbours and making sure they’re ok is not the sole preserve of a niche religion
#11
Went to a friends house for dinner a lovely meal. The whole family cleaned their plates of food then turned them over and ate dessert on the back of their plates like it was the most normal thing in the world. I copied them just to be polite.
Thomas E S Thomas 3 years ago
It's not as strange as you would think. Traditional dishes have a bowl on the back.
Mer 3 years ago
Is that really why some dishes have a "bowl on the back"? Like they were designed for flipping over for desert??
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Wintermute 3 years ago
Fun fact: The back of the plate used to be called the "pie side," for now apparent reasons.
BakedKahuna 3 years ago
Omg, I flipped the ugly plate over which I used for breakfast and my SO inherited from his grandmother only to discover it's from an expensive brand. Not intending to use it again. I don't want to be the one who accidentally broke or dent it 😳
Robert T 3 years ago
My parents were given a dinner service as a wedding present. They are still using some of it 60 years later. They'd been using it every day for 40 years before they discovered it was an expensive one!
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Larissa Smith 3 years ago (edited)
Well, it redues the number of dishes that need to be washed, saving water! (for those who wash dishes by hand)
#12
Okay, this doesn’t really compare to a lot of these other stories, but after my first year at university I went to visit a new friend for a weekend over the summer. Her parents lived about 45 minutes away from my parents, so we thought it would be fun.
Her house was a partially hoarded mess, which honestly wasn’t the weirdest part (my parents were borderline hoarders themselves). The house had 3 bedrooms upstairs for their family of six. But none of the kids’ bedrooms had doors - all removed off the hinges. My friend thought it was no big deal, her dad had taken them off ages ago, etc. not as some sort of punishment or anything like that. This is in a house with 3 teenaged/or college aged girls. I was totally creeped out by it.
The other weird thing was when 6 of us (me, friend, a couple of siblings and her parents) loaded into the car to travel to some event that was a pretty long drive away (maybe an hour?) and I started chatting to my friend. She looked at me shocked, like I had committed a mortal sin, and quietly whispered to me that you’re not supposed to talk in the car. Ever. Everyone but Dad, who was driving, obediently whipped out a book and started reading. They offered me one but my carsick a*s couldn’t handle that, so I just stared out the window. It was so bizarre. Again, she acted like she had no clue this was weird and unique to her little family.
(The more I reflect on it and the things she told me over the years, the more it feels like she grew up in an abusive household ruled by a man who imposed weird, controlling rules upon the entire household that no one challenged. Dad was the brilliant, benevolent leader.)
. . .-.-. — / —. .- -.— 3 years ago
My family never really talk much in the car, me and my siblings just read books or listen to music, but if a friends over we chatter away. It’s pretty weird that no talking at all is a rule… Maybe they want to make sure whoever is driving doesn’t get distracted?
Hobby Hopper 3 years ago
I wonder if the car thing was a safety issue, so the driver wouldn't be distracted? Still pretty weird.
Izzy Curer 3 years ago (edited)
I could maybe see this rule coming about from there being 4 kids in the household, especially if they were unruly when they were little, but I dunno. There were 3 of us growing up, and we never had to have a rule like this in the car, and tbh these kids sound pretty well behaved. Op says there were 3 girls. Makes me think the dad felt outnumbered/overwhelmed by behavior he probably didn't understand, and he felt he needed to control them beyond what is ordinary for a parent.
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Angie Falzarano 4 months ago
My mother started that c**p in her 70s. You could not talk in the car if she was driving. She claimed it distracted her. If a small conversation was causing her to be distracted then she shouldn't have been driving. My brother could drive her around but I was not allowed to drive her. I was in my 50s when she started this weird c**p. She was a big time narcissist
#13
I went over to my friends house to play D&D in high-school, and my friends mom mad lunch for the 7 of us. It was really good. We were just playing D&D and eating tacos, and after we all finished the lunch, everyone started pulling out cash. I was super confused.
My friend turned to me and asked, "Do you have your $5?"
So apparently we were supposed to pay for the meal. I was incredibly embarrassed. One of my other friends ended up paying for me. I never played D&D at that house ever again...
Edit: This happened in SoCal. They were just a standard American household as far as I was aware. The food was homemade. D&D is Dungeons and Dragons. It's a role-playing game. Also, I can confirm that my friend was not taking the money. I literally saw him give it to his mom.
lenka 3 years ago
This is weird, but with a disclaimer... a friend of mine in Uni was pretty broke. She lived at home with her mum and siblings. They had no money but they did have a very cool basement which was a great place to hang out, study, chill etc. The rest of us lived in dorms or shoebox units. As a result, almost all of our social events where hosted at her place - except her family couldn't afford to feed all of us all the time. Her mum always made us food, so anytime any of us had a meal there we would always give money.
. . .-.-. — / —. .- -.— 3 years ago
That does make sense, but it’s strange that the mother didn’t explain it beforehand…
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Nikki Angulo 3 years ago
It should have been explained beforehand for sure, but I can understand that feeding a bunch of teenagers can be expensive, and a lot of work!
Kiwii Stone 3 years ago
I had this with my D&D group, too! No one warned me my first time playing
Zoe's Mom 3 years ago
Should have been explained before hand. I would find it really odd if someone offered me food and then expected payment.
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micca 3 years ago
I had this happen in reverse! I had a friend over for a uni study session and my mom, now tbh I can't remember if she ordered in or cooked, I think it was the latter bc I was left speechless when after our meal my friend whipped out her wallet and asked my mom how much she owed. After realising she wasn't joking (she's a jokester) I promptly told her to put that dang thing away
sofacushionfort 3 years ago
Same kind of people who consider friendships as just a resource for their multi-level marketing scam’s upmarket
#14
I remember going to my swedish friends house.
And while we were playing in his room, his mom yelled that dinner was ready. And check this. He told me to WAIT in his room while they ate.
That s**t was f*****g wild.
SerumSeven 3 years ago
If someone shows up at my house, they're not leaving until I've at least made them a sandwich.
Terry Tobias 3 years ago
My grandmother was from Sweden and she HAD to feed anybody that came to the house. One night when my family went there for dinner, she had a roast beef...AND a ham! I still miss her!
TheElderNom 3 years ago
I'm Swedish and this isn't common behaviour. It is common to go home from a friend to eat dinner at home when you're small and after that bedtime wasn't far off. But when older you'd be offered food unless your parents weren't okay with that. Obviously during sleepovers you always have dinner and breakfast with the hosts.
Vera Modrić 3 years ago (edited)
If there is a kid in my house for longer then 5 minute, he/she is being feed. I dont even as if they want something, they just get a plate or a bow of what ever my kind are eating.
Lily bloom 3 years ago
When my adult stepdaughter comes for a visit, I ask how long they are planning on staying to be sure to have enough food. My husband (her father) loves to cook. 1 hour=2 meals, 4 hours=12 meals, 8 hours=472 meals. He even feeds the neighbors that stop by to chat.
Jiminy 3 years ago
They say this happens in Germany too. Grew up here and still live here, it did not happen to me even once. Perhaps it's more of a regional or socio-economic thing and it's similar in Sweden?
Yoga Kitty 3 years ago
I am German and have never been told to wait while somebody eats, however, it was pretty common that you had to go home when dinner time came. Like, if at my best friend's dinner was at 18:00 I had to leave as soon as she was called in, although we would only eat at 19:00 at my house.
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Highwaytozen 3 years ago
Hi, Swede here. Unless the family were straight up d***s the reason for this was that your parents and your friend's parents had decided beforehand that your friend would come home at a certain time with an unspoiled appetite. If not, the usual question your parents would ask (and that I've been asked a thousand times) is "stannar du på middag?" which means "are you staying for dinner" and whatever the answer is, it's fine. So no big deal.
Shelli Aderman 3 years ago
That’s unheard of! If you come within 2 meters of my front door, you will be fed!
#15
As a Greek, i had to challenge the house host to a sword duel because he was a Turk and i had the moral obligation to do so
#16
I work for the ambulance service and I was asked to take my shoes off before attending to their mother in cardiac arrest. Politely reminded them that there was a time and place
ThatBoredDolphin 3 years ago
Bruh… if there was a fire, would they make sure the pillows were perfectly straight before leaving ???🙄🙄🙄
Deux 3 years ago (edited)
Yes! I understand this. As a carer, a client asked me to remove my shoes. I completely get it- it's your home and you want to keep it clean and tidy. But don't expect me to move and work a heavy hoist in just socked feet. Already had a hoist run over my feet, I was wearing shoes and it still destroyed my big nail on my right foot. Back to this client- in the end I had to break health and safety rules by putting on those disposable blue plastic covers over my shoes after agreeing to risk the consequences were I to slip.
DC 3 years ago
No, just no. All thse weird traditions that usually have some kind of sense or purpose in them, often even a useful one, do not apply in any case of emergency. With everything that makes you sick by blocking bloodflow, the only equation to care about is "Time is Tissue!" - the faster the clogging gets resolved or removed, the less lasting damage is done, the lower the mortality rate, the lower everything that is bad about it. Do not, never, waste time to be polite in case of emergency. That people even have the nerve to ask for such tells me that accepting weird and misplaced rules has been accepted far, very far, too long already.
Mary Peace 3 years ago
I agree with the OP, but once you get used to asking every visitor to take their shoes off (or whatever custom it is) you would automatically do it, even in an emergency. I think people under stress are even more likely to do the familiar thing they are used to doing.
#17
I was prohibited from going to the lobby of the house or get out of the room without giving a warning first because I was prohibited to meet the wife of the host since I am a man. I was 10 years old by the way.
Stardust she/her 3 years ago
Oh the horror, an innocent 10 y.o might turn the wife into the devil 😱/s
Karl Baxter 3 years ago (edited)
So many sexual hang-ups in religion but this one (mainly the madder bits of Islam) is rooted in a fear of women’s sexuality and a belief that men are unable to exert any form of self control when faced with her. Put that together and, if a woman is attacked, raped and even killed, it was entirely down to her committing the heinous crime of being visible. Sick MFs
Mari 3 years ago
Even in muslim households kids can see a woman unveiled, that's no problem. I think the man was a psychopath.
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Kevin Hickey 3 years ago
When I was delivering furniture for a living, we delivered some bedroom furniture to a house and the men there said that we weren't allowed upstairs because his daughter's room was up there so we were told to just leave the furniture in the living room. Fine by us!! He and his friend moved one dresser half way up the stairs and said, "Screw this! You guys have to carry it all upstairs!" So much for religious principles.
#18
I used to mentor a girl from Uganda. I walked in on her family discussing the marriage of their daughter (older sister of my mentee) to the son of the other family. They were debating how many cows and dollars she was worth. Women are not allowed to be in the room when it the trading happens. It was my first day as her mentor and I walked in the front door and suddenly I was smack dab right in the room with a bunch of huge guys that were having the discussion of this girl’s worth. It was bonkers.
PC 3 years ago
That's the origin of 'giving away' the bride, as you may know.
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UpupaEpops 3 years ago
Storytime. 😁 At my old school one of the girls (very pretty, but just as irritating) tried to be a smart a*s with some Arab guys. She just trotted over and asked them how many camels she was worth. One of the guys looks at her and goes: " Camel? Woman. Do you have any idea how much camels cost? Goats, maybe."
Nemo 3 years ago
This guy and his friend were talking to me and my friend. Somehow everybody agreed that I was worth 30 camels. Everybody laughed. The guy went to the store. He got a pack of Camel cigarettes, gave them to my friend and whisked me away. I love a man who can make me laugh
Load More Replies... censor 3 years ago
this is across all of africa. In south africa we call it Lobolo. It is the same as "dowry" in europe. In europe, a girl would have a dowry (endowment) that came with her, meaning her parents were paying you to take her off their hands. It also happens in india. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_infanticide_in_India . In africa it's the other way round. A woman is prized and therefore you have to pay to be with her.
Evil Little Thing 3 years ago
A dowry isn't supposed to be a payment to take the woman, but property she can take with her to her new household to help her gave a more comfortable life. Since daughters didn't traditionally inherit, wealth was distributed to them when they got married.
Load More Replies... Greta Denmark 3 years ago
Many years ago on a holiday to Tunesia my then boyfriend jokingly asked the local guide how may camels he could get for me. The guide looked seriously into his eyes and said: You shouldn't let her go for less than a 100. That shut him up.
#19
My family is Catholic, Im not. They believe in God but really only go to church once in a while and just wanted me to believe and be a good person as the bare minimum. I'm not religious but I humor them.
Anyways, once when I was younger, There was a kid whose father was friends with my father and my dad and I got asked to come over for dinner. Sounds fine. There are other people there for dinner too. My dad and I thought it was weird. Prolly a dinner party and he forgot to mention.
Meet the guy's son. Cool kid at first glance. Massive gamer, has modern consoles (for the time) gaming PC, had a Scar L airsoft rifle. We hit it off. Same with the other kids.
Then in the middle of playing, the guys son turns off the TV and ps3 and starts telling us, "alright guys, gather around and we're gonna do a quiz on the word of God and talk about why you should be saved by praying to him and following his teachings."
I'm like "nope.jpg" and fake a stomach ache to get out of it. Go to the bathroom and the guys son tells me "hey don't want you feeling left out." Then proceeds to slide me the packet; yes packet, and a pencil from under the bathroom door and he tells me "make sure before you come out, you finish it and turn it in so I can check it."
Luckily, my dad faked a call from my mom saying she wasn't feeling well and went to grab me. We both got out hella quick. Turns out, it was all some sort of recruitment thing going on for a church of this specific sect of Christianity or something. My dad felt off after being told that he was going to be taught the true values of God and he was expected to force/teach these values to his family. At the time, it all felt like a fever dream. Never could find that kid on FB or any other social media. So maybe he never existed at all haha.
Wondering Alice 3 years ago
Sympathy on this one. My sister and I were stoping with relatives when a distant cousin woke me up to ask about my relationship with Jesus. My sister snuck out and phoned my dad. I have no idea what was said when my day came to get us in the early hours of the morning. He just said "may we never mention that again". Our family are regular church goers. My dad is church treasure - but luckily for us, he found it very creepy behaviour.
Adrienne Mcginley 3 years ago
Scary factor of 1000, but good on your Dad for getting you out of there.
TheEndIsNigh 3 years ago
Woah. This is kinda like the time I was around 8 and a girl from my class had a sleepover. She was new-ish, & we didn't know her that well, but she invited a group of us girls over one weekend. I remember it being a Friday night and we were so excited because her folks took us to a skate rink, we had pizza, got to stay up late...sounds like good wholesome fun right? The next morning (Saturday), her mom wakes us up at the a*s- crack of dawn and tells us to get dressed because we all need to be ready to leave for church in an hour. 😯 Our little 8 y/o minds were so confused. Can't remember what excuse I used to call my mum, but I do remember she was piiiiiiiiisssed! My mum may look like an angel, but you don't f**k with the Zohan 😆 She showed up so fast (in full on pajamas bt-dubs) and took us all home. Turns out the "slumber party" was to recruit us into their Seventh-day Adventist church youth group 😳
#20
I went over to a friend's house for a sleepover and when I changed into my pajamas her mom started demanding I put something else on and throw my pajamas out. I was really confused, she was yelling about how my pajamas were sinful and bore signs of the devil! I ended up just calling my mom to take me home because I was so uncomfortable, but that woman just kept scolding us for allowing me to wear satantic symbols.
The symbols on my pajamas? Peace signs. She said they were broken crosses, so clearly a sign of the devil.
Stardust she/her 3 years ago
In what part did it ever suggest that the cross was the best thing to happen to Jesus?
Nicole Weymann 3 years ago
Ultimately it was one hell of a career move, but anyone who is prepared to sacrifice his health for his work has serious issues an should definitely consider moving to another company/ boss.
Load More Replies... ThatBoredDolphin 3 years ago
How da frak does a PEACE SIGN looks like a broken cross??? isn’t peace part of what Christianity teaches???
Daniel Yamada 3 years ago
The lines inside the circle are actually the letters "ND" for "Nuclear Disarmament".
Izzy Curer 3 years ago (edited)
The peace sign was never a cross. It's a combination of the semaphore flag positions for N and D, which ships would use to signal to each other when they wanted to say 'Nuclear Disarmament'. When using flags to communicate in the semaphore alphabet, a person holds a flag in each hand. D is when a person holds one flag up and one flag down, which looks like a vertical line. N is when a person holds the flags out at either side, which looks like an upside-down 'v'. Combining these lines inside a circle gives you the peace sign. I'd add an image if I knew how.
#21
i had a neighborhood friend that i played on the street with and at school sometimes. her mom and dad always told me i wasn’t allowed to be in the same room as my friends older brothers because seeing young women was a sin for unmarried men. i was 10 at the most. the youngest of her older brothers was 16. when i was asked by my friend to sleep over for her birthday i was told by her and her mother that i needed to remain in my friends bedroom. her mother would bring us food and drinks and take us to go to the bathroom whenever it was safe. i told my sister about it the next day and she told me i wasn’t allowed to go near their house or my friend again. to this day i still don’t know if it was actually due to culture/religion or if maybe they just had a really f****n weird family.
LH25 3 years ago
"take us to go to the bathroom whenever it was safe". This line makes me really sad. Making females responsible for what males might do.
Lyyyy 3 years ago
Also, this approach teaches boys that they don’t need to have self control, and they are not at fault if they do bad things to females.
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Wondering Alice 3 years ago
I feel bad for the friend, but glad the OP's sister was switched on
Rhyme Like A Lime 3 years ago
Hell yeah, who knows what would have happened otherwise
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Rose the Cook 3 years ago
My grandfather died a long time before I was born but it seems after joining some strange religion he insisted his sons live upstairs with him while the daughters lived downstairs with their mother. This was in case they accidentally sinned by seeing each other naked.
Anna Tribe 3 years ago
What did the op parents say about it I wonder seeing as it was her sister that banned her from going. Shame leaving her friend in that house though.
Random Anon 3 years ago
Sadly for these men, the little head between their legs has more control than that one on their shoulders.
#22
Late to the game, but here goes.
I had a friend growing up whose parents didn’t allow any snacks in the house. Every time he invited me over to spend the night, I was expected to bring boxes of snack food because it could be allowed if brought in by an outsider.
And yes, his parents would partake, too.
So there was junior high school aged Higestache bringing boxes of snacks for an entire family to have a ‘cheat night’ at my expense.
Olga Aftyka 3 years ago
The part with "no snacks in the house" is fine with me. I would just think they wanted to live and eat healthily. But the part, when they ate another kids' snack he brought, is indeed strange.
Adrienne Mcginley 3 years ago
I'd have gotten them back by bringing bags of carrot & celery sticks.
ThatBoredDolphin 3 years ago
Outsiders perspective , but I think it seems a little like you were being used. For snacks. Jesus.
#23
Dated a Lebanese guy.. On Christmas we had to drive around and visit all the aunts and uncles and sisters and brothers and so on.. At the first house I was offered a glass of coke and I kindly refused (coke makes me bloated and I wee a lot). I was told by my boyfriend that's it's rude. I had to finish each coke at every house, and if I finished it too soon, I would get a refill. I almost died that day. Also all the woman were mostly standing in the kitchen, did not really mingle with the men.
Data1001 3 years ago
I think I would have created the biggest scene at every house, as there's no way I'm going to let someone force me to eat or drink something I don't want to eat or drink.
Hemminsleifwa E 3 years ago
Yes, like farting a lot because of the belly pain.
Load More Replies... Mari 3 years ago
That's strange they gave you coke, normally guest are welcomed with milk and dates, coffee or tea. You have to accept the drink, but you don't have to drink it all up.
Wakiz 3 years ago
Not all arabs have the same greeting customs. and no you are not rude if you decline drinking anything in Lebanon (i'm not sure about other arab countries tho)
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Wakiz 3 years ago (edited)
This is not a typical Lebanese Christmas at all.. usually the family gathers in one house and you visit the extended family over the few days later. And for sure not all Lebanese people consider it rude to refuse to drink anything. This might be just a family thing with this guy. (I'm Lebanese so i know what i'm talking about lol). Edit: I'm ashamed to say that but yes most of the times women will do all the prep in the kitchen and in the dining room while men just sit there and talk, drink and smoke.
#24
Drinking only milk for dinner.
Don’t get me wrong, I like milk and will freely drink it at times but one time at my high school girlfriends house I had dinner. I was helping set the table and her mom started to pour milk in all the glasses. Not wanting to be rude and ask for soda or something I simply said “I’ll just have water”. She replied with “the Bible says milk is served with supper”
No clue if this is a thing or not. It was the first and last time I’ve ever heard it but the memory has stuck with me 20+ years later.
Edit 1: sorry to all the people who got scammed thinking it was a story about drinking only milk without food. There was food (don’t remember what) but I see how the first line can seem otherwise.
Edit 2: thank you everyone mentioning/ quoting the McPoyles. I’ve never heard of them and have only seen a few episodes of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Now I have something new to watch.
. . .-.-. — / —. .- -.— 3 years ago
I do love milk myself, but having it with every meal would get pretty weird - especially if it was mostly limes or oranges or something like that - oranges mixed with milk can make you sick, I think
Load More Replies... Lyone Fein 3 years ago
FYI. The Bible does not say anything about needing to drink milk with dinner. If anything, it is exactly the opposite because it is not kosher to have milk and meat at the same meal. The Bible is where the law about this is layed out.
Greta Denmark 3 years ago
You beat me to it. The Old Testament contains a lot of laws that only strictly orthodox Jews follow.
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BasedWang12 3 years ago
If this list doesn't show you that "the book" is toxic, idk what will. Well I guess how people use it.
Faith Treiss 3 years ago
The problem is how people will use it to justify their poor actions. This one is particularly bad but the way some people use it (eg. Hating gay people) is the problem
Load More Replies... Random Anon 3 years ago
Certain foods combined with milk can create a cataclysmic excremental event for me. So far I know grains will trigger a rather minor one. So if that family don't mind my defiling their porcelain throne when dinner is done, I won't mind partaking in their family ritual.
Robin Roper 3 years ago
So much for those who are dairy intolerant. Growing up, as children we drank milk with dinner during the winter, but for some reason, we switched to iced tea (we're southern) in the summer.
Pizzagirl 91 3 years ago
I love milk, but I think it's not as great in summer, since it's more of filling beverage than something to quench thirst.
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Hobby Hopper 3 years ago
Has anyone ever heard of this belief before or know where it might have come from? I'm really curious.
#25
My friends father was a Geordie and his grandad was Scottish. Each hogmanay it was my job to leave their house and re enter bearing a gift of coal. This was my task as I was the only one there with dark hair.
So that's a thing.
Edit: spelling of Hogmanay.
Wondering Alice 3 years ago
Everyone I knew as a kid did this. First footer (first person to enter house on new years) is decided in advance. Preferably someone dark haired, but if someone has been lucky in the year they trump. They are given to bring over the door bread coal and coins. Must enter with right foot first. In our street, also wine or whiskey as the men from different houses would all meet outside and share a drink before returning to first foot. Everyone indoors waits for their return to start singing aul Lang syne. Now I still do this, but my husband hates to leave the party so we all go out together and just make sure who comes in first.
Moya Satterwhite 3 years ago
I used to baby sit for a couple of Scottish people so they could go first footing.
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Duane Ringlein 3 years ago
I met my late wife who was a Scot on Hogmanay. A group of us went back to her flat and one of my friends who had dark hair, had to enter first. While we were there someone knocked on the door, had dark hair and a bottle, and was invited in where we all shared a drink. She seemed shocked I had never seen that before. For the next 46 years, I couldn't leave the house on New Years Day until someone with dark hair came through first, btw I have light brown hair.
Terry Tobias 3 years ago (edited)
Ok... now I have to google it! Edit: I just looked it up. It sounds like fun!
CelticElff 3 years ago
Yes, this is a thing! It's called First Footing. Egads, I miss Scotland.
Karl Baxter 3 years ago
I used to do this.min my youth (before it all fell out!) I had a lustrous dark mane and on NYE, I’d be kicked out of the house at 11.55pm with a few anthracite nuts in my hand, only to be allowed in at 00:01 and greeted by the host who’d throw the coal on the fire and pour me a stiff whisky for my trouble. Made the 5 mins stuck out in the cold worthwhile 😀
Eastendbird 3 years ago (edited)
The tradition that I liked was the Ne'er's Day drinks. On new year's day you go round to friends and neighbours for a drink - traditionally a shot of whiskey.
#26
When the host has been saying grace for 5 straight minutes and we're all still holding hands in a big circle as if we're trying to summon a spirit, it feels pretty weird.
*Displayname*=idk 3 years ago
Went to my boyfriends house and this happened but only lasted maybe two minutes. I never really prayed before eating (this was maybe right before 6th grade) and they did weird hand motions and just tried to copy to be nice. To this day I remember being so embarrassed.
UpQuarkDownQuark 3 years ago
I hated going to friend’s houses that expected me to also hold hands while they thanked god for dinner. Just saying grace at all was unusual to me, but being coerced into holding hands and bowing my head really bothered me. I’ll happily sit quietly and respect your traditions, but don’t make me partake. I didn’t know how to firmly but politely refuse as a shy teenager, so I just wouldn’t have dinner a second time with friends whose family did this.
Mary Peace 3 years ago
As a Christian, I agree with your wish to sit quietly. I would be very sad if a guest in my home was made to feel awkward, that is very wrong and not what the Bible teaches. On the other hand I think it would be rude to start eating while they were praying.
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manalonedies 3 years ago
My family never said "grace" we simply dug in. So whenever I visit friends or family who say grace, especially when eating out, I always have a chunk of food in my mouth when saying "amen".
Ren 3 years ago
When I was like 10ish, I had dinner at my neighbor friend's house for the first time. They were super religious (Catholics I think?) and I had no knowledge of any religious practices. So when they said grace (I was told what it was later on by my mom) I just started eating on my own. I got really nasty looks from my friend's dad, but how was I supposed to know what not to do if no one told me? Also was never invited back for dinner ever again, I guess I was too much of a heathen.
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
Reminds me of visiting my best friend's place in high school. At my house, saying grace was only done sporadically and was usually about two lines long. I was surprised when my friend's dad would pray for 5+ minutes before each dinner.
Greta Denmark 3 years ago
And if it is a hot meal it will have grown cold before you are even allowed to start eating.
#27
I grew up in the crazy religious house and since Santa Claus was secular, he was completely removed from anything to do with our Christmas. Instead we celebrated Christmas like an actual birthday party complete with cake and singing happy birthday to Jesus
EDIT: For all the people correctly describing Santa Claus as St. Nick (religious figure), my family believed Catholics were going to hell because praying to Saints is akin to praying to an idol or false god. Secular was probably the incorrect word, but they definitely saw St Nick and the Santa Claus character as a threat to "real" Christmas.
Jayne Kyra 3 years ago
In Slovakia, St Nicolaus (Svätý Mikuláš), visits houses on the night of 5th December to deposit sweets, nuts, and fruits into boots, coal for bad kids. Baby Jesus (Ježiško) visits on the even of 24th December.
Maggie Belter 3 years ago
Yes! my family is from Norway and we do this too. 😊😊
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Little king trash mouth 3 years ago
My completely normal family has sung happy birthday to Jesus on Christmas before, mostly because my mother in law insists on making cakes for all holidays and the kids like blowing out the candles. It's quirky but gives us a laugh.
Mary Peace 3 years ago
I was told this, that he wears a red coat because it's Coca-cola colours. Then my Mother (born in 1922) told me that was rubbish, they had Santa Claus in a red coat long before Coca-cola!
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#28
Must have ice cream after dinner, even a spoonful was enough. My friend invited me for a sleepover and his dad took out a small bucket of ice cream, turns out they have a separate freezer just for ice cream. Friend's mom didn't want any so she just took a spoonful from her husband. His dad would offer me ice cream whenever he can. We went for a drive and his dad saw a Dairy Queen we went there and spent an hour inside trying every kind of ice cream they had.
His mom wasn't any different but it was with making sure the meal was balance, doesn't matter if you ate a dozen fried chicken but you better eat a lot of vegetables with it.
I thought that they probably grew up poor and ice cream was a luxury his dad never had and maybe his mom wasn't able to eat much.
My paternal grandma was unwilling to let a guest go home without eating anything.
Bored Retsuko 3 years ago (edited)
My thoughts exactly! Silly I know, and probably not funny at all (someone is coerced to have at least one spoonful when they don't want any?!), but I was thinking... this sounds a lot like me 😆
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Agent 8433599 3 years ago
You're so lucky! I love ice cream so much! My family actually cut me off for a while 😒
Upstaged75 3 years ago (edited)
That's not weird, that's awesome!! I fully support this tradition and follow it as often as possible. Which is part of the reason why I'm fat. :)
#29
i am reminded of the story on Reddit where a girl went to her boyfriend's parents' house to meet them, and they had a ritual where they gather around a table and savagely consume an entire orange, skin and all. She didn't do it, and she upset the entire family. I think it's my favorite story from Reddit.
Jayne Kyra 3 years ago
Guys, it´s wild! https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/comments/ldb63m/aita_for_refusing_to_participate_in_my_bfs/
Hobby Hopper 3 years ago
Someone told me pesticides get concentrated on the outside of oranges. I don't know if there's any truth to that at all, but it would make me consider buying organic oranges if I wanted to eat the peel.
Pezor Zass 3 years ago
my best friend's family eats the whole apple minus the stem. they're "allowed" to skip the seeds if they fall out naturally, but otherwise it's all food.
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
My brother would probably do the same. He also eats kiwi fruit skin.
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Mary Peace 3 years ago
I don't eat oranges very often, but sometimes in a cafe, I have an orange juice with a slice of of orange, and I like to eat that.
#30
I once went to have dinner with a girl from uni who came from a super nice but very religious family. Her dad turned out the be the pastor. Absolutely no problem being silent while they’re praying before dinner, however after dinner the whole family got their bibles out, and asked me politely, which my favourite verse was so we could read it together. Eh…?
Kevin Hickey 3 years ago
I was once told by someone, "I've been reading the bible for thirty years!!" I said, "You'd think that you'd be done by now."
Ross Warren 3 years ago
Deuteronomy 13: 12-16 all about slaughtering anyone who doesn't share your religion. There's no hate like Christian love.
JuniorCJ82 3 years ago
Just say I'm actually a (fill in the blank with random religion) and walk out.
censor 3 years ago
I'd have voted for Judges 19 and asked the pastor to explain why god allowed a man's daughter and girlfriend to get raped and butchered.
Ross Warren 3 years ago
Or the part where Lot's daughters get him drunk and take turns r@p¡n& him.
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censor 3 years ago
I'd vote for Deut 13 and 17, which says kill the infidels.
Load More Replies... iseefractals 3 years ago
I would have said "sorry, all my favorite passages we're edited out by the Vatican a few hundred years ago, probably not in your copy"
mateo pineda 3 years ago
it's the opposite Catholics have more than them most, and these probably weren't catholic
Load More Replies... #31
I worked for a rental car company in an Orthodox Jewish community. A customer rushed in on a Friday evening and asked to be driven home immediately because if we didn’t make it to his house by sundown he would have to get out of the car and walk the rest of the way due to the Sabbath (he used an app on his phone to tell him the exact time of sundown each day). I didn’t have a driver available to I just told him to go home and I’ll come by his house later to grab the car.
A half hour later I arrive at his house. Husband is nowhere to be found, and the following scenario ensues with his wife:
“My husband left the keys on our bedside table and I’m not allowed to touch them. Can you come in and grab them please?”
I awkwardly follow her into her bedroom and grab them from the bedside table.
“Can I ask one more favor? Do you mind unplugging the house for me?”
I then follow her into her basement and enter a room where there are literally 15-20 different electrical cords coming through holes in the the walls and ceiling, and through a tangled series of different outlet strips are all consolidated into one master plug going into a standard wall outlet. She points at it and asks me to unplug it. I do. She thanks me. I leave.
I had a lot of wild experiences in five years working that job. This one was definitely top five.
LesPenguin2224 3 years ago
yes, wouldn't getting a glass of water be work?
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Jill Bussey 3 years ago
I have one of these miniature Swiss Army knives. It was my dad's and is very precious to me. I have never seen one other than mine.
#32
Got woken up by my friend's mom, tickling me in the neck like I'm a little kid. Happened during college. It was weird at first, but then my friend warned me that's how his mom woke him up every day. My friend is an only child, and before he was born, his mom went through one miscarriage and two deaths due to sickness and accident. Edit: Also, another friend of ours has a homophobic uncle. She told me to act straight. At the time, I only came out of the closet to a few of my friends, so I was scared.
LesPenguin2224 3 years ago (edited)
haha 😄 agreed 🏳️🌈 I'm not gonna lie being tiggled isn't the WORST way to be woken up, not the nicest either but worst? nope.
Load More Replies... #33
I had to sit on furniture that was covered in plastic. My boyfriend, at the time, had a friend whose parents invited us all over to their house for a party.
The mom was a clean freak or something because every piece of furniture was covered in plastic. It crinkled strangely when you sat on it. There were also plastic runners everywhere so the carpets wouldn’t get dirty. We were all afraid to drop any food crumbs — it felt like we were in some kind of museum.
Terry Tobias 3 years ago
I grew up in an area of our city where alot of Italian immigrants made tract housing and settled there. I had friends whose houses were covered in plastic and doilies, and sometimes doilies made out of plastic. And there was always a front room that they would call the "living room", but nobody was allowed to go in there. If we were going to hang out and watch TV we went to the "family room" or the basement. It was very different in my house. The six of us lived in every room, sometimes on top of each other, but we were ok with that.
Mari 3 years ago
Maybe only in the USA? I never saw this in Europe, even not in Italy.
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HarriMissesScotland 3 years ago
My aunt who had 3 sons that raced motorcycles. The living room was WHITE. Carpet, walls, furniture, all covered in plastic. Not a comfortable place to go.
WoodenLion 3 years ago
my neighbor had a huge living room totally everything bright white, everything. i never saw anyone in there whenever i went to play for 15 years. nothing covered in plastic though.
Load More Replies... WoodenLion 3 years ago (edited)
i saw this in the us in the early 60's - i was a kid - it was strange. everything was covered.
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Bored Retsuko 3 years ago
I feel called out. I do like to cover up furniture (things that cannot be cleaned easily, like sofas). Not in plastic though.
UpQuarkDownQuark 3 years ago
And god forbid you step off the runner! I had a friend who lived in a house like that in elementary school. Her mom scared me.
#34
We got yelled at for "playing that devil game again!"
We were playing Mario kart. And Bowser kept freaking his mom out. So we muted it and all was fine from then on.
Meanwhile his little brother was literally playing Diablo 2 at the time in the same room. But he already had it muted so it wasn't a problem I guess.
Lukyan Terdal 3 years ago
If ya run out, I know a guy who can get you some green mushrooms!
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#35
drank 6 shots of homemade pálinka (strong alcohol from hungary) becuase I was told it was rude to say no before I came here, and a few other drinks because I wanted to try new things. got so sick
*Displayname*=idk 3 years ago
I find it weird. Cause what if you got drunk and something bad happened.
Maciej Zajaczkowski 3 years ago
It's rude to force it onto people. What if you had a medical condtion. Also it's funny how alcohol is like the only drug that people actually encourage you to take.
Anna F 3 years ago
Haha, as a Hungarian some really traditional houses still do this. I asked my grandfather and he said that it must come from people who live more in the countryside. My best guess is because making palinka can take a while and a lot of work and it could seem disrespectful to say no, but that’s sort of an old thing, we don’t really do that anymore.
Pezor Zass 3 years ago
went back to Serbia with my grandparents to visit the home village. They took me visiting all the people they hadn't seen in years and there were multiple shots of slivovica (plum brandy) at every house. the walk back home was...let's say meandering.
Kevin Hickey 3 years ago
You know what's rude? Pressuring someone into doing something that they don't want to do because of some moronic custom.
Patti Vance 3 years ago
have had uncomfortable moments when in situation where alcohol is considered normal and rude not to accept. i take medication that will interact and possibly kill me if drinking with it. while i don't like to tell people of my medical issues i have had to because of it and mostly it is handled well.
#36
I don't know if this counts as someone's culture. But when I was a kid, I had a sleepover with a friend that always sleeps naked. And I decided to sleep naked with him lol. Nothing sexual, just thought it was weird.
Adrienne Mcginley 3 years ago
I'll be saying this until I die, but skin does NOT equal sex. Plus, your body's largest organ (your skin!) needs time to breathe too.
Deux 3 years ago
I only sleep naked if my clothes are right by my side beside the bed and I have a dressing gown at my feet. I refuse to climb out the window in the nude incase of a fire or something.
Load More Replies... censor 3 years ago
main issue is if you sweat a lot in the night, it makes the bedding sweaty and oily once you are over a certain age. PJs stop that, they're smaller and easier to wash etc.
Onion Cutting Ninja 3 years ago
What you did was totally fine and understandable. No judgement :)
#37
I guess this qualifies as "culture":
My sister was dating a man that had been raised in a nudist colony. He took her to meet his family at their house at the colony. She was a tad surprised when his mother immediately says "there is a hook on the bathroom door for your clothes." My sister proceeds to spend the entire evening naked with his folks. Her BF had told her before they went that it would be her option but I guess his parents didn't think so.
Adrienne Mcginley 3 years ago
Had she chosen not to disrobe it should have been OK. I've never known a nudist colony that's like that, at least when it comes to visitors.
Dirk Daring 3 years ago
Nudists don't like the term, "nudist colony". Colonies are for ants and lepers. We prefer nudist camp, or resort, park, community. Not colony.
censor 3 years ago
sorry I think these people have totally fallen for the naturalist fallacy. If you want to be a nudist, I must insist you also discard shoes, glasses, aircraft, houses made of concrete or brick, cars, computers, etc. The claim is that it's natural for humans to be naked. Nope. There's evidence we've been wearing clothing for over 200 000 years. That's evidence enough for me that clothing is in fact the default. I do NOT want to see your f*****g genitals.
#38
I was on holiday and spent a day with a friend in Japan and he told me to come back to his place for dinner. We grabbed some takeaway burgers and went to his house. When we got there his parents weren’t home so he said we couldn’t eat until arrived; fair enough I thought he must have got burgers for them too. 2 hours later they arrive. They have a quick chat in Japanese and then I asked if they wanted to eat with us. He asked them that, they looked confused and responded to him. I asked him what they said and he said “they said it’s ridiculous that we waited for them before eating”.
#39
My ex boyfriend was first language French Canadian from New Brunswick. We went to visit his Grandmother and none of them spoke English. They were very devout Catholics and I never seen so many crucifixes and Jesus pictures on the walls. I dont speak French so it was awkward. Im an athiest. They put out tea and cookies and I took a bite of a cookie without thinking. His family was pissed as they say grace for everything. I could vaguely make out how mad they were and the rest of the weekend I was called, "les Englais". I went and dropped a deuce in her toilet the whole time being stared at by the Jesus picture on the wall in the bathroom. Was f*****g weird.
censor 3 years ago
just show them the french taunting scene in "holy grail". google if you don't know it.
#40
My friend and I told our other friends that you had to kiss a lion statue in their hallway when entering my friend's house the first time and said it was a cultiral tradition. Nope. You didn't have to kiss the statue.
Pezor Zass 3 years ago
when my American girlfriend first came to visit me in Canada, my friends and i pretended that she happened to show up on "Beaver Day" when Canadians go around to friends' places with gifts of maple candy.
Karl Baxter 3 years ago (edited)
This shows how fearful many of us are of confronting such idiocy and calling it out for the BS it is.
Eastendbird 3 years ago
Hosts: Jeez, we'd better put the lion statue by the door again, they seem to have a weird fascination for it. Guests: Aww no, lot the lion statue again, pucker up boys. Repeat ad infinitum...
#41
When I was in elementary school I had a friend who was Mormon, and I had trouble discussing mythology or simply a few works of fiction since he said talking about other Gods was against his religion. We were 7 or 8 at the time. I dunno how true that is, but I felt pretty bad about it regardless
panda123 3 years ago
That’s not a thing, talking about other gods is not against the Mormon religion
Onion Cutting Ninja 3 years ago
Different people have different takes on the commandments, and have different views on how they should be carried out. I personally am fine talking about greek gods and such, but I would never say "oh my god" or anything like that casually. It depends on the person. (I dont know if you are lds or not but if you are even you have a different take :)
Load More Replies... #42
Ignoring the giant Confederate flag hung behind the couch.
#43
You weren’t aloud to say the word devil in my ex best friends house because her grandma was like super religious. Like one time her grandma was in the kitchen and we were sitting in the living room and I said we should make deviled eggs and she was like “SHHHHHhhH you can’t say devil around my grandma so we call them angel eggs!” And I was like damn ok🌝 another thing was that her grandpa had a camera in her and her sisters room that would face the street but he also made them have it face to look in their room sometimes
#44
Went over to my Laotian friends house when I was little and upon entering his house he said I had to remove my shoes and bow to his grandfather. When he said “grandfather” he pointed to a fish mounted on the wall. Thinking it was some kind of reincarnation thing I did it and was instantly berated and laughed at by his whole family.
Your Neighborhood Alien 3 years ago
OP says his grandfather wasn't there and that he was just messing with him.
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#45
Eat gefilte fish, the ready-to-serve kind that’s in some sort of gelatin. That and the rest of that evening Seder was culturally enlightening, but to 18-year-old me back then it was weird. As an Asian I was used to fish cake type stuff, but the gelatin threw me.
Patti Vance 3 years ago
while i admit the homemade fish is better you can get a decent jar of quality. just hard to find.
Load More Replies... WoodenLion 3 years ago
understood. personally, i don't hanker to the idea of adding an ingredient to make my food palatable. if i think it's nasty - it's nasty to me. never had that gelfish before but don't really think it would be right for me. sorta' like hogshead cheese. never had it - don't want it.
Load More Replies... Patti Vance 3 years ago
i was married to a christian and we always had a give and take when it came to religion and their holidays. finally got him to attend a seder dinner at the temple. he was given gefilte fish and he quietly whispered it looked like a bowel movement left too long in the toilet (i was paraphrasing it nicely compared to what he said). but, it did enlighten him to the customs associated with the holiday. for him and his family, it was the feast of the fishes at christmas. i never knew fish could be not only prepped in so many ways. and, not only the fish but the courses before, during, and after with nuts, fruits, etc.
#46
Not even religion or culture, just those dorky a*s families that won't let you take a drink outside of the kitchen.
Tilly 3 years ago
We had that rule growing up when we were younger. It's because kids spill duh. Lol
InfiniteZero 3 years ago
"Remeber the time that I spilled the cup of apple juice in the hall? Please tell mom this is not her fault."
Load More Replies... Liana 3 years ago
I hate when people are eating in the living room. Like... I'm not a maid to clean up 24/7. And I hate when my husband eats while standing. I can get through it when were outside and he eats an apple or something, but not when he comes home after a long day and can not sit for a meal. Drives me nuts.
What do you think ?
Izzy Curer 3 years ago (edited)
I'm an adult, and haven't lived in my home state for over a decade. Returning home is always a bit of a culture shock. A few years ago, I was stunned to find out my own parents, as well as my siblings, don't believe in evolution. Blew my mind. I clearly remember specific conversations we've had about fossils, or dinosaurs, or things happening millions of years ago, or whatever, with no mention at all that evolution wasn't just what we all believed. My dad is a huge rock hound, and loves fossils. Fossil hunting is one our favorite things to do together. But the topic of deep time got innocently brought up a few years ago while I was home for a visit, probably talking about rocks or something, and everybody suddenly got really quiet after something I'd said. My dad asked if I actually believed in 'that stuff'. I was like, "uh... yeah, you ...dont?" No. No, they didn't. None of them did. They actually made fun of me a little bit for my outlandish beliefs. I feel like I've slipped into an alternate timeline, here. It's just bizarre, because I thought all the stuff I'd learned about natural history came from them. Apparently not. I don't think the timescale is the issue, or even the idea that the landscape has changed, considering there used to be a sea where my folks live, and my dad loves to find seashell fossils. I think it's just the idea of evolution itself, because it's that hot-button word that they've been told so many times is evil. I actually have no idea what they believe. So it's a house where there are rocks and fossils everywhere, but nobody is allowed to talk about what they are.
Nicole Herron 3 years ago
I concur with the other comments. You don't even have to include me but don't make it awkward. Any culture and religion knows how to treat people nicely.
Upstaged75 3 years ago
A friend of mine grew up in Madrid before they came back to the States. Her family does this thing at New Years where you have to try and eat 12 grapes at midnight and finish before the clock is done bonging 12 times. It's impossible and usually ends up with everyone spitting grapes all over the place. Or choking on them in my case. :) I assume it's some Spanish tradition?
Bonnie Wolloff 3 years ago
I will respect cultures as long as I do not have to follow their beliefs..BUT THE MINUTE they do not respect my beliefs. I no longer respect theirs.
NG 3 years ago
A story about my friend and her cousins lol. So I’d known my friend my whole life, we’ll call her L, and I had heard about her cousin, K, for a long time, and not good things. The only time I met her was at one of L’s birthday parties, and she tried to give me a seizure by flashing lights at me, knowing fair well I’m very light sensitive. Anyways, K moved and L went to visit. Her parents had started this no food except for meal times policy, which they didn’t inform L about. After lunch, L was still hungry and she pulled out a bag of chips from her backpack. K gasped at her and went and tattled to her mom and her mom confiscated the chips and scolded L for a rule she didn’t even know about. Anyways, after L brought up that story I told her about the K story, and L’s mom didn’t let her go back for a while.
l bee 3 years ago
The dessert one is so funny to me because we didn't flip our plate over, but we did use he same plate/bowl. So we'd have a bowl of chili and then have a piece of apple pie in the same bowl. I do this now and my husband thinks it's so funny. I don't do pie after chili but I do occasionally do brownies.
Random Anon 3 years ago (edited)
Look if you go to someone''s home, then at the very least follow their customs. Up to the extent of your own moral compass, of course. I won't mind eating with my hands for example. But I definitely won't take a shower with them.
Izzy Curer 3 years ago (edited)
I'm an adult, and haven't lived in my home state for over a decade. Returning home is always a bit of a culture shock. A few years ago, I was stunned to find out my own parents, as well as my siblings, don't believe in evolution. Blew my mind. I clearly remember specific conversations we've had about fossils, or dinosaurs, or things happening millions of years ago, or whatever, with no mention at all that evolution wasn't just what we all believed. My dad is a huge rock hound, and loves fossils. Fossil hunting is one our favorite things to do together. But the topic of deep time got innocently brought up a few years ago while I was home for a visit, probably talking about rocks or something, and everybody suddenly got really quiet after something I'd said. My dad asked if I actually believed in 'that stuff'. I was like, "uh... yeah, you ...dont?" No. No, they didn't. None of them did. They actually made fun of me a little bit for my outlandish beliefs. I feel like I've slipped into an alternate timeline, here. It's just bizarre, because I thought all the stuff I'd learned about natural history came from them. Apparently not. I don't think the timescale is the issue, or even the idea that the landscape has changed, considering there used to be a sea where my folks live, and my dad loves to find seashell fossils. I think it's just the idea of evolution itself, because it's that hot-button word that they've been told so many times is evil. I actually have no idea what they believe. So it's a house where there are rocks and fossils everywhere, but nobody is allowed to talk about what they are.
Nicole Herron 3 years ago
I concur with the other comments. You don't even have to include me but don't make it awkward. Any culture and religion knows how to treat people nicely.
Upstaged75 3 years ago
A friend of mine grew up in Madrid before they came back to the States. Her family does this thing at New Years where you have to try and eat 12 grapes at midnight and finish before the clock is done bonging 12 times. It's impossible and usually ends up with everyone spitting grapes all over the place. Or choking on them in my case. :) I assume it's some Spanish tradition?
Bonnie Wolloff 3 years ago
I will respect cultures as long as I do not have to follow their beliefs..BUT THE MINUTE they do not respect my beliefs. I no longer respect theirs.
NG 3 years ago
A story about my friend and her cousins lol. So I’d known my friend my whole life, we’ll call her L, and I had heard about her cousin, K, for a long time, and not good things. The only time I met her was at one of L’s birthday parties, and she tried to give me a seizure by flashing lights at me, knowing fair well I’m very light sensitive. Anyways, K moved and L went to visit. Her parents had started this no food except for meal times policy, which they didn’t inform L about. After lunch, L was still hungry and she pulled out a bag of chips from her backpack. K gasped at her and went and tattled to her mom and her mom confiscated the chips and scolded L for a rule she didn’t even know about. Anyways, after L brought up that story I told her about the K story, and L’s mom didn’t let her go back for a while.
l bee 3 years ago
The dessert one is so funny to me because we didn't flip our plate over, but we did use he same plate/bowl. So we'd have a bowl of chili and then have a piece of apple pie in the same bowl. I do this now and my husband thinks it's so funny. I don't do pie after chili but I do occasionally do brownies.
Random Anon 3 years ago (edited)
Look if you go to someone''s home, then at the very least follow their customs. Up to the extent of your own moral compass, of course. I won't mind eating with my hands for example. But I definitely won't take a shower with them.
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