Unwritten rules (until now)...let's talk about 'em

[DrPhil]

[HQWest]

Do not do something at someone else's house that you would not do at your own. For example, leave wet towels on the antique chair.

[BraveMaroon]

I appreciate that you want to be "green", hotel chain. I'll let sheets slide, but I am always going to want fresh towels every day.

[pinksequins]

Toilet paper rolls must unfurl in a clockwise manner (paper end at the back).

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by ChioLu

And for the penultimate -- you are driving a $100K Mercedes and you have a handicap parking permit.
What's your handicap??? You're RICH??? (Sorry, I live in LA and this is overly-abused.)

My rule: Never use words like "penultimate" unless you know what they mean.

(Sorry, I couldn't help myself. I used to have a co-worker who used that word incorrectly all the time.)

Originally Posted by AlwaysSAI

The bottom of the cupcake must always be eaten first.

My favorite place to get cupcakes doesn't cook them in the paper cups, and after baking they turn the cupcakes out of the pans and ice the bottom and sides, where the paper would be. Wonderful!

[SydneyK]

So many of these rules should be common courtesy. It's a shame enough people disregard them that others have to point them out.

A few of them, though, make me go ...

Originally Posted by Kevin

1) Never drive lower than the posted speed limit unless there is a valid safety reason why not.

So, the speed limit isn't so much a limit as it is a starting point?

Originally Posted by pinksequins

Donuts must be eaten in a circular manner around the hole. Then you can eat the remaining ring.

I can't imagine doing this, nor can I imagine seeing an adult eat their donut this way.

Originally Posted by AlwaysSAI

The bottom of the cupcake must always be eaten first.

Wha? Really? Again, never heard of this technique.

Originally Posted by pinksequins

Toilet paper rolls must unfurl in a clockwise manner (paper end at the back).

This is one of those topics which people feel strongly about - one way or the other - yet no one seems to have an explanation for why they prefer the method they prefer other than personal preference. I'm an over-the-top TP kind of girl, myself. Perhaps because I grew up with parents who were fans of the over-the-top method? Who knows.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by SydneyK

A few of them, though, make me go ...
So, the speed limit isn't so much a limit as it is a starting point?

Let's just say if you think it's fine to go 35 in a 45, there are many people behind you who strongly disagree with your decision and who are forced to abide by it. I strongly believe in the concept of "Team A to B." In other words, in your A to B time in the car, we should all work together to help one another get where we need to be. This would preclude:

1) Going 10 MPH under the speed limit for no good reason;
2) Coming to a full stop for a right turn out of traffic;
3) Not pulling into the middle of the intersection when you're the first car trying to turn left in front of a green light (not a green arrow);
4) Not fully comprehending what a yield sign means and treating it as a stop sign.
5) It's been years since we've had roundabouts. If you do not understand how they work, see #4 above.

[sigmagirl2000]

Originally Posted by Kevin

4) Not fully comprehending what a yield sign means and treating it as a stop sign.

I tend to see the opposite issue with yield signs. Every morning there a toll area where I DON'T have a yield sign, yet the merging traffic that DOES have a yield sign doesn't even slow down before merging into stopped traffic and blocking my straight path to my exit that is CLEAR. Some mornings I spend 45+ minutes trying to go less than 200 feet because of these fools not considering the yield sign or the rudeness of half pulling into a lane and blocking a lane of traffic that is empty. grrrr.

(Mass Pike and I95/128 interchange for those familiar with the area.)

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by pinksequins

Toilet paper rolls must unfurl in a clockwise manner (paper end at the back).

Survey says... BZZZZZT! The paper end must be in the front.

[Sciencewoman]

Originally Posted by aephi alum

Survey says... BZZZZZT! The paper end must be in the front.

Absolutely. I also like it when hotels fold the end piece into a point.

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by pinksequins

Donuts must be eaten in a circular manner around the hole. Then you can eat the remaining ring.

When you do this, are you wearing it like a ring on your finger? I can't imagine why this would be a thing except for my daughter, who thinks it's funny to wear food as jewelry.

Originally Posted by pinksequins

Scrambled eggs must be cooked until they are entirely immobile.

So you can play ball with them? Yuck.

Originally Posted by AlwaysSAI

The bottom of the cupcake must always be eaten first.

I can not imagine a messier way to eat a cupcake. You eat the part that doesn't have icing on it first so that you lose the convenient place to hold it? Unless you're eating a cupcake with a fork, and then you lose the whole point of cupcake and it's just miniature cake.

I honestly don't care about the direction of toilet paper, although I know that people have definitive opinions about it. I'm just happy when the person who uses all of the prior roll actually goes and puts a new roll on the holder. That's my unwritten rule.

[ASTalumna06]

Some things that have been listed are personal preferences rather than "unwritten rules." But anyway...

1) When making a turn, changing lanes, banging a uey, etc., use a turn signal! (People in Houston especially don't seem to understand this concept)

2) Wearing headphones = don't try to start a conversation with me. If I dropped something and you need to tell me about it, fine. If you want to tell me your entire life story, NO. Stop.

3) Don't stop suddenly in the middle of a busy sidewalk.

4) In the grocery store, at the mall, etc., be aware of the people around you. Not everyone enjoys shopping. Some people want to get in and get out. Don't take up an entire aisle with your carraige and stare at the rice for 5 minutes. Don't have your family of 7 walk shoulder to shoulder down the entire length of the mall. Move out of the way.

5) One that I always hear from guys: As long as the bathroom isn't packed, leave at least one urinal in between you and the guy next to you.

[DrPhil]

Amen about Walmart.

I have gone there a few times over the years and wish I had worn a disguise. I prefer Target. I also dislike places like Cosco(sp) and Sam's Club. I avoid them like the plague.

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

Some things that have been listed are personal preferences rather than "unwritten rules."

Because all "unwritten rules" are debatable social norms and/or personal preferences.

Formal/official rules and practices, guidelines, and laws are "written rules" and make for a boring thread.

The key is for people to know when rules are not unwritten and not based on preferences. There are written rules for things like speed limit, which lane to drive in, and turn signals. Regardless of personal preferences and what people tend to do, the police can give tickets for this stuff.

[WhiteRose1912]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

Some things that have been listed are personal preferences rather than "unwritten rules." But anyway...

1) When making a turn, changing lanes, banging a uey, etc., use a turn signal! (People in Houston especially don't seem to understand this concept)

Isn't this a written rule (law)? Because if turn signals are optional in other states, that would explain a lot and give me someplace to direct my road rage.

[amanda6035]

I agree with the toilet paper going OVER when I'm at home.... however, at work, or at any business that has the following kind of toilet paper dispenser, it must be UNDER!



The reason is that these kinds of dispensers are designed to be pulled from under. If it's loaded improperly, with the paper coming from over, then you can't pull as much off as you need.... I get so frustrated at work when I get one friggin square at a time that I usually give up and pull a fresh roll off the back of the toilet and just get what I need.

I HATE those stupid dispensers.....