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

[als463]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

The same applies to adults. Don't randomly touch someone's body including hair. You may love my Angela Davis Afro but I will "power to the people" fist pump you in the throat if you touch it. I have had colleagues and complete strangers do that and it takes everything in me not to get mad.

I agree. What is it with people wanting to touch others? I hate when I see strangers touch the belly of a pregnant woman. Awkward! I'm also with KSU Violet that us short people don't like to be picked up or used as arm rests. You have no idea how many people (it's fine if we are friends--not if I don't know you) come up to me and put their arm on top of my head because I am so short as an arm rest and laugh at my size. Hey now! That's weird!

As far as the grocery bags---Am I the only one that feels that way? Come on, guys! It weirds me out!

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by als463

As far as the grocery bags---Am I the only one that feels that way? Come on, guys! It weirds me out!

I think it might just be you.

[DrPhil]

To go with my other long rant:

Unless you are waiting for an emergency call or take service notes using your mobile device (and it better be on silent and that includes none of those annoying alerts), LEAVE YOUR TECHNOLOGY IN THE CAR!!!! There was a woman texting and checking her email beside me in church. The church has made announcements regarding not doing that but people respect a movie theater (when they are repeatedly warned and told that people can see them using their device--it is a relatively rare idiot who still texts, emails, and takes phone calls in a movie theater) more than they respect a religious service.

[ADPiEE]

If your NCAA Conference has a number in its name, it should have that many teams.

[MysticCat]

Can someone please repeal the unwritten rule that it is necessary for the audience to stand during the Hallelujah Chorus?

[tinydancer]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Can someone please repeal the unwritten rule that it is necessary for the audience to stand during the Hallelujah Chorus?

Thank you! It makes me uneasy as a singer and wears me out as an audience member.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Can someone please repeal the unwritten rule that it is necessary for the audience to stand during the Hallelujah Chorus?

I've played this piece a number of times and have never heard of the audience standing. I'm not a singer though, so maybe it's a different experience?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Kevin

I've played this piece a number of times and have never heard of the audience standing. I'm not a singer though, so maybe it's a different experience?

The story, first recorded 30+ years after Messiah's premiere, is that King George stood as the chorus started and remained standing throughout. Depending on who you ask or what source you consult, the reason supposedly was (1) to acknowledge the "King of Kings and Lord of Lords," (2) because he was so moved by the music, or (3) to stretch his legs. But when the king stands, everone else present must stand.

But whatever the reason, it's been going on since the 1750s or so, on both sides of The Pond.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Okay, here is DBB's guide to switching seats on an airplane:

1) You may not ask someone to switch their seat for a worse one. I don't care that you want to sit next to your friend/lover/kid/whatever.

2) You may ask someone to switch their seat for a better one.

3) If two seats are possibly equivalent, but it depends on personal preference, you may ask once, but you must back off after a single polite decline. For example, if you want to switch an aisle for a window or vice-versa, this is okay, because it is debatable which is a "better" seat, but the askee has the right to say no.

4) The better/worse calculation takes into consideration not just aisle/middle/window, but also proximity to lav (ew), row number (front is generally better), bulkheads, etc. The askee is entitled to decline for any/all of these reasons.

5) In the event that you and your kid are in far apart shitty seats, you may violate rule #1, but you should acknowledge that you are asking someone for a big favor, and offer to buy them a drink or something in return. Again, however, the askee is entitled to say no.

[BraveMaroon]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Okay, here is DBB's guide to switching seats on an airplane:

5) In the event that you and your kid are in far apart shitty seats, you may violate rule #1, but you should acknowledge that you are asking someone for a big favor, and offer to buy them a drink or something in return. Again, however, the askee is entitled to say no.

This happens on at least one flight a month that I'm on.

Now, if it's Southwest and people are just being douchey, that's one thing, but if you're on an airline that ASSIGNS SEATS (ie; the vast majority of all airlines), you generally know you're hosed as you're buying the tickets. That's when you call the airline and get them to try and help.

We had a woman very passive-aggressively asking no one in particular, "Ok, sooooo....who's gonna help me so me and my kids can sit together?" on a flight from Anchorage to Minneapolis. She had two middles and a window. She ended up in a middle one row ahead of her two young kids who took middle and window. Understandably, nobody was willing to budge on a five hour flight. The aisle guy on her row had the added bonus of just having had shoulder surgery and was trying to be as still as possible. I question his choice of not picking window, but what do I know?

Anyway, I was sitting on the other side of the plane in my aisle seat, so even if I'd have been willing to move, it wouldn't have helped. Also, I ended up sitting next to a guy who stank, so it's not like I had a luxury ride.

I travel 70% of the time for work. Your rules are SPOT ON.

[amIblue?]

Never ever change the radio presets if you are borrowing my car for a few hours. (Seriously? Why does this even have to be a rule?)

You better let me off the elevator before you get on it or I will run you over.

[ADPiEE]

Always call before dropping by.
(Even I'f you're family...wait, scratch that. ...especially if you're family lol)

If you call or text, I will get back to you when I can (which might be tomorrow, not in 5 minutes). No need to keep leaving messages.

[ChioLu]

Originally Posted by amIblue?

Never ever change the radio presets if you are borrowing my car for a few hours. (Seriously? Why does this even have to be a rule?)

You better let me off the elevator before you get on it or I will run you over.

To expound on the elevator courtesy, this applies to subways, buses, trains, etc. Always let passengers leave before you enter.
(I got tripped getting out of a subway in NYC by oncoming passengers, one leg fell INTO the gap between the subway car and the platform -- up to my thigh -- and NO ONE helped me. I thought I was going to be drug down the entire length of the subway platform.)

Valets -- don't look through my glove compartment or change my radio station, and try to put my seat back in place.

Yes, TonyB -- ALWAYS give the "traffic hand" to acknowledge that someone has been nice to you in traffic.

If you have visiting my next door neighbor (even for a moment), don't park in my driveway. If you are dropping picking up or dropping off someone off at their residence, don't double-park on a busy street. Park at the curb, even if it's 1 house away. (And, don't pull into or block my driveway to let someone off who isn't going into my house.)

If the on-ramp merge lane is ending, let the merge car get in the lane.

For emergency vehicles, pull over to the side of the road and STOP -- not merely slow down. Oh wait -- this IS a law!

Don't steal shopping carts and leave them in front of my apartment building! (Oh, wait -- also breaking a law. This time, it's a felony.)
It is the urban version of a non-working car on cinder blocks on the front lawn.

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.)

[ADPiEE]

For emergency vehicles, pull over to the side of the road and STOP -- not merely slow down. Oh wait -- this IS a law

YES YES YES!
When did it become the norm not to do this? I have almost gotten in a a wreck because of people not following this law

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by ADPiEE

For emergency vehicles, pull over to the side of the road and STOP -- not merely slow down. Oh wait -- this IS a law

YES YES YES!
When did it become the norm not to do this? I have almost gotten in a a wreck because of people not following this law

This is a tough one because there are often so many cars on the road, you can't all pull over to the side.

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.)

Handicap stickers are overly-abused in lots of places, but I don't see how having a $100K Mercedes would preclude the possibility of being handicapped.