Decoding our social codes

[Fifthfiend]

Originally Posted by Madcow9000

I find the idea of social codes to be a bit ridiculous. Essentially if I want to make someone a friend it's because I feel like I can trust them, not because they guided me to the toilet to barf.

Someone sits there for twenty minutes of their life watching you gorge up your guts and you don't feel like they are maybe an okay dude?

WTF, mate?

Originally Posted by CheshireThief

I think it's an unwritten rule of this forum that I show up and post when it's least expected.

This forum has like ten million unwritten rules and the great part is that I have written like half of them. (So what looks like completely random enforcement of wholly arbitrary standards is actually staunch and principled enforcement of a complex and philophically grounded code of practices which I just refuse to actually codify.)

Incidentally starting this Sunday it's Image-Sig Week. Says so right here on the schedule.

Originally Posted by Osterbaum

Also, to add to that I think it's an unwritten rule for CT to be vague at best. And apparrently post off-topic!

What about more everyday "codes of conduct" such as the left side of an escalator is reserved for people who walk.

It is so much fun to (yell at people who) break these.

[Bells]

Originally Posted by MasterOfMagic

That one actually seems to be going the way of the dodo, and its very disturbing.

Being replicated by Adam Savage?

Also, related site!

http://brocode.com/

Should a Bro pick up a guitar at a party and commence playing, another Bro shall point out that he is a tool.

Does it apply to Guitar Hero?

[Corel]

I'm pretty sure this is a conversation tangent, but in regards to social workings I have commited a number of faux-pas and socially incorrect translations through the years. This isn't a social code error per se but amusing never the less!

My first week of arriving in a new country to work I was for some reason in need of a potato masher. At the time I had no idea how to say such a piece of equipment in the local language, let alone speak the language at all. Failing to find the potato masher led me to trying to communicate with the shop assistant to help me. She didn't seem to know any de facto languages so I resorted to making vivid hand gestures; outlining a potato, the shape of a masher and finally to absent mindedly doing a certain hand action of mashing potato.

Yeah, pretty much this. (NSFW if you're easily offended)

Before I realised what I had done she suddenly had the look upon her that said "I am horrifed and disgusted, and will be calling security on your ass in about five seconds."

Moral of the story? Bring a universal dictionary translating all words and actions related to said words that could come off as dirty or commit some sort of faux pas. That or some gestures are just recognised at a global scale no matter where you are.

Originally Posted by Osterbaum

What about more everyday "codes of conduct" such as the left side of an escalator is reserved for people who walk.

I think it's also a form of self preservation too. Getting hit in rush hour pedestrian traffic with no order like that would probably lead to mass croud surges.

Edit: But you're right. Taking it one step further I have noticed that people will walk up stair cases and the like on the side on which cars drive on their country's roads. I take great glee walking up the opposite way they are not expecting it just because I can.

...It's the little things in life!

[Kerensky287]

Originally Posted by Bells

Does it apply to Guitar Hero?

I think it makes him a Tool Hero.

That's why I always stick to drums.

[bluestarultor]

Well, it seems like every time I try to deconstruct these, I get some sort of negative feedback, so rather than repeat that cycle, I'm just going to say props for realizing they exist and that I hope all who try to do so in my stead don't get torn to shreds for it and/or harassed by 42 in Yaplet for the rest of their lives.

[h4x.m4g3]

Some unofficial rules I realize I follow with my friends

The one time rule:
When playing any game (most commonly invoked in magic the gathering) that allows for an insane/infinite/hysterical combo to be pulled off. You will allow your opponent to pull it off once no matter how easy it would be to counter. The opponent acknowledges that you allowed it, this rule does not apply in official or ranked games.

Hysteria is King for the Loser
In a game of contest between three or more people, when it becomes apparent that failure is unavoidable, do something that will ensure hysteria/chaos for the remaining players.

Payback is measured in meals
When letting a friend borrow money one does not keep track in dollars and cents but in meal approximations. I.E. $5-7 is one fast-food meal. Does not apply in case of large loans.

[The Wizard Who Did It]

Originally Posted by bluestarultor

Well, it seems like every time I try to deconstruct these, I get some sort of negative feedback, so rather than repeat that cycle, I'm just going to say props for realizing they exist and that I hope all who try to do so in my stead don't get torn to shreds for it and/or harassed by 42 in Yaplet for the rest of their lives.

I don't think anyone can argue that there's underlying unwritten rules of conduct. That's what a society is. But trying to argue that such rules might be universal is completely forsaking the fact that humans are individuals with individual thoughts and mindsets.

In other words, such rules are more guidelines than anything else.

Originally Posted by MoM

That one actually seems to be going the way of the dodo, and its very disturbing.

This is true. But god I wish it wasn't!

Originally Posted by Hax Mage

Hysteria is King for the Loser
In a game of contest between three or more people, when it becomes apparent that failure is unavoidable, do something that will ensure hysteria/chaos for the remaining players.

This usually ends up being more "dick moves" than anything else.

Hence I follow this rule full throttle!

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

I know it's already been touched upon but there's still a whole lot more to talk about regarding Male Restroom Etiquette.

[pochercoaster]

Browsing through the etiquette section of Yahoo Answers reveals that it's apparently not commonplace to automatically remove your shoes upon entering someone else's house. I've never been somewhere where shoes are allowed inside. Some people consider it rude if they're asked to remove their shoes, but if I asked a guest to take off their shoes and they refused to remove them I would be offended. I have yet to encounter this situation since where I live it's just assumed that you take off your shoes.

Any thoughts?

[synkr0nized]

I grew up in a no-shoes household, yet more people I have met wear them all over the place than practice similar to me. It just seems unnecessary to be wearing shoes all the time (not to mention less comfortable in a home) and rational to leave them near an entrance.

Fortunately, however, no one has been opposed to no-shoes in my home, though when I have parties I am just happy with feet being kept off of furniture.



Bars and/or bar crowds can introduce a whole slew of social codes.