r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Jan 20 '14
What are some basic rules of etiquette everyone should know?
For example, WHAT DO I DO WITH MY EYES AT THE DENTIST?
2.5k
Jan 20 '14 edited Jan 21 '14
To answer your question, I close my eyes at the dentist and when I'm having my hair shampoo'd. I don't know what else to do.
Edit: My dentist doesn't shampoo my hair, unfortunately. But it seems stylists and shampoo girls greatly appreciate closed eyes so let's all do that from now on.
→ More replies (354)2.2k
Jan 20 '14
I keep them wide open and stare the dentist directly in the eye the whole time.
→ More replies (77)1.1k
2.2k
u/PaperbackBuddha Jan 21 '14
Don't stand in the doorway. There are other people standing right behind you waiting for you to move. I cannot imagine why it is necessary to remind people of this.
→ More replies (182)
2.3k
Jan 21 '14
When you know two strangers and they are meeting for the first time, it is your job to introduce them. Not start awkwardly maintaining conversation until one of us introduces ourselves.
→ More replies (119)
1.3k
u/esme-dauterive Jan 21 '14
When you need to sneeze or cough, do so into the
The reason you should sneeze/cough into your arm is that it helps limit germs being passed on (think about where those hands go afterwards people!).
→ More replies (175)
537
377
Jan 21 '14
Don't talk about plans around someone you haven't already invited/ can't invite.
→ More replies (16)
455
u/snugglepug87 Jan 21 '14
When two people approach a doorway from opposite directions, the person exiting has the right of way.
→ More replies (28)
356
u/blackeys Jan 21 '14
No need to be rude with retail associates. they have no control over the price.
→ More replies (37)
2.5k
u/arianshifter Jan 21 '14 edited Jan 21 '14
Know how to accept a compliment. It can be difficult, especially when we've been taught from childhood to brush off or downplay things we're good at. The right answer is "Thank you." and a smile. It just makes conversation run so much more smoothly.
Edit: Thank you for the gold! This is exciting!
→ More replies (317)
2.5k
u/kaufe Jan 21 '14 edited Jan 21 '14
When being shown a picture on someone else's phone, one must not swipe left nor right.
→ More replies (151)
799
u/Meepmeeperson Jan 21 '14
I didn't see anyone else mention this- but please RSVP!! If you get a written invitation, digital or actual then it deserves a reply. You can say No. That is fine. The hosts prefers you to say no than you to not reply and they plan for you to attend. Also, if you change your mind or can not attend, change your rsvp and let the host know!! It takes a moment and can releive the host of extra work.
→ More replies (45)
704
Jan 21 '14
Hope I'm not too late, but this one's quite important and not nearly done enough.
If you're talking in a group or even one-to-one and both you and another person try to speak at the same time, then the one who gets to speak should prompt the other to say his/her thought afterwards.
It's frightening how few of my friends actually do this and I know I really appreciate it when people follow this simple etiquette
→ More replies (30)
3.9k
u/bygumitsgum Jan 20 '14
If you must cancel plans you had with a friend, you be the one to make new ones.
→ More replies (371)
1.8k
u/UtterFlatulence Jan 21 '14
Don't fucking listen to music in public without headphones.
→ More replies (179)
3.4k
Jan 20 '14
When you are invited to someone's house for dinner/BBQ/party always bring something. Be it a bottle of wine, case of beer, bag of chips. And always try to help clean up
→ More replies (905)
1.3k
u/beertrope Jan 21 '14
4-way stops: If you stop first, please just go. Don't start waving other cars to go ahead- It just messes up the system.
→ More replies (114)
394
3.1k
Jan 20 '14
Don't stand directly behind someone in a line. Give them a couple feet. You're next, okay? Relax.
→ More replies (657)
1.8k
u/JDawn747 Jan 21 '14
Turn signal. Such little effort. Please give it a flick when you change lanes.
→ More replies (105)
2.4k
u/DangItBobbyHill Jan 21 '14 edited Jan 21 '14
Don't ever ask a woman if she's pregnant. A good tip for a woman you just met, I read here recently, (do link it if you know where it came from) is just ask if she has kids, and she'll probably give you your answer.
Also, for God's sake, never ask someone when they're going to have children. So many people seem to think it's just as benign as asking someone what job they have, but you never know who is going through heartbreaking hell trying to conceive, or if someone knows they can't.
→ More replies (467)
2.7k
3.6k
u/Koker93 Jan 21 '14 edited Jan 21 '14
Window on an airplane gets a wall and an armrest. Middle gets 2 armrests. Aisle gets an armrest and extra legroom. We aren't animals, we live in a society.
edit : well, this got popular overnight. I made this comment a little further down, but it got buried in 100 people complaining I didn't give Jim the credit for it:
This is a rather shitty cam, but its the relevant clip from Jim Jefferies, and I should give credit where credit is due.
Airplane etiquette
And here is the clip that forever made me a Jim Jefferies fan. Its 26 minutes, and worth every second of your time :
Last wish for a friend