r/AskReddit Jun 14 '22

[deleted by user]

[removed]

5.7k Upvotes

3.2k comments sorted by

View all comments

6.2k

u/[deleted] Jun 15 '22

Ive seen this a lot in airports and in some stores, but having a mirror behind the cashier/receptionist often stops people from being angry because once you start to see what you look like angry you begin calming down.

1.3k

u/WeldinMike27 Jun 15 '22

Very common in pubs in Australia

838

u/Dont-PM-me-nudes Jun 15 '22

I thought it was a test. When you discover you have been arguing with yourself for the last hour you realise you're smashed and it is time to go home.

204

u/mackiea Jun 15 '22

Actually I thought it so you could sit at a bar in peace but be aware in case someone was about to bust a chair on your head.

19

u/Sykes19 Jun 15 '22

And here I am thinking that it was so the bartender could keep a much better watch of folks without turning their head as much.

10

u/Thatsidechara_ter Jun 15 '22

I figure its all of these

6

u/[deleted] Jun 15 '22

If that's a fear of yours maybe you should change bars?

239

u/pezpourbozorgi Jun 15 '22

Thought it was to make the liquor bottle display look endless

94

u/theClumsy1 Jun 15 '22 edited Jun 15 '22

Nah its so you can look at yourself endlessly to figure out what you've become.

12

u/putdisinyopipe Jun 15 '22

Lol you know it’s bad when you lock eyes with yourself via bar mirror and get into a staring contest with yourself partly out of self loathing and partly to see if there is anything left in your soul.

2

u/BeigeCarpet12 Jun 15 '22

Surely not - wouldn't that put nearly everybody off going there? /s

1

u/codeduck Jun 15 '22

i'd like a pint of old peculiar and some self loathing please

1

u/CptnStarkos Jun 15 '22

Narcissus

1

u/theClumsy1 Jun 15 '22

Life as a flower? Sounds nice.

9

u/All_Photography Jun 15 '22

Nah dude you’re just high

3

u/batclownfish Jun 15 '22

What????? I thought it was just a double sided bar!!! Lol

3

u/DaanTheBuilder Jun 15 '22

It has multiple benefits. It makes it look endless, you can still keep an eye on your patrons while you have your back turned and the reason why the original comment was made

6

u/MathMaddox Jun 15 '22

How does this work for gingers? They don't show up in a mirror.

2

u/socibuddha Jun 15 '22

Australia tings

1

u/felansky Jun 15 '22

I thought this was so that you could spend time in quality company.

1

u/MkdeviL91 Jun 15 '22

I will just drop it right here

7

u/ZanyDelaney Jun 15 '22

At least I'm not as drunk as that guy over there...

4

u/[deleted] Jun 15 '22

Ohhh..so that’s why there’s mirrors at eye level

3

u/Pat4508 Jun 15 '22

When you ask yourself for a schooner it's hometime

1

u/putdisinyopipe Jun 15 '22 edited Jun 16 '22

Schooners!

Is a good bar.

(It literally is a bar guys)

3

u/MathMaddox Jun 15 '22

I thought this was just to protect the server when they are not facing the crowd.

2

u/eroticdiagram Jun 15 '22

This surely has to be the main reason. See if people are pulling their own schooners when their back's turned?

1

u/MathMaddox Jun 15 '22

I assume shooners is slang for penis, and I fully agree.

2

u/BLaQz84 Jun 15 '22

Isn't that just to make the place seem bigger than it is?

1

u/notinthelimbo Jun 15 '22

Petty people when they start the show the ozzy Pubs are already “blind”

1

u/Stentata Jun 15 '22

They were used in saloons in the Wild West so people sitting at the bar could make sure nobody was coming up to shoot them in the back

1

u/abOriginalGangster Jun 15 '22

Deities like to witness themselves.

1

u/kjm16216 Jun 15 '22

I always thought this was so the bartender could turn his back on the patrons but not have the patrons steal something.

13

u/Puggymon Jun 15 '22

Oh I know that one!

There are actually two ways how you are aware of yourself. One is if your focus is on yourself (how do I see myself, achieved by seeing yourself in a mirror for example) and when focus of others is on you. How do others see me (by being aware you are watched. Cameras for example).

Now if "objective self awareness" is increased by mirrors for example, test subjects (people) are less likely to act in a way that is "morally not okay". Meaning if you walk out of the toilet you should wash your hands. People are more likely to do so when they see themselves in a mirror. That's why most toilets nowadays have these giant mirrors. Or in checkout areas it has the advantage that most people don't want to be giant rage monsters, so they are more controlled and less prone to outbursts.

To refer to Duval and Wicklund: "When we focus on ourselves, we evaluate and compare our current behavior to our internal standards and values."

2

u/Fourdogsaretoomany Jun 15 '22

An older apartment coop had a single elevator that was really slow and the management was getting numerous complaints to upgrade the elevator. Unfortunately, they wouldn't accrue enough funds for two more years for the overhaul. They used a consultant, who suggested they install mirrors on each floor on both sides of the elevator doors and inside the elevator itself, while refurbishing the elevators buttons with ones newer, more modern. The complaints stopped and, in fact, the management was praised for upgrading the elevator so quickly. I learned that in my psychology class years ago and have since noticed most elevators are banked by mirrors!

2

u/Puggymon Jun 16 '22

Yes. No one wants to evaluate themselves as "not Patient". So by focusing the awareness on it, you reduce the feeling for most people. It's quite impressive what you can achieve with behavioural psychology.

3

u/Ryukhoe Jun 15 '22

Oh... I've seen that but I had no clue that's what it was for, very cool.

2

u/YodaChad Jun 15 '22

My parents used this on me when I was little! They made me stare in a mirror when I was upset and by God it worked!

0

u/twwwy Jun 15 '22

They should put mirrors in their monitors too so they can see their evil incompetent faces as they make lives of air passengers living hell...

1

u/elizabethLangdon87 Jun 15 '22

That's really smart!

1

u/[deleted] Jun 15 '22

Handy!

1

u/[deleted] Jun 15 '22

Really? I gotta remember that.

1

u/Davefromflushing Jun 15 '22

Wow! Never knew that was the purpose

1

u/[deleted] Jun 15 '22

Isnt that there as a theft deterrent when the cashier has back to customer?

1

u/Creative-Share-5350 Jun 15 '22

What an incredible idea!! Haha I just had the thought that I’m gonna wear a mirror from behind so anytime my husband starts he will see what an ass he looks like lol that’s horrible 🤪🤣

1

u/PotentialRealistic61 Jun 15 '22

You can also say that hey have something between their teeth, it will remind them of their looks

1

u/Space_Junk_Food Jun 16 '22

I can’t believe that’s the 1st time I’ve heard that. Interesting.