Our Society’s Unwritten Rules

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Abstract

o automatically recognize, follow, and apply. Like we’re all in on some secret social norm and etiquette language that determines how we communicate with each other daily.</p><p id="ebdf">For instance: if someone shares their phone photo with you, you don’t start scrolling through their other pictures. That’s a no-no! A person’s phone is like a personal photo album where you aren’t allowed unless you have been given permission, right?</p><p id="1535">We find ourselves surrounded by these little things everywhere that help us be kind to others and maintain social order. Don’t just show up at a person’s house unannounced (except if it’s a really close friend or maybe family member). Call them or text first even if it is a short note. Or you don’t have your earbuds in while someone is talking to you and you keep looking at your phone; this is impolite. It shows them they do not deserve all of your attention.</p><p id="a4d7">It’s fascinating how we as a community collectively decided on these little guidelines, but no one ever formally stated them anywhere. They just exist as silent understandings that help us live together socially every day and respect each other.</p><p id="3768">And you know what? I think it’s such a fascinating thing. It gives us the impression that a secret tongue has been exposed to us, which enables us to live together better with our human fellows. Yes, we might not every time get everything right as expected of us but the fact that we generally know and try to abide by them is what keeps our society going smoothly.</p><p id="3716">So next time when you give a n

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od of acknowledgement to your neighbor or offer your seat to someone in need just remember this; it is not just about being polite, but it also indicates that you are participating in this finely knit complexity of silent rules that hold all of us together as one community. Besides, isn’t that incredible in its own way?</p><div id="ac0a" class="link-block"> <a href="https://medium.com/subscribe/@aliwritesaz?source=publishing_settings---user_settings----------------------------------"> <div> <div> <h2>Get an email whenever Ali Alzahrani, M.Sc., Editor publishes.</h2> <div><h3>Get an email whenever Ali Alzahrani, M.Sc., Editor publishes. By signing up, you will create a Medium account if you…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*oqId9Lf_B0VbV25F)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><h1 id="d63b">Author’s Note</h1><p id="ec2e">Thank you for reading my story. Here is some information about <a href="https://readmedium.com/editorial-bio-of-ali-alzahrani-b78c1a23fcbc?sk=1150094bb674aaa7701f61972f40b86c"><b>my background</b></a>. 🙏Consider sharing and participating in the conversation if this content speaks to you. For any queries, collaborations, or comments, reach out to me at <a href="https://medium.com/@aliwritesaz/[email protected]"><b>[email protected]</b></a>. Thank you for supporting my work!</p></article></body>

A person’s phone is like a personal photo album, do not touch it!

You know, it’s incredible how much our lives are determined by unwritten rules which we all seem to abide by without ever been told about them. Like, I woke up this morning and went outside where I saw my neighbor. Without thinking, I nodded in his direction with a “good morning” kind of behavior that is expected of me.

While walking along the street, there was this guy who looked familiar from around the area. We made eye contact, and I gave him a head nod like ‘’hey neighbor I see you. It’s just a small way of recognizing someone’s presence without having to stop and engage in small talk.

Later on, when I got to the store, an elderly lady came right after me. Instantly, I opened the door for her so she can get in before me. She smiled as she got in gratefully. We’ve definitely agreed as a society that we should show some compassion towards old people or people who may require assistance to get through life more easily than us.

None of these things are written down anywhere for everybody to read; they’re merely tacit rules we all seem to automatically recognize, follow, and apply. Like we’re all in on some secret social norm and etiquette language that determines how we communicate with each other daily.

For instance: if someone shares their phone photo with you, you don’t start scrolling through their other pictures. That’s a no-no! A person’s phone is like a personal photo album where you aren’t allowed unless you have been given permission, right?

We find ourselves surrounded by these little things everywhere that help us be kind to others and maintain social order. Don’t just show up at a person’s house unannounced (except if it’s a really close friend or maybe family member). Call them or text first even if it is a short note. Or you don’t have your earbuds in while someone is talking to you and you keep looking at your phone; this is impolite. It shows them they do not deserve all of your attention.

It’s fascinating how we as a community collectively decided on these little guidelines, but no one ever formally stated them anywhere. They just exist as silent understandings that help us live together socially every day and respect each other.

And you know what? I think it’s such a fascinating thing. It gives us the impression that a secret tongue has been exposed to us, which enables us to live together better with our human fellows. Yes, we might not every time get everything right as expected of us but the fact that we generally know and try to abide by them is what keeps our society going smoothly.

So next time when you give a nod of acknowledgement to your neighbor or offer your seat to someone in need just remember this; it is not just about being polite, but it also indicates that you are participating in this finely knit complexity of silent rules that hold all of us together as one community. Besides, isn’t that incredible in its own way?