Social expectations that make no sense to you

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CleverKitten
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25 Mar 2010, 1:22 pm

People expect you to stop everything you're doing (working, reading, watching something interesting on TV, etc.) just to make useless smalltalk. If you don't drop everything you're doing, they get mad.

Why is it what when people find out I'm engaged, they immediately ask, "When is the wedding date?" or "What is your color scheme?" That information is none of their concern!

Random strangers will come up to me, touch my hair without my permission, and then proceed to tell me how I should style my hair. Is this really socially accpetable? WTF!


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25 Mar 2010, 2:32 pm

tweety_fan wrote:
- If you are a young couple that have just gotten married people will continually ask "when are you going to have kids?" (This happens to people I work with)


Back in the old days, people were expected to have kids as soon as they married. While this trend has changed, many people don't seem to have adapted mentally... at least not when it concerns others.

tweety_fan wrote:
- If you are over 30 and single, people will ask you continually "when are you going to get married?"


Back in the old days, people were expected to be married around their 20s. While this trend has changed, many people don't seem to have adapted mentally... at least not when it concerns others.

tweety_fan wrote:
- The weather always comes up in small talk. is it because you are unlikely to offend anybody talking about the weather all the time?


Especially if you're outside, the weather is an easy non-offensive icebreaker. On top of that, neurotypical people are emotionally sensitive to weather changes and therefore it is also an easy topic to find common ground.

Aimless wrote:
I don't know if this is the same thing but it drives me nuts when people see me reading a book and say "romance novel"?
or eating a salad and saying "are you on a diet?"


They try to guestimate what you're doing. If they're right, they get a sense of mutual understanding, which can help in the banding process.

kissmyarrrtichoke wrote:
People, especially girls, going up to and hugging every person in the corridor they recognise.


It creates a positive emotion.

zeldapsychology wrote:
I don't understand Job applications. I got done with one within 10min which shocked my job coach she was like "you are done already!" Me ya. For example one question are you happy with your life. UH NO! (normal answer would be fake sh**! !! !) Of course my job coach said people don't want hear how I truly feel that's for when you actually have the job. Me: Oh uh ok.


Job applications are intended not to test your skills but to test your personality. You have to adjust your behavior to the kind of personality they want as a new employee and if you don't do this there's no chance in hell they'll hire you. In fact, they might even hire someone with a more applicable personality but worse qualifications.

Descartes wrote:
Guys, particularly adolescent ones, doing that handshake thing whenever they see their "homeboys" or whatever. I always thought that was weird.


It creates a sense of having shared knowledge not available to other people, which in turn creates an emotional connection.

Descartes wrote:
It also annoys me that people tend to be in a hurry to get married before they turn 30. I know why they do it, because they feel pressured by society, but I never really understood why it's so important to marry off before turning 30.


Women have a biological clock ticking. The older she gets, the lower the quality of her egg cells become. Whether intuitively or rationally, people still seem to link marriage with having children.

Aimless wrote:
sororities and fraternities


It creates a sense of connection between students who have little else in common and it allows for some great parties and other social events to be organised.

Aimless wrote:
diamond engagement rings


It's a silly American tradition (it's far from common in all countries) orriginated from DeBeers advertisements.

Aimless wrote:
large weddings


It's another silly American tradition, probably originating from the desire to create the appearance of wealth.

Aimless wrote:
burials


It's an ancient ritual originating from the attempt to seek closure with taking absense from a loved one.

Eggman wrote:
gving up personal data to a perfect stranger who has no need for the info


If the stranger cannot harm you with the info provided, there is no risk in sharing the info and it could lead to both a pleasant emotional experience and a pleasant intellectual experience.

happymusic wrote:
I don't understand Christmas.


Christianity brings comfort to Christians. Even though some in a way do realise that their beliefs are very irrational, they hold on to their views because they're afraid to lose the hope and courage it gives them.

happymusic wrote:
Or parties. Or behaving in a festive manner for reasons I can't see.


Neurotypical people are emotionally sensitive to the behavior of other people as well as music. The combination of likable music and happy faces releases a certain amount of dopamine in their body and this gives a very comfortable feeling as well as an energy boots that makes them want to talk and/or dance.

Asp-Z wrote:
Why the hell do I have to put my knife and fork in the middle of the plate after eating?


It's a signal to other people (eg. waiters) that says you're finished.

Asp-Z wrote:
Why do people say "alright" to mean hello, then ask how you are?


Arbitrary custom.

Asp-Z wrote:
Why is everyone expected to live just like everyone else? This is an extension of the questions raised by the OP really - but everyone is expected by default to want to get married and have kids etc, which IMO is stupid.


Unless they had a troubled childhood, neurotypical people tend to live according to the ways they are raised because that's what their intuition tells them to.

Asp-Z wrote:
Why is it rude to have your elbows on the table?


Arbitrary traditional ettiquette.

Asp-Z wrote:
Why are we expected to say "please" and "thank you"? The words are meaningless because we all hear them so much, and I feel no better for it.


Traditional ettiquette.

CleverKitten wrote:
People expect you to stop everything you're doing (working, reading, watching something interesting on TV, etc.) just to make useless smalltalk. If you don't drop everything you're doing, they get mad.


It's because you come off as egocentric or antisocial if you don't give them at least a bit of attention when they try to get your attention. The best thing you could do, is to just give them a few minutes od your time, then politely tell them you're actually quite busy and then ask them if they don't mind if you continue your activities.

CleverKitten wrote:
Why is it what when people find out I'm engaged, they immediately ask, "When is the wedding date?" or "What is your color scheme?" That information is none of their concern!


They aren't really interested in your wedding date or your color scheme but just want to have a chat and among neurotypicals it is considered sympathetic to talk about the life of the person you're talking with. I don't see why you should hide this kind of information for anyone, so among neurotypicals it would be best just to go along with it and tell them what they want to hear.

CleverKitten wrote:
Random strangers will come up to me, touch my hair without my permission, and then proceed to tell me how I should style my hair. Is this really socially accpetable? WTF!


In some circles this may be socially acceptable, but this is definitely not a general thing. If you feel uncomfortable with this, you should explicitly tell them but try not to be too rude because they may not realise they're doing something bad.



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25 Mar 2010, 2:56 pm

Eggman wrote:
"Salonfilosoof


Eggman wrote:
gving up personal data to a perfect stranger who has no need for the info


If the stranger cannot harm you with the info provided, there is no risk in sharing the info and it could lead to both a pleasant emotional experience and a pleasant intellectual experience.

.[/quote]

first if they are a stranger how do I know? second, there is no reason to let anyone in onto my life, thiird, I rather avoid those things, so why would I encourgae them?


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Last edited by Eggman on 26 Mar 2010, 3:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Salonfilosoof
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25 Mar 2010, 4:44 pm

Eggman wrote:
Quote:
If the stranger cannot harm you with the info provided, there is no risk in sharing the info and it could lead to both a pleasant emotional experience and a pleasant intellectual experience.


first if they are a stranger how do I know?


Not all information can be used to hurt you. I really don't understand why some people are so reluctant with sharing harmless facts about themselves.

Eggman wrote:
second, there is no reason to let anyone in onto my life


Do you have a reason not to?

Eggman wrote:
thiird, I rather avoid those things, so why would I encourgae them?


If you let people in onto your life, they might become friends. If you don't, it seems almost impossible to me to obtain sincere and intense friendships.



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25 Mar 2010, 7:16 pm

Salonfilosoof wrote:
Eggman wrote:
Quote:
If the stranger cannot harm you with the info provided, there is no risk in sharing the info and it could lead to both a pleasant emotional experience and a pleasant intellectual experience.


first if they are a stranger how do I know?


Not all information can be used to hurt you. I really don't understand why some people are so reluctant with sharing harmless facts about themselves.

Eggman wrote:
second, there is no reason to let anyone in onto my life


Do you have a reason not to?

Eggman wrote:
thiird, I rather avoid those things, so why would I encourgae them?


If you let people in onto your life, they might become friends. If you don't, it seems almost impossible to me to obtain sincere and intense friendships.


I managed to


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Salonfilosoof
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26 Mar 2010, 4:27 am

Eggman wrote:
I managed to


Weird. I wouldn't know how to.

Anyway, could you please edit the post you made before your last one. You left out a BBCode-tag and it messes up the layout.



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26 Mar 2010, 2:49 pm

[quote="Salonfilosoof
Women have a biological clock ticking. The older she gets, the lower the quality of her egg cells become. Whether intuitively or rationally, people still seem to link marriage with having children.

[/quote]

men have one two, your clock starts ticking at conception, stops at death


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Eggman
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26 Mar 2010, 3:16 pm

Salonfilosoof wrote:
Eggman wrote:
I managed to


Weird. I wouldn't know how to.

Anyway, could you please edit the post you made before your last one. You left out a BBCode-tag and it messes up the layout.


Sorry, I wondered what went wrong


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26 Mar 2010, 4:53 pm

I don´t know why, if someone asks "do I look fat?" or "does this dress look bad?" you´re supposed to always say "no". If the answer is supposed to always be the same, rather than the actual truth, why do they bother to even ask the question?

In the country where I live at the moment, people seem to be offended if you forget to say "Good Morning". But I can´t always keep track of who I already said "Good Morning" to, or I just forget. Also, people here wish a "Happy New Year"- even if it´s January 6th- if you haven´t seen that person yet after New Year. Once, I wished a woman a "Happy New Year" twice, on 2 different days, and she was totally offended that I forgot about the first time. Well, at least I didn´t forget to say it. :roll:

If I´m sitting on the train, and an overweight person sits next to me, they get really angry if they are touching the rucksack I have in the seat next to me. But if I put the bag on my lap, then I have to spread out more, so they would have to touch me anyway. They don´t seem to mind touching ME, but they get livid if they have to touch my bag! This I don´t understand at all. Since they´re fat, either way they´ll be touching something, as they´re taking up some of my space as well. (And I don´t like to touch strangers, hence the bag...) Oh, and I seem to somehow just attract, like a magnet, these obese bag-haters.... :x


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26 Mar 2010, 5:33 pm

kissmyarrrtichoke wrote:
People, especially girls, going up to and hugging every person in the corridor they recognise.


THIS! What's wrong with just going up to people and saying hi? But noooo people instist in diving on eachother and calling eachother hun and holding hands.
When I watch the programme "come dine with me" whenever the dinner guest knocks on the door and the host answers it's always "OOOOH you look gorgeous!! Oh darling those flowers for ME?? mwa mwa! OOOH *hugs* I AM pleased to see yoooou" in this over the top high voice and they exaggerate everything from greeting eachother to accepting gifts. For god's sake just say "hi, nice to see you, thanks for the flowers" and leave it there!


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27 Mar 2010, 9:23 am

Morgana wrote:
I don´t know why, if someone asks "do I look fat?" or "does this dress look bad?" you´re supposed to always say "no". If the answer is supposed to always be the same, rather than the actual truth, why do they bother to even ask the question?


Some neurotypicals (especially women) ask questions not to get your opinion but just to get confirmation. They ask you a question expecting you to say their decision is right or to say something to make them feel better rather than you actually giving your personal opinion. These are typical examples.

Morgana wrote:
In the country where I live at the moment, people seem to be offended if you forget to say "Good Morning". But I can´t always keep track of who I already said "Good Morning" to, or I just forget. Also, people here wish a "Happy New Year"- even if it´s January 6th- if you haven´t seen that person yet after New Year. Once, I wished a woman a "Happy New Year" twice, on 2 different days, and she was totally offended that I forgot about the first time. Well, at least I didn´t forget to say it. :roll:


By fulfilling these expectations, you show Neurotypicals that you have attention for them. They feel offended when they feel ignored.

Morgana wrote:
If I´m sitting on the train, and an overweight person sits next to me, they get really angry if they are touching the rucksack I have in the seat next to me. But if I put the bag on my lap, then I have to spread out more, so they would have to touch me anyway. They don´t seem to mind touching ME, but they get livid if they have to touch my bag! This I don´t understand at all. Since they´re fat, either way they´ll be touching something, as they´re taking up some of my space as well. (And I don´t like to touch strangers, hence the bag...) Oh, and I seem to somehow just attract, like a magnet, these obese bag-haters.... :x


Can't explain that... Never experienced it myself. Maybe they feel offended because your rucksack (is that an English word?) is taking space they could otherwise utilise for their own body?!?



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27 Mar 2010, 3:54 pm

Salonfilosoof wrote:
Some neurotypicals (especially women) ask questions not to get your opinion but just to get confirmation. They ask you a question expecting you to say their decision is right or to say something to make them feel better rather than you actually giving your personal opinion. These are typical examples.


I realize that people do this, it´s just that I really don´t understand the logic. Do false, untruthful affirmations really make people feel better? And I imagine that sometimes at least, they may ask a question and really want a truthful answer. So how can you tell the difference?

Salonfilosoof wrote:
By fulfilling these expectations, you show Neurotypicals that you have attention for them. They feel offended when they feel ignored.


Well I do talk to these people, so I´m not ignoring them. It´s just that they get super offended if I don´t say the "Good Morning" label. I just have trouble, at work for instance, keeping track of who I did/didn´t say it to. I´m going to have to bring a notebook, write a list and then check it all the time. :lol:

Salonfilosoof wrote:
Can't explain that... Never experienced it myself. Maybe they feel offended because your rucksack (is that an English word?) is taking space they could otherwise utilise for their own body?!?


I know, strange, huh!


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27 Mar 2010, 9:23 pm

What I don't understand, is that if I want to have a kid using artificial insemination, people get all upset that the kid doesn't have a 'dad.' Well, what if I don't want to screw some dude? :x

Also, why do neurotypicals expect other people to be sexually active in order for them to be considered 'normal?' Why do the virginal folks get jeered at, especially the males?
I would love to have a male who was chaste, as he isn't likely to have some hidden STD or a possible 'love child' out there somewhere.

Lastly, why do people always act surprised when a person has no TV? I don't really find anything good on, so I don't bother with one.


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27 Mar 2010, 9:38 pm

When you let somone peer through the keyhole of the door to the room of your life, they seem to think they get to open the door and walk right in


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Salonfilosoof
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27 Mar 2010, 10:04 pm

Morgana wrote:
I realize that people do this, it´s just that I really don´t understand the logic. Do false, untruthful affirmations really make people feel better?


Yes. It seems to be that the emotions involved are more important than the actual content, however I find it hard to really put any logic behind it.

Morgana wrote:
And I imagine that sometimes at least, they may ask a question and really want a truthful answer. So how can you tell the difference?


I guess distinguishing between both is a matter of experience.

Morgana wrote:
Salonfilosoof wrote:
By fulfilling these expectations, you show Neurotypicals that you have attention for them. They feel offended when they feel ignored.


Well I do talk to these people, so I´m not ignoring them. It´s just that they get super offended if I don´t say the "Good Morning" label. I just have trouble, at work for instance, keeping track of who I did/didn´t say it to. I´m going to have to bring a notebook, write a list and then check it all the time. :lol:


I'm NOT saying you ARE ignoring them. I'm saying to them it FEELS LIKE you are ignoring them. That's a huge difference.

Morgana wrote:
Salonfilosoof wrote:
Can't explain that... Never experienced it myself. Maybe they feel offended because your rucksack (is that an English word?) is taking space they could otherwise utilise for their own body?!?


I know, strange, huh!


Uhuh....

Metalwolf wrote:
What I don't understand, is that if I want to have a kid using artificial insemination, people get all upset that the kid doesn't have a 'dad.' Well, what if I don't want to screw some dude? :x


Many people (including myself) believe that a kid needs both a mother and a father figure for a stable childhood. I also don't think it's a good idea to have a kid if you're not willing to "screw some dude".

Metalwolf wrote:
Also, why do neurotypicals expect other people to be sexually active in order for them to be considered 'normal?' Why do the virginal folks get jeered at, especially the males?


Most males have a fairly active libido and men who do not need sex are most definitely ackward. For women this is a bit more common but still...

Metalwolf wrote:
I would love to have a male who was chaste, as he isn't likely to have some hidden STD or a possible 'love child' out there somewhere.


What about men who only had sex within steady relationships? They are just as unlikely to have some hidden STD or have a possible "love child" out there.

Metalwolf wrote:
Lastly, why do people always act surprised when a person has no TV? I don't really find anything good on, so I don't bother with one.


I don't watch TV either, but I still have one that I use to watch DVDs. I think most people have become so used to owning a TV they cannot fanthom the idea that someone might not need one.



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27 Mar 2010, 10:34 pm

Gender roles make absolutely no sense, to me. They're just a bunch of outdated rules, that should have been done away with, in the 1970s.


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