What social norms do you think are utterly stupid?

Heterosexuality is "normal" according to most people...
Abortion is "murder" according to most people...
Being a vegetarian is "better"...
Violent movies and games are "bad"...
Sex before marriage is "bad"...

 

Manners.

Fuckin' hate 'em!










lol

 

Dress up to show "respect." Adhere to dress code because it's "respectful."

 

Fuck you, I'm letting the door slam right in your face next time you walk behind me. :lol:


But, seriously, I feel weird with certain manners. I still have a mini Civil War in my head in certain social situations. If a women enters/leaves the area, do I stand up? Will it be rude not to or be considered chauvinistic if I do? Oh lawd have mercy.

 

most of them

 

Respecting the elderly.
Not that i'm implying I'm tripping old people on purpose,
but just when my parents or my teachers are being irrational.

 

I admit I have a warped view of the subject from having two nieces/nephews aborted on me during my lifetime; but it can be a legitimate opinion to hold. But I don't agree that it should be criminalized or restricted.

 

The idea that blood, guts, and gore are fine in media, but God forbid we should see someone's breasts. I'm from Europe and things are different there for sure.

The idea that the guy should pay for everything on a date and always be the initiator.

Saying "bless you" when someone sneezes. I'll do it, but it's silly when you think about it Why should I comment on someone else's involuntary bodily function?

 

Aside from the first which I struck from the quote, I think these are all pretty much going away. Anti-abortion activists are just really frickin' loud. But yeah, vegetarians are basically left alone (while vegans have become a punchline), violence is the biggest seller in both media, and a lot of people probably assume couples do it before getting married and don't judge them for a second.

What always irks me about social norms is that as much as people cringe when they hear the phrase, they embrace it. Wholesale. Adherence is expected except for particular forms of "sanctioned" non-conformism unless you're prepared to be shunned. People that are true nonconformists* are rarely praised for being themselves; they're looked at as weirdos and avoided, even by those who say they admire individuality. One of my favorite quotes is by Stephen Hawking: “The thing about smart people is that they seem like crazy people to dumb people.” It's only when said nonconformists achieve some measure of success that people come out and say "wow, they're really cool!" But a lot of people don't get that success, and the negative pressure all the way up has a part to play.

*I shouldn't say the word like it's something to look up to on its own; that's what got us hipsters. I just mean people whose natural urges go against some expectations of them.

 

I honestly prefer seeing blood, guts, and gore...It has nothing to do with my Homosexuality, it's just something I like seeing...

 

people who think they are better than you . so up themselves.

 

How long have I got?

The fact that equal rights are up for debate.
Women who have sex are sluts and those who don't are prudes.
Actually anything to do with double standards.
Hetro is "normal".
Violence in the media is ok, but anything to do with sex.
Male chests= ok. Female chests = evil.
Virginity.
Dress codes/uniforms/"respectful" dress.
Gender roles.
Trans* and people have to pass.
Apparently I'm a loser for not being able to cope with too much noise.

Might come back later for more.

 

Most of them.

 

well put

 

The idea that to love your country you cannot question or criticise it in any way, shape or form.
The idea that the only type of racism is individual racism and that institutional racist caste systems cannot exist.
The idea that gay people are supposed to live their lives privately, with many people having objections to gay kisses while straight people can nearly have sex on television.
The idea that the next generation is inherently "softer" or "dumber" because they may not have done the same things you did.

 

Definitely the whole 'heterosexuality is normal and any others are unnatural' thing.

 

Like Yosia said, the vast majority.

some I can think of
-Heteronormativity
-Cisnormativity
-Patrotism as a social norm
-The normalizing of twisted opinions (rise of fascism in Europe, Republican party in the US)
-Ordinary people normally debating the reality of physical science e.g. climate change
-Educational material being selected to fit into the moral adherence of certain states
-"If the intention was officially good, the action is always good". Like the US invading country after country, and every murder is okay, since the intention was good, e.g. "fighting terrorism", "fighting for democracy", etc. etc.
-Western normativity e.g. consumerist culture is superior to everything else etc...
-and so much more that for some reason is considered 'normal' and okay...

 

Bless you comes from the middle ages when the plaque was about. When you sneezed, it might've been that you had the plaque so people said Bless you so you were blessed by God so you didn't get the plaque. It now of course means nothing but it has just worked it's way into the norm.

 

Deliberately being stupid or ignorant because apparently it's "cool".
The cultural obsession with pizza, tacos, bacon, the day Friday, the Kardashians, Netflix, etc.
The concept of "teenagers". I want to be a child, then an adult; not spend 6 years of my life in tracksuits.
Not being allowed to joke about death.
Political correctness.
Football (soccer). I'm always being told to lighten up because I don't like it.
Modern music. As above.
Gender roles.
Chavs.