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We all live in a world governed by rules, common sense and socially acceptable norms. The latter ones refer to things that are generally viewed by the members of our society as being appropriate to engage in.

Although societal norms often vary from culture to culture, that doesn’t mean some of the generally accepted things are not to be questioned. With times changing, some of them feel outdated or raise more questions than they have answers.

This illuminating thread asked people to weigh in and list the things that are “socially acceptable but you can’t help but think ‘why?’” Below are some of the most illuminating responses, so scroll down!

#1

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial Beauty pageants for children.

mandatory6 , TLCTVUK Report

“Being within a community, we are relatively conformist,” Dr Audrey Tang, a chartered psychologist and author of multiple books, including "Be A Great Manager Now," "The Leader's Guide to Mindfulness," and "The Leader's Guide to Resilience” told Bored Panda in an interview.

According to Dr Tang, this is nothing new and much of this collective approach can be traced back to the dawn of civilization. She calls it “a hangover from our past as a collective.” Dr Tang explained: “It was safer for the community to sleep at the same time because it meant that no one was sneaking into your cave to steal your stuff.”

#2

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial Rich megachurch pastors.

soothingsand , pexels Report

#3

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial Abuse towards men, it’s still laughed at when a man says it happened to him.

Fernando_357 , pexels Report

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#4

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial Texting while driving doesn’t get enough hate.

Limp_Distribution , D'Vaughn Bell Report

Moreover, we have a fundamental drive to be part of a group. “We have always been safer together, and inclusion – even if you are near the bottom of the pack – still means you are part of something bigger.”

Dr Tang argues that "social norms" are the cultures, behaviors and expectations which make up society. “They can differ from community to community, but in many ways, adherence allows us to know where we fit within our group.”

She continued: “When we live in a society with others (and this is evident in the animal kingdom), we tend to understand our ‘place’ in the pack through acknowledging ourselves in comparison to others – with the goal being access to resources. In humans, we are fighting less over a perceived scarcity of food and water, but (especially in the social media world) a need for acknowledgment and validation.”

#5

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial Pockets in female clothing… I am a male. My daughters cannot understand why there is fake pockets in all womenswear.

schindokeoo , Karolina Grabowska Report

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#6

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial Gender reveals.

Ok-Reporter-8728 , pexels Report

#7

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial Posting EVERY minute of your life on social media.

TelevisionCroissant , Ivan Samkov Report

Dr Tang also claims that building self-esteem has focused on appreciating the self but often in comparison to others “(e.g. I didn’t win… but at least I didn’t come last).” She added that “While in many ways this was more important historically where there was more of a 'fight' for resources, the 'competition' has now moved to social media and 'likes' - and as such this may now also play a huge part in what is acceptable.”

#8

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial Working while sick.

This expectation needs to stop. Being expected to work while sick doesn't make a good employee, it makes a bad employer. That's saying nothing of how this expectation leads to the rest of the employees getting sick too. There was a reason everyone at my previous job called the place the petri dish, if one person got sick literally everyone else would too because you either worked or went to the unemployment line.

The_TALLMIGHTY , Polina Tankilevitch Report

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#9

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial People asking couples when are they going to make baby.

TheMarathiDude , Lisa Fotios Report

#10

People listening to loud music on their phone in public transports without headphone.

SuvenPan Report

Dr Tang argues that we often feel fear of judgment because of a tendency to live our life according to a series of ‘shoulds.’Although if you ask anyone, they are likely not to be able to tell you where their rules came from.

“For example, who said that ‘women should be caring and nurturing?’; who said that ‘men shouldn’t cry?’ Who said that we should/shouldn’t be a certain weight/size/shape, etc.” Dr Tang added: “and more importantly, is anyone still saying it?!”

#11

Bullying people for not drinking alcohol in social situations

JennaLS Report

#12

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial Assuming a childfree woman in the family will babysit your kid whenever you want to go out.

mapletree-girl , charlesdeluvio Report

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#13

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial Unpaid internship for students.

A poor student can't afford the costs that go along with the internship.

SuvenPan , charlesdeluvio Report

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Destiney Haddox
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unpaid internships are meant to teach the student but many companies take advantage and make them do work for free. It's actually illegal to have your intern do any work that contributes to the income or business services, that's why they get coffee in many movies and pop culture. People need to know their rights as an intern and report companies that take advantage and have their intern making the company money.

Something
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's actually illegal to have the intern get coffee. If the intern does tasks that do not contribute to their training, that makes the employee the primary beneficiary.

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Seedy Vine
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unpaid internships seem like a form of human trafficking to me...

loty moty
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think it differs by industries. In finance and computer engineering internships are usually paid and paid well. Other industries like design are notorious for exploiting workers.

CP
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes engineering internships are paid pretty well. I made 20 bucks an hour at my internship.

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Daman dan
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was a student, I was working 8 hour days in a refinery. Heavy manual labour, for free! I remember talking to another guy about being a little tight on cash and he said why don't you get a job? Like i was just lazy and didnt feel like putting in another 6-8 hours work after the 8 hours i just did. People think dealing with boomers is difficult now, you should have tried working with them in the 90's!

Two_rolling_black_eyes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unpaid internships are de facto discrimination. Its a way for financially comfortable people to ensure the company only hires and meets people who are already in their socioeconomic circle You can only afford to take an unpaid internship if there is someone in your life paying your bills. Little Johnny needs to be paid for that work he's doing for free at the engineering firm because mom and dad don't have $300 to spare for the suit he's required to wear. Even if Johnny is just getting donuts, that's a paid job if he isn't there and its allowing someone else to help meet the company's bottom line instead of standing in line for donuts. Most of the time, Johnny is doing $30/hr drafting work for free as "part of the price you pay to learn".

Max
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's also why news media is sh*t now. To get into journalism, you need an unpaid internship. To afford an unpaid internship, you need generational wealth. So now nearly everyone in journalism comes from a wealthy background and doesn't 'get' things like being poor and marginalised.

Idolf Hatler
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Put a little effort in it - Monica Lewinsky's Net Worth is $41 Million USD.

Jods
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Used to have similar in the UK and it was called work experience. This was done for a week while still at high school and basically meant standing around watching staff trying to avoid you. After mine I said I’d do anything but work in an office. Pity I didn’t stick to my own advice.

René Kok
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We have a media company. The wierd thing is a student has to pay school for the duration of the internship. But they learn more in 6 months with us than 3 years of school. We invest a lot of time and resources in these students. Had have even hired 2 after their graduation.

Denny Dunn
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I trained for BMW for a year with no pay and then they charged me 10k when I quit my job after only working there a year.

Dont Sellmyinfo
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Paying interns means less people will get internships. If companies are paying you, they want you to produce some kind of work or you’re just an unnecessary burden. When someone is being trained in a trade (apprenticeship), they are paid (less than the qualified professional) but are also expected to work. I think paid internships are a great idea, but students should be paid by the school requiring the internship OR they should be doing actual work… which many are not even close to being qualified for. People will also get fired from internships for less egregious fu€k ups than they are now. Not being paid by the company can actually protect some peoples internships. For example, my agency has a working relationship with local universities and we sometimes get masters level interns that are so unfathomably incompetent (despite a lot of compassion, understanding, and training) that we have to either fire them or bar them from major learning opportunities.

Kimberly Gross
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well I wish I knew that when I did my internship cause I was surely doing everything I would have done if I held that position

Niki A
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You mean, like student teaching? Hey, pay to learn to do your job!

Colin Timp
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To some extent. Internships can be a good thing, if used as part of college credit. You can learn more on the job that you can in a classroom. However being used just for the unpaid labor is terrible. There also should be time limits on the length of the internship and hours per week.

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Nonetheless, it is often easier to simply conform. “And there results an unconscious lesson – shout long enough and loud enough and people may go along with you to shut you up.”Moreover, a lot of our beliefs are imposed unconsciously through the stories we watch in the media, in our culture, in our families and in our overall experience, Dr Tang argues.

#14

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial Those baby/children’s clothes with sayings like “future heartbreaker” or “does this shirt make me look fat?” Why?

Beign_yay Report

#15

Not using your turn signal while driving.

DB-aa23 Report

#16

Asking a women when she is going to marry and why doesn't she have a boyfriend.

Asking a couple when they are going to have kids. There are a lot of couples that can't get pregnant and asking that is like rubbing the wound with salt

Smiling_Piano Report

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“Sometimes, especially when we have so much going on, we don’t have time to stop and think – we don’t always appreciate that some of our beliefs about what we ‘should/shouldn’t’ do are not necessarily healthy.” One thing we can do is ask ourselves, Dr Tang suggests, “How would I feel if I didn’t have that thought (i.e. about the other person judging me)?” and then behave accordingly.

#17

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial Using speakerphone in public places.

Or having loud (should be private) conversations in public like everyone wants to hear.

I was just waiting at the social security office and EVERYONE in there overheard this woman helping this man, I’m assuming her man?, fill out his paperwork. She was shouting questions like “do you have any mental disabilities?” “Do you take medication?” Lady, no one thinks that’s cool.

blurredlimes9 , Andrea Piacquadio Report

#18

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial Driving after drinking at all. You are operating a 2-ton murder mobile. Please give the road your full attention.

nicholus_h2 , why kei Report

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#19

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial How we have become so okay with so much consumption just for the sake of it.
Black Friday deals, "sales", new phone upgrades every year. It's all so weird.
Also working for 80000hrs of our lives is pretty weird too.

internsearcher25 , Markus Spiske Report

When we are at odds with others, it is common to feel guilt. “Related to this is our self-esteem – which (unlike self compassion) is developed in comparison to others – if we see we are doing better, we feel better about ourselves.”

Dr Tang explained that “when we hear differing opinions, yes, the opinion itself may make us angry, but it causes us to question our own foundations, and unconsciously, our position in our own world… if someone else is different… could they end up being more 'powerful' (or at least get more access to the resources I want)?”

#20

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial Saying that your child is going to break so many hearts when they are older or saying to the mother to "save him for me" as a joke.

Just sexualising children in anyway especially when they are far too young to understand and begin to learn that its ok to grab a womans tits because when you did it your parents laughed and encouraged you when you were younger.

Its gross.

ANGYandDENA , Ramin Talebi Report

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#21

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial Off leash badly trained dogs in public parks where others are trying to enjoy a picnic.

llamafarma73 , David Taffet Report

#22

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial Honking your horn while in traffic. What do you want me to do, drive through the cars blocking the road? These people are morons.

DropTablePosts , Nabeel Syed Report

What’s unfortunate, according to Dr Tang, is the common behavior, rather than to show acceptance of difference, to try to negate that of the other. “It is the act of ‘normative idealization’ – what I do is normal, what you do is odd (it makes our own ego feel better); or we might alternatively just be picking on others to avoid thinking about our own problems – and something which makes them 'different' is an easy target.”

Sometimes it means by bringing someone down (rather than working to raise ourselves up), we feel better about ourselves, Dr Tang explained, and don’t need to admit we need to do something about our own insecurities.

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#23

Telling a young person that they’ll change their mind eventually when they say they have no interest in ever getting married.

Also telling someone they’ll want kids eventually even if they’re adamant about never having kids.

Case in point, I would very much prefer to have two cats that I can love and pamper and cuddle with than a husband or wife.

I refuse to give birth, I refuse to be pregnant, if it ever happens, I am getting an abortion. If I ever have kids, it’ll be through foster or adoption and it’ll only happen if I become moderately wealthy and can give those kids a good life, if not? My cats will be close enough to kids anyway.

Monsterchic16 Report

#24

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial Full grown adults dating barely "legal" teens.

giosenz , pexels Report

#25

Kids having social media accounts

PlaneStrawberry6640 Report

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#26

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial People smashing other people's face into cake when it's their birthday, or when newly weds are sharing a cake and they smear the cake onto their SO's face in the ceremony. Just, why? Not everyone thinks it's a fun, quirky thing to do, it ruins whatever makeup they're using, and most of the time I see it, the people with cake on their face gets pretty mad over it, and I think they're justified

tururump3 , pexels Report

#27

Untrained 'emotional support' animals. I’m all for service animals, but some people abuse the concept and just make sh*t up.

-SHORSEY- Report

#28

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial Touching pregnant people's stomachs.

If I ever become pregnant and some rando decides that they can just start rubbing my stomach without asking then you bet I'm gonna be rubbing their stomach back

wasabishark , Junior REIS Report

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#29

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial Being on your phone when having a conversation.

holaxamigo , Jonas Leupe Report

#30

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial Working 40+ hours a week for someone else for most of your adult life only to maybe get 10 years to enjoy life when you may be too old to enjoy it anymore

raspberrywines , Marten Bjork Report

#31

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial Not wearing a seatbelt. BACKSEAT TOO.
Let me tell you a story.

We had a girl in our house, basically a medical foster placement. Your typical 4-5 yo before her ‘incident’.
Her family was going somewhere together, mom and grandma (I think) and they strapped her into the kid seat. But didn’t strap the kid seat into the seat of the car. Head on collision, and this little girl (+kid seat)is sent *through* the dash board. Can’t walk, talk, feed herself, be a 5 yo. Had a chunk of her skull smashed to bits, repaired, removed again because of an infection, and a plate added.

Ffs people. Wear your damn seatbelts. You become a potential projectile for the other people in the car too. No one is safe.

AdMotor1654 , Alexandria Gilliott Report

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#32

Going to get crucified for this but getting drunk.
I don't have a problem with drinking alcohol but the way people talk about how drunk they got with immense pride always baffled me.

Also the fact that it's completely legal along with cigarettes when other things aren't is moronic.

TheBatSignal Report

#33

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial Customer entitlement in retail. Returns culture. Posting bad reviews before trying to understand what actually went wrong when it comes to meeting their expectations.

NotTodayGamer , Adrien Delforge Report

#34

Being viewed as a failure if you don’t enter into a relationship, get married and/or have kids.

TheChainLink2 Report

#35

Giving up so much private data to companies without the option not to.

furiousmadgeorge Report

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#36

Oversharing everything and everywhere your kids or babies are. Like putting full names, tagging their school/frequented play areas, interests, etc. Friends and family ain’t the only people looking at this stuff.

Rasterbator Report

#37

Taking pictures of strangers without permission when the context isn’t justified, especially covertly (bonus points if the person does it for the purposes of sharing/posting it). Am I the only one that thinks it is weird and creepy?

tapwateronfire Report

#38

grabbing people’s wheelchairs and pushing them without being asked or asking consent. pushing people around is rude as f**k and bullying behaviour, but if someone is on wheels suddenly it’s fine? no. don’t touch the chair

karigan_g Report

#39

Strangers touching all over babies. Pinching cheeks, picking them up and kissing them. I’ve had people come up to me at a store and open up her car seat cover to see her. And I’ve had people that know my mom (strangers to me) come up and kiss her and pinch her cheeks and pass her around when she was just a little infant. None of them cleaning their hands either. I enjoy seeing people that I know holding and loving on my child but at least ask especially if you are a stranger.

AlexisPullen9 Report

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#40

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial Family YouTube channels, honestly they start really sweet and all but it progressively gets worse when money gets involved.

gargoyle_godzilla , NordWood Themes Report

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#41

People casually talking negatively about an unattractive/ugly person in their vicinity and the people they are with never call them out on it and will go along with them. As an ugly woman this constantly happens to me.

MelancholyBean Report

#42

Stomping cigarette butts out on the ground.

dntuwsh123 Report

#43

People Are Sharing Things That Shouldn't Be Socially Acceptable In 2022, And Some Are Controversial Companies calling your phone without your consent. We're just lucky thet there isn't a market big enough that you'd have to check who's calling every 5 minutes.

TheWhyWhat , Dane Deaner Report

#44

Going "above and beyond" with no return in terms of work ethic.

9pointlesslives Report

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#45

Bringing a baby to an R-RATED MOVIE. Why?

USFederalGovt Report

#46

Needing to be in contact 24/7 in order to show interest in someone you’re dating

redynsnotrab Report

#47

Not knowing how to cook, prepare or pack food for yourself.

YOU-SHOULD-BE-VEGAN Report

#48

Lawns.

They're unnatural, useless and need too much water.

Cr0w0naT0mbst0ne Report