Social etiquette that you can never figure out.

The_Minister

I can never figure out condolences.

Obviously, if the person tells you it's easy - you just give them then and there.

But what if you don't see the person for a few months and then see them?
Do you bring it up?

What if you meet them out on the town, in a club, pub etc?
You don't want to wreck the buzz by bringing it up, but you don't want to act as if you never heard about it.


What is the aspect of social etiquette that troubles you most?


Oh, and telling if a girl likes me or not, but I think 50% of guys have that.
The number of misses is irritating though.

fedor.2.

The_Minister wrote: »

I can never figure out condolences.

Obviously, if the person tells you it's easy - you just give them then and there.

But what if you don't see the person for a few months and then see them?
Do you bring it up?

What if you meet them out on the town, in a club, pub etc?
You don't want to wreck the buzz by bringing it up, but you don't want to act as if you never heard about it.


What is the aspect of social etiquette that troubles you most?


Oh, and telling if a girl likes me or not, but I think 50% of guys have that.
The number of misses is irritating though.

I find that just punching people in the face sorts all that out, but thats just me, it may not work for other people;)

Swampy

My condolences on your thread.

fulhamfanincork

Do I sit up front or in the back of a taxi if i am the only passenger?

Canis Lupus

Like Michael McIntyre says. I don't know how to greet a woman if she turns up with friends. Does one shake hands, kiss or do a silly wave. It's all terribly confusing sometimes

Degag

Just get it out of the way. Say "Sorry to hear about xxxx..." and then change the conversation. Most people don't want to talk about it anyway but will respect you if you give your condolances alot more than if you didn't.

fedor.2.

Canis Lupus wrote: »

Like Michael McIntyre says. I don't know how to greet a woman if she turns up with friends. Does one shake hands, kiss or do a silly wave. It's all terribly confusing sometimes

You drop the hand immediately, everybody knows that

Feeona

Is it rude to fart and then look disgustedly at the person beside you to make it seem like it's their fault?

The_Minister

fulhamfanincork wrote: »

Do I sit up front or in the back of a taxi if i am the only passenger?

My preference is for the front anyway, so I always sit there.

stupidusername

Apparently I'm not good at being social in general. Dunno what it is. I've been told I'm really quiet when I've just been like am you're at my house, we're friends, we're watching tv, we're just hangin out, I don't need to be your entertainment... :rolleyes:

but then maybe I just don't know all that many people on the same wavelength as me.

muboop1

ah... thanks whores..... NO....

Turtyturd

Teaching children to respect their elders.

They should be taught the treat them the same way they are treated cos most old people are horrible.

fedor.2.

Turtyturd wrote: »

Teaching children to respect their elders.

They should be taught the treat them the same way they are treated cos most old people are horrible.

Hear hear

ballsymchugh

Degag wrote: »

Just get it out of the way. Say "Sorry to hear about xxxx..." and then change the conversation. Most people don't want to talk about it anyway but will respect you if you give your condolances alot more than if you didn't.

+ 1000000

starviewadams

I'm not very good at any social situation so I just try to avoid people as much as is humanly possible.

fedor.2.

starviewadams wrote: »

I'm not very good at any social situation so I just try to avoid people as much as is humanly possible.

You're not missing much

smk89

The sticking out your little finger when drinking tea thing

ChocolateSauce

When you're walking down the street, is it weird to make eye contact with everyone pass, or weird to avoid it?

up for anything

The_Minister wrote: »

My preference is for the front anyway, so I always sit there.

It's much easier for the taxi driver when he pulls out his gun to put it to the side of your head but then again, if you sit in the back the child locks get you. It's a lose lose etiquette situation.

Feeona

Feeona wrote: »

Is it rude to fart and then look disgustedly at the person beside you to make it seem like it's their fault?

If it's just you and the other person. then yes.

FarmerGreen

I never know what to say to a recently deflowered virgin.
Congratulate, commiserate or make a joke when she tells you she's lost it.
'Leave it on the bus ?' I just don't know.

Irish Guitarist

People that spit when they talk. I wish I could tell them to stop spitting on me but I'd be too embarassed.

When someone knows me and starts a conversation but I have no idea who they are I wish I could just ask them how they know me but I never do.

Turtyturd

No idea why that posted twice.

citizen_p

finding somthing to talk about with somone that you have nothing in common with.....

usually results in talks about the weather, tv programs or traffic, or on some occassions stories involving somone you both know.

previous user

Is it rude to flip people off people staring at me on other buses.

fedor.2.

Mousey- wrote: »

finding somthing to talk about with somone that you have nothing in common with.....

usually results in talks about the weather, tv programs or traffic, or on some occassions stories involving somone you both know.

Just do what i do and start whistling, hopefully they know the tune and will then join in

MrStuffins

Standing in a lift with a stranger....... do you talk? Do you not? Do you look them in the eye?

Also, if I fart, how hard would it be to convince them it wasn't me?

The_Minister

Mousey- wrote: »

finding somthing to talk about with somone that you have nothing in common with.....

usually results in talks about the weather, tv programs or traffic, or on some occassions stories involving somone you both know.

Yeah, I've never been good at random banter either - I need something to talk about.

Turtyturd

previous user wrote: »

Is it rude to flip people off people staring at me on other buses.

Or the ones on the same bus who read ur book/paper/text messages over your shoulder?

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

This thread was made for me. Im the most socially awkward man of all time. Think Mark Corrigan from Peep Show only a version of him that tries to be more like Jeremy. Needless to say I fail miserably.

I hate meeting people I've only met once or twice and briefly at that when I walk through college. If I acknowledge them and they dont recognize me then I look like a creep. If I dont and they recognize me then I look like a prick.

nudist

Turtyturd wrote: »

Teaching children to respect their elders.

They should be taught the treat them the same way they are treated cos most old people are horrible.

+ 1

Almost all the old people i know are grade A Assholes. I imagine it must have something to do with their values-what was life like in ireland in the 1950's for example? The only thing i can think of is a few scenes from Angelas Ashes.

ballsymchugh

nudist wrote: »

+ 1

Almost all the old people i know are grade A Assholes. I imagine it must have something to do with their values-what was life like in ireland in the 1950's for example? The only thing i can think of is a few scenes from Angelas Ashes.

funny you should say that, i know a fair amount of young people about that are nothing short of obnoxious pricks.

MrStuffins

The respecting your elders thing is just a way for older people to make sure their kids dont answer them back. I'll be the same with my kids!

I bloody hate old people! They think because they're older they have some kind of entitlement!

Aldito

If you're on the phone to a foreigner/someone who you have trouble understanding, how many times to do you say "sorry?" before you just give up and pretend you understand them?

fedor.2.

Aldito wrote: »

If you're on the phone to a foreigner/someone who you have trouble understanding, how many times to do you say "sorry?" before you just give up and pretend you understand them.

3 and 3 only

PandyAndy

stupidusername wrote: »

Apparently I'm not good at being social in general. Dunno what it is. I've been told I'm really quiet when I've just been like am you're at my house, we're friends, we're watching tv, we're just hangin out, I don't need to be your entertainment... :rolleyes:

but then maybe I just don't know all that many people on the same wavelength as me.

+1.

I hate talking to people I don't really know. Never really find anything intertesting to talk about. Always ends up about the weather "Jaysus, it's wicked cold out isn't it?". Or about that stupid fúcking football game I couldn't care less about.

Superbus

MrStuffins wrote: »

I bloody hate old people! They think because they're older they have some kind of entitlement!

'Cos IIIIIIII wanna beeeeeee anarchyyyy.

koHd

The whole making tea for visitors. I don't drink tea yet I'm expected to stock it and make it when you pop over.

pablomakaveli

I find it the most awkward social interactions are with people you were friends with long ago such as ones from school that you haven't seen in a very long time. I never know whether to say hello or not because maybe they mighnt want to talk or maybe they're thinking the same thing.

Also eye contact, do i make eye contact with people on the street or not. What if im walking up a street or road and theres only one person walking toward me, should i avoid eye contact.

Basically i'm a bit awkward with social etiqeutte. I tend to overthink it too much.

Ficheall

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

... If I acknowledge them and they dont recognize me then I look like a creep. If I dont and they recognize me then I look like a prick.

I don't think that has anything to do with whether you ackowledge them or not. You just look like a creepy prick.

Rowley Birkin QC

I'm in my mid 20s so when girls in my social circle have gotten pregnant I haven't known whether to congratulate or commiserate.

CharlesHaughey

fulhamfanincork wrote: »

Do I sit up front or in the back of a taxi if i am the only passenger?

If you travel by limo you sit at the back.

Novella

Ya know when you're in a shop, and the person serving you says, "Hi, how are you?". I always say, "I'm good, thanks! How are you?" and then they seem kinda taken aback and surprised. Is the 'how are you' question in a shop not one you're meant to answer or something?

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

koHd wrote: »

The whole making tea for visitors. I don't drink tea yet I'm expected to stock it and make it when you pop over.

I love tea but also dislike this because I dont like having tea made for me. I like tea best the way I make it myself and would gladly do so but people insist on doing it for me. They usually make it too weak or put too much milk in

Handshakes are another thing I dont get. To me they're just a form of greeting but some people take them so seriously, insisting that you have to have a firm handshake... Why

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

Ficheall wrote: »

I don't think that has anything to do with whether you ackowledge them or not. You just look like a creepy prick.

Im always unsure how to react to good-natured insults.

kylith

up for anything wrote: »

It's much easier for the taxi driver when he pulls out his gun to put it to the side of your head but then again, if you sit in the back the child locks get you. It's a lose lose etiquette situation.

I always sit in the back cos I figure I'll have a chance to kick the windows out if I need to escape.

melekalikimaka

these threads really drag odd the odd balls.

The_Minister

melekalikimaka wrote: »

these threads really drag odd the odd balls.

I was expecting more posts along the lines of: "I can never figure out when to take the one piece of X left on the tray", not "I gave up on all social outlets many moons ago; I now have a giant posters of Boards avatars in my room".

Lady von Purple

PandyAndy wrote: »

+1.

Always ends up about the weather "Jaysus, it's wicked cold out isn't it?". Or about that stupid fúcking football game I couldn't care less about.

So, eh... How 'bout that local sports team? Me, I'm short-sighted so my big problem is 'that looks like my friend... it is, isn't it? maybe it's not. okay, stop looking in case it's not him. now look again, then look at something else so it looks like I'm just looking around and not at him. ah, it is him! Okay, no, that's a woman.'

Mr Marston

Lady von Purple wrote: »

So, eh... How 'bout that local sports team? Me, I'm short-sighted so my big problem is 'that looks like my friend... it is, isn't it? maybe it's not. okay, stop looking in case it's not him. now look again, then look at something else so it looks like I'm just looking around and not at him. ah, it is him! Okay, no, that's a woman.'

Yeah, the short-sightedness really messes me up. I used to go down to the field where my group of mates would usually hang out. I'd cross the field, walking directly at them, only to realise about 10 metres away that it was a different set of people.

Then it becomes a question of what to do next? I can't just stop dead, turn around and walk away. I usually just altered my path slightly, missed them to the left of the right by a few metres, mutter some sort of greeting, and continue on towards an estate on the far side of the field.

Sometimes, I would have to do quite the lap in order to return to my house, or wherever my friends might be.

Lady von Purple

I've done the course-altering, but I never mutter any sort of greeting- more of a smile-grimace. Or, you realise you're walking the wrong way, like you've walked past the shop you wanted to go to, but now people have seen you walk past it, so you stop at the window of the nearest shop, hmmm and haw over the window display for a minute and then turn back. Oh, and I'm from the country so there's also waving etiquette. You don't wave at people you see on the road- even strangers- where I'm from, you're obviously a bitch. You wave at random people in dublin, you're a nutjob. (I'm not talking full-on waving now, just like a nod or a slightly raised hand. It's a country thing, I think.)