People Are Sharing The Societal Expectations That They Absolutely Refuse To Follow And Are Completely Over
There are things pretty much everyone does out of habit, politeness, or societal pressure — until someone finally says, "I'm done," and opts out. Whether it's skipping small talk or ditching social media updates, they just stop doing what's expected
Recently, Redditor LazyMechanic3061 wanted to know about those things people are over when they asked: "What's a social norm that you absolutely refuse to follow, and why?"
Below are the top and most often repeated responses people gave:
1."Posting every big life event, job change, buying a car, etc., on social media. I used to, but I know if anyone had actual interest, they would ask."
—Tight-Message9940
"That's not a social norm, that's just a social media norm."
—Kruse
2."Out of control consumerism. I have zero desire to upgrade my car that runs fine, or to have the latest iPhone, or redecorate to follow some trend, etc. All of this need to appear to be better off than one actually is, spending money they don't really have, and for what? Appearances? Fuck people's opinions. IDC. I will never understand why so many people feel like they have to keep up with the Joneses, constantly spending and consuming to try to seem like they're 'with it'. It's ridiculous."
—Own_Accountant_2618
"It's crazy how many letters I got from dealerships after I paid off my car. 'Time up upgrade!' Uhhh, no, time to be stoked that I don't have a car payment."
—crunchyfoliage
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3."I will never understand why you would pay $100-plus to attend a live concert just to watch the whole thing through your phone's camera."
—shootyoureyeout
"THANK YOU! I finally found one I 100% agree with.
If I want to see a recording of the show, it will be on YouTube later with way better quality than my iPhone from the 80th row or even from the floor with 6' dudes bobbing their heads in front of me. JUST. LOOK. AT. THE. BAND! With the eyes God gave you!"
—aurelianwasrobbed
4."I will wear white pants before Memorial Day if I damn well feel like it!"
—21stCenturyJohnny
"And after labor day!"
—OkRepublic5837
5."Asking people how they are if I'm not ready to respond to a negative answer."
—throwaway31411235813
"Don't say, 'How are you?' to someone you've never met, especially while they're at work. I know you don't care and don't want an honest answer. And I won't say it to you because I don't care either. We can have a pleasant exchange without getting fake personal."
—Squid_ProRo
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6."I'm a straight man who loves cooking, gardening, sewing. I like wine but don't like beer, and I choose white chocolate over dark. I have pink shoes that match my pink shirt. My favorite movie is Bring it On, and I'm a huge Taylor Swift fan. Why? Because I don't give a fuck what people think men should and shouldn't enjoy."
—AnkleFrunk
"My husband will drink a fruity drink if he wants to. He will wear pink if he wants to. He will have the most flamboyant shoes on and proudly show them off. He says he's 'peacocking.' And he doesn't give a freaking damn what anyone thinks. He likes what he likes, and that screams manliness to me because of how secure in himself he is. It's such a turn-on.
Keep on keepin' on!"
—MermaidOnTheTown
7."Living life for work and not living for life."
—LastSpotKills
"As a Gen Z dude, it drives me nuts seeing how many guys are only focused on working and getting money. Like I certainly am not a super star for health (a lot of it is genetic), but I get out, hike, shoot, ride horses, go to concerts, and fish. But a lot of these guys just go to work, watch football, and sleep."
—kilroy-was-here-2543
8."I won't treat anyone like they are on a pedestal. In my opinion, we are all humans… if you're a big boss or cleaning lady, everyone receives the same treatment."
—OliveaSea
"This is big for me, too. Hierarchies continue to exist when we play into them. My boss is my peer just like my coworkers, and I treat them all with respect, but don't shy away from healthy confrontation with any of them either."
—uummmmmmmmmmmok
9."'Keeping the peace' and 'not rocking the boat.' I'm not giving up my own peace to keep the narcissistic asshats that clutter my life happy. Spent entirely too long doing it. Why yes, yes, I'll 'ruin the day' or 'be too serious' or 'just refuse to take a joke.' I'm half past giving a fuck and I'm just over and done with being a doormat dumping ground."
—pardonmyass
"My parents are both cycle-breakers from crappy families. They taught me family isn't just blood, and it's good to cut off a person who negatively impacts your life, regardless of DNA shared. I had to learn how to apply those lessons with some bad friends in my teens and early adult life, but I'm thankful my parents were able to shield me from a ton of family abuse and never told me to keep the peace."
—magicrowantree
10."Make up, even as a teenager. It's a pain to apply, I'm not good at it, and now if I try to wear it, I feel like a clown, so I let my dark circles live their lives."
—Fairfountain
"Agree. I didn't even wear make up to my wedding. This is what I look like. There's nothing wrong with my actual human face."
—skupalupa
11."Respecting your elders just because they are old. My grandmother is a monster who deserves not one single ounce of respect, yet she's given deference whenever she acts out in her racist and bigoted ways. Fuck her, fuck that."
—mokes310
"I'm finally coming to that realization at 50-damn-years-old. Talked to my big sister. Most of my uncles/aunts and especially our dad are all garbage people."
—NoReference3721
12."I refuse to play music, listen to podcasts, or watch videos through my phone speaker while in public."
—powerandbulk
"What's especially annoying is that most of the time people who blast music blast the same shitty music."
—RadiantHC
13.And lastly, "This is a very little and inconsequential one, but I won't wish people a happy birthday on Facebook. If I know them well enough, I'll tell them in person or with a text. If I don't know them well enough to do that, then they don't need to hear it from me at all."
—IrenaeusGSaintonge
"This is actually a good point."
—mjflood14
You can read the original thread on Reddit.
Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Also in Goodful: Therapists Are Revealing The Moments That Made Them Break Their "No Judgment" Rule, And I'm Honestly Speechless
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Also in Goodful: "This Has Taken Me Years And Years And YEARS To Figure Out": This Woman's Clever Way To Tell If Someone Is Your Real Friend Is Being Called The Most Accurate Thing Ever
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