Common sense is not so common, Voltaire once wrote. There is always that one bad-mannered person in class who sneezes without covering their mouth. Or the person who takes up two seats on the train just because they like to sit with their legs spread out. As much as we’d like to live in a world where everybody is truly well-mannered, there will always be bad people who lack common sense or mindfulness in the most common situations.
Here are thirty simple reminders of what to do and not to do when you’re in a public space. If you think of yourself as having good manners, most of these annoying things probably will be a no-brainer for you. And don’t forget to share your worst (or best) experiences with annoying people who lacked common sense in the comments!
(Facebook cover image: Kyoww)
#21 Not Changing An Empty Toilet Paper Roll
Don’t be a demon, when you finish a toilet paper roll replace it with a new one. Imagine a situation were you just finished doing your business and there’s no toilet paper, sucks, right? Well, don’t put somebody else in this tragic situation.
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133points
#23 Not Covering Your Mouth While Coughing
According to Live Science, one cough can release as much as 3,000 droplets of saliva, and they can fly as fast as 50 miles per hour. And sneezing can force as much as 40,000 droplets of saliva. Is there anything else we need to say to prove our point? Covering your mouth is not an option but an absolute must.
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131points
#24 Checking Your Phone In The Middle Of A Conversation
Unless it’s actually urgent, please do not check your phone in the middle of a conversation with someone. It seems like you’re bored, and you make other people feel uncomfortable. Also, it’s one thing to quickly check the time and another when you just keep scrolling.
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129points
#25 Not Keeping A Safe Distance From Other Cars On The Road
It’s a well-known fact that driving too close to someone is not safe, and no matter what you’re trying to prove, it’s in poor taste to harass somebody by driving as close as of couple of meters from their car. A safe distance between two vehicles is at least 2 seconds behind.
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120points
#26 Eating With Your Mouth Open
We try not to be too snobby here, but seeing someone chew with their mouth open is something others might not enjoy witnessing. We get it, it’s hard to control yourself sometimes, but just try to be as self- aware as possible. Also, if somebody is eating with their mouth open, here’s how you can politely tell them to stop.
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115points
#27 Using Words Like 'Gay', 'Retarded' And 'Autistic' As An Insult
Saying ‘it’s so gay’ is sooo last year. And even if you think it’s only a joke, and it’s not offending anyone, it still has a bad connotation to it.
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114points
#28 Not Leaving Someone's House When They Say They Are Tired And Have To Get To Work Early In The Morning
It takes a lot of energy to invite people over and plan the entire evening. So when people are starting to leave, you should understand that the lovely evening is coming to an end. And if you hear someone say ‘I’m really tired’ or ‘I have to go to work early in the morning’, it’s also a sign that you should call a taxi and head home.
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114points
#29 Blocking Pedestrian Crossings With Your Car
If you’re in a car, you’re not a pedestrian, so anything that is strictly dedicated to pedestrians is something you shouldn’t be driving on, especially sidewalks and pedestrian crossings. Is this so hard to understand??
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109points
#30 Rambling On And On To A Person Who Is Obviously Busy
Your assignment is due tomorrow, you’re already doing five things at once, and your boss keeps messaging you asking to do something that’s not even your responsibility. And then Karen walks in, asks how your day’s going, and then talks about her weekend, and then she shares a story about how her dog seems to have diarrhea. She keeps talking and talking, and no matter how many times you say ‘I should really get back to work’, she seems to not understand it. Annoying, right? Yeah, thought so.
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107points
#31 Talking Loudly In Public Areas
Yes, it’s cool you have friends to talk to, and it’s even cooler that the topic is so riveting that now you’re all hyped up. But please, make sure your voice isn’t louder than your surroundings, not everybody wants to hear what happened to you last night.
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99points
#32 Talking To Someone With Headphones On
If you see a person with their headphones on, it usually means ‘I am not in the mood to talk’, especially if it’s a stranger. It’s one thing to ask them a question, but to continue disturbing them is something that will make them hate you. Just let them listen to their music.
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99points
#33 Eating Stinky Food In Public
We get it, you’re busy, you didn’t have time to eat and you’re just too hungry to wait until you get back home and fill your tummy. But please, be considerate of others and avoid eating stinky food like tuna sandwiches in public, especially buses or trains, where nobody can escape the smell.
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96points
#34 Not Taking Care Of Your Personal Hygiene
Personal hygiene isn’t something people should need to be reminded about. Don’t forget to think about others when thinking about skipping a shower or two.
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95points
#35 Talking On Your Phone When You’re First In The Line
If you’re in line to order a drink or anything else, please be aware that nobody wants to wait for you to finish your conversation to order. Just known what you want, say it and don’t make the barista wait for you to tell your mom what you ate yesterday.
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92points
#36 Sitting Close To Someone On An Empty Bus
This one is just creepy. Why would you choose to invade someone else’s private space when there are plenty of free seats on the bus?
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92points
#37 Using Both Armrests
Long train ride? Flight? Want to rest? Well, why not try thinking about your neighbor and leaving one armrest for him? Afterall, sharing is caring.
And according to a manner coach Adeodata Czink, “if you’re sitting in a window or aisle seat, the middle seat passenger gets to put his arms down first. If there’s room left over, great. If not, it belongs to the middle seat passenger. And one more thing, try to be nice about it.”
Public Domain
Report83points
#38 Reading Over Someone Else’s Shoulder
Ok, this one is a bit more subtle. Many of us check what people next to us are reading on the bus, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing, if you’re being discrete. But obnoxiously reading someone’s private texts over their shoulder is a big social no no. Oh, and remember you can always feel if somebody is creeping on you behind your back.
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81points
#39 Petting And/Or Feeding Stranger Dogs
Always always ask the owner if you can pet or feed their pet. You never know if the pet is friendly and feeding them can even cause an allergic reaction.
And remember, the owner knows best, so if he says ‘no’ do not try petting their animal behind their back.
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80points
#40 Walking Too Slowly On A Busy Street
If it’s a busy area where people are in a hurry to get to school or work, please don’t be the person who just walks like they’re in a park and disturbs everyone from getting to their destinations on time.
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72points