Society is full of rules. Obviously, you’ve got to abide by the law. But you’ve also got to learn all of the unspoken rules. Don’t yap with your phone on speaker in a public place. If you see a stranger drop something, alert them immediately. And if people are waiting in line, you'd better respect that. No cutting allowed!
But not all of the social rules we have to follow feel like burdens or inconveniences. Some are actually incredibly wholesome. Threads users have recently been sharing their favorite social contracts that strangers abide by in public, so we’ve compiled a list of them below. Enjoy reading about these sweet interactions, and be sure to upvote the ones that you love too!
#21
I’m super tall (6 feet). Whenever I see people in the grocery store reaching for an item high on a shelf, i step in and grab it for them. It’s my duty as a tall person to help out the shorties :)
erinlovesbees:
I'm short. If there's no tall folk around I'm scaling that shelf, so thanks for preventing me from dropping a box on my head (which I have also done.)
bone.storm:
Yeah, I’m 6’4” and do the same all the time
erinlovesbees:
I'm short. If there's no tall folk around I'm scaling that shelf, so thanks for preventing me from dropping a box on my head (which I have also done.)
bone.storm:
Yeah, I’m 6’4” and do the same all the time
35points
#22
Clapping for musicians performing in a restaurant, bar, or café... especially if no one else is clapping!
35points
#23
Ooh I was eating peanut m&ms out the yellow bag at the airport and this young man was also eating peanut m&ms so I raised my yellow bag to him and cheers and he smiled so big and cheered me.
34points
#24
If you see a turtle crossing a road, how you must absolutely stop and usher/carry them across while saying "stop it Mr bitey" as said turtle tries to take a chunk of your hand and everyone else stops and watches in solidarity. 🐢
keelyn.prince:
15 years ago when my husband and I started dating he saw a turtle in the road as we were driving by and HAD to go back and help it. It was a sweatshirt.. Still love he had to try.
kellybellejeanie:
During the early days of the Covid shut down, driving down my neighborhood street, I saw a turtle right where my tire would run over him. I stopped, jumped out & grabbed him. Then a pile up of cars was behind me honking. I lifted the turtle above my head & everyone cheered. I placed her over the fence near the bayou. It was a sweet human connection.
keelyn.prince:
15 years ago when my husband and I started dating he saw a turtle in the road as we were driving by and HAD to go back and help it. It was a sweatshirt.. Still love he had to try.
kellybellejeanie:
During the early days of the Covid shut down, driving down my neighborhood street, I saw a turtle right where my tire would run over him. I stopped, jumped out & grabbed him. Then a pile up of cars was behind me honking. I lifted the turtle above my head & everyone cheered. I placed her over the fence near the bayou. It was a sweet human connection.
33points
#25
Saying thank you to the bus driver when I exit. This is standard social etiquette in Vancouver, B.C.
33points
#26
The gentle smile you give a parent who is desperately trying to soothe a child who is melting down signaling "no judgement here" and then NOT judging.
32points
#27
When someone ahead of me opens the door and waits for me, I shuffle a little faster to show I care about their time!
genyferbelle:
Please don't shuffle!! Now we feel guilty that you felt rushed 😭
sauce1974:
I do this. I smile and enthusiastically say thank you while groaning inside because I didn't want to walk faster. But that was so nice that the door was held so I hurried up a bit
genyferbelle:
Please don't shuffle!! Now we feel guilty that you felt rushed 😭
sauce1974:
I do this. I smile and enthusiastically say thank you while groaning inside because I didn't want to walk faster. But that was so nice that the door was held so I hurried up a bit
31points
#28
The cart/quarter swap in the middle of the Aldi parking lot to save one of us a trip!
31points
#29
If I see a family on vacation and the mom is taking a picture of everybody, I understand that she will not have any pictures of herself when she gets home. I will offer to take a picture EVERY SINGLE TIME!
amy_caskie:
… and take 12 portrait then 8 landscape, then “let’s do a silly one!” lol
seejacksnap:
I am a hobby photographer and I went to the Grand Canyon for the first time, by myself, on the way home from a cross country trip last year. I wish my family had been there, but them not being with me freed me up to take photos for *every single* family I saw posing for mom. It was the second best part of being there. The first best was the massively unimpressed little girl who kept saying things like, "YOU MEAN WE'RE JUST GOING TO LOOK AT THIS? FOR *THREE DAYS*???"
amy_caskie:
… and take 12 portrait then 8 landscape, then “let’s do a silly one!” lol
seejacksnap:
I am a hobby photographer and I went to the Grand Canyon for the first time, by myself, on the way home from a cross country trip last year. I wish my family had been there, but them not being with me freed me up to take photos for *every single* family I saw posing for mom. It was the second best part of being there. The first best was the massively unimpressed little girl who kept saying things like, "YOU MEAN WE'RE JUST GOING TO LOOK AT THIS? FOR *THREE DAYS*???"
29points
#30
When getting passed by an 18-wheeler in heavy traffic, quickly flicking your headlights on/off when it’s safe for them to move over in front of you- and then the trucker gives you a little ‘taillight salute’ as thanks
29points
#31
A lost little kid in a store is every mom’s responsibility until the kid is reunited with their family. It takes a village.
28points
#32
The arm pull to get a trucker to honk their horn - and then they honk!
28points
#33
When we both try to move out of each other's way and then do the awkward dance back and forth and then when we are done and stop and one of us let's the other go we both laugh awkwardly and apologize
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28points
#34
Telling bar staff you are not next to be served it’s actually the person next to you
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26points
#35
Waving to acknowledge that someone will let you pull out in traffic, and waving again when you pull out.
24points
#37
The unspoken bond between girls and the "can you check me" which we all understand
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24points
#38
After eating at restaurants, my grandma always taught me to clean up the table by wiping up any pieces of food or spilt drink left on the table, stacking all plates, silverware, and trash in a way that makes it easier for the waiter to clean the table.
22points
#39
Saying loudly to your dog “what a lovely dog that was” as you walk away from saying hello to another dog, so their owner knows you like their dog…!
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22points
#40
When you sneeze in public and get thoroughly blessed from all sides
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22points
