What things do you find odd that are considered normal in your society/culture?

[BrucesBarAndGrill]

This is inspired by a conversation I was having earlier that I found interesting.

The thing that sparked the conversation was that I said I thought it was odd how adults are expected to share beds and on the flip side of that how parents who co-sleep with their children are seen as doing something odd or different to the accepted norm. I can't understand why it's seen as normal to put a baby/small child to bed on their own in a different room while adults, who don't have the same need of protection and care, share a bed in a different room.

I assume that other people must think about things like this aswell and I was wondering what social/cultural norms felt strange to you?

On that note, eating some animal species and keeping other animal species as pets and spending thousands on them. And feeding the pet animals with the body parts of other animals. Even if I stop eating animals, I live with this tiny (mostly) carnivore who has to eat meat.

That's why she said 'it's irrational ' - she knows it's not wrong.

One of the lessons we quite reasonably teach young children is not to speak to / accept sweets/ gifts from strangers. Yet at Halloween we actively encourage children to knock on a strangers door and basically ask them for sweets. I find this really bizarre!!
And at Christmas it's even weirder you can accept gifts from a strange man (Santa/ Father Christmas) who is permitted to enter your house, even your bedroom! As a child the thought of a strange man in our house was terrifying and gifts from "Father Christmas " had to be left outside on the porch as he was not allowed inside 😆

I absolutely hate litter.

For me, the world divides into 2 sets of people:

• Selfish twats who drop litter and expect others to tidy up
• Unselfish people who pick up litter that isn't theirs

I'm part of the latter group

Being told by your religion which hand to wipe your bum with - bizarre!

I know what you mean and people even pretend to be thick just for TV.
Such as Joey Essex, who (just my opinion) doesn't seem quite as he portrays.

That's nuts and that's why I'm glad I live in NE Scotland.

Telling people they are fat, straight up just “you’ve got fat”.

Yeah just watch any American film, it’s definitely not just our country…

I went to a private selective school in the 80s, and it was still not "cool" to do well academically.

Bonfire Night.

I'm in Belgium and work were totally shocked about British funerals. Here if someone dies, within 24 hours a nice "notification" is sent to literally everyone it seems - neighbours, work colleagues of family members etc with an obituary, photo and details of the funeral. If e.g. a work colleague's parent died, the team would send flowers immediately and someone would ALWAYS go to the funeral - which would normally take place within a few days / a week. A school friend of dd's was murdered, 😪and her funeral was almost as quick! When my MIL died in the UK, her funeral was something like 6 weeks in the future and there was no nice notification document to send of course. I was hauled into boss's office to explain myself, and DH got really upset with his as he refused to ask someone to send him a copy of the death certificate so he could have a day off for her funeral. My current boss was more understanding when my stepmother died and I explained in UK it's just not the same.

One thing I have found strange and never worked out (unsure if its unique to the uk) is separate toilets from bathrooms. So the toilet is in a room by itself....next to a room with a bath and basin.

I have thought forever that the bath should be in the room on its own , rather than the toilet. After going to the toilet, you will always need to wash your hands....so why is the basin not there? You are much more likely to need the toilet and basin...than a basin and bath in the same visit.

Our dentist surgery has a bath in the customer toilet, and thats beyond weird! 🤣

Finland - confirmation and confirmation camps. This is a pretty secular country yet something like 70% of 15 year olds go to confirmation camp and get confirmed, which involves going to church for several months, to gospel concerts, memorising bible passages and dressing up in a white gown and all things that seem like social suicide to a teenager. My atheist 14 year old came home yesterday saying she wants to go to confirmation camp even though she's not been christened and we never go to church, just because "everyone does it"

Also, although I am getting used to this now, but sauna being so integral to society that it features almost everywhere - office christmas party? gotta get naked with your boss, children's summer camp? of course they must go to sauna, meeting your in-laws for the first time? go to sauna with your MIL, serious international political meeting? it can happen in the sauna

Arranged marriages
Believing that astrology is true
Believing in homeopathy and Ayurvedic medicine

The obsession in the UK with huge 4x4s/SUVs or whatever they’re called. They’re just vile Sporty saloons are great and estates are fine but the Chelsea Tractor brigade are just 🤮

Changing your name on marriage.

Buying rounds.

Faith schools.

Bishops and hereditary peers forming part of our government.

Boarding prep schools.

Divisions between the sexes - generally IME women are friends with women and men with men, at least past say 35.

Passive aggressive behaviour.

Oh I just thought of another one, although maybe it's not a normal thing and it's more a tv thing. It's couples going to bed at the same time. I don't really understand how that works are you just the same amount of tired as eachother every night?

I agree with a lot of these, changing your surname on marriage (but obviously the reason is just misogyny), the SUV cars absolutely everywhere, it being "uncool" do well in school, littering!

I'm quite glad I haven't lived the sauna experience that sounds very out of my comfort zone. I'd also like to know which countries or cultures are the blunt speaking ones who just tell you you're fat, so that I can prepare to have my feelings hurt if I'm ever going there. 🤣

As a child, I must admit that I thought any other child who was frightened of Father Christmas, was hopelessly wet and pathetic. I used to try to stay awake to see him!

My thoughts went straight to this too!!

Passive aggression is the cornerstone of England.

People’s acceptance of awful trains and terrible train services.

People just leaving their rubbish on a table when they leave a cafe or eating spot. Eating on the street.

Not using headphones and blaring out content in a public place and apparently having no regard for the other people being forced to listen to it.

You're not supposed to take academic history personally.

It's probably wise not to take everything you see in films as gospel truth.

Breastfeeding.
In this country we hide ourselves away.
In other countries it's a normal thing to do in public.