Some unwritten social rules everyone must know

These social rules mainly apply to the US but there may be some overlap in other parts of the West:

• Always make eye contact in conversation. Put away the phone, book, laptop, or anything that can distract you from what someone is saying.

• Don’t stay too long after a party is over. There is nothing more annoying than someone loitering in your house/room/apartment after everyone else has left.

• Unless the host says otherwise, always bring your own food and/or alcohol to a party. Don’t take away the leftovers either.

• “How are you?” is more of a polite greeting than an actual question if its coming from a stranger.

• In an academic setting (especially in class or in a library), make sure the volume on your phone or laptop is off or set to vibrate.

• As a general rule, save for some parts of the South, open racism and racist jokes are pretty taboo. We like to keep our racism implicit and systemic nowadays.

• When you make eye contact with someone in public, nod your head up if its someone you know (or say hi) and nod your head down if its a stranger.

• If its a stranger, avoid making eye contact for more than a second.

• While standing, maintain a distance of at least 1 feet (30cm) from someone unless they are a consensual romantic/sexual interest.

• Do not scratch or handle any of your private parts in public.

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• When shaking hands, make sure you are standing up and making eye contact.

• Don’t interrupt when someone is talking.

• Don’t ask a woman whether she is pregnant or not.

• Don’t ask someone about their weight or diet unless they bring it up and ask for your opinion.

• If you borrow something from someone, make sure it is returned in the same condition it was in when you took it.

• Always hold the door open for people that are behind you.

• Always thank someone when they hold a door open for you.

• Unless the service is exceptionally bad, you should tip at least 15% (preferably 20%) when eating out.

• If someone offers up the last piece of food, it means they want it and you should refuse.

• When entering someone’s home, ask if they allow shoes in the house.

• If someone is paying for your meal at a restaurant, don’t order one of the most expensive dishes on the menu.