etiquette – Topical Fruit

20 Social Etiquette Rules We Should All Be Following

The magazine “Country Living” posted a list of 50 social etiquette rules we don’t pay enough attention to these days.

We took 20 of the best ones, and broke them down into five categories:

Classic Things People Used To Do

Always say please and thank you.
Hold the door for people.
Try HARD to be on time.
Send handwritten thank-you notes.
And bring food to people, like when there’s a new neighbor or someone passes away.

Phone Etiquette

Step away to answer a call.
Look at someone when they’re talking to you, not your phone.
Mute your ringtone when you’re at a movie, or anywhere else it might annoy people.
And return phone calls as soon as possible.

When You’re Out in Public

Wear decent clothes, not pajama bottoms.
Don’t swear, especially around kids.
Always use your turn signal while driving.
And wait for people to get OUT of an elevator or subway car before you get in.

For Parties and Events

Always RSVP right away.
Ask before you bring a guest.
Always show up with a gift, like a bottle of wine or an appetizer.
And avoid controversial topics, like politics or religion.

Meal Etiquette

Wait until everyone has their food before you start eating.
Have good table manners, like putting a napkin on your lap and chewing with your mouth closed.
And always push your chair in when you leave the table.

TikTok Debate: Do You Check Out at a Hotel… or Nah?

Checking out of a hotel used to be a whole production: stand in line, hand over your key, maybe argue about that $6 minibar Snickers you definitely didn’t eat. Now? For many travelers, it’s more like grab your bag and vanish like a travel ninja.

That’s exactly what kicked off a viral debate when a woman posted a TikTok of herself walking straight from her hotel room to the parking lot. Her caption: “Older generations: This is how you check out of a hotel. You just walk out.” She doubled down in the description, saying the front desk doesn’t need to know and they definitely don’t need to chit-chat about it.

Technically, she’s right… plenty of hotels have app-based check-out, virtual receipts, and key cards that might as well be coasters once you’re done. But the comment section? Let’s just say it turned into the hospitality version of a family holiday argument.

People who say they’ve worked in hotels believe you should still give a quick heads-up, especially if you’re leaving early. It helps housekeeping start cleaning sooner, which means faster check-ins for the next guests.

Some travelers said they only notify the desk if they’re leaving well before check-out time, because “what’s the difference?” if they’re leaving when they’re supposed to.

Then there’s the “old school” camp, insisting you should always stop by to make sure there are no issues or surprise charges. Detractors call that a Boomer move… after all, most hotels email receipts now. Others say they’d happily check out in person… if there were actually someone at the front desk when they walked by.

One commenter offered a middle ground: mention you’re leaving as you pass. “It just takes 10 seconds,” they said. “This is a weird thing to feel like a bad-a** over.”

So, is the personal check-out a dying tradition, soon to join travel agents, printed boarding passes, and hotel alarm clocks in the history books? Possibly. Until then, hotel lobbies will remain neutral ground for the generational battle over whether you exit with a polite wave… or pull a full-on Houdini.

@the.shit.chat
The front desk doesn’t need you to tell them you’re checking out and they don’t need you to hand them your room key.
♬ original sound – iHearCanvas

The Four Commandments of In-Flight Eating

If you’ve ever cracked open a tuna fish sandwich at 35,000 feet—or sat near someone who did—then you already know: certain foods should never fly.

Planes are basically flying sardine cans with wings. Air circulation is minimal, escape options are nonexistent, and there’s no such thing as a personal exhaust fan. That’s why travel etiquette experts say when it comes to in-flight dining, the golden rule is simple: Keep it in your bubble. That means your noise, your elbows, and especially your smells.

According to one etiquette pro, there are four sacred rules for eating on a plane. And yes, they read kind of like airline commandments.

1. Thou shalt not bring smelly food aboard.
This is the big one. No tuna, no garlic-heavy leftovers, no sulfur-scented hard-boiled eggs, and definitely no fish of any kind. Think less “flavor explosion,” more “neutral and forgettable.” If your meal could clear a room, it doesn’t belong in the sky.

2. Thou shalt not eat like an animal.
Messy foods = a messy cabin. Sticky ribs, powdered donuts, spaghetti, and anything that drips or splatters should stay on the ground. If it requires a bib or three napkins minimum, rethink it.

3. Thou shalt be allergy-aware.
This one’s less about manners and more about safety. That innocent peanut butter snack might trigger someone else’s serious reaction in a confined space. Stick to safer options if you can.

4. Thou shalt not go full “open bar.”
Alcohol dehydrates you and hits harder at high altitudes. One too many mid-flight cocktails could leave you woozy, rude, or even kicked off the plane. So sip smart and hydrate often.

So what should you eat up there?

The best in-flight snacks are simple, compact, and inoffensive: crackers, pretzels, fruit (dried or fresh), a granola or protein bar, maybe a meat-and-cheese snack pack. Even a muffin or piece of chocolate is fair game.

Bottom line: if your food passes the “would I want to smell this in an elevator?” test, you’re probably safe. Happy flying—and even happier snacking.

Gen Z Answers the Phone By Not Saying “Hello”?

Recruiters are talking, and Gen Z is… not. Literally.

A viral social media post from a recruiter has sparked a very modern etiquette debate: Why are so many Gen Z candidates answering phone interviews with total, unnerving silence?

The recruiter explains she does tons of scheduled phone interviews, and she’s noticed a specific trend among younger applicants.

She’ll call right on time… calls they scheduled, with her number… and they’ll answer… and just breathe. No “hello,” no “hi, this is Taylor,” not even a confused “…yeah?”

Just ambient breathing and maybe a faint TikTok video playing in the background.

To be clear, she’s not slamming them. She says it’s not a deal-breaker, just weird.

A Millennial hopped into the conversation to explain why this freaks people out: “Saying ‘hello’ isn’t just polite. It’s how you confirm you’re a human who picked up the phone, not a haunted voicemail system.” (Rough paraphrase, but you get it.)

There are a few theories about why Gen Z doesn’t say hello. For one, they probably never grew up with landlines, so nobody taught them the sacred ritual of answering with, “Hello, this is [your name].”

Also, they mainly text. Phone calls are already borderline terrifying for some Gen Z’ers. Combine that with a lifetime of spam calls and AI bots, and you get a generation that treats every ring like it might be a trap.

The post has stirred up reactions ranging from “who cares?” to “this is why we can’t have nice things.” Some people think it’s just a new normal, while others believe that if you’re interviewing for a job, you should probably start the call like you’re not being held hostage by an invisible demon.