5 unwritten life rules everyone should follow

Listen up, sidewalk hogs.

Feb 11, 2016
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There are rules that are encoded in law, and then there are rules you haven't read anywhere, but should still follow. That's why Redditor Ovenproofcorgi asked the Internet, "What is one 'unwritten rule' you think everyone should know and follow?"

Based on responses, it's clear that people don't always follow guidelines for basic human decency. If you don't know these five rules or willfully ignore them, take note or heed the wrath of everyone around you:

1. Don't make fun of someone's laugh

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This tip was a response to Redditor Fatherchristmassdad's advice not to criticize things people can't control.

"Food in teeth, go ahead, wonky teeth? They probably already know," they said.

"On a similar note, never make fun of someone's smile or their laugh, unless you never want to see either again," K1ngPCH chimed in.

"Making fun of someone's laugh is such a mean thing to do, and I hate when I overhear someone do it," cookie_toss agreed.

Even if it's all in good fun, don't tease someone about something they do to express joy. If they don't feel comfortable being happy around you, why hang out at all?

2. Be on time

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It's generally considered rude to be late, but that doesn't stop a sh*t ton of people from committing that offense regularly. 

"Avoid making others wait on you as best you can," Redditor dmoore0988 said. 

"Or at least let other people know if you're going to be late," thburningiraffe added.

Anything to save your friend from half an hour of awkwardly staring at their phone in a public place helps.

3. Don't take up the whole friggin' sidewalk

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Most city dwellers know what it's like to get stuck behind a group taking up the entire width of sidewalk. If you haven't, you might be one of the offenders. 

In fact, forget the sidewalk—this applies to any sort of path people walk on. 

"If you're walking in a group, don't take up the whole goddamn sidewalk/hallway/tunnel/railroad tracks/trail/path," said the appropriately named Redditor GetOutTheWhey.

4. Get everything in writing

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Anyone who has been screwed over by a landlord, employer, or customer learned this the hard way: If you don't get an agreement in writing, you have no case whatsoever when someone doesn't hold up their end of a bargain. 

Redditor OhLookAnAirplane adopted this philosophy after they were overcharged for car repair. "I... will always get it in writing from now on, if I don't just do it myself," they said.

To avoid traps like this, RoleModelFailure always sends requests to their landlord in writing. That way, if they're ever denied a security deposit for problems they didn't cause, they can say, "Nope. Check these emails I sent. Not my problem."

5. Don't ask questions you can Google

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Redditor PM_ME_BAY_AREA_GIRLS said not to ask anyone for help with an electronic device before you've tried turning it off and on again, and miserablemelon added, "Or Googled it to see if anyone else has had that problem." 

That last piece of advice really applies to anything. Don't ask people for help or information if you haven't already Googled it, or you're wasting everyone's time.

If anyone tries that nonsense with you, you can always direct them to this link. 

Even though these rules are unwritten, you probably had some idea they should be followed. If you've dodged them anyway, you now have no excuse: They've been written, and the Internet is as good a place as any to make them official.

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