I have three unwritten rules:
1.
2.
3.
🤣
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Jokes aside, there are certain unwritten rules and expectations we follow that have evolved over time. Here are 3 examples:
1. People used to pop by unannounced. There would be a knock on the door and the explanation would literally be, “I happened to be in the neighbourhood and thought I’d drop in.”
No cell phones, no way to give advanced notice. No social awkwardness that would surely come into play if someone did this now.
2. Don’t leave me a voicemail, leave a text.
Quite literally, the only time I leave messages now is because I’ve called someone and I’m driving. Besides that, the etiquette is to hang up when you hear the message, before you get to the beep, then text your message. Or don’t leave a message because you know the person saw your unanswered call on their call display. That’s enough to get a callback.
3. Don’t ‘Reply All’ to an email. I was tempted to say, “Don’t ‘Reply All’ to an email except when…” but just don’t.
Some people didn’t get the memo on this unwritten rule. I think it needs to be written.
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It’s funny how etiquette changes over time. I wonder what things we do today, that will just seem wrong to do 10 or 20 years from now? What new unwritten rules will there be?
