WEBVTT 00:00:10.870 --> 00:00:13.550 Welcome to Students Incorporated. I'm your host, 00:00:13.589 --> 00:00:16.329 Mr. Jason. Join me weekly as my students and 00:00:16.329 --> 00:00:18.870 I bring you content that's informative, positive, 00:00:19.010 --> 00:00:21.809 fun, and uplifting. This podcast is created and 00:00:21.809 --> 00:00:23.969 produced with the help of students from the International 00:00:23.969 --> 00:00:31.910 Community School of Bangkok. Okay, quick show 00:00:31.910 --> 00:00:34.530 of hands, even though I can't see you. How many 00:00:34.530 --> 00:00:36.570 times this week have you pulled out your phone 00:00:36.570 --> 00:00:39.409 and pretended to be fascinated by an old message 00:00:39.409 --> 00:00:41.990 or just randomly looked up something to avoid 00:00:41.990 --> 00:00:45.829 an awkward moment with somebody else? Or how 00:00:45.829 --> 00:00:48.409 about the unwritten law that says you will always 00:00:48.409 --> 00:00:50.829 manage to pick the slowest checkout line at the 00:00:50.829 --> 00:00:54.250 store? These invisible scripts guide our lives. 00:00:54.689 --> 00:00:57.390 They're the unspoken rules that everyone seems 00:00:57.390 --> 00:00:59.869 to know but no one ever actually talks about. 00:01:00.619 --> 00:01:03.340 From how long you're allowed to make eye contact 00:01:03.340 --> 00:01:06.239 with a stranger to the right way to stand in 00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:09.239 an elevator, we're all following rules we never 00:01:09.239 --> 00:01:13.219 really learned. Or did we? They're funny, they're 00:01:13.219 --> 00:01:15.840 relatable, and frankly, they're a little strange 00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:18.599 sometimes. And today, we are pulling back the 00:01:18.599 --> 00:01:21.299 curtain on all of them, or at least the ones 00:01:21.299 --> 00:01:23.370 we can talk about. We're having a lighthearted 00:01:23.370 --> 00:01:26.510 conversation about the unspoken rules that shape 00:01:26.510 --> 00:01:29.030 our lives. We also have a group of students joining 00:01:29.030 --> 00:01:32.530 us to discuss the hilarious and unusual rules 00:01:32.530 --> 00:01:35.090 that follow their everyday lives. But first, 00:01:35.150 --> 00:01:37.730 before we jump into our first segment with our 00:01:37.730 --> 00:01:39.890 students, let's hear our quote of the day and 00:01:39.890 --> 00:01:42.530 get some headline news. Our quote of the day 00:01:42.530 --> 00:01:45.329 comes from James Clear, who said, Some rules 00:01:45.329 --> 00:01:48.150 don't need to be written down. They survive because 00:01:48.150 --> 00:01:50.450 everyone understands the cost of breaking them. 00:01:50.780 --> 00:01:53.219 This quote by James Clear highlights how social 00:01:53.219 --> 00:01:55.900 norms and unspoken expectations shape our behavior 00:01:55.900 --> 00:01:58.680 just as strongly as formal rules do. Even without 00:01:58.680 --> 00:02:01.060 being explicitly stated, these unwritten rules, 00:02:01.219 --> 00:02:03.599 like waiting your turn, respecting personal space, 00:02:03.780 --> 00:02:06.340 or showing gratitude, hold power. Because people 00:02:06.340 --> 00:02:08.580 instinctively know that breaking them can lead 00:02:08.580 --> 00:02:10.960 to social tension or loss of trust. Which is 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:13.340 why unspoken rules are more significant than 00:02:13.340 --> 00:02:15.219 you would expect. And that's our quote of the 00:02:15.219 --> 00:02:17.819 day. Now on to some headline social norm news. 00:02:18.430 --> 00:02:20.689 Thank you for the quote of the day. Now, here's 00:02:20.689 --> 00:02:23.009 some headline news related to social norms and 00:02:23.009 --> 00:02:26.050 unwritten rules. Our first headline comes from 00:02:26.050 --> 00:02:28.770 Forbes, which reports that 60 % of employees 00:02:28.770 --> 00:02:32.310 say unwritten rules in the workplace cause miscommunication 00:02:32.310 --> 00:02:35.580 and disconnection. highlighting how many organizations 00:02:35.580 --> 00:02:39.080 expect staff to follow behavioral codes that 00:02:39.080 --> 00:02:41.379 are never formally laid out. Experts point out 00:02:41.379 --> 00:02:44.240 that these informal rules often govern everything 00:02:44.240 --> 00:02:47.620 from email etiquette to decision -making, hierarchies, 00:02:47.620 --> 00:02:50.680 and failing to understand them can affect promotions, 00:02:51.139 --> 00:02:53.860 team dynamics, and overall job satisfactions. 00:02:54.360 --> 00:02:57.000 Our second headline comes from NIC, where it 00:02:57.000 --> 00:03:00.159 is revealed that Gen Z workers are hiring etiquette 00:03:00.159 --> 00:03:02.460 coaches to master the unwritten rules of the 00:03:02.460 --> 00:03:06.060 office, as they struggle with norms around professionalism, 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:08.740 office communication, and appropriate behavior 00:03:08.740 --> 00:03:11.960 in open plan environments. The trend reflects 00:03:11.960 --> 00:03:14.719 a growing awareness that succeeding at work is 00:03:14.719 --> 00:03:17.219 not just about skills, but also about understanding 00:03:17.219 --> 00:03:20.780 subtle social cues, networking practices and 00:03:20.780 --> 00:03:23.400 expectations that are never really included in 00:03:23.400 --> 00:03:25.939 employee manuals. Our third headline and the 00:03:25.939 --> 00:03:28.219 very last one comes from a Swedish university. 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:31.319 Collaborating in a global study that finds everyday 00:03:31.319 --> 00:03:34.620 norms have become more permissive over time and 00:03:34.620 --> 00:03:37.500 differ across cultures. Yet a large degree of 00:03:37.500 --> 00:03:40.639 consistency remains in the unwritten social rules 00:03:40.639 --> 00:03:43.800 people follow worldwide. The research highlights 00:03:43.800 --> 00:03:47.039 examples like cueing behavior, greetings, and 00:03:47.039 --> 00:03:49.599 personal space, showing that while societies 00:03:49.599 --> 00:03:52.539 evolve, many unspoken expectations continue to 00:03:52.539 --> 00:03:55.479 guide interactions in predictable ways, even 00:03:55.479 --> 00:03:58.159 without formal enforcement. And that is our headline 00:03:58.159 --> 00:04:01.159 news about social norms. Thank you for the quote 00:04:01.159 --> 00:04:03.280 in the headline news. Before we start asking 00:04:03.280 --> 00:04:05.960 some of our student guest questions, I want to 00:04:05.960 --> 00:04:07.840 talk a little bit about some of those social 00:04:07.840 --> 00:04:10.580 norms that people have to learn, sometimes the 00:04:10.580 --> 00:04:13.060 easy way and sometimes the hard way. There are 00:04:13.060 --> 00:04:15.219 a lot of social norms about eating, personal 00:04:15.219 --> 00:04:17.620 hygiene, and other behaviors people exhibit. 00:04:17.879 --> 00:04:20.600 Some things are acceptable in public, and some 00:04:20.600 --> 00:04:24.180 things are definitely not. James, I have to ask, 00:04:24.379 --> 00:04:28.060 does one come to mind for you? Elevator etiquette. 00:04:28.060 --> 00:04:30.319 The unspoken rule of when you are in an elevator 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:32.860 is that you are supposed to face the doors, not 00:04:32.860 --> 00:04:35.800 the back or side walls. Otherwise, people may 00:04:35.800 --> 00:04:37.319 think you're trying to hide from something or 00:04:37.319 --> 00:04:40.639 someone. For me, it's all about personal space, 00:04:40.839 --> 00:04:43.839 especially in a conversation. It's that awkward, 00:04:44.040 --> 00:04:47.319 close to talk dance. You know, when someone stands 00:04:47.319 --> 00:04:50.360 just a few inches too close to you and you take 00:04:50.360 --> 00:04:53.019 a little step back and they take a step forward. 00:04:53.420 --> 00:04:56.519 Or the unspeakable rule of coughing or sneezing. 00:04:56.660 --> 00:04:59.259 You have to cover your mouth, preferably with 00:04:59.259 --> 00:05:02.019 your elbow. If you just let it fly, it's a major 00:05:02.019 --> 00:05:06.829 social violation. Yes, and the social rules and 00:05:06.829 --> 00:05:09.550 manners about eating. We teach kids not to eat 00:05:09.550 --> 00:05:12.389 with their mouth open, but it's an unspoken rule 00:05:12.389 --> 00:05:15.769 for adults. No one has a rule book for it, but 00:05:15.769 --> 00:05:18.810 if you do it at a dinner table, everyone notices. 00:05:19.509 --> 00:05:22.230 And it's not just how you eat, but when you eat. 00:05:22.329 --> 00:05:24.410 Like the rule about waiting for everyone to be 00:05:24.410 --> 00:05:27.569 served or sit down before you start eating. It's 00:05:27.569 --> 00:05:29.769 a sign of respect that's not written down anywhere, 00:05:29.949 --> 00:05:33.149 but you're judged if you break it. Oh, and don't 00:05:33.149 --> 00:05:35.689 forget the double dip rule. Has anyone ever announced 00:05:35.689 --> 00:05:38.149 it's forbidden to double dip your chips twice? 00:05:38.410 --> 00:05:41.029 No, but if you see someone do it at a party or 00:05:41.029 --> 00:05:44.329 get together, it's a major social foul. Or even 00:05:44.329 --> 00:05:46.970 just taking a fry off someone else's plate. That's 00:05:46.970 --> 00:05:49.470 not just breaking a rule. That sounds grounds 00:05:49.470 --> 00:05:52.389 for ending a friendship. That's pretty extreme, 00:05:52.410 --> 00:05:55.410 but yeah, that is a major foul. Double dipping 00:05:55.410 --> 00:05:58.810 or stealing fries off your friend's plate. And 00:05:58.810 --> 00:06:01.470 it extends everywhere. Think about driving. It's 00:06:01.470 --> 00:06:04.550 full of unspoken rules. Who gets to merge when 00:06:04.550 --> 00:06:07.529 a lane ends? The thank you wave when someone 00:06:07.529 --> 00:06:10.410 lets you in? Or flashing your headlights to warn 00:06:10.410 --> 00:06:13.490 oncoming traffic? None of that is in the official 00:06:13.490 --> 00:06:16.089 driver's manual, but it's the language we all 00:06:16.089 --> 00:06:19.550 use to get around without chaos. It's fascinating 00:06:19.550 --> 00:06:22.269 how we all navigate these rules without a manual, 00:06:22.430 --> 00:06:25.089 and that's exactly what we want to talk about 00:06:25.089 --> 00:06:27.699 with our guest today. We brought in a group of 00:06:27.699 --> 00:06:30.720 students to get their take on the unspoken rules 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:34.100 they deal with every day. James and Esther will 00:06:34.100 --> 00:06:36.439 be asking a variety of different students about 00:06:36.439 --> 00:06:39.220 some unspoken rules they deal with every week 00:06:39.220 --> 00:06:41.800 at school. Go ahead and get us started, James. 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:45.339 Alright, first up we have Midnight. Here's our 00:06:45.339 --> 00:06:48.100 question for you. Every student has multiple 00:06:48.100 --> 00:06:50.459 teachers they interact with on a daily basis. 00:06:50.839 --> 00:06:53.519 What's an example of an unspoken rule that may 00:06:53.519 --> 00:06:56.660 exist in a classroom? Oh, okay. So this is not 00:06:56.660 --> 00:07:00.319 a rule that is stuck across rooms, but it's a 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:02.399 rule that students need to learn. And it's that 00:07:02.399 --> 00:07:05.500 some teachers will let you sleep in class and 00:07:05.500 --> 00:07:08.680 they will not care. And then some other teachers 00:07:08.680 --> 00:07:11.420 will wake you up. Thank you, Midnight. Next up, 00:07:11.459 --> 00:07:14.459 we have Yosef. Let's talk about reputation. Every 00:07:14.459 --> 00:07:16.439 school has those small things that instantly 00:07:16.439 --> 00:07:19.290 change how people see you. What's an unspoken 00:07:19.290 --> 00:07:22.209 rule about how to stay socially safe at school? 00:07:22.250 --> 00:07:24.170 Things you just don't do if you want to keep 00:07:24.170 --> 00:07:26.730 your reputation. Not trying too hard to impress 00:07:26.730 --> 00:07:29.569 people, as that is what I believe drives away 00:07:29.569 --> 00:07:32.829 people the most. Other than that, I think if 00:07:32.829 --> 00:07:35.290 you just stay true to yourself, then you should 00:07:35.290 --> 00:07:37.810 be fine and find people who really relate to 00:07:37.810 --> 00:07:40.430 you and stick with you throughout life. Thank 00:07:40.430 --> 00:07:43.149 you, Yosa. Next up, we have Unruh. There are 00:07:43.149 --> 00:07:46.100 tons of unspoken rules about being online. So, 00:07:46.120 --> 00:07:48.759 what's an unspoken rule about texting or replying 00:07:48.759 --> 00:07:52.100 in group chats? One unspoken rule about texting 00:07:52.100 --> 00:07:54.540 in group chats is not tagging everyone at nighttime 00:07:54.540 --> 00:07:57.660 and to add people without asking people in the 00:07:57.660 --> 00:08:00.519 group chat. Lastly, one last unspoken rule is 00:08:00.519 --> 00:08:03.220 asking random questions that is not related to 00:08:03.220 --> 00:08:06.120 the head topic. Thank you, Eunwoo. Next, we have 00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:08.259 Robin. When you're trying to hang out with friends, 00:08:08.420 --> 00:08:11.459 somehow... The same few people always end up 00:08:11.459 --> 00:08:13.779 planning everything. Is there an unspoken rule 00:08:13.779 --> 00:08:16.860 about who plans hangouts and who just shows up? 00:08:17.139 --> 00:08:19.860 I think there's definitely an unspoken rule when 00:08:19.860 --> 00:08:21.879 it comes to hangouts. There's always that one 00:08:21.879 --> 00:08:24.319 person who plans everything while everyone else 00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:26.500 just shows up. It's not that people don't want 00:08:26.500 --> 00:08:28.500 to hang out, it's just how the group dynamic 00:08:28.500 --> 00:08:31.240 usually ends up. But it can feel a little one 00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:33.299 -sided when the same person is always organizing 00:08:33.299 --> 00:08:35.820 things. It's nice when others show some effort 00:08:35.820 --> 00:08:37.980 or excitement too, so it feels more balanced. 00:08:38.600 --> 00:08:41.299 Thanks, Robin. And next up, we have John. This 00:08:41.299 --> 00:08:44.519 next unspoken rule is about relationships or 00:08:44.519 --> 00:08:47.340 ex -relationships. Some may call it a bro code. 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:50.200 What's the unspoken rule about liking someone 00:08:50.200 --> 00:08:53.779 else's ex's post or commenting too soon after 00:08:53.779 --> 00:08:56.320 a breakup? There's kind of an unspoken rule to 00:08:56.320 --> 00:08:59.440 give it time. Liking or commenting on someone's 00:08:59.440 --> 00:09:03.379 ex's post too soon after a breakup can look insensitive 00:09:03.379 --> 00:09:06.970 or like you're taking a side. It's usually best 00:09:06.970 --> 00:09:10.269 to wait until things have cooled off before interacting 00:09:10.269 --> 00:09:12.970 publicly. Thank you, John, and thank you all 00:09:12.970 --> 00:09:15.629 for those answers. This is fascinating. What 00:09:15.629 --> 00:09:17.750 I'm hearing is that these rules are everywhere. 00:09:18.049 --> 00:09:20.889 From the classroom with Midnight's teacher code, 00:09:21.009 --> 00:09:23.909 to friendships with Robin's planner rule, to 00:09:23.909 --> 00:09:26.210 the digital world with John's breakup buffer. 00:09:26.470 --> 00:09:28.929 It's clear these rules are the secret instruction 00:09:28.929 --> 00:09:31.860 manual for our social lives. And it actually 00:09:31.860 --> 00:09:35.100 inspired our team to put together a list. James, 00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:37.860 Esther, you were working on a sort of top 10 00:09:37.860 --> 00:09:40.659 list of these everyday social norms. So what 00:09:40.659 --> 00:09:43.919 do you have? We were working on that. So here's 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:46.320 what we got. And based on what our guest just 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:49.279 said, we're calling this list the top 10 unspoken 00:09:49.279 --> 00:09:52.379 rules of school social life. Esther, start us 00:09:52.379 --> 00:09:54.779 off with number 10. Number 10, the hallway nod. 00:09:54.919 --> 00:09:57.360 You must acknowledge the acquaintance with a 00:09:57.360 --> 00:10:00.580 quick nod or smile. Ignoring them is a social 00:10:00.580 --> 00:10:03.539 crime. Number nine, the lunch table rule. You 00:10:03.539 --> 00:10:05.960 can't just sit at any table. Every table has 00:10:05.960 --> 00:10:08.360 an invisible reserve sign and you have to know 00:10:08.360 --> 00:10:11.460 where you fit. Number eight, the reply all rule. 00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:14.259 In a group chat, you don't have one -on -one 00:10:14.259 --> 00:10:17.120 conversation that everyone else is forced to 00:10:17.120 --> 00:10:20.120 watch. Take it to your DMs. Number seven, the 00:10:20.120 --> 00:10:22.940 social media lag. You can't like a new acquaintance's 00:10:22.940 --> 00:10:26.340 photo from 52 weeks ago. It's called deep stalking 00:10:26.340 --> 00:10:29.299 and it's creepy. Number six, the planner's burden. 00:10:29.559 --> 00:10:32.019 Just like Robin said, the person who plans the 00:10:32.019 --> 00:10:34.820 hangout should not have to be the only one who 00:10:34.820 --> 00:10:37.899 chases everyone for money. Number five, the reputation 00:10:37.899 --> 00:10:41.039 rule, which Joseph pointed out. Trying too hard 00:10:41.039 --> 00:10:43.700 to be cool is the single most uncool thing you 00:10:43.700 --> 00:10:47.539 can do. Number four, the teacher code. Just like 00:10:47.539 --> 00:10:50.519 Midnight said, you can instantly adapt your personality 00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:52.820 to match the vibe of the teacher you're talking 00:10:52.820 --> 00:10:55.919 to. Number three, the breakup buffer, which John 00:10:55.919 --> 00:10:58.519 just mentioned. You must wait an appropriate, 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:01.480 unstated amount of time before publicly interacting 00:11:01.480 --> 00:11:04.759 with a friend's ex. Number two, the front row 00:11:04.759 --> 00:11:07.059 rule. Don't sit in front row of class if you're 00:11:07.059 --> 00:11:08.899 just going to be on your phone the whole time. 00:11:09.139 --> 00:11:11.980 It's so disrespectful. And the number one unspoken 00:11:11.980 --> 00:11:14.659 rule of school social life, the read -receipt 00:11:14.659 --> 00:11:18.019 panic. If you read a message, you have an invisible 00:11:18.019 --> 00:11:20.740 deadline to reply, and every minute you wait 00:11:20.740 --> 00:11:24.440 adds more social pressure. Okay, that is a brilliant 00:11:24.440 --> 00:11:27.320 top 10 list, so thank you. The read receipt panic 00:11:27.320 --> 00:11:30.519 is all too real. We have to take a short break 00:11:30.519 --> 00:11:32.679 now, but when we come back, we're going to hear 00:11:32.679 --> 00:11:34.820 more from our student guests right after this 00:11:34.820 --> 00:11:43.500 short PSA announcement. Ever feel like you're 00:11:43.500 --> 00:11:45.700 having a great conversation, but the person you're 00:11:45.700 --> 00:11:48.379 with keeps glancing at their screen? We've all 00:11:48.379 --> 00:11:51.580 been there. It's the 21st century unspoken rule. 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:54.620 the phone must go away. It's so easy to let our 00:11:54.620 --> 00:11:57.240 devices take over, but true connection happens 00:11:57.240 --> 00:11:59.879 when we put them down. Challenge yourself this 00:11:59.879 --> 00:12:02.100 week. When you're grabbing coffee with a friend 00:12:02.100 --> 00:12:04.919 at the dinner table or just hanging out, commit 00:12:04.919 --> 00:12:07.320 to putting your phone on silent and face down, 00:12:07.460 --> 00:12:10.600 or better yet, leaving it in your pocket. It's 00:12:10.600 --> 00:12:13.240 a small, simple choice that sends a huge message. 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:16.419 You are important. This moment is important. 00:12:16.840 --> 00:12:19.759 Stop scrolling and start connecting. Give the 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:22.000 people around you the gift of your full attention. 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:26.720 And we are back with our student guest. And just 00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:28.879 before the break, we were digging into the top 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:32.419 10 unspoken rules of school social life. Now 00:12:32.419 --> 00:12:34.240 we want to go even deeper into the rules that 00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:36.659 define our daily interactions. The new ones, 00:12:36.779 --> 00:12:39.059 the ones we break, and the ones that are just 00:12:39.059 --> 00:12:41.980 plain weird. Welcome, Vinaj. Let's start with 00:12:41.980 --> 00:12:44.659 you. Every generation has its own language of 00:12:44.659 --> 00:12:52.330 unspoken rules. There are many, but one that 00:12:52.330 --> 00:12:55.009 relates a lot to me is the desire to text rather 00:12:55.009 --> 00:12:58.590 than call. For us, calls can feel intrusive or 00:12:58.590 --> 00:13:01.230 too formal, while texting feels quicker and more 00:13:01.230 --> 00:13:04.169 natural. Older generations often see calls as 00:13:04.169 --> 00:13:06.929 more personal, but for us, texting is just how 00:13:06.929 --> 00:13:09.649 we connect day to day. And sometimes you don't 00:13:09.649 --> 00:13:11.610 realize you've broken one of these invisible 00:13:11.610 --> 00:13:14.850 rules until it's too late. Josiah, have you ever 00:13:14.850 --> 00:13:17.649 realized you broke an unspoken rule without even 00:13:17.649 --> 00:13:20.490 knowing it exists? Oh yeah, one I can think of 00:13:20.490 --> 00:13:22.649 off the top of my head is when I moved to Thailand, 00:13:22.750 --> 00:13:25.850 I disgustingly wore my shoes inside the house. 00:13:26.230 --> 00:13:28.649 Thankfully, I quickly changed my ways and no 00:13:28.649 --> 00:13:31.309 longer wear shoes inside. Alright, let's lighten 00:13:31.309 --> 00:13:33.490 things up a bit because some unspoken rules are 00:13:33.490 --> 00:13:35.710 so ridiculous, they're actually kind of hilarious. 00:13:36.210 --> 00:13:38.730 This question is for Fonda. What's an unspoken 00:13:38.730 --> 00:13:41.190 rule everyone breaks but pretends they don't? 00:13:41.389 --> 00:13:44.389 An unspoken rule everyone breaks is shaking our 00:13:44.389 --> 00:13:46.929 phone during class, even though we're not supposed 00:13:46.929 --> 00:13:49.590 to. We all pretend we're just shaking the time, 00:13:49.649 --> 00:13:52.169 but really, we're just texting or scrolling for 00:13:52.169 --> 00:13:56.970 a bit. Okay, moving on. Food is another big one. 00:13:57.090 --> 00:14:00.049 Somehow, sharing fries has its own moral code. 00:14:00.370 --> 00:14:02.889 Senzen, what's an unspoken rule about food, like 00:14:02.889 --> 00:14:05.210 sharing fries or not eating the last piece of 00:14:05.210 --> 00:14:08.950 something? An unspoken rule about food is who 00:14:08.950 --> 00:14:12.009 gets the last piece. When you're with a bunch 00:14:12.009 --> 00:14:14.230 of people and there's one slice of pizza left, 00:14:14.409 --> 00:14:16.629 do you just leave it alone or what if you're 00:14:16.629 --> 00:14:19.529 still hungry? Can you ask to eat it? And if you 00:14:19.529 --> 00:14:21.830 ever dare to break one, you know the reactions 00:14:21.830 --> 00:14:25.279 can be unpredictable. Vijay's up next. Have you 00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:27.480 ever broken an unspoken rule on purpose? And 00:14:27.480 --> 00:14:30.340 what happened? Yes, I have. The unspoken rule 00:14:30.340 --> 00:14:32.679 that I decided to break was checking my phone 00:14:32.679 --> 00:14:34.759 while somebody else was talking. But I only do 00:14:34.759 --> 00:14:36.600 this with my close friends to rage bait them. 00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:39.460 They got quite angry with me, but it was kind 00:14:39.460 --> 00:14:42.299 of funny for a bit. Okay, that is interesting. 00:14:42.700 --> 00:14:46.059 Okay. And finally, pun. If you could erase one 00:14:46.059 --> 00:14:48.639 unspoken rule from student life, what would it 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:53.389 be? Hmm, maybe one of the bro codes for the urinals 00:14:53.389 --> 00:14:56.309 in the male restroom that we have to keep the 00:14:56.309 --> 00:14:58.470 greatest distance between the person who is using 00:14:58.470 --> 00:15:02.809 the urinal first. So sometimes it really makes 00:15:02.809 --> 00:15:05.129 me anxious to choose which urinal I should go 00:15:05.129 --> 00:15:08.629 for. Though it also makes sense why we have this 00:15:08.629 --> 00:15:11.429 unspoken rule because I find it hard as well 00:15:11.429 --> 00:15:13.789 to go sometimes when I am sandwiched between 00:15:13.789 --> 00:15:17.710 two dudes. Well, I still think it'd be nice to 00:15:17.710 --> 00:15:20.240 erase this rule. at least in our school, because 00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:22.399 you simply don't have time to wait and choose 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:24.980 which urinal to choose when you're running between 00:15:24.980 --> 00:15:27.620 classes with only five minutes to be ready in 00:15:27.620 --> 00:15:30.240 time. Wow, Pun, thank you for that perfectly 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:33.159 honest and funny answer. It's the perfect example 00:15:33.159 --> 00:15:35.620 of a norm that feels totally absurd, but also 00:15:35.620 --> 00:15:39.120 apparently necessary for guys. And a huge thank 00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:41.480 you to all of our guests. You've really shown 00:15:41.480 --> 00:15:43.700 us how these rules cover everything from our 00:15:43.700 --> 00:15:46.600 digital lives to who gets the last fry and how 00:15:46.600 --> 00:15:49.090 to use the restroom. It seems like the perfect 00:15:49.090 --> 00:15:52.149 time to wrap up with our final list. James and 00:15:52.149 --> 00:15:54.750 Esther, you have one more top 10 list for us. 00:15:54.950 --> 00:15:57.769 We do. After all this great discussion, we're 00:15:57.769 --> 00:16:00.690 calling this one the top 10 unspoken rules of 00:16:00.690 --> 00:16:03.370 our digital modern life. James, will you kick 00:16:03.370 --> 00:16:06.230 us off with number 10? Of course. Number 10, 00:16:06.490 --> 00:16:09.330 the story spam rule. Don't post so many Instagram 00:16:09.330 --> 00:16:11.850 stories in a row that they just look like a bunch 00:16:11.850 --> 00:16:14.690 of tiny dots on your page. Actually, that is 00:16:14.690 --> 00:16:17.399 kind of annoying. Number 9, the fake. booking 00:16:17.399 --> 00:16:20.519 ban. You're not allowed to post. Worst day ever. 00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:23.419 Just to make people ask you, oh my god, what's 00:16:23.419 --> 00:16:25.379 wrong? Yeah, it's kind of annoying when that 00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:28.039 happens. Number eight, the headphone signal. 00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:31.039 If someone has headphones in, that is the universal 00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:33.960 do not disturb sign. Do not interrupt them unless 00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:36.809 it's an emergency. 7. Which Simpson mentioned, 00:16:36.990 --> 00:16:39.649 the last slice standoff. Whether it's a pizza 00:16:39.649 --> 00:16:41.970 or cake, the last piece on the plate does not 00:16:41.970 --> 00:16:45.169 belong to anyone. It must be offered and politely 00:16:45.169 --> 00:16:47.830 refused at least twice before it can be claimed. 00:16:48.029 --> 00:16:50.529 I always end up wanting to ask for it, but you 00:16:50.529 --> 00:16:54.470 know, I don't do it. 6. The text before you call 00:16:54.470 --> 00:16:56.610 rule. You do not just call someone out of the 00:16:56.610 --> 00:16:59.610 blue. You send a text first like, Yo, you free 00:16:59.610 --> 00:17:01.940 for a quick call? Number five, the screenshot 00:17:01.940 --> 00:17:05.200 betrayal. You do not screenshot a private conversation 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:07.799 and share it with other people. It's an ultimate 00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:11.279 digital break of trust. Yes, totally. You cannot 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:14.559 do that to your friends. Okay, number four, the 00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:17.740 email via chat rule. If it's urgent, it's a chat. 00:17:17.880 --> 00:17:21.140 If it's official, it's an email. And never ever 00:17:21.140 --> 00:17:23.839 reply all to a company -wide email just to say, 00:17:23.940 --> 00:17:27.779 thanks. Number three, the emoji vibe check. You 00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:30.759 must understand that a thumbs up emoji can be 00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:34.099 seen as a passive aggressive choose your emojis 00:17:34.099 --> 00:17:38.079 wisely for sure number two the digital payment 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:40.500 rule you must pay your friend back immediately 00:17:40.500 --> 00:17:44.119 but it is also an unspoken rule not to send a 00:17:44.119 --> 00:17:46.940 payment request for something tiny like one dollar 00:17:46.940 --> 00:17:50.349 and Number 1. Unspoken rule of our digital modern 00:17:50.349 --> 00:17:53.470 life, which connects right to our PSA, the fubbing 00:17:53.470 --> 00:17:56.329 rule. Fubbing is phone snubbing. When you are 00:17:56.329 --> 00:17:58.529 with people in real life, you give them your 00:17:58.529 --> 00:18:00.789 attention. Don't be the person staring at your 00:18:00.789 --> 00:18:03.710 screen ignoring everyone else. Okay, thank you 00:18:03.710 --> 00:18:07.029 so much for that top 10 list. That list is spot 00:18:07.029 --> 00:18:09.690 on, especially that text before you call rule. 00:18:09.890 --> 00:18:12.789 So thank you. And a final huge thank you to all 00:18:12.789 --> 00:18:15.150 of our student guests today for being so open 00:18:15.150 --> 00:18:18.009 and honest with us. These unspoken rules, whether 00:18:18.009 --> 00:18:20.190 they're in the hallway, in a group chat, or at 00:18:20.190 --> 00:18:23.430 the urinal, are the secret language of our lives. 00:18:23.710 --> 00:18:25.970 They're how we build community, show respect, 00:18:26.049 --> 00:18:28.869 and as we've heard, sometimes just make things 00:18:28.869 --> 00:18:39.349 hilariously awkward. We've learned today that 00:18:39.349 --> 00:18:41.630 our lives are governed by a massive, invisible 00:18:41.630 --> 00:18:45.289 instruction manual. From who gets the last fry 00:18:45.289 --> 00:18:47.849 to how you stand in an elevator, these unspoken 00:18:47.849 --> 00:18:50.690 rules are the secret language we use to show 00:18:50.690 --> 00:18:53.690 respect, build community, and as we heard, make 00:18:53.690 --> 00:18:57.049 things just a little bit awkward sometimes. A 00:18:57.049 --> 00:18:59.109 huge thank you to my co -hosts James and Esther, 00:18:59.210 --> 00:19:01.430 and a very special thank you to all of our student 00:19:01.430 --> 00:19:03.990 guests for being so open and sharing your experiences 00:19:03.990 --> 00:19:06.670 with us. And of course, thank you for listening. 00:19:07.349 --> 00:19:09.609 If you enjoyed our conversation, please make 00:19:09.609 --> 00:19:11.630 sure you're subscribed wherever you get your 00:19:11.630 --> 00:19:14.809 podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can 00:19:14.809 --> 00:19:18.250 also follow us on Instagram at Students Incorporated. 00:19:18.569 --> 00:19:21.109 We'll be back next time with a brand new topic. 00:19:21.170 --> 00:19:23.950 So until then, pay attention to the rules you 00:19:23.950 --> 00:19:27.410 can't see. And as always, this podcast would 00:19:27.410 --> 00:19:29.769 not be possible without the hard work and support 00:19:29.769 --> 00:19:32.009 of our international student production team. 00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:35.380 All music and sound effects are courtesy of Pixelway 00:19:35.380 --> 00:19:38.839 .com, a vibrant community of creatives sharing 00:19:38.839 --> 00:19:42.559 copyright -free images, videos, and music. And 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:45.240 we're signing off. Until next time, we're Students 00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:47.240 Incorporated, because your voice matters.