Growing up, your parents probably reprimanded you for pointing at or staring at strangers, having your elbows on the dinner table, or for breaking any number of other common rules that we're all taught to obey in order to be deemed socially acceptable.
You might have also picked up some tips by so-called experts, like Amy Vanderbilt, who wrote lengthy guidebooks on the subject of politeness back in the 1950s. Of course, plenty of that advice is woefully out of date for our modern times, such as a young lady letting her date know the evening should come to a close by placing her napkin “unfolded at the left of her plate” and looking at him “questioningly.”
But that's not even the most absurd-sounding rule from the past that has become pretty much obsolete over the years. Take a look below to see some of the most bizarre ways folks were instructed to stay classy.
Did we miss something crazy you remember being told back in the day? Let us know in the comments and be sure to SHARE with your friends!
[H/T: Death and Taxes]
1. Suppress Your Exclamations
A simple “OMG!” would have seemed seriously uncouth to those in the past who preferred a more mild-mannered response to exciting news.
2. Never Nag
Specifically, wives were told to heed themselves around their husbands and make sure they were not bothering them too much with their domestic complaints. They should also never deny it when a man accused them of being too troublesome, as that only proves the man's point.
3. Wives Aren't To Be Called “Ladies”
This didn't just go for men who called their wives “my old lady,” but any use of the hierarchal title outside of its original intention.
4. Don't Brag About Seeing The Opera
Not because they were afraid of having the ending spoiled for them, like we have with modern films. This was actually meant to not ostracize anyone who wasn't able to afford the ticket or simply had no interest in the form of entertainment.
5. Keep Your Hands Still
According to social norms in the 1800s, any mannerism or gesticulation while having a conversation could get you compared to a “fifth rate comedian.”
6. Always Arrive Fashionably Late
Hosts expected at least 15 minutes of buffer before anyone actually arrived to their party back in the day, so anyone who entered on time was deemed a rude annoyance and likely not invited to the next shindig.
7. A Flashy Outfit Is A Rude Outfit
Back in the day, a woman who went to visit her friends was considered tacky for showing off a new gown or accessory instead of her “plain walking costume.”
8. Follow Corn Protocol
According to Amy Vanderbilt, a so-called authority on etiquette back in the 1950s, if you're chowing down on corn on the cob for dinner, you'll need to make sure you plan plenty of extra time to butter and eat only one row of kernels at a time.
9. Date Around While In A Relationship
Before modern couples began dating for longer lengths of time instead of quickly making their way down the aisle, it was considered perfectly fine to accept a date with someone even while you were “going steady” with someone else. In fact, it was considered snobbish to exclude yourself to one partner.
Did we miss any outdated etiquette rules from the past you remember? Let us know below and be sure to SHARE with your friends!
