I may say I don't care what others think but...

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I may say I do what I think is best for me regardless of what others think but...

I just cannot bring myself to do in public what I just did with my brunch at home, even though I think I should! And what was that? I clothes-pinned a cloth napkin across my chest while eating.

Boy, do I need for tucking a napkin in at the collar at meals to become a long-lasting fad. But no one else does it. I've already spent a life time trying to eat neatly, but I embarrass myself too often and drop bits on my shirt. Ugh. So uncool either to tuck or to stain.

Do you admit to social pressure ever keeping you from doing a thing that makes sense for you? Or maybe you know someone like me, who needs to be a napkin tucker, but would not be caught dead doing it in public.

[disneysteve]

I can't seem to go out and get Italian food in red sauce without getting some on my shirt. This is particularly true if I am dressed nicely. So yes, that napkin on the chest would work well for me, but no, I never actually do it.

[PrincessPerky]

sing..I like to sing, and I will sing in a group, but only at home will I sing alone...

Small benefit, but the embarrassment factor keeps me from doing it in public.

I also wont ask my kid truly challenging questions..I ask one I know they know the answer to in public, while at home failure is simply a lack of knowing, to others it is proof home schooling can't work.

[Cassandra]

It's so weird that you should mention this now.

We're discussing social norms, deviant behavior, etc. in Sociology. It's actually pretty interesting. We discussed foreways (social norms that aren't important to the functioning of society. i.e. putting your napkin on your lap in public) and the (negative) sanctions that happen when you break the norm (laughing, stares, jokes, etc.) in class today. We have to come up with our own social norm to break and observe how people react.

I'm looking forward to this project, but I have no doubt that I'll be embarrassed by what I have to do.

Cassandra

[InDebtInDC]

It's so weird that you should mention this now.

We're discussing social norms, deviant behavior, etc. in Sociology. It's actually pretty interesting. We discussed foreways (social norms that aren't important to the functioning of society. i.e. putting your napkin on your lap in public) and the (negative) sanctions that happen when you break the norm (laughing, stares, jokes, etc.) in class today. We have to come up with our own social norm to break and observe how people react.

I'm looking forward to this project, but I have no doubt that I'll be embarrassed by what I have to do.

Cassandra

I challenge you to break a social norm without affecting some gender transgression

[cschin4]

HA! This is quite an interesting thread. And, isn't it funny that in an age where anything goes, we are still socially conscious about certain things.
There are alot of things I do now that probably aren't as socially acceptable.
For instance, I do not feel compelled to where shoes with heels in them. I can't stand to wear them and they hurt my feet so I have no qualms anymore about just wearing my sneakers or other comfortable shoes. I also can't stand being cold in the winter, so wearing dresses seems completely ridiculous to me. Sorry, but I am going to be warm!
As for tucking a napkin in, if you are among friends, then tuck away. However, if I was at a business meal where my persona was to represent the company rather than myself, then I would not tuck a napkin and just realize the cost of the dry cleaner is part of having a job. And, keep some stain remover in the car and spray your shirts immediately after the meal. Keep a change of clothes in the car. That will help cut down your clothing costs!

[arg1211]

I must admit that I do act differently in public than I do at home. I don't belch, I try not to pass gas, I sit differently, eat differently, I dress differently.

The one thing I refuse to do, though, is change the way I speak. I am a loud person by nature (let's just say that when I was in acting school I was the only person who didn't need a mic to be heard in the back row of a 3,000 seat theatre), and while I *do* try to keep it down in most restaurants and movie theaters, I do NOT lower my laughter. If something strikes me as funny, you best believe I'm going to let the world know it, funny looks be damned!