Inspired by the Atlanta ACX group’s list of jargon by the numbers.
- One way of demonstrating that you were raised upper-class.
ex. understanding which fork to use first at a high-end restaurant, what white tie attire is, and which shoes to avoid wearing on a boat. - Actively being emotionally aware and considerate, and making sure that those around you feel comfortable and appreciated.
ex. drawing shy people into conversation at a party, providing vegetarian food if you’re throwing a dinner party and you’ve invited vegetarians, being nice to service workers - The ability to follow the implicit social scripts of the current culture.
ex. in speech, appearing interested and not bored in boring conversations and asking appropriate follow-up questions, saying please and thank you at appropriate times
ex. in action, knowing what to wear to church/a graduation ceremony/your white collar workplace, digital conventions such as not double texting and calling instead of texting only for emergencies (millennials and younger only), bringing wine or dessert to a dinner party
ex. being able to competently code-switch to match different cultural contexts. - 3, but specifically western scripts from the mid-20th century.
ex. calling older people sir/ma’am, not asking women their age, sending a perfunctory thank you letter for each birthday gift received, avoiding wearing hats indoors - Following sanity preserving norms for living/existing with other people in groups.
ex. cleaning up after yourself, avoiding behaviour that is actively disruptive/unpleasant towards others such as playing music on speakerphone on a bus, staying on the right of escalators if you’re standing still, avoiding being drunk, high, or otherwise impaired in public. - Maintaining a fiction of the non-physical self; minimizing bodily awareness.
ex. going to the bathroom discreetly, hiding the fact that you’re on your period, showering regularly, using deodorant and perfume to mask animal scents, chewing quietly, avoiding burping, farting, and picking your nose in public.
