As we know, "norms" is a misleading term. What is normal is far too relative for that word to carry much certainty.
Normal is defined by the social environment, a context that comes in a variety of sizes. The context could be a particular home, workplace, town, province, cultural group, or even an entire country.
A recent Reddit thread focused on the various norms of daily life established in all different countries. The common, ever-excepted mundane details of a nation apparently compel people to assume those quirks happen across the whole world.
So it's an eye-opening moment when one realizes that common trope is actually unique, weird, and rare literally everywhere else.
getfookenrekt asked, "What is a common thing in your country but rare in others?"
Spanish Rhythms
"Such cheap olive oil. And eating incredibly late. Lunch is more or less at 1-3 pm, and dinner at 9-10 pm. That is why in Spain we have snacks between foods" -- prepelde
"Isn't the reason for eating late having to do with an old dictator's rule or something? I remember reading about that." -- Talldadmn
"I'm sure that's part of it, but Italy operates on more or less the same schedule. It might just be more of a Mediterranean cultural thing." -- HorseMeatSandwich
"It's a bit of both. Especially in summer in hot countries late dinner when it's not as obnoxiously hot just makes sense too" -- ndop
Sweat | Noise | Power
"Saunas in most apartments or at least apartment buildings, haven't lived in a building that doesn't have one."
"A lot of great well known (and underground) metal bands."
"And a nuclear power plant that is at this point 11 years behind schedule and according to Wikipedia the 3rd most expensive building in the world."
Northern Delights
"Poutine. Goddamn are you guys missing out on poutine. Seriously unhealthy, but also good for the soul, so is it really unhealthy? Yes. Yes it is. But you're still missing out."
"For those wondering, it's fries topped with gravy and cheese curds."
Sugar and Fat
"In Colombia, hot chocolate is served with slices of salted cheese in it." -- Damagingking7
"I feel like that is something that sounds disgusting but actually isn't that bad." -- b17pineapple
"It's really good actually. Specially because sugar and fat goes really well together." -- Arturosas
Closed, or Thorough?
"People don't talk to new people here for some reason" -- therealCyborg2300
" 'I'd rather stand than sit on that empty seat next to a stranger' -Every swede ever." -- ithinkericssonhitus
"I remember striking up a conversation with a stranger in Scandinavia."
"She said, 'You must be American. Only Americans talk to strangers. That's one thing I miss about America when I lived in Los Angeles for a few years. Here nobody ever talks to anyone unless they have been formally introduced.' " -- Adam0018
Sudden Darkness
"Scheduled blackouts to reduce pressure on the electrical grid" -- MealieMeal
"Especially the kind they just surprise you with at a random time in the afternoon. Stage tw-four! HaHA, had you going there! Now pay my exorbitant fees, peasant." -- Cereal_Experiments45
The Horrors of Daytime Television
"Pharmaceutical ads." -- cant_help_myself
"And the grocery list of potential life ending side effects they come with." -- XxsquirrelxX
"Antidepressant commercials like: 'You're gonna feel great if you don't get fat, impotent, and violently suicidal! Good luck!!!' " -- hannibalstarship
Necessities
"Bagged milk, legal weed and fermented maple syrup." -- MagicMushroomFungi
"Bagged milk was a mystery I loved in school. Lil square pouch and you'd just shank it with the straw and SUCK" -- S0LDIER-X
Fizzy Paste
"Root beer. In America this is widely available and basically universally liked, but give it to someone from another country, especially a European country, and they will hate it." -- Talldadmn
"My Brother in law is from Denmark and he says root beer tastes like their toothpaste. He hates root beer and cant understand why we love it so much." -- alternateunicorn
Keeps Mental Math Sharp
"Tax not included in advertised price" -- UltimateAnswer42
"Land above you does that too. Greetings from Canada." -- iamthemicx
"Had no idea this wasn't normal up until now tbh. I thought most western societies did this, not just us Canadians and America" -- chowder7
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