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  • Essay / The Unwritten Rules of Behavior for Eating a Meal in a Dining Room

    Everyone acts differently at home than in public. When I'm in the comfort of my home, I eat off the floor all the time. To be clearer, I don't eat food off the floor, I just like to sit cross-legged, usually with a fuzzy blanket and in front of the TV with my plate of food on my lap, a pillow or on a chair . in front of me. I've been doing this since I was little and it's just more comfortable for me, however, I've been socialized knowing that people aren't supposed to eat off the floor in public places. But if I walk into Upper Debot here at UW-Stevens Point, there is no sign that says you have to sit at a table to eat your food. It is a social norm that is not reinforced by any laws or rules (in most cases), but by socialization. I chose this for my hacking experience since I live on campus and can access the dining halls and easily observe the reactions of many people in a short period of time. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayBefore finishing my experiment, I wanted to create some sort of plan and make predictions about how people might react. I went to the dining room with my girlfriend to have an extra pair of eyes to make observations. To ensure my own safety, I sat in a location that was not on a main aisle. I also didn't put my plate of food on the floor, I just held it in my hand while I ate. I thought my peers would look at me funny, but I anticipated I wouldn't receive any comments. In my experience, if I see someone engaging in behavior that is not considered "normal" or traditional, I usually don't question them directly and try to mind my own business to avoid causing problems. being perceived as rude. looks from a few people. It was like people were looking at the furniture around me to assess if there was anything wrong, which would explain why I wasn't using it. After seeing nothing and remaining confused, everyone continued and walked away without further questions, as I predicted. However, an employee spoke up and asked if I would prefer a chair, to which I responded, "Thanks, but I'm fine." » He also looked confused, but he left that alone. I think it's very interesting that the only person who commented was an employee, which shows how differently people can act depending on roles. A fellow student who is there to eat and have fun probably won't care if someone is sitting on the floor or not. But an employee has more responsibility and demonstrates a certain level of authority, which makes them feel more comfortable making a comment like this. Overall, I would say I was exposed to mild negative sanctions, in the form of disapproving looks or comments, for violating this standard. Other punishments I could have faced would have been being told to use the furniture, or even being asked to leave. However, I don't think my behavior would be classified as "taboo", because it wasn't incredibly shocking or in violation of social laws, it was just a little strange. Another aspect I considered when reflecting on my experience was Cooley's outlook. -the glass self, which refers to the idea that we define and characterize ourselves based on how others view us..