As I'm sure you already know, social norms can actually be pretty toxic, regardless of how "normalized" they've become.
Recently, Redditor u/Enough_Sandwich_7057 asked, "What’s a toxic behavior that’s considered socially acceptable?"
Here are some of the top answers:
Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
1. "Influencers photoshopping the hell out of their bodies."
2. "Looking down on someone because of their job."
3. "People tend to give drunk people misbehaving a pass if they regularly do it, like, 'Oh, don't mind Tom; he's just drunk.' That just reinforces that toxic behavior."
4. "Smashing your spouse’s face into wedding cake at your reception."
5. "Overworking yourself and then collectively judging others who don't do the same."
6. "The fact that some people are proud of getting very little sleep is sad, especially since the effects of sleep deprivation can be deadly."
7. "The whole attitude of going to work sick, even with something like the flu or pneumonia, and that employee wearing it like a badge of honor. WTF."
8. "Burning yourself out for 'the hustle' and/or 'the grind.'"
9. "I hate the whole prank thing, especially when it's done for likes."
10. "Constantly asking young people when they're having children."
11. "The 'customer is always right' attitude."
12. "Trying to make people drink/smoke or drink/smoke more when they have firmly declined the offer."
13. "Taking your work with you on vacation."
14. "In the US, I'd say it's workplace bullying. Then the companies blame the victim and say things like, 'Well, they just didn't fit in with the 'culture' here.'"
"I'm sure culture in some workplaces is important, but whenever I hear employers or recruiters talk about 'culture,' I just hear 'abuse.'"
15. "The viewpoint of 'It was hard for me to get to where I am now; therefore it must also be hard for you.'"
16. "Questioning people's legitimate diagnoses as if you know more than their doctor."
17. "Asking young people when they'll get married."
18. "Humiliating your kids by making videos of you pranking/fooling them and then posting it online."
19. "Shaming men for showing emotions."
20. "I realized that my workaholic tendencies were actually a subconscious distraction from facing my emotional and psychological traumas."
"I was falsely chasing the 'high' of achievement for external validation and the dopamine hit of self-worth."
21. "Pressuring people into drinking with you because it's 'socializing.'"
22. "Having to win no matter what."
— u/Knute5
23. "Taking personal offense if someone doesn't reply to your not-urgent message within the same day."
24. "People playing on their phones while driving. Although it's illegal, that doesn’t stop a lot of people."
25. "Not caring how the dad is doing after pregnancy. I struggled with depression, and no medical expert really gave a shit."
26. "Asking women invasive questions about pregnancy or pregnancy plans."
"As a brother of a sister who struggled greatly with fertility, I know firsthand how heartbreaking fielding those questions can be."
27. And finally: "Gossiping. Everyone says they hate it, but it's like half of small talk for a lot of people."
