Unwritten Rules

Humans learn by observing others. When everyone does things one way, it is perceived to be the correct way things are done. After all, the big, dumb, unwashed masses cannot possibly be wrong. Still, one must deign to consider the implications of such learning: What the great big, dumb, unwashed mess...er...masses does not do will also be perceived as incorrect.

Take for example the common metro. There are seats on the train, and great big open spaces. On a normal rush hour, those spaces would be taken up. On other off-peak times, the spaces open up to varying degrees. Sometimes, there just are no seats available, but lots of spaces.

Interestingly enough, very few actually consider sitting on the floor. While some may argue that doing so would result in obstruction to others, there are invariably nooks and crannies that can accommodate sitting and still not pose an obstruction. Even this little bit of practicality is largely ignored in favor of the norm of sitting (on seats) and standing on the train.

Such is the way of unwritten rules. By extension, these unwritten rules are established everywhere. In fact, owing to the average humans' lack of consciousness of the origins of their motivations, many accept these rules unquestioningly and find it exceptionally unusual that one should flout them...