House Rules

[BlackShanglan]

Another thread reminded me that I had meant to post a thread like this some time ago.

Have you noticed that your families, and those you visit, have some unusual unspoken regulations - "house rules" that would appear odd to those not members of the household?

For instance, in my parents' house, one does not use the word "hooligans." Ever. Unless, that is, one relishes the most remarkable hiding courtesy of my mother. It's one of those odd little conversational incendiary devices that unsuspecting guests occasionally stumble upon. At least she's more forgiving to strangers; they just get a lecture.

At one ex's house, I came across a rule that seemed very odd to me. I was reading in the living room one afternoon, alone, and realized that no one had been in the room for half an hour or more. Given that they were all occupied elsewhere, I turned off the television. Not long after, the father came through, scowled at me, and turned the television back on - and left the room. He never sat down and watched it, but evidently that wasn't a significant point to him. In my family's home, the television was always off unless someone was in front of it; here, it was the opposite. Very puzzling to me.

Any interesting rules out there?

 

[carsonshepherd]

What's wrong with "hooligans?"

Growing up, we weren't allowed to flush after urinating. Not every time, anyway. The toilet water had to reach a certain saturation before we could flush. My dad was big into conservation.

This habit took a long time, and many complaints from others, to break.

 

[Guest]

NEVER....ever pass me the salt. put it down infront of me. odd i know, but its a generational superstition thing passed down from my grandmother. the salt and pepper were always passed but always placed infront of whomever requested the condiments.

 

[Guest]

What's wrong with "hooligans?"

Growing up, we weren't allowed to flush after urinating. Not every time, anyway. The toilet water had to reach a certain saturation before we could flush. My dad was big into conservation.

This habit took a long time, and many complaints from others, to break.

when i was a kid, we had a horrid drought. my father posted signs in the bathrooms:

"If you pee, let it be.
If you poop, flush the soup."

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I my parent's house, the unspoken rule is never discuss religion or politics, EXCEPt at the dinner table

 

[impressive]

NEVER....ever pass me the salt. put it down infront of me. odd i know, but its a generational superstition thing passed down from my grandmother. the salt and pepper were always passed but always placed infront of whomever requested the condiments.

My mother used to freak if someone passed the salt without including the pepper.

 

[impressive]

when i was a kid, we had a horrid drought. my father posted signs in the bathrooms:

"If you pee, let it be.
If you poop, flush the soup."

If it's yellow, let it mellow.
If it's brown, flush it down.

 

[carsonshepherd]

when i was a kid, we had a horrid drought. my father posted signs in the bathrooms:

"If you pee, let it be.
If you poop, flush the soup."

LMAO. Dads!

My ex was big on household rules. One of them was washing dishes under running water. The sink could not be filled with soapy water and the dishes washed and then rinsed in a tub. The tap had to be left running and each dish washed under the flow, with a squirt of soap. He was freaky about germs or something.

It was hard for me to do this after having water conservation ingrained into me by my dad. As soon as we split up, I went back to filling the sink.

 

[cloudy]

At my mom's, everyone at the table must have had their chance at each dish as it comes around before ANYONE can eat a bite.

Hell, at holidays.....hell, I tell you.

 

[Whisky7up]

No whistling in the house....it's not a barn.

 

[BlackShanglan]

when i was a kid, we had a horrid drought. my father posted signs in the bathrooms:

"If you pee, let it be.
If you poop, flush the soup."

Now we know where you get your sense of humor, and possibly your kazoo.

What's wrong with "hooligans?"

Some trace the etymology to the Irish last name "Hooligan" or "Houlihan," derived from earlier forms in the Irish language. My mother finds it especially objectionable that the British commonly use this word to refer to their own football fans when they behave in violent or loutish fashions.

There are other possible derivations; I've seen some citations to "Hooley Gang," referenced to police in Islington in the 19th century, who were dealing with an actual gang led by a man named Hooley. Like many words, its origin is a bit obscure.

 

[oggbashan]

The front room was for parents only.

No children allowed in - ever. If they wanted a parent who was in the front room they could knock and wait for the parent to come out.

It helped retain parental sanity. It helped that there were three other living rooms and a large family kitchen so the lack of space didn't notice. Christmas and Birthday presents could be stored in the front room with impunity.

Parents knocked on children's bedroom doors and waited for a reply before entering.

Both rules applied from the children's ages about age 3 to 25.

Og

 

[BlackShanglan]

No whistling in the house....it's not a barn.

Safe there.

The SO does not rinse dishes after washing them in soapy water. Nor do any of the SO's family. I find this extremely difficult to sit still through. To be fair, nothing I have eaten there has ever tasted of soap ... but as I watch them putting the dishes into the cabinets, I taste Fairy Liquid. (Which, as we all know, is a brand of dish detergent and not at all a cause for lewd snickering ).

I think that my father may be incapable of the mechanical act of eating without a saltcellar in front of him. It really makes no difference how much salt is already in the food; as Terry Pratchett puts it, he is a Serial Condimenter. One of these days I really will brine something down until it's stiff and serve it to him.

 

[kendo1]

If you are not in a room, turn the light off.

Meals are always eaten at the table (TV turned off)- my rule.
We are a family and it is the best chance of catching up on everyone's day.

 

[CharleyH]

Another thread reminded me that I had meant to post a thread like this some time ago.

Have you noticed that your families, and those you visit, have some unusual unspoken regulations - "house rules" that would appear odd to those not members of the household?

For instance, in my parents' house, one does not use the word "hooligans." Ever. Unless, that is, one relishes the most remarkable hiding courtesy of my mother. It's one of those odd little conversational incendiary devices that unsuspecting guests occasionally stumble upon. At least she's more forgiving to strangers; they just get a lecture.

At one ex's house, I came across a rule that seemed very odd to me. I was reading in the living room one afternoon, alone, and realized that no one had been in the room for half an hour or more. Given that they were all occupied elsewhere, I turned off the television. Not long after, the father came through, scowled at me, and turned the television back on - and left the room. He never sat down and watched it, but evidently that wasn't a significant point to him. In my family's home, the television was always off unless someone was in front of it; here, it was the opposite. Very puzzling to me.

Any interesting rules out there?

Excellent question and LOL. My parents (sadly gone) had many tvs and on always and I hardly knew what they watched. TV is a comfort zone - some need it to sleep, or to make them feel real and in touch?

I dunno Just a theory.

 

[carsonshepherd]

Some trace the etymology to the Irish last name "Hooligan" or "Houlihan," derived from earlier forms in the Irish language. My mother finds it especially objectionable that the British commonly use this word to refer to their own football fans when they behave in violent or loutish fashions.

There are other possible derivations; I've seen some citations to "Hooley Gang," referenced to police in Islington in the 19th century, who were dealing with an actual gang led by a man named Hooley. Like many words, its origin is a bit obscure.

That's actually pretty cute.

I have a word nobody's allowed to say in my presence but it's because I hate how it sounds, not its origins.

It doesn't come up that often in normal conversation anyway so it's not a big deal, but that's pretty much it in my house rules. I don't like people stacking things on the kitchen table but, really, its futile to make a big deal over it. Just don't say that word and it's all good.

 

[MissBri]

 

[twink_alert86]

I grew up mostly in my grandparents' house, so it's their rules I always think about. My mom had other rules, which mostly had to do with her various OCD's.

At my grandparents' house, the following were strictly forbidden:

Standing with the refrigerator door open for too long a period of time.

Sitting in Grandpa's chair in the living room.(Yes, he is Archie Bunker)

Letting the fire go out, ever.

Any sort of swearing whatsoever.

Sitting in my grandpa's chair at the table.

 

[BlackShanglan]

That's actually pretty cute.

I have a word nobody's allowed to say in my presence but it's because I hate how it sounds, not its origins.

It doesn't come up that often in normal conversation anyway so it's not a big deal, but that's pretty much it in my house rules. I don't like people stacking things on the kitchen table but, really, its futile to make a big deal over it. Just don't say that word and it's all good.

And now you're just going to leave us in agonized suspense, are you?

 

[Guest]

Excellent question and LOL. My parents (sadly gone) had many tvs and on always and I hardly knew what they watched. TV is a comfort zone - some need it to sleep, or to make them feel real and in touch?

I dunno Just a theory.

i believe its a comfort zone. mom was bed bound in the living room and her rule was that we talk, eat dinner...do her every day activities while the tv was on. for some reason, it made her comfortable like maybe she was still ok if the tv was on? she was an odd duck but damnit...she was so very cool.

 

[carsonshepherd]

And now you're just going to leave us in agonized suspense, are you?

Yep.

 

[twink_alert86]

That's actually pretty cute.

I have a word nobody's allowed to say in my presence but it's because I hate how it sounds, not its origins.

It doesn't come up that often in normal conversation anyway so it's not a big deal, but that's pretty much it in my house rules. I don't like people stacking things on the kitchen table but, really, its futile to make a big deal over it. Just don't say that word and it's all good.

It's "blemish" isn't it?

 

[carsonshepherd]

It's "blemish" isn't it?

Shut it, you.

 

[MissBri]

 

[twink_alert86]

Shut it, you.

I was just guessing, I don't even think I know.