The 1913 etiquette guide Manners and Rules of Good Society made me think how much society has sped up, if people in 1913 had time to care that invitations had to have the name, day, hour, etc in special designated spots, and that there were rules about the order people had to walk into dinner. I think with the decline in paper writing, these exacting rules do not exist today as much. Or maybe these rules never really applied to the majority of people, and people just pretended they did so they could pretend to be elites.
One etiquette rule that continues is that men and women should get different prizes/presents. Women could get gloves, bonbons, perfume, a purse today and no one would think it odd. And men could get cigars or a flask (umbrellas seem less common, but maybe after this week they will make a comeback). So it is interesting that some gender divisions seem to still apply today.
Social media has its own social etiquette today but is probably less formal and rigid than the 1913 guide and came into existence based on experience. One unstated rule is that you shouldn’t like your own posts. And if you want to get the most likes, early afternoon is usually the best time to post.
Nice reflection of rules of etiquette. I think it is interesting that we are quick to see past social rules as ridiculous but not characterize our own the same way, even though they may not be so different. I also appreciate that you say the rules of social media or more fluid than other social rules as I agree with that.
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