There are undoubtedly hundreds of things society should not normalize. We become familiar with the status quo and begrudgingly accept our inability to influence change. This list may strike a chord with you if you think there are some things society should not normalize.
1. Attending Multiple Job Interviews
It seems like “forever ago” that companies conducted a first interview to screen unsuitable job applicants and then created a shortlist. At the second interview, someone would be offered a job there and then, or by letter — yes, an actual letter in the mail.
Today, it’s not unusual for applicants to experience a ridiculous marathon of multiple interviews that can go on for months and not lead to a job.
2. Ghosting Job Applicants
Gone are the days when companies did the decent thing and responded to all applicants applying for a job. They now use the excuse that too many people applied and they can’t respond to them all. If you get shortlisted, don’t expect to receive an email because they’re few and far between. You’re left hanging for weeks, unsure of whether to move on.
3. Working 40 Hours or More a Week
Living for the weekend is what most people who work full-time do. That’s it. There are two measly days out of seven to chill and spend time with loved ones. Whether you work in an office or at home, society has normalized that we work ridiculously long days. If you face a commute, your entire life gets sucked up by work.
4. Getting up at 4 a.m. Makes You Successful
Watch any successful guru on social media, and they’ll proudly say they start their day at 4 a.m., crank out a novel by 6 a.m., run a half marathon by 8 a.m., and make a six-figure income by lunch. There’s nothing right about getting out of bed before the sparrows start singing, and we “normal humans” shouldn’t be made to feel bad about it.
5. Treating Customer Service Staff Poorly
Sadly, staff need protection from customers these days. Everywhere you look, you’ll see a sign on the wall advising you not to be rude and abusive to staff. We shouldn’t need these signs in place. Common decency should prevail, but sadly, it has become normalized behavior.
6. Being Busy Means You’re Happy
You bump into an acquaintance, and they ask, “Are you busy?” You automatically answer,” Yes, very busy, thank you,” as if having nothing to do is terrible. What’s wrong with not being busy? It doesn’t mean you don’t have a life. Let’s normalize something more beneficial than filling every moment of the day with activity.
7. The Expectation of Always Being Available
Smartphones are fantastic. What would we do without them? Have a life, maybe. Today’s super-fast technology means we cannot escape from anything unless we turn off the phone. Everyone expects an instant answer and worries if they don’t get a response in less than 24 hours.
8. Spam Emails
The laws regarding spam emails keep improving, but those running the spam business are the ones who have to follow the rules. Meanwhile, generic spam keeps arriving daily from the lowlifes, flooding our inboxes with utter rubbish.
9. Children Occupied on Smartphones
Children as young as five have smartphones. As a child, I was happy playing marbles in the street, as were most of the children in my neighborhood. It’s easy for a parent to stop a child from bugging them if they have a smartphone. In the long term, one wonders about the effect on the kids’ eyesight and physical health. Children learn social skills from playing with other children and when insulted by technology, may grow up to be socially dysfunctional adults.
10. Trolling on Social Media
Love them or hate them, trolls are here to stay, and nobody seems to take this appalling behavior seriously. Social media should not normalize trolls because they cause many issues for people who want to enjoy the space.
11. Side Hustle Culture Is for Everyone
There are multiple opportunities to start a side hustle business, such as opening an online shop, dropshipping, print-on-demand, writing a book, and other ways to make a passive income. However, most people don’t make a lot of money doing any of it.
The gurus say anyone can do what they do, but don’t tell you how much work is involved. Anyone working a full-time, 40-hour-week job struggles to find the time to commit to building a side hustle.
12. Retirement Age
Retirement ages have gradually been sneaking up over the decades. Still, how realistic is it to retire in your sixties and seventies? As we age, we lose physical strength and mobility. By the time we get to retirement age, we only want to trundle around a golf course on a cart, lie in bed watching TV, or sit in coffee shops. Normalizing 50 as the retirement age would be better, so you still have some oomph to enjoy life.
13. Worshiping Celebrities
Fame and fortune come at a price to celebrities, but fan worship brings them additional income in merchandise, ticket sales, etc. Celebrities may be on a pedestal, but they’re no different from the average person. Celebrity worship has become an accepted aspect of society, and nobody considers how odd it is to adore someone you don’t know.
14. Using Speakerphone in Public
We’ve all experienced the annoying person sitting in a restaurant talking on the phone loudly on speakerphone. We have no choice but to hear the call as well. Some public places ask the perpetrator to stop, but most don’t.
15. Child Beauty Pageants
The child beauty pageant space is hugely popular and highly competitive. That doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do, though. Children in beauty pageants learn that they have value by being attractive rather than for who they are, their personality traits, intelligence, and kindness.
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