The List of Socially Alienating Phrases or Practices
(SAP List)


My friend Chris and I decided, as our first step in SAP, that certain words or deeds were socially damning. We compiled a list of words or deeds for which we judged others or disliked in ourselves. The words came mostly from ourselves; the deeds came exclusively from others.

See also: Common Sense Beauty Tips, Common Sense Style Tips, and Do's and Don'ts of Dating (*facepalm* This is so much worse than I feared.)

  • SAP
  • that damn Valley Girl "like"
  • "totally"
  • my old roommate
  • "um/uh"
  • "that's what s/he said"
  • "dude"
  • excessive swearing
  • drama!
  • talking about Facebook
  • clipping or picking at nails
  • adjusting underwear
  • fiddling with feet
  • negative gossip (Don't talk about others the way you wouldn't want to be talked about.)
  • badmouthing exes, friends, coworkers . . . or anyone, really, but these more so
  • talking about exes more than in passing, especially with current dates
  • excessive talk about work
  • fandom of television series or films (A spirited discussion on classic cinema is one thing; droning on about Star Wars specs is another beast entirely.)
  • drunk and disorderly antics
  • shouting at strangers
  • shouting at anyone, really
  • excessive noise at formal events
  • taking for goddamned ever in line, anywhere
  • not bagging your own groceries
  • using a bag when you don't really need one (Take care of the planet! We only have one!)
  • hogging public restrooms
  • leaving messes/not flushing/not hand washing in public restrooms
  • talking on the phone in the bathroom/while driving/while using the computer/in the presence of others
  • texting in the presence of others






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