10 x antisocial things we all do

Regularly, I catch myself exhibiting antisocial behavior. The kind of behavior that you strongly disapprove of in other people, but that you yourself also fully engage in. For example, I can really curse at people when they bump into me because they are too busy fiddling with their phone. Can you really not put that thing away for just one second? I wonder, but not even a few minutes later, I find myself completely lost in my screen and bumping into someone in exactly the same way. At such moments, I really consider myself an antisocial person. Unfortunately, I have more of these traits, and I fear we all share this guilt. Can you check off at least eight out of ten? Don't worry, you're in good company.

1. Ordering something while you're on the phone

Once again, it's one of those cases where I really can't stand it when I see someone else doing it, yet I often find myself ordering a coffee at the counter while on the phone. ‘Just a moment, I need to order.’ Why can't I just hang up and call back after my coffee is ready? Nine times out of ten, the conversations I have on the phone are not life-threatening, yet I keep doing it.

2. Being loud in a restaurant

The angry looks I give people at the table next to me in a restaurant because they are just having a bit too much fun together. That loud laughter and shouting, isn't that just so antisocial? But then I suddenly hear myself at the table with friends, screaming while telling a story. All the hysteria that comes with it must not be fun for others either. Hours later, it often goes from bad to worse: standing on the table should be fine, right? What do you mean, antisocial?

3. Gossiping

Or worse: laughing at people. I really hate it when I see this happening, yet it ‘happens’ to me too. That lovey-dovey couple at the bar behaving in a very inappropriate way, something must be said about that, right? While you could also choose to let it go, after all, there are more important things to focus on. But at that moment, it doesn't feel that way because what you're gossiping about is the most important thing of the evening. It's actually quite sad.

4. Double dipping

I'm often not even aware of this; I just do it as a standard. When I see my friend dipping that half fry in my mayo for the second time at the table, I have to recover from that idea. Well, I obviously say nothing about it because I do it too, but actually, you should coordinate this with each other beforehand.

5. Keeping your earbuds in during a conversation

Even if you're not listening to music, keeping your earbuds in during a conversation looks very antisocial. I often simply forget that I have them in, but I do try to pay more attention to this. Taking your earbuds out takes just as little time as saying that you're not listening to music.

6. Arriving late

Well, this is just an antisocial trait that I can't seem to shake off quickly. For a long time, I hid behind the excuse that it's a disease, but I have now accepted that it's antisocial behavior that I could definitely do something about. would be able to do. The question is just when I will do that, as I am now surrounded by people who are also always late. That makes it hard to unlearn.

7. Leaving without saying goodbye

The well-known Houdini remains my favorite trick at parties and gatherings. It's actually just incredibly antisocial because you leave without saying goodbye to anyone. But sometimes, it's nice in a large group because it saves you a lot of time if you skip all that saying goodbye. Often, people try to convince you to stay as soon as you announce that you're leaving, so that Houdini is actually just precautionary.

8. Talking people out of their diet

I am really what one would call a feeder. I rarely agree when people around me try to live healthier, while I should be supporting that wholeheartedly. I just find it so uninviting to order a dessert by myself that I always suggest that maybe that diet can start a week later. Success is often guaranteed.

9. Calling in sick when you just don't feel like it

Don't we all really do this? I'm surprised that I still haven't reached that point where I can honestly tell someone that I'm not looking forward to their birthday. How rude is that? Calling in sick is a softer option, but still an antisocial one.

10. Reading someone's messages  

Not (always) consciously, of course, but when that other person's screen lights up, you automatically glance at those notifications. Often, you look away immediately, but sometimes your eye catches something you just have to read. This is often the case with your loved one's phone. It just happens automatically, but that doesn't change the fact that it's antisocial. For this reason, I always place my phone screen down on the table.