# Behaviours still done though they're no longer needed **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 21, 2020, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behaviours-still-done-though-theyre-no-longer-needed/852257 "2020-04-21T08:35:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![LLCoolL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/llcooll/32/3596_2.png) [@LLCoolL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LLCoolL)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behaviours-still-done-though-theyre-no-longer-needed/852257/81 "2020-04-23T18:33:45Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > … I’ve been saying ‘bless you’ when a stranger farts just to do my bit to change society. If I use this going forward, do I need to pay you a royalty? Seriously, I think this is hilarious, and will try to implement this in future opportunities. Which are likely to be rare, as I very rarely detect flatulence from strangers (or acquaintances), because people try their best to conceal these perfectly normal bodily functions. ---
**Author:** ![Dogginit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogginit/32/16920_2.png) [@Dogginit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogginit)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behaviours-still-done-though-theyre-no-longer-needed/852257/82 "2020-04-23T18:44:49Z")
I’ll continue to double-space after a full-stop til my dying day, and you’ll never get me to stop using the Oxford comma, either;) The purpose of salting eggplant was not only to remove any bitterness, but, basically being a sponge in a skin, take out excess water to improve the texture of the final product. I always salt eggplant, wrap it in cheesecloth, and leave it in a colander in the sink for 15 minutes to drain prior to assembly/cooking for that reason alone. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behaviours-still-done-though-theyre-no-longer-needed/852257/83 "2020-04-23T18:58:44Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > Not entirely true. While LCDs usually won’t burn in permanently, they can keep ghosts for a surprisingly long time. (My browser window left a semi-permanent line on my old monitor, which lasted for days even after moving the browser so the line formed somewhere else.) I got an old smartphone from a friend a few months back. You can still see the ghosts of his icons on the screen. ---
**Author:** ![LLCoolL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/llcooll/32/3596_2.png) [@LLCoolL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LLCoolL)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behaviours-still-done-though-theyre-no-longer-needed/852257/84 "2020-04-23T19:56:18Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Turn off your air conditioning before you turn off your car, because leaving your air conditioning on when you turn off the car so it starts immediately when you turn the car back on kills your battery/engine/air conditioning. Something about the battery surge from having to immediately power on your AC sort of like letting your car warm up first. I’ve been told that running the AC puts extra strain on the engine. So consider shutting it off temporarily when, say, climbing a very steep hill. Is that a bunch of hooey? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behaviours-still-done-though-theyre-no-longer-needed/852257/85 "2020-04-23T20:03:01Z")
> [@LLCoolL](#): > > I’ve been told that running the AC puts extra strain on the engine. So consider shutting it off temporarily when, say, climbing a very steep hill. Is that a bunch of hooey? It takes power to run the AC. It takes power to go faster, to go uphill, carry a heavier load. If you can’t get up enough speed on the hill you could turn off the AC to get a little more power. Using your car will eventually wear out your engine. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behaviours-still-done-though-theyre-no-longer-needed/852257/86 "2020-04-23T21:20:52Z")
> [@LLCoolL](#): > > I’ve been told that running the AC puts extra strain on the engine. So consider shutting it off temporarily when, say, climbing a very steep hill. Is that a bunch of hooey? My old Saturn would automatically turn the AC off for you if you floored the accelerator, like you might do when climbing a steep hill. I don’t think it was to save wear and tear on the engine, but rather they assumed if you were flooring the gas you wanted as much power as you can get. In an econobox with not much power in reserve, turning off AC will give you a little bit more power at the wheels. I can’t remember if my Corolla also did this, but I think this is a fairly common feature, at least on less powerful cars. ---
**Author:** ![Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/59ef9b/32.png) [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorkshire_Pudding)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behaviours-still-done-though-theyre-no-longer-needed/852257/87 "2020-04-23T22:06:51Z")
Double-declutching and heel-and-toeing. The minibuses I used to borrow from the university to ferry the climbing club around were pretty clunky, so I got into the habit. My van’s coming up on 30 years old now so can be a bit temperamental too. My car, on the other hand, has a transmission that’s smooth as silk, but I still do it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behaviours-still-done-though-theyre-no-longer-needed/852257/88 "2020-04-23T22:32:01Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > (…) > If my dad wants to go to a specific website he doesn’t already have bookmarked, he doesn’t type the URL in the address bar. He goes to Google, which he has bookmarked, and types say “[www.straightdope.com](http://www.straightdope.com)” in the search box, and then goes to the first search result. From a security viewpoint that is an excellent practice. The www is rife with typo squatters. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behaviours-still-done-though-theyre-no-longer-needed/852257/89 "2020-04-24T00:57:26Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Saying ‘bless you’ when somone sneezes. > > What started as Pope Greg I’s divine answer in 590 AD to potential plague victims and later to the medival notion that your heart stopped beating when you sneeze it has now morphed into just good manners. I’ve been saying ‘bless you’ when a stranger farts just to do my bit to change society. You too? I also say ‘bless you’ when someone burps. No reason for only one emission to get all the love. ---
**Author:** ![GMANCANADA](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gmancanada/32/2837_2.png) [@GMANCANADA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GMANCANADA)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behaviours-still-done-though-theyre-no-longer-needed/852257/90 "2020-04-24T02:02:50Z")
**@LLcoolL** > [@](#): > > I still believe pre-rinsing saves power and hot water when the dishwasher runs. I understand your justification 🙂 , but I don’t think the savings are quite as clear as you’re thinking. The dishwater itself heats the water to a given temperature, so there’s no savings from your hot water tank. In mine, the temp is determined by the cycle: i.e.: regular vs sanitize vs pots vs eco etc. Similarly, the amount of water is also preset and doesn’t change (I think my “Eco” cycle uses about 4L of water total). The unit just filters it and recycles it over and over through the wash cycle. I think where the saving may be is running time, assuming your dishwasher runs longer when it detects dirtier dishes. But that saving is being offset by the extra cost of the water (and time) for you to pre-rinse. Some behaviours are hard to break, even if no longer (really) needed.:o ---
**Author:** ![road\_lobo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d78d45/32.png) [@road\_lobo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/road_lobo)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behaviours-still-done-though-theyre-no-longer-needed/852257/91 "2020-04-24T07:23:30Z")
> [@GMANCANADA](#): > > I’d never heard that until a few years ago when I pulled my boat battery for the winter I was given a lecture from my elderly uncle about never storing it on a cement floor. I looked it up, definitely BS, but I’m not clear: was there ever a reason for it, or It was reasonable when battery casings were made of wood or rubber, being permeable to water. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behaviours-still-done-though-theyre-no-longer-needed/852257/92 "2020-04-24T08:23:20Z")
> [@Esprise\_Me](#): > > My MIL still dials “1” before an area code on her cell phone. actually my aunt still has to since she bought her phone online and it was shipped with an out of town area code (it was before you could switch your house phone number ot your cell ) it trips me up because I’m dialing a local number for her and the phone nags me that I need to put in 1 and the area code ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behaviours-still-done-though-theyre-no-longer-needed/852257/93 "2020-04-24T08:29:24Z")
actually when i wanted to use chrome because of not wanting people knowing where i go … my PC forces msn and bing through chrome … chrome hates it tho ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behaviours-still-done-though-theyre-no-longer-needed/852257/94 "2020-04-24T11:34:12Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behaviours-still-done-though-theyre-no-longer-needed/852257/95 "2020-04-24T15:35:57Z")
> [@Esprise\_Me](#): > > My MIL still dials “1” before an area code on her cell phone. There are plenty of areas in the country where this is mandatory. Especially if there is area code overlay. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behaviours-still-done-though-theyre-no-longer-needed/852257/96 "2020-04-24T15:43:49Z")
> [@GMANCANADA](#): > > **@LLcoolL** > I understand your justification 🙂 , but I don’t think the savings are quite as clear as you’re thinking. The dishwater itself heats the water to a given temperature, so there’s no savings from your hot water tank. In mine, the temp is determined by the cycle: i.e.: regular vs sanitize vs pots vs eco etc. > > Similarly, the amount of water is also preset and doesn’t change (I think my “Eco” cycle uses about 4L of water total). The unit just filters it and recycles it over and over through the wash cycle. > > I think where the saving may be is running time, assuming your dishwasher runs longer when it detects dirtier dishes. But that saving is being offset by the extra cost of the water (and time) for you to pre-rinse. > > Some behaviours are hard to break, even if no longer (really) needed.:o Depends on whether you have expensive water vs expensive electricity. On Long ialdn, water was dirt cheap and electricity expensive, so we never bought a so called HE washing machine because the damn things would run for 2 hours for a load to save pennies of water. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behaviours-still-done-though-theyre-no-longer-needed/852257/97 "2020-04-24T17:11:08Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > Depends on whether you have expensive water vs expensive electricity. On Long ialdn, water was dirt cheap and electricity expensive, so we never bought a so called HE washing machine because the damn things would run for 2 hours for a load to save pennies of water. I’m kinda fascinated by how every other word in your post is correct but “Island” managed to gain \*four \* typos. (Wrong case, a deletion, two reversals.) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Brother\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_brother_1/32/3513_2.png) [@Little\_Brother\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Brother_1)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behaviours-still-done-though-theyre-no-longer-needed/852257/98 "2020-04-24T20:08:55Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Saying ‘bless you’ when somone sneezes. > > What started as Pope Greg I’s divine answer in 590 AD to potential plague victims and later to the medival notion that your heart stopped beating when you sneeze it has now morphed into just good manners. I’ve been saying ‘bless you’ when a stranger farts just to do my bit to change society. There’s a “Seinfeld” episode where George says “God bless you!” and it has the domino effect of precipitating a breakup between the recipient and her boyfriend. Jerry suggests that if the idea is to make the sneezer somehow feel better, it would make more sense to say something like “You’re so good-looking!” when someone sneezes. My sister and adult nephew are (were?) “Seinfeld” fans. I have savored the cheap thrill of using the “good-looking” response when they sneeze in my presence. It needs to be said in a deadpan, “automatic” way-- just like a mechanical “God bless you!”-- for maximum effect. If there are non-“Seinfeld” fans present, afterwards someone always explains the reference. It’s fun. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Brother\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_brother_1/32/3513_2.png) [@Little\_Brother\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Brother_1)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behaviours-still-done-though-theyre-no-longer-needed/852257/99 "2020-04-24T20:20:45Z")
This thread is interesting because it discusses _why_ unnecessary behaviors persist. I’m 65 years old, and indeed remain fanatic about double-spacing after a period because Brother Edmund drilled it into me in high-school typing class. Even after reading all of the informative clarifications in this thread, my right thumb is still doing it. But I also retain some “fussy” text and format habits as a matter of sensibility-- admittedly a reactionary “Sticklers Unite!” response to technology-imposed streamlining. OTOH, I continue to do things like dialing “1” to make long-distance calls, or typing in “www” when composing URLS because nobody told me it wasn’t necessary. Perhaps this an effect of being single and relatively solitary-- I don’t have kids to incredulously or scornfully correct me, and and keep me updated on this kind of techno-minutiae. ---
**Author:** ![DrForrester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8edcca/32.png) [@DrForrester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrForrester)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behaviours-still-done-though-theyre-no-longer-needed/852257/100 "2020-04-24T20:40:06Z")
I always type 2 spaces after a sentence… because Opus wants it that way. [Image Here](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/529f398ee4b0ee6848fe2724/1443106584399-JAG82AMNX89NAV6HP657/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kCzEQhlT7IYOibtb53KXtGYUqsxRUqqbr1mOJYKfIPR7LoDQ9mXPOjoJoqy81S2I8N_N4V1vUb5AoIIIbLZhVYy7Mythp_T-mtop-vrsUOmeInPi9iDjx9w8K4ZfjXt2drb05hSsR5RZ_tZ9UZsicFaD-QvgHseUjhIfzgesA-QVOpYghpI-Ha_TwZsqqmJXng/Two+Spaces.jpg?format=1500w) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behaviours-still-done-though-theyre-no-longer-needed/852257.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behaviours-still-done-though-theyre-no-longer-needed/852257.md?page=6)