# Weird very localized customs you've seen in your area/work **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 26, 2020, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-very-localized-customs-youve-seen-in-your-area-work/923919 "2020-10-26T09:33:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-very-localized-customs-youve-seen-in-your-area-work/923919/81 "2020-11-04T18:19:44Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Also common here - so much so that certain trucks have a notice painted on the back > “I turn often - please don’t overtake when I indicate” > In Singapore - a flash of the headlights (during the day) means “I’m coming, stay the fuck outta my way” > In New Zealand a flash of the headlights means “I will give way to you, please proceed first” > I believe it originated in Japan, but it is now common for a 3 flashes of the “4 ways” means thank you if another driver is courteous > [@RealityChuck](#): > > I don’t know if it’s still the case, but in NY at least, it used to be that, when a truck was passing you on a highway at night, you’d flash your lights at them once they were clear of your car. > > They, in turn, would flash the amber lights on the top of the trailer as a thank you. > > It seems to have died out, though. In the southwestern states, during the days of the 55 mph limit, flashing your headlights meant, “There’s a cop behind me. Slow down before he sees you.” ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-very-localized-customs-youve-seen-in-your-area-work/923919/82 "2020-11-04T19:49:42Z")
We still do that on Nebraska, in town for speed traps and in the country for troopers. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-very-localized-customs-youve-seen-in-your-area-work/923919/83 "2020-11-04T19:53:16Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > > [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > > > We aren’t “blocking” the escalator, we are using it safely as it was designed to be used and the warning signs say to use it. If you’re in a hurry, run up the stairs. > > Localised custom. In London, signs very specifically say, ‘[stand on the right](https://www.alamy.com/stand-on-the-right-sign-london-underground-escalator-image1469375.html)’, as left side is for walking. In addition, there aren’t always parallel stairwells you can choose to use, which goes for underground systems worldwide and not just London. DC’s less-formalized custom is also stand on the right. In DC, I sometimes _do_ stand because some of their stations are so deep it taxes even my moderately-in-shape body, but only if there is an opening for me to stand alone, because i’d rather be moving faster toward a less-crowded place than to stand in it. ---
**Author:** ![Fir\_na\_tine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-very-localized-customs-youve-seen-in-your-area-work/923919/84 "2020-11-04T21:48:32Z")
Was generally true all over New England at least. Whenever a large commercial truck passed you, day or night, flashing your lights told the truck driver it was safe to pull in. In turn they would blink their box lights or 4 way flashers. In the last few years it seems to have died out. I flash but never get thanked! ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-very-localized-customs-youve-seen-in-your-area-work/923919/85 "2020-11-05T01:32:35Z")
> [@JohnM](#): > > Going to date myself now, but back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and PowerPoint was not ubiquitous (i.e. before it was integrated with Office in 1994), preparing a presentation for use with an overhead projector involved building a set of pages printed on clear acetate sheets, AKA foils. I haven’t heard that usage in at least 20 years. Spelled “feuille .” > [@Asuka](#): > > From what I understand California is the only state in the US where crossing a light on yellow and if it turns red while the car is still in the intersection that counts as “running a red” and you can get ticketed for it. That’s only when after the law changed. It seems like only a few years ago, but it was probably ten. ---
**Author:** ![JohnM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/848f3c/32.png) [@JohnM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnM)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-very-localized-customs-youve-seen-in-your-area-work/923919/86 "2020-11-05T01:41:58Z")
``` Spelled “feuille .” ``` Really? Is this a whoosh, or perhaps a local usage? ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-very-localized-customs-youve-seen-in-your-area-work/923919/87 "2020-11-05T01:45:54Z")
> [@JohnM](#): > > Really? Is this a whoosh, or perhaps a local usage? No. I actually saw it spelled like that often. Not all the time but more times than not. This would have been 40 years ago or more. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-very-localized-customs-youve-seen-in-your-area-work/923919/88 "2020-11-05T18:10:31Z")
Deleted ---
**Author:** ![jayrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jayrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayrey)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-very-localized-customs-youve-seen-in-your-area-work/923919/89 "2020-11-05T18:27:16Z")
Also done in the more rural parts of Western Oregon. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-very-localized-customs-youve-seen-in-your-area-work/923919/90 "2020-11-05T22:08:34Z")
My brother honks his horn twice when crossing a state line, says he learned it from his wife. It must irritate the folks who live on the state line, if it’s widespread. I had heard the phrase “alligator pears” for several years, but until this thread, I never looked it up to find out it meant avocados, and came from a misunderstanding of a Spanish word and the wrinkly green skin. On a Firesign Theater record, the end of an unexplained joke is heard, “…alligator pear, croc-igator pear, that’s why they’re so mean!” I read somewhere that customers sometimes ask hookers, “Are you dating?” to dance around the risk of a bust for soliciting prostitution. That makes it seem to me that the phrase “I’m dating myself” could mean masturbation. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-very-localized-customs-youve-seen-in-your-area-work/923919/91 "2020-11-05T22:42:12Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > That makes it seem to me that the phrase “I’m dating myself” could mean masturbation. > **[Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for September 07, 2003 | GoComics.com](https://www.gocomics.com/doonesbury/2003/09/07)** > > Rev. Sloan: Finally... Some good news for a change! Incredible... Boopsie: What's that? Rev. Sloan: There's a new study that suggests regular masturbation prevents prostate cancer. Boopsie: Hey! Rev. Sloan: What? Boopsie: Enough of that! Rev.... ---
**Author:** ![Acierocolotl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acierocolotl/32/6241_2.png) [@Acierocolotl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acierocolotl)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-very-localized-customs-youve-seen-in-your-area-work/923919/92 "2020-11-05T22:42:21Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > > [@JohnM](#): > > > > Really? Is this a whoosh, or perhaps a local usage? > > No. I actually saw it spelled like that often. Not all the time but more times than not. This would have been 40 years ago or more. No whooshing. “Feuille” is French for “sheet” or “leaf”. Most of that word contains no analogue sounds in English, so “foil” is about the best you can do. When driving at night (which, around these parts past October is most of the day), you sometimes flash your highbeams quickly if the guy in the other lane is still riding with his on, just to remind him to turn his down. If they do it to you, you flash them back just to show yours are down too (or you stop being uncouth and dim your high beams.) Come winter, it’s daylight for a narrow band centered around lunch, so there’s a lot of night time driving and dazzling others with your highbeams is uncouth. That habit seemed to have died around North Bay, near as I could tell, or it was an endless parade of brodozers with racks of high-powered LED rooflamps blazing like the sun. I couldn’t tell. ---
**Author:** ![JohnM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/848f3c/32.png) [@JohnM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnM)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-very-localized-customs-youve-seen-in-your-area-work/923919/93 "2020-11-05T23:35:45Z")
I recognized the French word, I just never saw it applied to transparencies for overhead projection. My first 10 years in the computer industry I gave dozens of presentations with hundreds of physical slides, and never heard them called anything there than a foil or slide. ---
**Author:** ![Acierocolotl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acierocolotl/32/6241_2.png) [@Acierocolotl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acierocolotl)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-very-localized-customs-youve-seen-in-your-area-work/923919/94 "2020-11-06T00:04:38Z")
Apologies if I came off as patronizing, it wasn’t my intent. While it’s something I’m accustomed to, it’s something I learned today that the word for it would escape the local borders and flee into the general wilds. ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-very-localized-customs-youve-seen-in-your-area-work/923919/95 "2020-11-06T00:44:57Z")
Moved to a small town about 6 years ago. One night during the school year my oldest son in high school tells me he’s going out to play ‘fugitive.’ In this game a group of 30-40 teens get together after dark and split evenly into the ‘police’ and the ‘fugitives.’ Then the ‘fugitives’ are left at the local high school to attempt to make their way on foot across the small town and over the only bridge in town, “to freedom.” The ‘police’ have cars and flashlights and are free to setup road blocks, etc and use whatever tactics they wish. There are essentially no rules except that a fugitive must surrender when a member of the police gets both hands on them. It’s a tradition which has been going on for years and the entire town knows about it including the actual police who don’t intervene. I later learned my crazy son walked UNDER the bridge across a narrow maintenance walkway in pitch black darkness. I wanted to be mad at him but all I’ll I could think was, “Damn, I wish they’d played that game where I grew up.” ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-very-localized-customs-youve-seen-in-your-area-work/923919/97 "2020-11-06T01:01:50Z")
> [@Dark\_Sponge](#): > > Then the ‘fugitives’ are left at the local high school to attempt to make their way on foot across the small town and over the only bridge in town, “to freedom.” I thought that sounded a little like Capture the Flag, a game we played at night during campouts when I was in Boy Scouts. Sure enough, the Wikipedia page for that game links to the Fugitive version: > **[Fugitive (game)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fugitive_(game))** > > Fugitive is an outdoor game combining elements of capture the flag, cops and robbers and sharks and minnows. The game is also comparable to orienteering, fox hunting and other over-land race games. > There are two teams. Nomenclature may vary regionally; One team, sometimes called the "Fugitives", are the players who need to race from one point to another; and the second team, sometimes known as the "Police", are the players who need to find and Tag the fugitives before they arrive at their destin... ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-very-localized-customs-youve-seen-in-your-area-work/923919/98 "2020-11-06T01:27:31Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > From what I understand California is the only state in the US where crossing a light on yellow and if it turns red while the car is still in the intersection that counts as “running a red” and you can get ticketed for it. This isn’t true: [https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/california-driver-handbook/traffic-control/](https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/california-driver-handbook/traffic-control/) “Solid Yellow–A yellow traffic signal light means “CAUTION.” The red traffic signal light is about to appear. When you see the yellow traffic signal light, stop if you can do so safely. If you cannot stop safely, cross the intersection cautiously.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-very-localized-customs-youve-seen-in-your-area-work/923919.md?page=4)