The hottest Etiquette Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

Generation Gap or Just Rude?

Software Design: Tidy First? • 463 implied HN points • 10 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Etiquette
  1. I suddenly felt completely lost talking with someone much younger, like I couldn't follow them at all.
  2. It felt like more than different values or experiences—talking to them was like talking to an alien species, and we couldn't find common ground.
  3. The interaction was shocking and highlighted how wide and disorienting the generation gap can feel.

Dating Roundup #8: Tactics

Don't Worry About the Vase • 1971 implied HN points • 29 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Etiquette
  1. Dating is a skill you get by doing — get reps, practice deliberately, and review what went right and wrong to improve.
  2. Be clear about interest and escalate appropriately — shoot your shot and create common knowledge, but read the room because forcing clarity can backfire.
  3. Use simple, practical tactics: confirm plans to avoid flaking, show receptive energy, approach people you want, and just do things instead of inventing rules.

If You Do This, Your Emails Might Be Rude

Granted • 16931 implied HN points • 26 Mar 23
💼 Business Etiquette
  1. Don't require acknowledgment that an email was received. It can come off as needy or paranoid.
  2. Instead of directly asking someone to share your content, explain why it might interest them. They're more likely to share it out of genuine interest.
  3. When seeking feedback, focus on asking for advice on a specific issue rather than expecting a detailed critique.

A Man Should Know: How To Say Thank You

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1367 implied HN points • 28 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Etiquette
  1. How you say thank you matters — a thoughtful, specific gesture like a handwritten note leaves a much stronger impression than a quick text or email.
  2. Feeling grateful is as important as the words you use — genuine gratitude is what makes a thank-you meaningful.
  3. Even busy people can and should make the effort to show thanks, because small, intentional acts strengthen relationships.

The unbreakable urge to Google

The Rectangle • 141 implied HN points • 06 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Etiquette
  1. Googling is a normal, modern part of chatting and many people instinctively look things up on their phones.
  2. The technology you grow up with shapes how you consume and share information, so different generations form different habits around searching and listening.
  3. It’s okay to look things up during a conversation if you say you’re going to check, talk through what you find while searching, and then return to the conversation.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Please, I'm Begging You

The Contender • 2378 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Etiquette
  1. Some etiquette pointers are shared in the post to improve public behavior.
  2. One point is to avoid FaceTiming in public and disturbing others with loud conversations.
  3. Another point is to refrain from entering restaurants or any place while talking on the phone to maintain a suitable environment.

A Man Should Know: How to Host

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 301 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Etiquette
  1. Hosting is a valuable skill every man should practice, not just a feminine pursuit. Taking responsibility for social life stops it from becoming a series of passive arrangements by others.
  2. Small acts of hospitality have real, quiet power to lift and connect people, and simple gestures can make guests feel cared for and remembered.
  3. Some cultures treat hospitality as a moral duty that can include offering sanctuary at great risk, so treating hosting as a serious commitment elevates it beyond mere entertaining.

A Man Should Know: How to Travel

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 352 implied HN points • 05 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Etiquette
  1. Keep travel civil: don't treat the airport like your living room and behave with courtesy toward others.
  2. Dress with a little respect — looking put-together can help you and others act more politely while traveling.
  3. Find a balance between comfort and common courtesy, and be willing to skip a trip if it's not worth the stress or hassle.

A Man Should Know: How to Propose

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 264 implied HN points • 12 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Etiquette
  1. A proposal is the first shared decision of a marriage, so it sets the tone for the partnership.
  2. A private proposal can be the best first step toward a happy marriage, valuing intimacy over public spectacle.
  3. Men should prepare and seek practical, experience-based advice so their proposal reflects the relationship’s history and mutual commitment.

No Class in First Class

Sparks from Culture by David Roberts • 1493 implied HN points • 06 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Etiquette
  1. Air travel rules are important for safety and should be followed by everyone, regardless of class.
  2. Breaking small rules can lead to bigger breaches of etiquette and societal breakdown.
  3. Privileges like first class and VIP services can highlight entitlement and provoke resentment from others.

Remedial phone etiquette

Disaffected Newsletter • 1438 implied HN points • 10 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Etiquette
  1. Making a phone call interrupts someone else's time, so you should always be polite when calling. Remember, you're asking for a favor.
  2. You should introduce yourself before asking the person on the other end to identify themselves. It's a simple matter of manners.
  3. Today, people don't always answer calls like they used to, so it's important to be respectful. The caller needs to justify interrupting the callee.

Slights

We're Gonna Get Those Bastards • 7 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Etiquette
  1. Slights—being subtly humiliated or ignored—stick with people much longer than obvious insults and can sour you for years.
  2. Small modern slights often come from online snubs or being left out, so don't overreact. Do small, free things like liking someone's post and focus on improving your own behavior instead of stewing.
  3. Paying real attention—remembering names, asking about people, and acting kindly without expecting anything back—makes people feel seen and will improve your relationships.

The best slow dance song ever - a 1970s classic

Rock 'n' Roll with Me • 119 implied HN points • 04 May 24
🎶 Music Etiquette
  1. Slow dancing is all about the right approach and technique. Pay attention to how you start, hold your partner, and move together to create a smooth experience.
  2. The best slow dance song needs to have a good tempo and lyrics that set a romantic mood. The right song can help you make a connection with your partner.
  3. Using pop culture references, like scenes from shows, can make learning how to dance more relatable and fun. It helps to know the dos and don'ts to impress when it's time to hit the dance floor.

Use phone manners or I don't answer your calls

Disaffected Newsletter • 999 implied HN points • 19 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Etiquette
  1. Always identify yourself when making a call. Just saying 'Is Josh there?' without your name is rude.
  2. Check if it's okay to use speakerphone before you start talking. It can make your call harder to hear, and the other person might not want private conversations overheard.
  3. Ask if the other person can hear you well after connecting your headphones. It's important to make sure they can understand you clearly.

Sending a Proper Thank You

A Small and Simple Thing • 334 implied HN points • 25 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Etiquette
  1. Sending a handwritten thank you note is a thoughtful gesture that can brighten someone's day.
  2. Using personalized stationery can add a touch of elegance to your thank you notes.
  3. Investing in quality stationery and pens can enhance the experience of writing and sending handwritten notes.

Writerly bravery and publishing hype

The Leftovers • 199 implied HN points • 13 Jun 23
📚 Literature Etiquette
  1. Writerly bravery can be reflected in various ways, from speaking out fearlessly against injustice to trying new genres and styles.
  2. The use of words like 'brave' and 'bravery' can sometimes be manipulated in the publishing world to generate hype around a book, despite personal preferences or biases.
  3. Reflecting on the genuine acts of courage by historical figures like Rodolfo Walsh can offer perspective when considering contemporary works labeled as 'brave.'

How to be a better guest

elle’s substack • 137 implied HN points • 03 May 23
🎭️ Culture Etiquette
  1. Never ask what you can bring as a guest, instead consider bringing flowers or an after-dinner game.
  2. Engage with loners at a party and facilitate introductions to ensure everyone has a good time.
  3. Arrive at the right time for a party, generally two minutes later for each additional guest to alleviate pressure on the host.

Story Thirteen

Stories From The Rail • 139 implied HN points • 30 Jan 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Etiquette
  1. The author discusses the physical toll of their lifestyle on their body, highlighting struggles with back pain and mobility issues.
  2. The author shares the experience of using a rollator for improved mobility and the newfound sense of freedom and independence it brings.
  3. Navigating the world with a visible disability, the author reflects on interactions, etiquette, and finding a community among those with visible disabilities.

Be Conscientious

We're Gonna Get Those Bastards • 8 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Etiquette
  1. Reply promptly to texts and emails as a sign of respect and conscientiousness.
  2. Avoid ghosting others and communicate openly even in difficult situations.
  3. Being conscientious, responding to messages, and prioritizing others can lead to success in business and personal interactions.

vô văn hóa

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 0 implied HN points • 14 Jan 09
🎭️ Culture Etiquette
  1. Calling out others for being uncultured has ironically become a unique cultural aspect. People label behaviors like littering or being noisy as uncultured.
  2. Critically reflect on one's own actions and be stern with oneself, while being forgiving towards others. It's easier to notice and criticize others' mistakes than our own.
  3. The advice from reading is: be tolerant of others but rigorously strict with yourself. Blaming circumstances for one's own mistakes is unproductive.