Why do we do some of the things we do?

Why do we do some of the things we do?

Do you ever wonder why we do some of the things we do? If we repeat a behavior often enough it will become a habit. Eventually we’ll do that action without even thinking about it. And those habits become our comfort zone. If a habit is challenged we’ll usually argue until we’re blue in the face that our way is the only correct way of doing it. An example of this is the great toilet paper debate.

According to one internet report 68 percent of people hang their toilet paper roll with the paper coming over the top. The report didn’t say why. I think I’ve figured it out, though. I believe the over the toppers are more aggressive, take charge kind of people. They want to be in control. And when the paper’s over the top everything’s right out there where they can get their hands on it quickly.

The underneathers are more passive, close to the wall types. They don’t want to be the center of attention so they do things rather quietly. I’ve not seen any scientific research on this. It’s just my opinion. But I bet the real reason people do whichever they do is because they got in the habit of doing it that way and feel more comfortable with it.

And then there’s the shoe, sock thing. How do you put on your shoes and socks? Do you go sock, sock, shoe, shoe or sock, shoe, sock, shoe? An old episode of “All in the Family” showed Archie Bunker observing his son-in-law, Michael Stivic, putting on his shoes and socks. Mike put a sock and shoe on one foot then he put a sock and shoe on the other foot.

Archie disdainfully watched then snarled at him that he was putting his shoes and socks on wrong. “Normal people go sock, sock, shoe, shoe,” he sneered.

How do you do it? Whichever way you go do you know why you do it that way? And most people I’ve heard using that expression say shoes and socks. Why? We don’t put our shoes on first and then our socks. So why don’t we say socks and shoes? Probably just a habit.

And finally there is the ever controversial debate about how to cut a sandwich. Do you cut it straight across or diagonally? I heard on the radio the other day that 76 percent of people cut their sandwiches diagonally.

Some folks don’t like a lot of crust with their sandwich. The amount of crust on a sandwich doesn’t change no matter how you cut it. But there’s more surface area without crust with a diagonal cut.

Paul Carter, emeritus professor of mathematics at Vermont Technical College, says it all comes down to math. When you cut straight across each piece has four sides. If you cut diagonally each piece has just three sides.

“The number 3 has always been more popular than 4,” Carter said. “Three is mother, father and child. Three is the beginning, middle and end. Three is birth, life and death. Without three there could not be a best, only a good and a better. And of course there’s the Holy Trinity…” Carter points out, “a triangular sandwich can be a way of thanking the Lord without saying grace.”

So, is it crust, math or habit? If asked why we do things the way we do, some people might have a specific reason but I bet most of us would say, “I don’t know. It’s just a habit.”

Keep Smiling.

Linda Messmer can be reached at 812-448-8725.