this post was submitted on 01 Jul 2025
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[–] Hylactor@sopuli.xyz 5 points 1 day ago

Some additional social constructs they may be more sentimental about: gifts, allowance, summer vacation, breakfast, lunch, dinner, doors, privacy, the internet.

[–] TimewornTraveler@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (3 children)

everyone replying that socks have a practical use, as if social constructs arent practical???

my issue is that even though "clothing" is a social construct, the stuff that socks are made out of is not. calling that stuff a sock is a social construct, but choosing to put the fabric on your body is not. becoming "clothed" is a social construct, but the unspecified uncategorized state of having that fabric on your body is just a physical state, not a construct. the meaning we apply to it is the thing that wouldn't exist without socially constructed systems of meaning.

It's kinda sad, i guess. I'm usually the first one to champion XYZ is a social construct, and have to deal with morons not understanding it, but here? no one is willing to say it?

Socks are not a social construct.

[–] PrettyFlyForAFatGuy@feddit.uk 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Social constructs are Social constructs

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[–] kamen@lemmy.world 7 points 1 day ago

"Sure, but your feet would still get cold."

[–] mobotsar@sh.itjust.works 8 points 2 days ago* (last edited 5 hours ago)

I get that it's a joke, but wearing socks is not a social construct-- it's a social convention, but its utility is driven primarily by non-social factors. A social construct is an idea created and maintained by society specifically for its social function, which neither socks nor the act or wearing them nor the idea that wearing socks is good, are.

[–] saimen@feddit.org 4 points 1 day ago

Borders are a social construct. Yet there are people killing each other about it.

Your company is a social construct. Yet it provides you with work and money.

Money is a social construct. Yet your kids still want their allowances.

[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 200 points 3 days ago (21 children)

Socks keep your shoes from absorbing sweat and help prevent blisters. They’re useful beyond the social construct.

[–] lunarul@lemmy.world 73 points 3 days ago (3 children)

Not wearing stinky shoes is a social construct.

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[–] zr0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 35 points 3 days ago (5 children)

Arguments like these don’t work with kids. Let them experience themselves what is best for them. And have spare socks ready in case they change their mind afterwards

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[–] Zacryon@feddit.org 7 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Vegetables are a social construct too.

Afaik, botanically, there is no such thing as a "vegetable". Only fruits. What we perceive as "vegetable" differs between cultures worldwide.

[–] REDACTED@infosec.pub 3 points 2 days ago (5 children)

Wait till you find out that some places around the world think fish meat does not count as meat and is vegetarian

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social 1 points 2 hours ago

I have no problem believing that every society has ludicrous cultural vestiges that can undoubtedly be traced back to a religious practice. For example, some Pope might declare that fish isn't meat based on an example of linguistic sophistry to protect the fishing industry.

[–] unphazed@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Yeah I had a friend from Grenada that told me this one day and I had trouble understanding the reasoning.

those people are morons

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[–] bluesheep@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 days ago

The botanical definition is just "edible parts of a plant". The culinary definition however does differs per culture.

[–] don@lemmy.ca 33 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Good point, kid, and here’s another one: those toys you want me to buy you are a social construct. Playtime? Yep. Social construct. Shall I keep going? Video games are next.

[–] kreskin@lemmy.world 13 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (10 children)

Not that I advocate violence, but not beating your kids, selling them on the street, or making them work in a factory is also a social contract.

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[–] 200ok@lemmy.world 135 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Next time the kid asks for an allowance, say that money is a social construct

[–] rc__buggy@sh.itjust.works 42 points 3 days ago (5 children)

parents feeding children is a social construct.

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[–] outerspace@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 day ago

Social constructs are real.things, so here you go

[–] Snowclone@lemmy.world 15 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I let my kid go all flower child about the socks. he got athletes foot. Socks SPECIFICALLY are not a social construct. they prevent athletes foot.

[–] SketchySeaBeast@lemmy.ca 12 points 2 days ago (7 children)

Hygiene IS a social construct, but that doesn't mean it isn't there for a good reason.

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[–] irelephant@lemmy.dbzer0.com 37 points 3 days ago (8 children)

Some social constructs serve a purpose.

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[–] nialv7@lemmy.world 57 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Something being a social construct doesn't mean it's not real, or ignoring it won't negatively affect you.

Laws, money, etc. are all social constructs.

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[–] figjam@midwest.social 37 points 3 days ago (10 children)

Socks serve a practical purpose when combined with shoes. They prevent rubbing (blisters) and they keep the skin cells and oils from your feet from the insides of your shoes.

Shoes serve a practical purpose in that they protect your feet from rocks, glass, and hot pavement. Did our ancestors need shoes? No. But humans have made our environments less friendly to bare feet

[–] hansolo@lemmy.today 28 points 3 days ago (4 children)

Our ancestors DID need shoes. Footprints in South Africa dated to be between 75K and 136K years old show footwear in use. We invented shoes possibly 100,000 years before we invented written language.

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[–] Leonixster@lemmy.blahaj.zone 22 points 3 days ago (3 children)

Reminds me of the time I saw people arguing on Reddit about the phrase "time is a social construct" where some people were completely incapable of understanding what that means and conflating the concept of time with the fundamental physics thingymcgee (idk how to call it and entity feels wrong).

People were trying so hard to explain that minutes, months, seasons, etc. are all arbitrary things made up only for them to retort with "but a year is a full rotation of the sun" or "seasons exist because that's how the planet changes its climate".

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[–] vrojak@feddit.org 83 points 3 days ago (13 children)

"You've made a correct observation, now please provide an argument why the social construct of x should not be adhered to. X is dumb and I don't wanna is not sufficient."

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[–] recked_wralph@lemmy.world 22 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It is a social construct, and we live in a society… so put your damn socks on

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[–] ShinkanTrain@lemmy.ml 60 points 3 days ago

They get that from their stuffed tiger.

[–] Passerby6497@lemmy.world 24 points 3 days ago

'Your allowance is a social construct, so I guess we won't be doing that anymore..."

[–] neuracnu@lemmy.blahaj.zone 41 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Your mom is a social construct.

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[–] ZMonster@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

"Very good. That's exactly right. That also includes early bedtimes, no electronics, and double servings of vegetables. All social constructs that I can establish any time you want."

😊 🫴🏀

[–] tino@lemmy.world 18 points 3 days ago (2 children)

with this heat wave, wearing any clothes is also a social construct.

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[–] D_C@sh.itjust.works 27 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (11 children)

Having a shit is a natural process, however doing it privately in toilets is nowadays somewhat of a social construct.
So, should I stop using the toilet and use your bed instead?

(Edit: I didn't think I needed to add an /s but...)

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[–] HugeNerd@lemmy.ca 17 points 3 days ago (3 children)

Parents feeding their kids is also a social construct. The Ancients tossed their kids in the salt mines quite early.

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[–] sundray@lemmus.org 44 points 3 days ago (9 children)

This would be a great time to remind him that we live in a society...

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