Wouldn't Etiquette be a better name for the proposed Social Conventions and Interaction site?

Question

Proposal: Social conventions and interaction

Social conventions and interactions seems like an excessively long and complicated name for what already has a perfectly suitable term in widespread use: etiquette.

etiquette.stackexchange.com would be a site for people to ask the types of questions that would have traditionally gone in Emily Post-style etiquette books or--at the more banal end of the spectrum--in a syndicated newspaper column like Dear Annie.

A site like SE seems perfect for this type of discussion because although there may be confusion about and/or inconsistent convention wisdom regarding a particular topic, most etiquette questions do have a right answer, and any major topic is likely to be supported a body of writing on acceptable social decorum. That said, mores change and a website--unlike a book, even an electronic one--is more easily adapted to these social fluctuations.

Answer 1

I totally agree with this. Adam, your comment that contains Rules of etiquette encompass most aspects of social interaction in any society... is spot on.

You could begin most of the questions on the Social conventions and interaction proposal with "What is the proper etiquette for..." and have them make sense.

Besides, what would the Social conventions site end up being named? social.stackexchange.com? That name is ripe for spam from any new user that doesn't read the FAQ. It would suggest a social dumping ground or dating site.

Answer 2

"Social Conventions and Interaction" covers more ground than simply "Etiquette." The former refers to all protocol within all social interactions, whereas the latter refers more to the (mostly unwritten) code of behavior within polite society. The former could include questions such as, "What forks should be given if I am having a dinner with such-and-such foods." The latter could ask a question more like, "What fork should I use for __ food?" but this also would be included within the former.

However, the name is pretty long, so in the interest of shortening it, I propose the change to, "Social Protocol."

Answer 3

I would also think this SE would handle all of the "How do I handle this real world situation?" Questions. They seem to pop up in quite a few SE's and there is no good place for them.

Answer 4

Etiquette should definitely include "netiquette" too. Therefore I guess "Social Conventions and Interaction" might be more appropriate, even when "etiquette" is short and able to sell itself.

Answer 5

I beg to differ, as I think that Etiquette sounds archaic, like one of those dreaded prescriptive manuals dictating that one should pour the milk before the tea (or is it the other way around?!)

Social skills sounds way better to me.