Unwritten Etiquette

Craig Gilner. The boy who was brave and sensible enough to check himself into a mental hospital...which kind of contradicts itself, doesn't it? While Craig is inside the hospital called Six North, he decides a few things about the hospital. One,that he was locked up with a bunch of "crazies", two, that the hospital staff is insane for not having a bible in each hospital room, and three, that there are unspoken rules about being in a mental hospital.

Craig believes, like any other person, that there is etiquette that must be followed while residing in the hospital. The only major rule though, is not asking why they were there. What their story was. How they let themselves come to the breaking point. How they ruined their lives. Who claimed they were insane and put them in this prison? Craig explores this when he thinks, "I get the feeling-I don't know how I know the rules of metal-ward etiquette; maybe I was born with them; maybe I knew I'd end up here-but I get the feeling that one big no-no in this place is asking people how they got here," (Vizzini 198). I think I agree with Craig, I mean, would you want somebody asking you about every single detail of your life story?

But what if you are trying to help somebody? What if you think they need help, even if they don't quite know it yet?

Come to think of it, maybe there is an "invisible" line that you dare not cross in order to be considered NOT rude, or NOT mean, or NOT intruding in everyday life. So, readers, I encourage you to post your answers below about what the limit is in social conduct. Where do you draw the line?