This may be customary but . . .

I was just looking at pictures from a friend's wedding and there was a picture of the groom removing the bride's garter at the reception. This allowed for me to meditate on how uncomfortable that seems as an experience.

"Hey, we just got married. Why don't you reach up my dress while I hike it up in front of our family and friends and pull this lacy garment off my thigh?" I think that exact dialogue is exchanged everytime this takes place. This only serves as a reminder of the several "socially acceptable" things that happen, which I consider completely unnerving. Other choice examples include:

1. Parents putting their children on leashes. Unless your child is going to try and eat me, I hardly think forced restraint is necessary. I've never seen any parent who I would consider "attentive" with a kid on a leash. Maybe he or she lets her guard down because they have the security of the leash . . . or maybe they were never good at watching the child and that's why there is now a leash.
2. When people walk around department store dressing rooms only partially dressed. We are complete strangers. You half-naked is nothing I wish to see upon our first encounter, especially when there are mirrors everywhere so that no matter how I try to avert my eyes-- I am looking right at you.
3. Men going inside strores that are explicitly for women. If he is accompanied by a woman, I can get over it, but why are you alone in Victoria's Secret, creepy? I promise your wife/girlfriend/pretend playmate would appreciate your gift a million times more if she had the solace of knowing you didn't creep out other female patrons while buying it.

I may be petty, but I am convicted. Some things that we "turn the other way" on are not okay. No one should have to stay on their leash while watching half naked men peruse Victoria's Secret. That will be my presidential platform when I run in 2036.