The Strange Everyday Habits That Secretly Divide Everyone in Newcastle

Walk through Newcastle city centre, sit in a coffee shop on Grey Street, or spend a few minutes people watching at the Quayside and you'll quickly realise something interesting. We all go through life doing many of the same things every single day, yet we often do them in completely different ways.

Most of these habits are so deeply ingrained that we rarely stop to think about them. We learned them as children, repeated them thousands of times, and eventually they became automatic. Yet when we discover someone does the same task differently, it can feel surprisingly strange.

From how we hang toilet paper to the way we cut sandwiches, countless everyday actions quietly divide people into different camps. Some even spark passionate debates among friends, family members and colleagues.

The great toilet paper debate.

Few household arguments have generated as much discussion as the question of whether toilet paper should hang over or under the roll.

Surveys consistently suggest that around 70 per cent of people prefer the paper hanging over the front, while roughly 30 per cent favour the under position. The debate has become so famous that people have even referenced the original 1891 patent, which showed the paper hanging over the roll.

For many people, their preference is simply how it was done in their childhood home. Others claim one method is more hygienic, easier to grab or less likely to be attacked by curious pets.

What's remarkable is how strongly some people feel about something they probably never consciously decided in the first place.

Sandwiches: diagonal or straight.

Another surprisingly divisive issue is sandwich cutting.

Research from YouGov found that 39 per cent of people prefer sandwiches cut diagonally compared with 20 per cent who favour rectangular halves. Other surveys have found even stronger support for the diagonal approach, with some communities reporting more than 60 per cent favouring triangular sandwiches.

Fans of the diagonal cut insist sandwiches somehow taste better when sliced corner to corner. While science suggests the flavour remains unchanged, psychologists believe presentation plays a role. The diagonal cut exposes more filling and creates a more appealing visual experience.

Meanwhile, straight-cut supporters argue their method keeps ingredients in place and preserves the structure of the sandwich.

In Newcastle's cafes and sandwich shops, chances are both camps are being served daily without giving it a second thought.

Which arm goes on top.

Ask someone to fold their arms naturally across their chest.

Now look closely.

Some people automatically place their right arm over their left. Others instinctively do the opposite.

What makes this fascinating is that most people cannot consciously choose their preferred position without it feeling awkward. Researchers have long studied this phenomenon and found that arm crossing preference does not neatly align with whether someone is right or left handed.

It is simply one of those deeply embedded habits that develops early and stays with us for life.

Counting on your fingers.

Children learning maths often rely on their fingers, but not everyone starts counting the same way.

Some begin with their thumb. Others start with their index finger.

Studies conducted across different countries have found significant cultural differences in finger counting methods. In some places, counting begins with the thumb, while elsewhere the index finger is the starting point.

Most adults continue using the same method they learned as young children, despite rarely noticing that alternative approaches exist.

How do you clasp your hands.

Try interlocking your fingers right now.

Which thumb ends up on top?

For some people, the right thumb naturally sits above the left. For others, the opposite happens.

Like arm crossing, this is largely automatic. If asked to reverse the position, many people report that it feels unusual or uncomfortable.

Researchers have used hand clasping patterns for decades when studying inherited traits and behavioural tendencies, although the exact reasons behind individual preferences remain unclear.

Wet toothbrush or dry toothbrush.

Brushing teeth is something most people do twice a day, yet there is no universal method.

Some wet the toothbrush before applying toothpaste. Others add water afterwards. Some skip water entirely and brush with a dry brush.

Surveys have repeatedly shown substantial differences in brushing routines around the world, with no overwhelming consensus emerging.

Many people are convinced their method is the correct one despite often having no idea why they started doing it that way.

Tying shoelaces.

Even tying shoes is not as universal as it seems.

Most people learn the traditional "bunny ears" technique or a loop-wrap-pull method during childhood. Once mastered, the movement becomes so automatic that many adults struggle to explain exactly how they do it.

Researchers estimate that people may tie their shoes tens of thousands of times throughout their lives, reinforcing the same movement pattern over and over again.

The result is a deeply ingrained routine that rarely changes.

Pizza: folded or flat.

Ask a group of friends how they eat pizza and you'll likely discover another divide.

Some people fold slices before taking a bite. Others insist pizza should remain flat.

The choice often depends on where people grew up, the type of pizza being eaten and simple personal preference.

In Newcastle's restaurants, takeaway shops and food markets, both styles can be spotted every day.

Like many habits, neither side is objectively right. Yet each group often believes their approach makes the eating experience better.

Head first or arms first when putting on a T-shirt.

This is one of those habits people rarely think about until someone points it out.

When putting on a T-shirt, some people place their head through the neck opening first before finding the sleeves. Others put their arms through first and then pull the shirt over their head.

Most people have followed the same sequence for decades without consciously deciding to do so.

It is another example of how everyday actions become hardwired through repetition.

Why we rarely notice these differences.

Psychologists believe many of these behaviours become automatic through a process known as procedural memory.

Once a routine is learned and repeated enough times, the brain stores it as an efficient sequence requiring very little conscious thought. This allows us to perform everyday tasks quickly without having to think through every step.

The downside is that we often assume everyone else is doing exactly the same thing.

When we discover otherwise, it can be surprisingly eye opening.

Newcastle's shared habits and hidden differences.

Whether you're walking through Eldon Square, watching a match at St James' Park or enjoying fish and chips along the coast, chances are the people around you share many of the same daily routines.

They brush their teeth, tie their shoes, eat sandwiches and hang toilet paper just like everyone else.

Yet the details often differ in small but fascinating ways.

These habits reveal something important about human nature. We are far more individual than we realise, even when carrying out the most ordinary tasks.

The next time you spot someone doing something slightly differently, remember that your own method probably seems just as unusual from their perspective.

And chances are, you've been doing it exactly that way since childhood without ever questioning why.

Share your thoughts below.

Are you Team Over or Team Under, diagonal or straight cut?