Adolescent ritual. Food that has fallen to the floor can be safely eaten without comment or being shunned by one's peers.

The traditional Mother-Magic proof against infection and disease, blowing lightly on the food to knock harmful germs back onto the floor, still lasts with many adults.

These thirty seconds are usually less than five seconds, guarding against pets and mooches.

It's also a rule applied by lifeguards to people they don't like very much.

"Oh. Hey. That obnoxious kid who throws rocks at bikers and cars went under the waves. Let's go get him."

"Na, wait a bit. 30 Second Rule."

waiting...

waiting...

"Okay, now let's go get him."

By the time the person is pulled up, the lack of oxygen for those 30 seconds combined with the necessary time til rescue will have probably turned them into a catatonic vegetable who won't bother the lifeguards anymore. The moral of this story? Don't Annoy The Lifeguards.

Log in or register to write something here or to contact authors.