There things we just do in life without second thought because we have been socialized to do so.
For example, singing "Happy Birthday" to a friend. We go on auto-pilot the minute we see the cake brought out with candles lit.
But have you ever stopped and wondered if others shared your opinion about the awkwardness of being sung to?
Speaking for myself, I feel uncomfortable with all eyes on me as I sit there, squirm, and look back at my friends who have nothing but joy in their hearts.
I don't begrudge them for celebrating me. But if I'm not performing and am being watching by those who are performing is a bizarre kind of paradox.
So all I can do is force a smile and go along with it, because that's just the deal.
Which leads us to this inquisitive Redditor, EmilioEarhart, who asked strangers on the internet:
What's the thing that you're convinced people only pretend to like/enjoy?
For The Sake Of The Holiday
"The idea of Christmas carolers is kinda fun, the reality of having it happen when you open the door is horrifying."
When Silent Night Is Preferred
"I never understood the idea of Christmas carolers...Am I supposed to stand there with the door open while the winter wind freezes the f'k out of me because I'm wearing shorts and a t-shirt in my toasty-warm f'king house? Am I supposed to pay them for singing, or do I pay them to go away?"
Unwanted Entourage
"Having a large friend group, dear GOD that sh*t is like a 24/7 round of Starcraft, constantly managing the fragile emotions and the sticky messy web of relationships platonic and otherwise..."
Work Colleagues
"That after work event with all the colleagues. Kill me already, I have seen your faces ALL day now I should force me on my free time as well?"
– carkin
Dangers Of The Internet
"Surfing social media for hours every day."
"There is no way you can claim to be perfectly satisfied and happy with looking at videos and photos for hours with nothing to show for it in the end. Even a nap would have been time better spent, as at least you are rested after that."
"One day it suddenly dawned on me that, while I claimed to have no time to do what I wanted to do, that was not the case at all. I had plenty of time; the problem was that I was wasting it staring at a screen. I didn't actually want to do that, it was just easier than making the effort to get up and do what I actually wanted to do. I was too depressed and tired to do anything else. Once I realized that, I made an active effort to be more aware of how I was spending my time."
"It's nice to take like 10-15 minutes to catch up. Any more than that and i firmly believe it becomes a symptom of depression/anxiety/loneliness/ lack of purpose."
Nine Months
"Being pregnant. Those whole nine months are horrible, just read a little and I'm horrified of all that could go wrong. And there are people saying they'd do it again like those 9 months were nothing? Yeah, bullshit Edit: changed 'getting' to 'being.' Still horrible."
Parenting
"Raising kids."
"I don't mean the emotional/social/intangible results of doing so, I mean the literal day-to-day nuts and bolts of child rearing."
@JohnShoraka/X
@gardengirl125/X
@MeidasTouch/X
@MeidasTouch/X 