We asked Lubbock residents to admit the things in life that they only pretend to like so they don’t have to explain themselves to others, and they were honest. Painfully honest.
Here’s what we learned…
Lots of people admitted they fake enthusiasm when someone asks them to listen to a new song. It’s not because the song is fabulous. No. It’s because they don’t want to hurt your feelings. Smiling and nodding is much easier than crushing your soul. Sometimes, we just don’t like the same music, and that’s okay.
Food was also mentioned immediately. Everything from ketchup to pineapple on pizza was thrown into the ring. But most people say they will eat it and smile if it’s offered by a friend. Good manners, guys. I think that’s worth a few points at least.
Several people agreed that working in customer service is soul-sucking, despite the cheerful disposition they have when you frequent their place of business. It is what it is. Siblings also made the list of things we pretend to like, and I don’t think that needs any explanation.
Concert and movie etiquette came into question. Most of us will sit through a movie in silence when our neighbors are loudly talking, munching, and seemingly not caring at all about the price of the ticket and the fact that nobody can hear what’s happening. This is just another example of manners trumping the voice in our heads telling us to scream in a stranger’s face.
Then, there were the more common answers, like pretending to enjoy networking, work holiday parties, group chats, craft beer, sports, and basically anything labeled a “team-building exercise.” All of these are self-explanatory. And, I’m sorry craft beer fans…some of that stuff tastes like tree trimmings.
The takeaway from all of this, to me at least, is that Lubbock is polite. We’ll fake it and smile. We’ll eat the pizza that isn’t our favorite. And, we will quietly scream inside our own heads, because we don’t feel like causing a fuss with our explanation…