Trends come and go, and most people want to feel included in them, which probably results in a lot of them pretending to like something just to fit in. It seems that whenever you don't like something that's very popular you're met with "what?!" or just get labeled as a hipster. So this Redditor decided to ask an important and fun question: "What are you convinced people are pretending to enjoy?"
People were quick to jump in and give their honest answers. Some named some really popular things that a lot of people seem to like, while some named some more peculiar and specific ones. If you have an answer yourself, feel free to share it in the comment section below! And if you liked this post, click here for a similar one.
#1
Bars and restaurants with loud music and terrible acoustics. What’s the point in being social in a place where they’re trying to make it hard for you to socialize?
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#2
Having constant drama at work, in friend groups, and elsewhere really can't be all that exciting... can it? If I have one friend causing me too much drama I usually avoid it like it's the plague.
Image credits: Syrup_Slurper
We asked Patrice Oppliger, Ph.D., some questions about this topic, and she gave some amazing insights: "I agree there are significant social pressures. One of the theories we teach is the theory of reasoned action - that it appears someone's attitude does not match their behaviors; however, there is a social norm element.
I think people often 'fake it until they make it' or are simply giving something a try. I recall not caring for Schitt's Creek initially. Everyone kept telling me to stick with it. It's one of my all-time favorite shows."
#3
Live action remakes
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#4
Baby showers/reveal parties
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"There is also cognitive dissonance at play. When one invests time and energy into a hobby, for example, they may convince themselves they enjoy it because if not, they are inconsistent and have wasted time."
#5
The Kardashians.
Image credits: Potential-Drive8623
#6
Clubbing. It's loud, there's 50 people all up in your space constantly, the music sucks half the time, the alcohol is watered down, there's so many drunk people that have to be either carried out or they puke all over the sidewalk outside, everything is overpriced. Literally nothing about it is good enough to warrant doing it repeatedly.
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"It's generally benign to pretend to like something. The individual may not want to offend others who genuinely like it, or it is something that connects them to others. We all have the desire to fit in. It's a survival tactic. Where there may be some harm is if the activity is hurting others - something that includes racism or sexism, for example.
In my study of humor (The Dark Side of Stand-Up Comedy: Oppliger & Shouse, 2020, Palgrave), I find that laughing at a joke may appear to signal enjoyment - but it could also be politeness, discomfort, or peer pressure. For example, Will Smith's facial expression appeared to signal his enjoyment of Chris Rock's joke about Smith's wife."
#7
Long-a*s, boring videos of their friends' kids.
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#8
Small talk.#9
American talent shows like quite literally “America’s got talent”, and “American Idol”. Who the f**k are these shows catered to? The dialogue is cheesy, idiotic, and fake as f**k and the structure doesn’t make sense. Back then it had categories and the contestants would compete against their own groups which at least made it somewhat interesting. Now? Anything f*****g goes, and you could have a wanna-be jabawacky dance group of about 20 people Vs little Timmy playing a harmonica with his a*****e. It makes no god damn sense.
Image credits: Chaacho08
#10
Nothing. People legitimately have different tastes. Just let people enjoy their IPAs/gin/pickles/spicy food/whatever. If that's not your thing, have something else.#11
Anything that requires an insane amount of waiting in line. Amusement parks, brunches at fancy places, night clubs, etc.Like, you're engaging in an a barrier to make the "thing" you want seem worthwhile.
I dunno, I despise lines.
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#12
Maintaining their jobs as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram personalities.I *briefly* had *mild* success with a channel on YT 10 years ago and it was nowhere near the level things are now. And I see the production value and the regularity of some of the content. And I just think how much pressure these folks feel to feed the machine or perish.
Image credits: ThingCalledLight
#13
The Happy Birthday song. Everyone feels awkward singing it, and awkward having it sung at them. Can we please just not?
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#14
Reality TV. How is watching garbage people complain about their lives entertainment?#15
Top 40 music. I cant be the first one to say that#16
Trying to make everything Instagram ready.I've fallen in that trap before, deleted everything but Reddit.
I'm much happier now living in the moment, watching my kids play instead of taking photos of them, eating my food instead of standing above it trying to take a picture in a crowded restaurant.
Once you stop feeding your ego, a lot of worry stops with it.
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#17
LinkedIn.
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#18
Those big spider-leg eyelashes they pay for and put on.
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#19
That nasty fermented shark they over in Iceland.
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#20
Having a job
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#21
Podcasts where the hosts just laugh at everything they/other hosts/guests say. Nothing is that funny for that long, dude.
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#22
Kombucha. Every, single one I've tried. Just undrinkable!
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#23
Running.ETA: Exercise of any kind really. I have ADHD and struggle with eating healthy and exercising. I’ve just never been able to find any consistency with it and part of it is I just don’t enjoy exercise no matter what I do, and I’ve tried a lot of things to make it better. I’m a therapist but we obviously have our struggles too, and this is one of my greatest challenges, especially after the past three years. I’ve appreciated all the comments and insights and am thinking about ways to get moving again!
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#24
Getting black out drunk#25
Going to a children's performance, especially if their own kids aren't currently on stage
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#26
Being forced to keep the economy going in spite of rising costs and lower incomes.#27
Insanely spicy food.... stop it. You're crying and there is no way you are enjoying that for any other reason except to brag about how hot your food is.
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#28
A lot of popular modern rap music. There’s a lot of good stuff but there’s some where I’m like “seriously?”#29
Playing tag with a four year old. You have to let them win all the time to not make them cry you have to run really slow and you have to look like you're enjoying it.
Image credits: SmolBeanorTallQueen
#30
Reaction videos. Why would anyone care how a stranger reacts to something? Most of the time, the reaction isn't even real and just played up for the camera.#31
Your boss’s jokes.
Image credits: No-Manufacturer-552
#32
Abstract modern art. You know, the orange square on a blank canvas type thing. “It really speaks to me.” ?#33
Anything that is described as being an "acquired taste."Oh so you didn't enjoy it at first but continued to do it out of peer pressure until it stopped being repulsive? That's not enjoyment that's Stockholm Syndrome!
#34
Weddings#35
Working in office#36
Other people#37
Twitter.I can't comprehend why anyone would WANT to "tweet"
#38
Watching pro golf on tv.#39
3 hour long church services. Jesus gave the sermon on the mound in like 5 minutes. Get over your ego pastor!#40
Surströmming. There is absolutely no way people in Sweden actually enjoy this can of puke.Edit: As people are telling stories about their experiences with Surströmming I want to tell one of my own.
Once upon a time in Sweden, a mild summer in august, my family decided to host a dinner at our house for our friends. We had a lot of food of different kinds on the table and our friends brought some food with them as well. The weather was with us so we decided to eat on the porch outside. As we were getting ready to eat we decided it was time to open the cans…oh god! What occurred after have been stuck in my head for ages.
First came the smell, some of us almost puked, others kept their stoic faces on. But the craziest ones of us took a deep breath and said: “delicious”.
Shortly after, the invasion started. Hundreds upon hundreds of flies. There was chaos, crying, despair and my father screaming: “we have to get away from here.” We all grabbed what we could take and ran inside. Watched trough the windows as a cloud of flies descended upon the rest.
*heavy sigh*! aah yes, Sweden!
Image credits: Blackpanther-x
#41
It probally works for some percentage of the populace.But I believe most people aren't too contempt with having plans all the time, and the only valid excuse for not having plans or making them, is because they have other plans.
I usually try and tell my coworkers it sounds amazing, when they on rare occasions tell me they dont have any plans for the weekend.
Not doing s**t sometimes, is very healthy for mental health is my belief.
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#42
Being a parent to Kids aged 0-2.
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#43
I used to think people pretended to like olives. I’d eat them if they were in a dish but I didn’t like them. A few years of that and suddenly I’m buying olives to eat on their own. Acquired the taste I suppose.#44
Vegan “cheese”#45
Eating healthy. I know it has a ton of benefits, and i try to keep my diet as healthy as possible for my good. But a lot of people who eat healthy stuff say that they enjoy it, and i really don't think they're being genuine.Unhealthy food (burgers, pizza, fried chicken, coke, beer, etc) is more fun/instantly rewarding for people in general.
#46
Vaping, seriously what the hell is the appeal? Especially if you didn’t smoke cigarettes before vaping.Edit: Probably should’ve clarified, I’m strictly talking about nicotine. I still believe there are many better ways to intake weed, but vaping a weed pen makes a little more sense to me than picking up a nicotine habit for no reason.
#47
Tbh the more expensive a meal is, the shittier it gets. (I personally think it starts declining after $30-$50)Or it might just be that I'm a simple man who likes cheap food, idk.
#48
Open relationships. I'm sure there's some genuine believers but I wonder how many partners are opening up their relationship to keep their partner and just are afraid to be alone and date again. When I see couples talk about it it always looks like one person is way more into it than the other.#49
Kale. Love eating many leafy greens, except kale.#50
Contemporary design trends. The all white/grey homes with rendered exteriors are so lifeless and all look the same. There's no way people actually want this, right??
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#51
Nespresso coffee, no clue why people are willing to pay such a premium for burnt tasting coffee#52
Coworkers. Like really. Coworkers#53
Living in a conversion vehicle like a van, like a short look into #VanLife and you'll find all kinds of people that say they love their gray water tank. No you don't. You're s******g in a tub and driving it around.#54
Drake#55
People being fake in place of realness. Personally I have problems being fake because assumedly it's a part of life.#56
Starbucks. There is no way people actually like burnt coffee.#57
2022#58
Parades
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#59
Life#60
Black licorice.#61
Waking up before dawn, to work out
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#62
My presence#63
Raisins.They’re just bad, wrinkly grapes. That tiny little grape in a punnet of actual grapes that never really got to be a grape would be considered the best raisin in the packet. I will die on this hill.
#64
Peeps#65
Owning Balenciaga#66
Getting older
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#67
Hard liquor. I’m fine with being told someone likes to be buzzed but don’t tell me you genuinely enjoy the taste of that. They don’t make whiskey flavored sports drinks for a reason.#68
IPAs#69
Seltzer beer. Just, what the f**k is even wrong with them?#70
NFTs#71
the MCU.from Bored Panda https://ift.tt/ZmVdYai
