Harper Hall
13 Things People Pretend to Enjoy But Actually Don’t
We all have those moments when we nod along, smile, and pretend we’re having the time of our lives—even when we’re secretly counting down the minutes until it’s over. Society has a funny way of making us feel like we should enjoy certain things, even if they’re boring, uncomfortable, or just plain annoying.
From fancy foods to social events, plenty of activities get hyped up way more than they deserve. Let’s uncover the truth about what people really think when no one’s watching.
1. Small Talk at Parties
Standing around making awkward conversation with strangers feels more like a chore than fun for most people.
You’re stuck discussing the weather, traffic, or someone’s boring weekend plans while secretly wishing you could escape to a quiet corner.
Most folks find small talk draining because it lacks any real depth or meaning.
Forcing yourself to act interested in topics you don’t care about takes serious mental energy.
The pressure to seem friendly and outgoing makes it even worse.
You end up faking smiles and laughs just to avoid seeming rude or antisocial, even though you’d rather be anywhere else doing literally anything more interesting than this surface-level chitchat.
2. Eating Oysters
Raw oysters have a reputation as fancy seafood, but let’s be honest—they’re basically slimy blobs that taste like the ocean floor.
People order them at restaurants to look sophisticated, not because they actually enjoy slurping down something with the texture of a sneeze.
The experience involves trying not to gag while pretending you’re savoring some incredible delicacy.
Your taste buds are screaming for help, but you keep going because everyone else seems impressed.
Many diners struggle through the entire plate just to fit in with the crowd.
The truth is that most people would be perfectly happy never eating another oyster again, but they’ll never admit it out loud.
3. Going to the Gym
Many join the gym bursting with enthusiasm, only to discover it’s not what they imagined.
Sweating among strangers while loud music thunders overhead isn’t most folks’ ideal environment.
The whole experience can feel repetitive and exhausting.
You’re counting down minutes on the treadmill, hoping nobody notices you struggling with weights that are probably too heavy.
Sure, exercise is important for health, but that doesn’t mean anyone genuinely loves every gym session.
Most people drag themselves there out of guilt or obligation, not because they’re excited to spend an hour doing burpees and battling for equipment during rush hour.
4. Watching Artsy Films
Film festivals and art house movies get praised by critics everywhere, but sitting through three hours of slow-paced scenes with no real plot tests anyone’s patience.
These movies often feel more like homework than entertainment.
You’ll find yourself checking your watch repeatedly while trying to figure out what the symbolism means.
Everyone around you seems deeply moved, so you nod thoughtfully even though you’re completely lost and incredibly bored.
Afterwards, people discuss the film’s deeper meaning using fancy words they probably don’t fully understand either.
Nobody wants to admit they’d rather watch something with actual action, jokes, or at least a storyline that makes sense without needing a film degree.
5. Networking Events
These professional gatherings promise valuable connections but usually deliver awkward handshakes and forced conversations about job titles.
Walking into a room full of strangers who all want something from you creates instant stress and discomfort.
You spend hours collecting business cards from people you’ll never contact again.
The whole event feels fake because everyone’s wearing their professional mask instead of being genuine human beings.
Most attendees would rather be home relaxing than making elevator pitches to strangers.
The pressure to seem impressive and memorable makes everything feel exhausting, yet everyone pretends these events are amazing opportunities they wouldn’t miss for anything.
6. Drinking Black Coffee
Coffee snobs will tell you that adding sugar or cream ruins the pure flavor, but black coffee tastes bitter and harsh to most people.
They choke it down anyway because it supposedly makes them seem more mature or sophisticated.
Your face probably scrunches up with every sip, but you power through pretending it’s delicious.
Meanwhile, you’re secretly jealous of people who unashametically load their cups with flavored creamer and sweetener.
The whole thing is about image rather than actual enjoyment.
People convince themselves they love black coffee when they’d honestly prefer something that doesn’t taste like burnt dirt mixed with regret and sadness.
7. Reading Classic Literature
In book clubs everywhere, dense classics get treated like required masterpieces.
But for most readers, the reality is trudging through confusing old language and plots that feel like they take forever to go nowhere.
You’ll spend weeks trying to finish one book that modern authors could’ve told in fifty pages.
The complicated vocabulary and cultural references from different eras make everything harder to understand and enjoy.
Most readers would honestly prefer contemporary books with relatable characters and actual pacing.
But admitting you find Shakespeare boring or Moby Dick unbearable feels like confessing you’re uncultured, so everyone keeps pretending these books are absolutely riveting.
8. Attending Opera Performances
Opera tickets cost a fortune, and people dress up fancy to watch performers sing dramatically in foreign languages for hours.
Unless you speak Italian or German fluently, you’re basically reading subtitles while extremely loud singing happens on stage.
The seats are uncomfortable, the performances stretch on forever, and you can’t even snack without getting dirty looks.
Your legs fall asleep, and you’re desperately trying not to yawn or check your phone.
Everyone claps enthusiastically at the end, but most audience members are just relieved it’s finally over.
They’ll post about the sophisticated evening on social media while secretly thinking they’d rather have stayed home watching regular shows.
9. Eating Kale Salads
Because every wellness article glorifies kale, everyone keeps choosing it at lunch, despite its chewy, bitter texture.
Eating it feels like tackling a bowl of grass with a grudge.
You massage dressing into the leaves hoping it’ll improve the flavor, but kale remains stubbornly unpleasant.
Each bite feels like punishment for wanting to be healthy and make better food choices.
People post pictures of their kale bowls on Instagram acting like they’re delicious treats.
Deep down, they’re wishing for pizza or burgers instead of this trendy green torture that gets stuck in their teeth for hours afterward.
10. Going to Clubs
Nightclubs promise excitement and fun, but the reality involves overpriced drinks, music so loud you can’t hear conversations, and crowds of sweaty strangers bumping into you constantly.
Your feet hurt from standing, and your ears ring for days afterward.
The bathrooms are disgusting, the lines are ridiculous, and you can barely move without spilling someone’s drink.
Dancing feels awkward when you’re sober, but getting drunk enough to enjoy it means feeling terrible tomorrow.
Most people would honestly prefer hanging out somewhere they can actually talk and relax.
They go to clubs because that’s what you’re supposed to do on weekends, not because it’s genuinely enjoyable.
11. Taking Cold Showers
Thanks to wellness hype, many start their day standing under glacial water in the name of “energy.”
Your body jolts, your breathing falters, and every second drags on like a tiny eternity of cold-induced agony.
People claim they feel amazing afterward, but that’s probably just relief that the horrible experience is finally over.
The supposed benefits don’t seem worth the daily torture of voluntarily freezing yourself awake.
Most cold shower enthusiasts secretly miss their warm, comfortable showers where they could actually relax.
They continue the icy routine because quitting would mean admitting the whole thing was pointless suffering disguised as self-improvement.
12. Attending Baby Showers
Baby showers involve sitting around watching someone open tiny clothes for two hours while playing weird games about guessing diaper contents.
Unless it’s your own baby or your best friend’s, these events feel incredibly long and boring.
You’re forced to act excited about receiving pieces of cake and participating in activities designed for people way more enthusiastic about babies than you currently feel.
The games are embarrassing, and the conversations revolve entirely around pregnancy topics.
Most guests attend out of obligation rather than genuine excitement.
They’d honestly rather send a gift and stay home, but social expectations demand their presence at these pastel-colored gatherings that seem to last forever.
13. Eating Spicy Food Challenges
From nuclear wings to lava-level noodles, restaurants turn spicy food into contests—and people join in for bragging rights.
One bite leaves your tongue on fire, your eyes watering nonstop, and your senses overwhelmed by sheer heat.
You’re sweating, chugging milk, and seriously regretting every life decision that led to this moment.
There’s nothing enjoyable about feeling like your tongue is melting while friends laugh and record your suffering.
The bragging rights aren’t worth the hours of digestive consequences that follow.
Most participants would never repeat the experience, but they post about surviving it online like they accomplished something meaningful instead of just hurting themselves for entertainment.
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