Overly enthusiastic

Ray Palmer

I was out at a family event recently and it was in hotel chain restaurant. The hotel is decorated in a general bland catalogue style. The food was fine neither offensive nor exceptional. Service was fine and generally the whole place was mediocre. Nothing wrong with that it just is what it is.

So while we are eating, people were gushing about how "fabulous", "gorgeous" etc the place and food was. Some people saying they would come for a romantic meal another time.

It is just this occasion been in many places and events and people going on about the best night ever. Now I do understand the niceties of complementing a host and similar. The thing is it just sounds amazingly false many times or it a appears the person has absolutely no taste.

I just don't get the over enthusiastic responses is it just me?

Perhaps they usually eat from a trough.

The Backwards Man

What an absolutely wonderful thread! So informative, so intelligible, so concise.

Thank you OP, thank you thank you thank you.

I Heart Internet

They were probably just making conversation and didn't want to be saying things like, "this place is fine, not too many stains, the food is almost edible."

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo

I hope you made a scene by pushing the host(s) and shouting at him/her how terrible a time you had in such a horrible place.

SEPT 23 1989

name and shame this hellhole Ray

Canis Lupus

Were the other people up from the country?

ColeTrain

The Backwards Man wrote: »

What an absolutely wonderful thread! So informative, so intelligible, so concise.

Thank you OP, thank you thank you thank you.

I was having a tough morning until I clicked into this thread. It has raised my spirits like no other thread on boards, i'm close to tears here.

OP, PM me your bank details. I would like to forward you some money as a token of my appreciation.

Plazaman

You should have contradicted those niceities by standing up, flinging you dinner plate against a wall and in your best and thickest North Yorkshire accent (seems to work best for effect) shout "I'll nowt eat this shíte" then storm out while knocking the nearest bowl of ice cream being eaten by a child onto the ground. His/her subsequent crying will act a reinforcement of your disapproval of the place.

jester77

Ray Palmer wrote: »

I just don't get the over enthusiastic responses is it just me?

Hard to say. Do you usually dine in restaurants with a dozen different knives and forks on the table where miniature food samples arrives on 2 foot wides plates?

Karl Stein

Maybe they confused real life with Facebook and just wanted to assure themselves and everyone they knew that they were having a wonderful time?

Alf. A. Male

Ray Palmer wrote: »

So while we are eating, people were gushing about how "fabulous", "gorgeous" etc the place and food was. Some people saying they would come for a romantic meal another time.

God love them, but some people don't get out much and for them it may well have been the best they'd eaten in a while.

StinkyMunkey

Alf. A. Male wrote: »

God love them, but some people don't get out much and for them it may well have been the best they'd eaten in a while.

Exactly.

If i get away from the kids, it could be Burger King and taste like the best meal ever.

Sauve

An awful lot of people say words for the sake of saying them. Just because.

Same as the people who greet you with "great day out" or "see that Kenny fella is in bother again". They don't know what they're saying, people listening don't care what they're saying, and they only do it to fill a silence.

Like I did just now

toughapple

Lie down with the dog and you will get up with fleas!

Graces7

Alf. A. Male wrote: »

God love them, but some people don't get out much and for them it may well have been the best they'd eaten in a while.

agree totally.. i almost never eat out, not even a coffee, and appreciate it hugely. sometimes at the market will buy me a take away coffee and that is truly grand, a real treat.

ate like royalty in hospital time before last...

Tasden

If I like something I'll say it. I compliment people if they're looking well, or if food tastes nice I say so. It can annoy some people who think its insincere or whatever but I just genuinely appreciate the little things, keeps me happy.

Ray Palmer

I think people are missing the point, it doesn't come across as genuine. The person on this occasion said to me he thought the people were exaggerating and made him feel uncomfortable. He hadn't picked the place so it was out of his hands and thought the company had scrimped on the night out.

Ray Palmer

Tasden wrote: »

If I like something I'll say it. I compliment people if they're looking well, or if food tastes nice I say so. It can annoy some people who think its insincere or whatever but I just genuinely appreciate the little things, keeps me happy.

But if it is nice are you going to say it is gorgeous?

I Heart Internet

Ray Palmer wrote: »

But if it is nice are you going to say it is gorgeous?

You gotta embellish a little.

"This thread is wonderful."

Pumpkinseeds

It just sounds like the polite sort of banal conversation people make at those sorts of occassions. Non offensive small talk to kill the tedium until you can finally escape and go home.

Tasden

Ray Palmer wrote: »

But if it is nice are you going to say it is gorgeous?

Well no I'd say its nice. But people sometimes just use different terms for things. I use the word lovely for everything, other people would only use it for really nice things.
Also generally if you're hungry you think everything tastes delicious even if its bland!
I wouldn't overthink it tbh!

toughapple

There is too much false politeness in this country. Some people almost burst themselves because they are afraid to ask where the toilets are.

Sleepy

You're not alone OP, I wouldn't be one for insincere small talk either but lots of people seem to enjoy it.

Graces7

Sleepy wrote: »

You're not alone OP, I wouldn't be one for insincere small talk either but lots of people seem to enjoy it.

if the alternative is sullen silence..and think of the feelings of your hosts...

Sleepy

I'll try start a conversation that doesn't involve lying. I can put up with asking banal questions about peoples lives "how're the kids? Are they excited about [upcoming holiday destination]?" (of course they are, they're kids and it's a holiday) but I won't lower myself to sounding like a valley girl gushing over a bland coffee full of sugar just because it comes in a green paper cup with a Starbucks logo on the side.

Legs.Eleven

Niceties for social lubrication and to keep everything civilised and pleasant. It has to be done in many cases and I don't get how why some people have such a problem with inconsequential small talk for that purpose, particularly with people you barely know. I'd rather that than a deafening, awkward silence or even worse, someone moaning in my ear at a day that's supposed to be enjoyed.

jimgoose

Check this guy out - he's an absolute hoot at parties:

Earthhorse

Yeah, I don't get it either OP. A lot of the time when I eat out with friends it seems that every place we go is really good. To me, there's a range of experience; some places are really good, some really bad and a lot are mediocre. I don't get the need to pretend otherwise. Perhaps they are easier to please than I am, I get the feeling it's something like that anyway.

Legs.Eleven

Earthhorse wrote: »

Yeah, I don't get it either OP. A lot of the time when I eat out with friends it seems that every place we go is really good. To me, there's a range of experience; some places are really good, some really bad and a lot are mediocre. I don't get the need to pretend otherwise. Perhaps they are easier to please than I am, I get the feeling it's something like that anyway.

Would you comment on the mediocrity of a restaurant if you were out with friends?

Ray Palmer

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

Niceties for social lubrication and to keep everything civilised and pleasant. It has to be done in many cases and I don't get how why some people have such a problem with inconsequential small talk for that purpose, particularly with people you barely know. I'd rather that than a deafening, awkward silence or even worse, someone moaning in my ear at a day that's supposed to be enjoyed.

The thing is people look like social morons when they do this. There is plenty to talk about than actually lie or over exaggerate.

It isn't just meals either. I went to see Billy Connolly with work a good few years ago. So there were 20 of us or so. The gig was OK, people laughed but he was no where near as good as he used to be. Some jokes didn't get a laugh. Afterwards there was about half of the group going on about how it was the funniest thing they had ever seen and how they couldn't stop laughing. One of these people was sitting beside me and they were not laughing that much. They spent a fair bit of time texting on their phone during the gig

So of the group half of the group were wondering what the others were on about. It was all exaggeration like they were pretending they had an amazing night.

Earthhorse

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

Would you comment on the mediocrity of a restaurant if you were out with friends?

I might. But probably in the form of a witty observation. I won't gush about how mediocre everything is. The point isn't making conversation, it's that they always seem impressed by what they ordered; maybe they're just luckier than I am.

Legs.Eleven

Ray Palmer wrote: »

The thing is people look like social morons when they do this. There is plenty to talk about than actually lie or over exaggerate.

It isn't just meals either. I went to see Billy Connolly with work a good few years ago. So there were 20 of us or so. The gig was OK, people laughed but he was no where near as good as he used to be. Some jokes didn't get a laugh. Afterwards there was about half of the group going on about how it was the funniest thing they had ever seen and how they couldn't stop laughing. One of these people was sitting beside me and they were not laughing that much. They spent a fair bit of time texting on their phone during the gig

So of the group half of the group were wondering what the others were on about. It was all exaggeration like they were pretending they had an amazing night.

Right. This is different. I think I might see what you're getting at now. Commenting on the "gorgeousness" of someone's wedding dress, for example, is one thing (because it's a happy occasion and you don't want to be a buzz-killer) but basically lying about how much you enjoyed something would annoy me, particularly when there's no reason for it.

I think what you described in the OP is kind of expected at weddings, unfortunately.

Saying that, I would generally be quite pleased with restaurants that others might see as average and hotels too because I don't eat out in particularly fancy places or stay in hotels much (sob!). I only realise this when I eat out with people who do frequently.


I was out having dinner with some friends the other week and my friend complained about it all the way through. In fact, he started to write a review on Trip Advisor in the middle of the meal (he was a bit drunk). Tbh, I thought the place was very nice and my meal was (wait for it!) gorgeous and he didn't but he ruined the buzz for the 4 of us tbh; I would've preferred if he said nothing at all because we were on our holidays and it'd been a great day. Dunno.

I do know what you're on about when it comes to gigs and comedy shows though and I don't like people saying they like something in those cases. I would normally not comment at all in this case but I think people make a positive comment to convince themselves they'd a better time than they had because expectations were high deep down, they're actually very disappointed;they don't want to be seen to not like someone as famous as BC as they believe others will believe the problem lies with them and not with the artist (because BC couldn't POSSIBLY be NOT funny on occasion! He's infallible!). Or no one is brave enough to admit the truth for fear of looking stupid.


I think weddings are a different kettle of fish though imo.

Legs.Eleven

Earthhorse wrote: »

I might. But probably in the form of a witty observation. I won't gush about how mediocre everything is. The point isn't making conversation, it's that they always seem impressed by what they ordered; maybe they're just luckier than I am.

There always seems to be one person who always unwittingly orders the crappiest thing on the menu and in this case, it's you! Woohoo!

Earthhorse

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

There always seems to be one person who always unwittingly orders the crappiest thing on the menu and in this case, it's you! Woohoo!

I knew I shouldn't have gone for the Cream of Sum Yung Gai.