Odd Man Out

I hate being left out of a conversation because I’m uninformed about a topic. I try my best to keep myself up-to-date and educated about the world around me – for both social and work-related discussion. This afternoon, however, I was confronted with an avalanche of Survivor-talk for which I was wholly unprepared.

You see, Jenn and I don’t watch Survivor, never have. Sure we watch all those TLC reality shows, but nothing that involves great physical exertion, half-nakedness (does Superbowl halftime count?) or general, winner-takes-all competition. We like our reality mild, wholesome and about remodeling.

So as I sat quietly listening to my co-workers chat about backstabbing strategies and styles of play I couldn’t help thinking: “Act interested and you could win your escape. Ignorance is bliss and if no one notices me not talking, maybe the subject will change.” You see I was practicing my own reality strategy that totally backfired.

They did notice and went to great lengths to explain their conversation, which only made me feel worse. Kind of like being left out of a joke you don’t understand, only to have someone try to explain why it was funny. That never works.

I’m not too upset, though. I probably should be watching Survivor, if only to keep up with trends here in the office and in my industry in general. I still can’t help feeling like I was part of a bad reality show during lunch, though. And my stoic performance just got me voted off the island.

3 thoughts on “Odd Man Out

  1. I tried to watch, honestly. It’s too predictable anymore. Swim to the raft, swim back. Try to make fire. Complain, complain, complain. Fat naked guy. That about sums it up. I’d rather be watching Tru Calling.

  2. When the first Survivor came out, I was doing study abroad so I missed it ENTIRELY. When I got back it had just ended and I kept wondering who this guy was on all the talk shows. When I heard the premise for the show, I thought it was cool. Then I heard how they carried it out and thought it was lame. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a single show.

    Although, I was a big fan of “Boot Camp” for no good reason.

Leave a Reply