15 People Confess The Worst Things They Ever Ate Just To Be Polite

Politeness—what does it mean to be polite? Technically speaking, it involves behaving in a way that is respectful toward others. However, it can become complex because, for some individuals, the need to be perceived as polite or to simply avoid being rude is almost compulsive, landing them in a world of trouble.

While some people's inability to be rude may lead to serious consequences, other times it simply results in eating something unpleasant. I mean, who wants to be rude to their host who takes pride in serving food? Not many people. The worst of the worst, though, all answered right here, courtesy of Reddit. "What's the worst thing you've ever eaten out of politeness?"

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1. The truth is there was nothing special about it, other than it was horrible.

My husband's mom made a lemon pie, but it was a “special recipe” she learned from her friend, which contained no sugar and had a crust made of saltine crackers. I don’t even have words for how sour and salty it was. But you best believe I ate it as it was “delicious.”

2. That's bananas.

For a friend of mine, it was bananas. He used to come hang out in the morning or stay the night to play games when we were growing up, and he ate breakfast with us a lot. My parents loved having bananas with breakfast on the weekend (and banana pancakes, for that matter), so he’d have them all the time.It was probably about five years into our friendship before I found out that he absolutely hates bananas and was only eating them to be polite.

3. I lost my lunch somewhere between "fish-flavored jello" and "residual gristle."

I was working in China when they had a big celebratory banquet for us. They served a local delicacy—“sea worms.” It was a white tube that, when immersed in near-freezing water, essentially dissolved into a gelatinous lump. Think fish-flavored jello, with just a hint of residual gristle. Ugh. I had to eat several servings while downing shots of maotai.

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4. Oopsies!

I was visiting Guatemala when this old lady invited us to dinner. In this country, it’s extremely rude not to eat what is placed before you. Unfortunately, this lady served us a vegetable soup with some meat in it that tasted like chicken broth from hell. She didn’t eat with us, as she was being polite or something. She didn’t even talk to us during dinner.We took a taste and nearly wanted to puke. However, due to the customs of the country, we decided to eat it. We could barely get through it. We ate about three-quarters of it and then mentioned we were just full. We both retched later that night. It was so nasty!I ran into the lady later in the week while walking down the street, and she apologized to us. Apparently, the chicken was rotten, and she only took one bite. She then chastised us for not telling her.Sometimes it’s frustrating not knowing all the ins and outs of different customs!

5. Goat-astic

I went to Kenya on a college trip. For the first week we were there, we built a kitchen into a school. Every day, my buddy and I would joke about this goat at the school and how big its nuts were.Well, fast forward to the last day we were there, and the school put on a feast, serving corn, beans, and kale (grown at the school) with goat meat.The local elders came by at the end to show their appreciation. My teacher (who was from Kenya) got up and said, “The elders have prepared a delicacy; it is somewhat of an insult not to eat what they present you.”Bam! Here came the karma bus. Now, I enjoy fried Rocky Mountain oysters; however, what they served was a barely boiled goat ball. I tore off a sizable chunk like a champ. I will NEVER forget the rubbery texture or the ultra gamey taste, but I ate it as if I were honored to be offered it. giphy

The Psychology of Social Pressure

The phenomenon of eating undesirable foods to be polite often highlights the psychological concept of social pressure. Research in social psychology reveals that individuals frequently conform to group norms, even when it goes against their personal preferences. This desire for acceptance can lead to uncomfortable situations where people compromise their own needs to fit in.

Studies show that the fear of being judged negatively or excluded from social groups can significantly influence decision-making, leading to behaviors that prioritize social harmony over personal satisfaction.

6. Really Yummy.

My sister was trying to be nice after I had taken care of her for three years while she dealt with her mental health.She tried to make me a pizza. It came out more like charcoal—fully black.She tried so hard to make me happy for once that I had to at least get some of it down: “It’s not as burnt as it looks! Really yummy.” She was really happy with herself after that.

7. Smells nice.

When my sister was five, she had my mom, a friend, and me sit for her tea party.She made us drinks.I asked her what she gave us, and she said it was water and sparkle perfume.

8. Salty!

My girlfriend in college wanted to be nice to my roommate and me because she often ate at our apartment, so she decided to cook dinner one night: teriyaki steak.Somewhere along the line, she mixed up tablespoons and cups and added three-quarters of a cup of salt. I’m pretty sure we were nearing the LD50 of salt for a human, but I ate as much as I could and drank as much water as I could for the next few days. giphy

9. This is totally fine.

My husband's grandma made us a “miso soup” that was almost black from teriyaki and soy sauce. All of the vegetables in it were slimy and overcooked. It barely resembled miso, so the next day I made some regular miso for myself, and she was offended that I didn’t eat the “perfectly good” leftovers. I was all confused until my husband whispered to me that she thought the abomination she served us was miso soup.

10. I can smell this description.

My beloved but very elderly gram-in-law made chocolate chip cookies in which she messed up the sugar and salt AND mistook the dried black beans in her cupboard for chocolate chips. Oh dear. giphy

11. A near-death experience, how pleasant.

My grandmother’s chili. My grandmother is a terrible, terrible cook. I’ve gotten food poisoning multiple times from her, but this chili nearly killed me. She made it in her crockpot. I lived with my grandparents, my younger sister, and our mom at the time; my mom was out of town. The first night, the chili was good. Everything was fine.She made a huge batch, so we had it again the next day. It was still okay— a little bit off, but not the worst thing I ever ate. I was so sick that night, spewing from both ends. The third night, the smell was horrible; the chili was popping and effervescent with tiny gas bubbles. I was nine, and we had just learned about bacteria in school. I refused to eat more than a bite. It was like pop rocks mixed with rotten meat. I asked her how she stored the chili. “In the crockpot,” she said defensively. “It’s okay to leave things in there; I even remembered to unplug it!” We lived in Georgia; it was summer. She didn’t make chili; she made a science experiment on the kitchen counter.

12. THE HEAT VENT.

My ex-sister-in-law’s spinach casserole. My daughter puked it up into their heat vent, and I had to clean it out. giphy

Moreover, the concept of cognitive dissonance plays a critical role in these situations. When individuals eat something they dislike to avoid conflict, they may experience discomfort due to the inconsistency between their actions and their personal values. This discomfort can lead to feelings of guilt or resentment, which might affect their future interactions.

Understanding this dynamic is crucial for fostering healthier social interactions and reducing the need for individuals to compromise their preferences for the sake of politeness.

13. It's just a prank, bro.

I came home from school one day, hungry, and told my mother that. She told me there were blueberry muffins. So I took one, and when I took a bite, it was the driest, most flavorless thing I’ve ever eaten. To avoid upsetting my mother, I ate it, and when I came back, my mom was laughing. I asked what was funny, and she told me they were a friend of hers' muffins, and my brother had spit them out when he tried one. So basically, I got pranked by my mom.

14. Well, I'm impressed.

A girl I dated was trying to impress me, so she attempted to make green curry. She added too much curry paste, and we both sat there sweating and crying.

15. A coping mechanism.

This one’s actually kind of funny.My grandma died right before Christmas. We all got together for the holiday, and my aunt was understandably still taking it really hard. She made something she called “vanilla angel food pudding cake.”It was in a shallow casserole dish. The top layer was whipped cream and cookie crumble. The middle layer was vanilla pudding. The bottom layer was crumbled angel food cake… soaked to the top in a massive pool of bourbon. The cake was floating in the bourbon. We later found out she’d mixed even more bourbon into the pudding layer.She didn’t tell anyone it was alcoholic, so we all got scoops, assuming it was a syrup or something. My cousin was the first to bite into it and had to run to the trash can to vomit as soon as it hit her mouth. Another person got a forkful near their nose and freaked out, yelling in shock. Cue my aunt beginning to completely melt down about how she’s trying so hard, she got the recipe from a friend, and it’s not THAT much alcohol, and grandma was such a good cook she would’ve helped her, etc., etc.—like she was about to lose it. The cousin that vomited tried to claim it was something else while the yeller tried to play off that they saw a bug across the room.Everyone else was sufficiently guilted into eating at least some of what they’d scooped onto their plates. That was physically painful to eat. Everything burned. Looking around the table, you would’ve thought we were all downing spoonfuls of wasabi. I was 19, but I guess my parents were more worried about my aunt than about me getting underage sloshed on pudding. About halfway through my portion, they found a discreet way to dump my plate. The whole place reeked a couple of minutes after we dug into the “pudding” too, so it was this awful, inescapable sensory overload of bourbon. pinterest

Encouraging Authenticity in Social Settings

To combat the pressures of social conformity, experts recommend promoting authenticity in social interactions. Encouraging open discussions about preferences and boundaries can help create a culture where individuals feel comfortable expressing their needs. Research in communication psychology suggests that fostering an environment of acceptance can reduce the likelihood of people feeling pressured to conform.

By normalizing the expression of personal preferences, individuals can cultivate healthier social dynamics that prioritize respect over obligation.

Psychological Analysis

The tendency to eat something undesirable to please others often reflects deeper social dynamics, including the need for acceptance and fear of rejection. This behavior underscores the importance of understanding our motivations in social settings.

From a psychological perspective, promoting a culture of authenticity can help individuals feel more empowered to express their preferences and foster healthier interactions.

Analysis generated by AI

Analysis & Alternative Approaches

Understanding the psychological factors at play in social situations, such as the pressure to eat unwanted food, sheds light on the complexities of human interactions. By promoting authenticity and open communication, individuals can navigate social settings more comfortably.

Ultimately, addressing these dynamics can lead to healthier relationships and a greater sense of personal agency in social contexts.