Then a colleague walked through the door.
"You really shouldn't drink so much soda," he said, pointing a finger my McDonald's cup. "You've got a giant Coke in your hand every time I come here. That stuff'll kill you."
I took one last slurp from my straw and set down the cup. "How nice of you to be concerned with what goes in my mouth."
He blanched and stammered while I sat there deciding whether to explain what I'm about to explain to you.
Take a look at the cup. Notice anything special about it?
Check out the ad for the Olympics. No, the 2014 games aren't still going on in Sochi, and no, my local McDonald's isn't cycling through beverageware that's four months old. I've been using that cup for ice water since February because I like the size and shape of it. The base fits nicely in my hand, the straw is handy for sipping as I work, and it holds a lot of water so I don't need to interrupt my workday for refills (only for frequent pee breaks, which probably defeats the purpose).So yes, I visit McDonald's infrequently enough that I'm still packing around a four-month-old cup. Also for the record, the cup originally held unsweetened iced tea, not soda. I don't actually drink soda.
But why did I feel an urge to explain any of that to anyone? Do I really care if someone judges me based on my beverage choices?
Part of me wants to roll my eyes and raise my plastic cup, sniffing with disdain as I inform you that it's none of your business if I drink Coke or vodka or motor oil during my workday, nor is it anyone's business what vessel I swill from as I do it.
But then I have to admit what I do every two months when a board meeting rolls around and it's time for the marketing team to give presentations to our board of directors. I leave the McDonald's cup in my office. I grab a plain glass from the cupboard in the break room and I sit there in my ironed blouse and grownup pencil skirt using professional words like "return on investment" and "user engagement" instead of "sweater potatoes" and "meat popsicle," and I sip from my perfectly neutral glass of ice water.
Why do I do that? Why do any of us do that, whether we're hiding a fast food cup or the cover of a smutty novel?
I think about this a lot as an author of risqué romantic comedies. Countless times I've been hired to to teach workshops on social media for authors or brought in as part of a panel of authors reading excerpts at reader events. After the speaking part is done and authors have been herded back to our book-selling stations, someone will approach my table with a sheepish look.
"I don't think I could be seen carrying around a book with a shirtless man on the cover," the reader will whisper, nodding at my books as though I've stashed packets of crack inside each. "I really liked your talk, though, and your books sound hilarious."
These are often the same people laughing their asses off as I read excerpts from the Newlywed Game scene in Making Waves or the diaper drama scene in Marine for Hire. But the thought of actually purchasing my book or being spotted with it in public? Well, that's going a little too far.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not bitter about the lost sales. I know plenty of these folks go home and buy a book online for their eReaders, hiding it like a Penthouse magazine tucked inside Better Homes and Gardens. I also recognize that my books aren't for everyone, and I don't expect every member of the public to line up at my front door to buy one (though that would be really freakin' cool, wouldn't it?)
I guess when it comes down to it, I wish more of us cared less what other people think about our choices in beverages, books, cars, homes, hairstyles, and sex toys. I wish I cared less, honestly. Maybe that's something I ought to work on.
What are your thoughts on the way we judge each other for lifestyle choices or reading materials? Please share!
And please excuse me for a moment while I refill my McDonald's cup. The board meeting's over, right?
7 comments :
I have a strict "I won't judge you if you won't judge me" policy about most things in life. Unless you're physically* harming other people, that is. Then I'll judge the hell out of you.
*I was going to add "or emotionally," but then I realized that some people claim to be "emotionally traumatized" by the weirdest things. Like, say, the some of the more colorful words I use in my books from time to time.
I think the proper response to the colleague would have been to simply burp.
I'm with Dexter on this. You should have slurped, then burped...and of course, smiled at co-worker. :)
I'm afraid I care way too much what other people think. I guess it comes from growing up and having other kids make fun of me for every little thing. Heck, even my own family would make fun of me for one thing or another. Makes a person extremely self-conscious. That self-consciousness has caused problems at times. Like, for instance, this one time my nephew and I signed up to be extras in a movie that was filming nearby. It was a football game scene so we were outside all day and the scene was supposed to be taking place in the fall/winter so we had to wear coats. HOWEVER, it was August and the temperature was in the 90s. And my pathetic self-conscious caused me to not want to eat (except for the peach I'd taken with me) because I didn't want the hundreds of other people around me seeing me eat. By the end of the day I was light headed, shaky and feeling as if I was going to pass out.
I think the trick is to know the difference between the situations in which it makes sense to put your best foot forward (i.e.--don a disguise that only vaguely resembles your real self) and when it is okay to tell the people who don't like what they see to bite you.
I try to be professional in public, especially at work, since I am representing more than just myself. At author events, I still try to be professional, but more natural (I might not wear the sweat pants, but it is possible a teensy curse word might slip out.) If you come into my house, you get what you get.
And personally, I would be proud to be seen reading your books in public :-)
Oh, yeah.
I got the cover for my upcoming release recently, and I'm shoving it into everyone's face, every chance I get...but then I have to say, "Isn't it nipple-tastic?" Just to make sure that they know I know that it's kind of over-the-top (search me on Amazon. You'll see what I mean) with the Man Candy.
Even though it's coming out primarily as an e-book, maybe I should make plain brown kindle covers as swag...
Oh. And next time someone questions your McDonalds drinkware? Point out that McDonald's straw are much thicker than most other fast food places, providing more satisfaction, and a faster, harder delivery of whatever you're sipping through it.
I am proud to be seen reading your books in public. :-)
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