Anon could have salvaged this if he didn't run away. It could have made for a killer party story
The act of withdrawing when feeling embarrassed is 90% of the problem. Playing it off, owning up to the mistake, or laughing at yourself are all almost guaranteed to have a better outcome
In this situation what could have anon done? It seems like he fucked up so bad, it’s unsalvageable. What do you say? Like maybe continue with the bit?
I mean there's no way to "salvage" it, because buying $300 worth of books for intolerant book burning you don't really believe in does reveal you to actually have no principles and to want do a lot just to be liked.
The best thing to say is to explain exactly that and genuinely express that you understand it is a problem and you're working on it, which of course anon couldn't because there's no indication of this level of self-awareness.
But if they would, they might still be shunned, but it is very unlikely imo. Good people understand trauma and appreciate trying to work through it.
"Lmao I though you were serious."
"Omg really?"
"Yeah, lol, you want a book on the evils of Christianity?"
"Absolutely, that's hilarious."
yeah i figured it was just a normal party, i got these books for a bonfire or something
could argue theyre antichristian as a joke because of the conversation they had ig
You don't even need to say that it's a joke. You were told that it was going to be a Christian book burning party. I think most people would assume by default that you just went with it because you didn't know what else to do. Peer pressure works, and nobody's going to fault you for that. Especially if you make it clear that you don't actually believe in burning books.
Honestly if people were going to give you shit, it would most likely be for getting bamboozled. And that's significantly more salvageable than whatever Anon did
No, just say that you thought the other person was being serious and laugh it off. Maybe tell it to the other party-goers. Heck, give them a book so that you don't need to lug so many books around. They get a laugh and a memorabilia for the story, you get to play it off. People go along with stupid shit all the time, they won't judge you for a single "ok, that's weird but I'll do it" moment.
Honestly, most things are only awkward if you make it awkward.
The key is to start understanding that most laughter is not someone laughing at you or with you, it's just laughter. They're laughing. Laugh too! "I really wanted to make a good impression, I'm so embarrassed!" If you focus on talking about how you feel like you e made a mistake they'd probably even give you sympathy.
Hmm - well you're looking cold... What do you say we have a bonfire - I came prepared!
Act like he went too far with the joke
In this situation the easiest would simply be like that
"what are in the bags anon..?"
"I...I brought books for the burning."
"Anon I was joking about the book burning"
"Oops" proceed to discreetly put the bag of books back in the car or in a corner and continue the party. Maybe joke about it later in the night when everyone is feeling comfortable and ask if you really thought people would be burning books.
Real life is not like movies, it's full of fuck up like that. You can just let it go and people don't care.
It can become a cute story later when people asked how you met.
He can still salvage it if he's honest and can laugh at himself
To shreds you say?
"On the bright side, I gave $300 to the cause against Christianity." ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Fuck it let's burn stuff 🔥
People grossly underestimate how understanding people will be if you just explain your thought process in a calm and reasonable way. If she asks why he went along with it if he thought that's what she was actually doing:
"Look I'm not about the burning books thing but I thought you were cool and I figured I'd just go with the flow and see how things went, worst that could happen is I don't hang out with you again 🤷♂️. I'm glad it's a regular party though, let's go hang"
Almost no one can think that coherently in a panic situation, however.
You don’t need to think too hard about what you’re going to say if you just say the truth.
The problem is that the truth is pretty damning imo, like if they're able to participate in actual book burning they don't believe in and basically burn $300, I wonder what other dishonest thing they would do just to be liked. Not really something you want to be around.
I'd only be fine if they honestly explained that they knew it is a problem and they're trying to fix it.
So it would be better for them to be dishonest again and lie about their issues? I don’t think that would lead to a very healthy relationship.
You can still be honest without telling someone your whole life story. And even if you can’t, it’s still better than lying (and I doubt you’d be a very good liar in that case anyway).
You're acting like everyone expects everyone else to be a paragon of virtue all the time. Peer pressure works so well that people gave it a name. People get peer pressured into drugs and crime all the time. Of all the things that Anon could have gotten peer pressured into, a book burning party is honestly one of the most harmless things that he could have gotten into.
The truth isn't damning if the truth is literally just "yeah lol I felt like I had to fit in." People would think you're gullible, but people won't think you're malicious
Idk, maybe being ready to burn books that go against your ideology registers different for other people, but for me it's pretty far on the "bad" scale.
I don't really have a problem with the being pressured into something, but the exact topic talked about here seems pretty extreme. Of course I don't expect anyone to be a paragon of virtue, but I just wanted to say that someone that burns books would not be something I'd like to associate with, and I expected that that sentiment was pretty universal
Idk man if I'm at that point I'm just gonna be honest, it's not a panic for me anymore. I've learned that just being honest is usually the best thing
dont panic then
You gotta internalize it. Can't expect to have "calmly explain why you are an idiot" be the reaction in an emergency situation.
$300 worth was way too much. Next time, buy like one book that mildly questions Christianity, and say something like “Oh shit, I thought you were serious & this is the best I could do…”
Bring a Joel Olstein or Joyce Meyers book you bought used.
If it is a legit book burning, throw out a Timothy 2:23-24 as you chuck it in the fire.
The autism is strong with this one
ITT: people believe green text
It's just fun to play along. I don't think many people actually believe green text anymore.
Hypothetical scenarios are still fun to think and talk about.
It's real, I was there, trust me bro.
I don’t think anyone believes this happened, it’s just a goofy story.
he could have returned the books too though....
Just laugh it off and nobody will care
Protocol in this situation is to go forward with the book burning in earnest.
Not only had I never eaten a potato, I had never heard the word potato
> Greentext