Love and The Clap
- November 5th, 2007
I’ve long said that it bugs me when people clap for themselves. I’ve had people ask me what I mean by that, so allow me to set the scene for you.
You’re watching an episode of some talk show. The guest (it especially annoys me if they’re celebrities) is called out from backstage and the audience explodes into applause. The host is clapping, the crowd goes wild and after said guest’s jaunt to the stage, they proceed to stand there and clap along with the audience.
STOP. IT. Just smile or something. Sit down so the crowd will stop clapping. Or bask in the applause. Say thank you. Nod. Wave, even! But for chrissake, don’t clap. You look like a tool.
I have no idea why this bugs me so much. It just seems sort of self-congratulatory or indulgent to me. “Yes, continue to clap for me. Hell, I’ll clap for me. I AM AWESOME!” Or maybe it’s as basic as that “you look like a tool” explanation. It’s just one of my little quirks.
Another thing I’ve just realized bothers me, almost on par with the clapping thing, is the affinity for contestants on game shows or reality shows to be overly affectionate with one another. Now, I’m not talking about a hook-up on Big Brother After Dark, it’s much more vanilla than that. Again, allow me to set the scene.
You’re watching let’s say… The Singing Bee, or any game show where they pull from the crowd or there’s a group of contestants on stage together. Some guy gets picked from the audience and maybe he hugs the woman next to him. Now, that could be his sister, girlfriend, wife, whatever. I’ll let that slide. But, then he runs up to the stage where the other contestants are waiting and he hugs them. I don’t get that! I suppose you make friends waiting in line all that time, but I’m not going to hug virtual strangers I’m competing against… I don’t think. I couldn’t say for sure until I actually was in that situation, but my personality, no matter how outgoing I might be, doesn’t usually allow for sweaty excited strangers to hug me while jumping up and down. That’s just me.
And on reality shows, people are constantly saying, “I love you” to people they just met. Granted, I’ve never lived in a house with a huge group of people I was competing against, but seriously — you love them? How capricious! It sometimes take me a while to tell the person I love that I love them as I often wait for them to say it first (like most chicks), but these hoochies on shows like The Bachelor just throw it around like they’re saying, “Pass the salt.”
And even if it’s just friendly love… come on. I don’t hesitate to tell my friends that I love them. Ever. But you love that tramp in the slutty halter that you met 3 days ago? The one that kissed “the bachelor” before you did, told everyone you have crabs and stole your favorite Chanel lipstick? Really? Hm.
If that’s your definition of love, I know a great therapist.
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OMG dude, I’ve totally thought the same things about The Singing Bee and The Bachelor! I’ll hug people I’m close to, but in general I’m not really all the touchy-feely when it comes to people I don’t know, so it just boggles my mind why those people on stage start hugging! Can’t they just high-five or something like on the Price is Right when you’re comin’ on down??
And YES! What IS up with all the chicks declaring their love for the Bachelor after 1 day? I suppose more goes on off-camera, but still, the time frame just doesn’t seem long enough–especially for ALL the girls to have fallen in love with this dude. Please.
That is why I cannot watch “reality” shows – who’s reality? Seriously!
I have never noticed the clapping – but I bet I will now!
I LOVE you! *claps*
I feel that way sometimes when I watch The Biggest Loser, but then I realize that those people have been living together for (at this point) two months, without their families, going through absolute hell losing weight. I’m sure it is a bonding experience.
The Singing Bee? Not quite.
I definitely hate when people clap for themselves too. Here’s a question though. What do you do when you’re recognized along with a list of other people. You’re clapping, you’re clapping, and then they say your name. Do you stop clapping? Or do you keep clapping and clapping as they move down the list to other names?
Amen, a zillion freaking times over. Especially about the ones saying “I love you” – or you know not even the “I love you” comments, as much as the whole premise that they spend – what? A month or two? – Getting to know someone that they then feel compelled to say things like “We have such a deep connection.”
Then contemplate a lasting and meaningful lifetime relationship with the person… uhhh, what?
I’m thinking the “deep connection” isn’t all life-parnter-y the way the editing portrays it to be. Seriously. But who do they think they are kidding?
First, you’re absolutely right about clapping for oneself. You just don’t do it. You nod graciously, you quietly say “thank you” a few times, and be gracious about it.
And the hugging thing? Yeah, that and saying I Love You to people you don’t actually love. It’s a combination of tact and decorum, two traits of which people are sorely lacking in this day and age.