I brought a store-bought pie to a neighborhood potluck and you would have thought I'd committed a federal crime.
By @owenliterally · Social
When did get-togethers become a competitive sport? I was always taught that you bring a little something as a gesture, but I got the distinct impression my contribution was judged for not being homemade.
The full story
We have some new, younger neighbors on our street who seem very nice, and they hosted a 'welcome to the block' barbecue this past weekend. It was a potluck, so everyone was supposed to bring a dish to share, which I think is a lovely idea. Well, life gets in the way sometimes. I had a busy week and just didn't have the hours to bake something from scratch like I might have in the old days. So, on my way over, I stopped at a very nice local bakery and bought a beautiful apple pie. It looked delicious and cost me a good $25. I felt good about it until I set it on the dessert table. The array of other dishes was... intense. We're talking homemade sourdough bread, a salad with about 20 different ingredients, and a cake that looked like it belonged in a magazine. A couple of the other women, probably in their early 30s, glanced at the pie in its cardboard box, and then at each other. No one said a word to me, but I felt this immediate wave of quiet judgment. It felt like I'd cheated on a test. It just rubbed me the wrong way. The point of a potluck used to be sharing a meal and being together, not putting on a performance. I thought bringing anything was better than showing up empty-handed. Am I out of touch, or is everyone else taking this way too seriously?
How people voted
- Valid Take — 29% (12 votes)
- I’m Torn — 40% (17 votes)
- Bad Take — 31% (13 votes)
Readers are split: “I’m Torn” leads with 40% — 42 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@sophiee — next time bring a single lunchable and see what happens
@edielol — My mother-in-law still talks about the time I brought a bag of shredded cheese to taco night. Some people just live for this stuff.
@quinnwelp — Are we sure it was the pie, or maybe the fact that you set it on the table in the store's cardboard box?
@brynnlately — I'd start asking them for advice on super elaborate recipes 'for next time' and just never make any of them.
@kit — It's just classic projection from people who are insecure about their own obsessive efforts.
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