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Woman With Main Character Syndrome Freaks Out After Stranger Orders The Same Meal
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Woman With Main Character Syndrome Freaks Out After Stranger Orders The Same Meal

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Few people like dealing with entitled people; that’s why individuals who find themselves in such a situation tend to receive sympathetic looks from those around them.

After having encountered an entitled person in the wild, redditor ‘Odd_Acanthisitta_853’ received not only sympathetic looks but some extra chicken, too. That’s because he had to deal with an entitled woman in a restaurant calling him a creep, when all he did was order food for his wife.

Bored Panda has reached out to the OP and he was kind enough to answer a few of our questions. You will find his thoughts in the text below.

Some people’s sense of entitlement makes it impossible for others to even order their food in peace

Image credits: billow926 / pexels (not the actual photo)

This redditor wanted to order some food for his wife, but an entitled woman next to him managed to make it all about her

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Image credits: Polina Zimmerman / pexels (not the actual photo)

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Image credits: jeffreyw / flickr (not the actual photo)

Image credits: Odd_Acanthisitta_853

Image credits: Timur Weber / pexels (not the actual photo)

The woman in the OP’s story only proves that some people really believe the world revolves around them; and that can lead to numerous problems, sexist behavior being one of them. Research suggests that both male and female representatives with a heightened sense of entitlement tend to be more sexist, even though their attitude towards it differs a little.

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A study conducted by psychologists from Case Western Reserve University and San Diego State University found that in general, entitled men tend to endorse hostile views of women—suggest that they’re manipulative, deceptive, and untrustworthy—while entitled women are more likely to endorse views of females as frail and needing extra care, which makes them likely to demand that men take care of them.

A PhD graduate from Case Western Reserve University and the lead author on the study, Joshua Grubbs, pointed out that entitlement is seemingly rising across recent generations, which makes the link to sexist attitudes particularly alarming. “Recent events certainly highlight how dangerous entitlement and hostile sexism can be in men. Furthermore, given that benevolent sexism can also produce gender inequality, these findings for women are also concerning,” he said.

The OP revealed that being called a creep brought up some rather hurtful memories

Currently an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of New Mexico, Grubbs has also suggested that, “At extreme levels, entitlement is a toxic narcissistic trait, repeatedly exposing people to the risk of feeling frustrated, unhappy and disappointed with life.”

While such negative feelings affect the entitled people themselves first and foremost, they can clearly influence those around them as well, and the OP is arguably just one of many examples. In a recent interview with Bored Panda, he revealed that the name-calling in the restaurant brought up some rather hurtful memories.

“Being called a creep was primarily what upset me about it, even if I wasn’t remotely interested in the girl,” he shared. “I was super self-conscious as a kid, so that word causes me anxiety anytime I hear it. After I got over the initial shock, though, I couldn’t help but think of how ridiculous she—and the situation as a whole—had been.”

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Image credits: Budgeron Bach / pexels (not the actual photo)

In the redditor’s opinion, a heightened sense of entitlement is likely related to a lack of adversity in one’s life. “The less a person struggles, the more entitled they seem to be, as if the world should treat them better than everyone else. And in some cases, the world does feed into this, as people don’t like confrontation and will often bend a knee to entitled people,” he explained, adding that it often also comes down to a severe lack of empathy and emotional intelligence.

According to Grubb’s research, entitled people’s negative emotions are typically caused by perceived injustices, which result in the entitled individual directing their anger outward, blaming others, and reassuring themselves of their own specialness, all of which lead to perceived injustices and start the vicious cycle again.

Forbes seconded the idea that the younger generations seem to feel more entitled than, say, their baby boomer or Gen X counterparts. While that reportedly entails both the good and the bad—just to give an example of each, entitled people tend to feel a stronger drive for achievement, but they also often act selfishly—there’s also the ugly, which, as Forbes points out, is the chronic disappointment and similar “joyous” emotions they share with the world. And while the entitled woman in the OP’s story didn’t bring much positivity into the restaurant either, at least her negativity was compensated with extra chicken.

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“I approached my wife about it humorously remarking, ‘Hey, some girl in there thinks you’re a creep, and she has a boyfriend so don’t talk to her,’ as the order for teriyaki chicken was hers originally,” the OP shared his wife’s reaction to the extra chicken. “After I explained what happened, she got a kick out of it and couldn’t stop laughing.”

Fellow redditors shared their thoughts on the matter

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Some netizens had questions about certain details in the story

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moonlitknightt avatar
David Martin
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Back in my teens, I was walking home from a convenience store, and a girl around my age was walking the same direction about 20 or 30 feet ahead. After a couple blocks, she whips around, scowling at me, and says "I have mace in my bag, you know." I just kept walking, went right past her, and pointed up the street saying "That's nice; I have a house four blocks up, and higher standards."

shelsea-beaulieu avatar
glennschroeder avatar
Papa
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same here. Apparently the person he replied to is one of those people who go around looking for things to criticize and be offended by.

Load More Replies...
xipdizc avatar
Xip Dizc
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am not an adventurous eater at restaurants but I do like to try new things. If what you're ordering sounds interesting or when your order comes to the table and it smells or looks amazing I will order it too. I may even complement you on your choice and ask what it is.

johnli avatar
john li
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep sometimes I see the table next to me have some good looking food I ask the waiter to get me the same. Apparently this is considered rude for some reason.

Load More Replies...
c_o_shea avatar
C.O. Shea
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My standard reply to these types of women... "you flatter yourself." Which often leads to their follow up... "what's wrong with me?" Oy!

hannahtaylor_2 avatar
DarkViolet
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When they ask, you say, "I don't have that much time to spare." Then walk away.

Load More Replies...
madmanmanny2021 avatar
Manny
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I probably would have busted out laughing at her and told her she was giving herself wayyyy too much credit.

tucker_cahooter avatar
Tucker Cahooter
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I read this I immediately thought of that Seinfeld episode when George changes his usual order in the coffee shop and a complete stranger pointed out that he had ordered the exact same meal as her. Of course she wasn't offended like this woman. And it helped him land a lucrative job with the New York Yankees too

anna_meyers_1 avatar
Knitting Panda
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If it's the chain where all pandas eat, Orange Chicken really is the only thing to get, although my daughter likes their Mongolian Beef.

sotong5678 avatar
Simba
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's a psycho. That poor BF of hers, good luck mate.

katehallberg avatar
Pheline
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know. Can you imagine? I hope he wakes up before he’s too late that she's compensating for her poor self image by becoming brittle, toxic, and nasty. Or she’s demonstrating he over-inflated sense of self.

Load More Replies...
james_croft avatar
Nimitz
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate the fact that people who don't read are making this a cultural thing. It's not "Main Character Syndrome," it's narcissistic personality disorder and people with it are toxic af. I work with a person literally half my age who describes herself this way, and she is one of the worst people I've ever met. I truly cannot stand working with her.

justinsmith_1 avatar
Justin Smith
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Firat off what does readinghave to do with the name. Its called Main Character Syndrome because people act like they are the main character of the story, no mstter what.

Load More Replies...
bluemom2017 avatar
Pamela Blue
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's a Megan Markle. The most important person in the world, the most beautful, the most fashionable and glamorous, etc. Every man wants to knock her hips out and every woman is totally jealous of her. Yeah. People like that need a reminder of who they really are, but they wouldn't listen anyway.

kiramcpherson avatar
Aelin Wildfire
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A lot of women react that way because men have a long history of being creepy. I've heard of some pretty strange things that guys have done because they're creepy, and ordering the same food for attention isn't outside the realm of possibility... HOWEVER, I feel like deliberately dropping the "I have a boyfriend" line right away is pointless and potentially offensive if a guy is not -deliberately approaching you- (and isn't stalking you).

shaunlee avatar
SheamusFanFrom1987
Community Member
2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had something like this happen before. Before I owned my car, I used to take the train to and from college. One day I was on the train and this girl walks in and stands next to me (we were both holding on to the train railing). She caught me looking in her direction and practically shouted "What are you looking at???!!! I have a boyfriend, okay???!!!". Now, part of me was a little embarrassed because of her tone but not enough to stop me going "Great Miss, but you also have a lizard on your purse, just in case you didn't realize." She looked at her purse to confirm and lo and behold, staring back at her was the biggest house lizard I'd ever seen. Cue her screaming and swiping her bag around and at some point she shoved it in my direction and screamed at me to get rid of it but I just backed away with a "Nah, I'm good. Your boyfriend's got this" shrug. Funnily enough, she ended up going to the same college I did and apparently did not indeed have a boyfriend because she had shrugged off all interested guys the same way (I wasn't interested in her, just trying to avoid a house lizard crawling anywhere near or on me, and her, if she would listen).

scottj avatar
Scott J
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If it is the place I'm thinking about orange chicken is by far the most popular item on the menu. I've only been three times and have yet to get any orange chicken because it was always sold out.

stephyg1980 avatar
Ms.GB
Community Member
2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that orange chicken is the most popular dish at most Chinese fast food restaurants. It's almost like he ordered a coke to drink after she did and she accused him of flirting.

marneederider40 avatar
Marnie
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's ridiculous, but this is not an example of a "Karen", and let's please stop using that as an insult, anyway. Just call her a conceited b***h and be done with it.

haykutyunhar avatar
Stormblessed
Community Member
2 months ago (edited)

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Whoever downvoted Marnie, why? They're right, we shouldn't use the name "Karen" because it can be offensive. Just call them a b***h. There are many people named Karen who are actually really kind, and it's sort of rude to have that sort of stereotype.

Load More Replies...
moonlitknightt avatar
David Martin
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Back in my teens, I was walking home from a convenience store, and a girl around my age was walking the same direction about 20 or 30 feet ahead. After a couple blocks, she whips around, scowling at me, and says "I have mace in my bag, you know." I just kept walking, went right past her, and pointed up the street saying "That's nice; I have a house four blocks up, and higher standards."

shelsea-beaulieu avatar
glennschroeder avatar
Papa
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same here. Apparently the person he replied to is one of those people who go around looking for things to criticize and be offended by.

Load More Replies...
xipdizc avatar
Xip Dizc
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am not an adventurous eater at restaurants but I do like to try new things. If what you're ordering sounds interesting or when your order comes to the table and it smells or looks amazing I will order it too. I may even complement you on your choice and ask what it is.

johnli avatar
john li
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep sometimes I see the table next to me have some good looking food I ask the waiter to get me the same. Apparently this is considered rude for some reason.

Load More Replies...
c_o_shea avatar
C.O. Shea
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My standard reply to these types of women... "you flatter yourself." Which often leads to their follow up... "what's wrong with me?" Oy!

hannahtaylor_2 avatar
DarkViolet
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When they ask, you say, "I don't have that much time to spare." Then walk away.

Load More Replies...
madmanmanny2021 avatar
Manny
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I probably would have busted out laughing at her and told her she was giving herself wayyyy too much credit.

tucker_cahooter avatar
Tucker Cahooter
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I read this I immediately thought of that Seinfeld episode when George changes his usual order in the coffee shop and a complete stranger pointed out that he had ordered the exact same meal as her. Of course she wasn't offended like this woman. And it helped him land a lucrative job with the New York Yankees too

anna_meyers_1 avatar
Knitting Panda
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If it's the chain where all pandas eat, Orange Chicken really is the only thing to get, although my daughter likes their Mongolian Beef.

sotong5678 avatar
Simba
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's a psycho. That poor BF of hers, good luck mate.

katehallberg avatar
Pheline
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know. Can you imagine? I hope he wakes up before he’s too late that she's compensating for her poor self image by becoming brittle, toxic, and nasty. Or she’s demonstrating he over-inflated sense of self.

Load More Replies...
james_croft avatar
Nimitz
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate the fact that people who don't read are making this a cultural thing. It's not "Main Character Syndrome," it's narcissistic personality disorder and people with it are toxic af. I work with a person literally half my age who describes herself this way, and she is one of the worst people I've ever met. I truly cannot stand working with her.

justinsmith_1 avatar
Justin Smith
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Firat off what does readinghave to do with the name. Its called Main Character Syndrome because people act like they are the main character of the story, no mstter what.

Load More Replies...
bluemom2017 avatar
Pamela Blue
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's a Megan Markle. The most important person in the world, the most beautful, the most fashionable and glamorous, etc. Every man wants to knock her hips out and every woman is totally jealous of her. Yeah. People like that need a reminder of who they really are, but they wouldn't listen anyway.

kiramcpherson avatar
Aelin Wildfire
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A lot of women react that way because men have a long history of being creepy. I've heard of some pretty strange things that guys have done because they're creepy, and ordering the same food for attention isn't outside the realm of possibility... HOWEVER, I feel like deliberately dropping the "I have a boyfriend" line right away is pointless and potentially offensive if a guy is not -deliberately approaching you- (and isn't stalking you).

shaunlee avatar
SheamusFanFrom1987
Community Member
2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had something like this happen before. Before I owned my car, I used to take the train to and from college. One day I was on the train and this girl walks in and stands next to me (we were both holding on to the train railing). She caught me looking in her direction and practically shouted "What are you looking at???!!! I have a boyfriend, okay???!!!". Now, part of me was a little embarrassed because of her tone but not enough to stop me going "Great Miss, but you also have a lizard on your purse, just in case you didn't realize." She looked at her purse to confirm and lo and behold, staring back at her was the biggest house lizard I'd ever seen. Cue her screaming and swiping her bag around and at some point she shoved it in my direction and screamed at me to get rid of it but I just backed away with a "Nah, I'm good. Your boyfriend's got this" shrug. Funnily enough, she ended up going to the same college I did and apparently did not indeed have a boyfriend because she had shrugged off all interested guys the same way (I wasn't interested in her, just trying to avoid a house lizard crawling anywhere near or on me, and her, if she would listen).

scottj avatar
Scott J
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If it is the place I'm thinking about orange chicken is by far the most popular item on the menu. I've only been three times and have yet to get any orange chicken because it was always sold out.

stephyg1980 avatar
Ms.GB
Community Member
2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that orange chicken is the most popular dish at most Chinese fast food restaurants. It's almost like he ordered a coke to drink after she did and she accused him of flirting.

marneederider40 avatar
Marnie
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's ridiculous, but this is not an example of a "Karen", and let's please stop using that as an insult, anyway. Just call her a conceited b***h and be done with it.

haykutyunhar avatar
Stormblessed
Community Member
2 months ago (edited)

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Whoever downvoted Marnie, why? They're right, we shouldn't use the name "Karen" because it can be offensive. Just call them a b***h. There are many people named Karen who are actually really kind, and it's sort of rude to have that sort of stereotype.

Load More Replies...
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