# Things You Look Forward To That Always Disappoint
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [November 21, 2014, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298 "2014-11-21T22:58:40Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2014, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/41 "2014-11-23T04:25:14Z")
Everything after getting up in the morning.
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### Author:  [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2014, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/42 "2014-11-23T06:49:01Z")
Coffee houses, even before wifi. I knew people who hung out in them for hours. I look at the (probably) bad art, drink my overpriced coffee, and wonder why I didn’t just make a pot at home.
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### Author:  [@DooWahDiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DooWahDiddy)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2014, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/43 "2014-11-23T07:34:29Z")
Cracker Barrel. The thought (and picture) of their biscuits and gravy always gets me, but it always ends up tasting like cardboard with a watery white sauce on it. So yeah, Cracker Barrel.
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### Author:  [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2014, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/44 "2014-11-23T21:27:49Z")
Texans games.
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### Author:  [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2014, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/45 "2014-11-23T22:09:21Z")
Discussions on the Dope that pertain to female issues. I always assume that things won’t turn out like they do, then lo and behold, the element of misogyny rears its ugly head and I’m disappointed once more. I so should stay out of those threads, but I typically disappoint myself by barging right along anyway.
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### Author:  [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2014, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/46 "2014-11-23T22:59:13Z")
Fireworks.
When I was a kid, they were magical. Now they’re just noisy. Occasion or location don’t matter - they’re always disappointing.
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### Author:  [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2014, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/47 "2014-11-24T00:20:46Z")
**Live music**
Always seems like a bonus if the place you’re going to has a band, but it’s always turned up to 11 so any conversation / fun you were having is over, and they just go on too long (note the difference in crowd noise from when the band goes on the first time, versus when they come back after their break).
Of course I’m just talking about when you go to a place that incidentally has live music, not going to a concert or whatever.
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### Author:  [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2014, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/48 "2014-11-24T00:24:37Z")
> [@faithfool](#):
>
> Discussions on the Dope that pertain to female issues. I always assume that things won’t turn out like they do, then lo and behold, the element of misogyny rears its ugly head and I’m disappointed once more. I so should stay out of those threads, but I typically disappoint myself by barging right along anyway.
I agree but I would say both sides often say quite irrational things and take offence at just about anything. Now, no matter how interesting the thread title, if it’s gender related I know it’s going to be trainwreck.
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2014, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/49 "2014-11-24T02:00:20Z")
> [@Mijin](#):
>
> **Live music**
> Always seems like a bonus if the place you’re going to has a band, but it’s always turned up to 11 so any conversation / fun you were having is over, and they just go on too long (note the difference in crowd noise from when the band goes on the first time, versus when they come back after their break).
>
> Of course I’m just talking about when you go to a place that incidentally has live music, not going to a concert or whatever.
You’re not up, dancing?
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### Author:  [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2014, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/50 "2014-11-24T02:35:01Z")
> [@Mijin](#):
>
> I agree but I would say both sides often say quite irrational things and take offence at just about anything. Now, no matter how interesting the thread title, if it’s gender related I know it’s going to be trainwreck.
I’ll cop to this. After one too many times of trying to be reasonable, I often let my frustration get the better of me and just use these threads as a way to blow off steam at the people who always come down on the, say, alleged rapist’s (or whatever) side. You just get tired of everyone else getting the “benefit of the doubt” except potential victims. I’m sure it’s similar to the folks who have lost perspective when they feel like they’re voice is never heard in matters of government, etc. I just no longer care if I attempt to reach them.
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### Author:  [@Whatever4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whatever4)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2014, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/51 "2014-11-24T02:59:17Z")
Sitting around an open backyard fire. Looks good from a distance, but no matter where I sit the wind follows me and I end up with a sore throat, dry eyes, and clothes smelling like, well, awful stuff.
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### Author:  [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2014, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/52 "2014-11-24T07:34:03Z")
> [@Jophiel](#):
>
> … the overflow drain in my tub is low … So unless I jury rig something to block up the overflow drain, it’s never actually a satisfying soak even under the best of conditions.
Is the overflow mounted in such a way that you could turn it upside down?
The drain is now at the TOP of the fitting, not the bottom. Might get you 1-2" higher waterline.
Or, get a bit of rubber (or close to rubber) and put it over the hole, then re-install the overflow fitting - you will have a small trickle, but running the faucet a bit will compensate (and get you new supply of hot water).
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### Author:  [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2014, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/53 "2014-11-24T08:46:37Z")
Christmas.
It was once a happy time–Mom, Dad, and Sis; as well as Grandma and Maiden Aunt. Lots of fun, great conversation, plenty of witty banter, and a dinner that was to die for.
Nowadays, Mom, Grandma, and Maiden Aunt are dead, and Dad is horribly afflicted by Alzheimer’s. I go to Sis’s in a different city, but my nephews wave “Hi, Uncle Spoons” over their shoulders before going back to their video game. Hey, let’s see who’s playing on TV–but Sis herself tells me, “There will be no football on my TV.” If I drive, my truck is somehow inferior to my BIL’s; if I fly instead, BIL tells me how much Air Canada is ripping me off.
So, I sit there, with kids that don’t want to be sitting at the table and make no secret of the fact that they’d rather be playing video games, with a sister who hates sports, and a BIL who is _sooooo_ superior to me in every way.
Why do I do this?
On the plus side, I’m seriously thinking about telling Sis “Nope” this year, and booking myself a nice room in a fancy hotel over Christmas. The one I’m thinking of has a beautiful Christmas dinner, and a well-stocked cellar. A nice Christmas dinner with a fine wine would be preferable to one where the kids complain about having to be there, and the strongest drink is Coors Light.
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### Author:  [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2014, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/54 "2014-11-24T09:08:22Z")
Dick’s Drive-In. Whenever I spend the night in Seattle, I inevitably find myself intending to grab a midnight snack from Dick’s after whatever show I’m going to.
And every time, I end up with a greasy lukewarm burger that isn’t really any different than the one I could have got at the McDonald’s down the block.
(The fries are still awesome, though.)
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### Author:  [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2014, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/55 "2014-11-24T11:53:11Z")
> [@Mijin](#):
>
> Live music
> Always seems like a bonus if the place you’re going to has a band, but it’s always turned up to 11 so any conversation / fun you were having is over, and they just go on too long
> [@kayaker](#):
>
> You’re not up, dancing?
If it’s a good band, sure. But again I’m talking about live music as a special extra thing at a bar or club, not an actual music event. So even if it’s good music it’s always a little disappointing that all I can do now is dance or leave.
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### Author:  [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2014, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/56 "2014-11-24T11:59:20Z")
Order in food.
It seems such a wonderful idea, initially, no cooking, no pots and pans, no feeling bad about forgetting to take something out of the freezer or guilt over no cooking.
But it’s never really ‘nice’. It takes way long to come, is often less than piping hot, never looks anything like the appetizing pictures in the flyer, and is always disappointing in flavour. Plus it’s majorly unhealthy, filled with salt, sugar and fats, usually, so I feel a little bad about that too!
Before I really cooked I thought it was awesome, no prep, no cleanup, just call. But now that I am a pretty good cook, it’s lost all it’s appeal unfortunately.
We don’t even order in Thai food anymore, whenever I suggest it hubby says, ‘But you make better Thai food then that! I’d rather have yours!’ And he’s not wrong, were always disappointed.
(Of course when we’re in Toronto, that’s not so, the Thai food is spectacular, not so in my smaller city!)
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2014, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/57 "2014-11-24T12:16:39Z")
> [@Mijin](#):
>
> If it’s a good band, sure. But again I’m talking about live music as a special extra thing at a bar or club, not an actual music event. So even if it’s good music it’s always a little disappointing that all I can do now is dance or leave.
But . . . The bars around here at least sell intoxicating beverages and people meet in the parking lot to burn one. The band could be local grade school kids and we’re having a blast. ☹
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### Author:  [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2014, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/58 "2014-11-24T15:14:30Z")
> [@Spoons](#):
>
> Christmas. [snip.]Nowadays, Mom, Grandma, and Maiden Aunt are dead, and Dad is horribly afflicted by Alzheimer’s. I go to Sis’s in a different city, but my nephews wave “Hi, Uncle Spoons” over their shoulders before going back to their video game. Hey, let’s see who’s playing on TV–but Sis herself tells me, “There will be no football on my TV.” If I drive, my truck is somehow inferior to my BIL’s; if I fly instead, BIL tells me how much Air Canada is ripping me off.
>
> So, I sit there, with kids that don’t want to be sitting at the table and make no secret of the fact that they’d rather be playing video games, with a sister who hates sports, and a BIL who is _sooooo_ superior to me in every way.
What if you play a football video game with your nephews and kill two birds with one stone? 😛 Bring the absolutely latest Madden NFL (what are they up to now, 15?) with you and you’ll have bragging rights over your BIL for a three-fer. 🆒
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### Author:  [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/59 "2014-11-24T15:24:39Z")
Mine is having an evening without the kids or wife around. I usually have all these fevered visions of either making dinner or getting some kind of takeout that none of them like (wings, usually), and having a large beer. Then I imagine sitting down and watching all the TV I want to watch, playing some video games, and generally loafing around.
In reality, I end up eating too many wings, get bored with the video games, and end up watching Futurama re-runs on TV for a little while, and end up doing chores.
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### Author:  [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2014, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/60 "2014-11-24T16:15:36Z")
> [@salinqmind](#):
>
> I’ve seen “banana bread beer”.
I’ve tried this. I kind of liked it.
In a nearby city there are three thrift stores on the same street. Salvation Army, Value Village and Goodwill. I LOVE thrift stores. Sometimes I decide that I’m going to road-trip over there and spend \*all day \* poking through those stores and I’m going to find all kinds of cool clothes. The last few times I found jack shit. Spent $20 in gas for nothing.
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