I’ve always wondered why some people say it is okay if you invite yourself to do something when I’m sure they would actually be annoyed if you did so. For example, sometimes when I am at a friend’s house, I would be told from her or someone else that I am allowed to eat something if I am hungry and that I can help myself. I always say no because I feel like that is just a polite offer and if I actually acted on that offer they may not appreciate it.

A similar example is that there has been a cpuple times where I spent the night at her house and wjen I wake up, either I don’t eat at all until I get home or one time I actually packed something for myself to eat. When her or her parents found out any of those times that I either didn’t eat, or one time, ate my own food that I packed, they said I could have easily just ate whatever was in their fridge or some cereal. Even though that is a polite offer, I feel like they are just saying that out of politeness and would not appreciate it if I actually just invited myself into their fridge.

I’ve heard other people make similar offers to others ti me or even to other people. I’ve wondered why people make those offers when it is technically considered socially unacceptable to invite yourself into other people’s food or other belongings. I am just not comfortable doing that and I honestly wouldn’t be surprised that even when they make those offers, they are secretly glad I actually didn’t take up on those offers. I feel like it is expected to decline those offers.

What do you guys think? Have you ever made offers but secretly hoped no one would take you up on it? Has anyone made those offers to you? How do you feel about helping yourself to someone else’s fridge or other belongings? I feel like it is only okay if they give you permission first and give you something like at dinner, not just raid their stuff before hand. Just wondered what your thoughts were.