What? Did I just commit a felony, or something?

I went out to eat by myself about a week or so ago. I had called 5-10 people, asking if they'd like to join me, but they were all either busy at work, with their husbands or wives, busy with their children, had already eaten, were waiting for their dinner to arrive, etc. I was extremely hungry, craving a certain entree, so I up and left. When my father called back, he kept inquisitioning me about if I really wanted to go and do that. "You're going by yourself?" "Are you sure?" "You're going alone?" A friend of mine called not long after I arrived at the restaurant and he gave me similar questions, "You're there alone? That's kind of weird."

With any dining out experience, I'd say that there are four key factors to making it a pleasurable experience: 1) quality food, 2) atmosphere, 3) good service, and 4) enjoyable company. There are times when one may be out with a loved one or some friends and the service is subpar, to be kind. That kind definitely take away from the dining out, especially if the group is in a hurry to get elsewhere after they eat. Bad food can always take away from the experience. Even if a person goes out with one or more people to a restaurant, it's never a guarantee that the company will be all too enjoyable. First dates always have the potential of being awkward or uncomfortable. The same can be said of seeing old friends or family. So, there I was. The service was solid. The atmosphere was nice. The food was excellent. All I lacked was enjoyable company. I'd give a very positive grade on three of those four factors and the other didn't receive a negative grade, so much as it wasn't applicable to the situation.

So, here's my question. Are some (many) people that insecure with themselves, that they're embarrassed to go out to eat, see a flick, or even go out in public by themselves once in a while? These same individuals would rather fatten themselves up by going through a drive-thru at a fast food restaurant and eating alone at home than go out to a semi-decent restaurant and eat alone there, for the simple fact that they wouldn't be seen by the public eye. There wouldn't be those onlookers all staring at them and saying to their company, "Gosh, what's that guy/gal doing here all by themself?" This mentality makes me laugh even more in regard to seeing a film at the theater. Before and after the movie, I could be more understanding, but if a person (or people) is (are) only seeing a movie? It's not like much talking will get done during the film. It's completely dark in the theater come show-time, so it's not like (m)any people will see this person.

Company is great (well, sometimes), but some peace and quiet can be nice at times too. Just as it may be fun at times to play video games or watch a movie with a friend, it can also be fun to just read a book by one's lonesome.