Thanks for the response! As for the lemons, it's usually not that much, one or two, three at most. In your view, is that still reasonable, or does that border on tacky? Should I still care what my friends say or think at that point, even if I personally want to drink the lemonade?

As far as transit, I agree with you that it's not a bad idea to get a license just in case, such as for emergency reasons. I live in a U.S. city that's unique: we have excellent public transportation, but many people my age still have cars and like driving around to get to other areas outside of the city to go clubbing or whatnot. If I lived somewhere where driving was a necessity, then I would have gotten one. Maybe I'll get one from the future. The problem, however, is that even if I do get a car and a license, the fact that I don't drive that much and still use public transport makes me look "weird" to most people. And my family nor I have a lot of money, so I'd rather not buy a car, have to deal with auto insurance, gas, etc. My workplace isn't too far from where I live, and I can get there with public transit or biking.

I understand your about how "we rarely say exactly what we mean, or mean exactly what we say." But I just think that's silly, and if others want to utilize language in that manner, that's fine, but if I don't want to, I feel that's fine as well. Of course, if someone asks me how I'm doing, and I'm not doing well, I just say "ah, I've been having a bad day" and leave it at that. I don't go on explaining everything at length. But I just think it's silly that we have to fake through everything just because we're conditioned by society to do so. If I don't want to be part of that social system, I feel that's my right. Especially at a restaurant where I'm still paying the bill and tip anyway.