I need some quick advice. I have a family dinner coming up this Sunday and I was informed last minute that my cousin (not blood related) is pregnant. How can I fake happiness towards a congratulations when I really don't give a shit, since my opinions are fucked up about pregnancy anyway.

I'm prepared to be called cold hearted, a bitch, ect.

If you really don't think you can just tell her "congratulations," then just don't say anything about it I guess? Maybe try to avoid her if it's a big family event. It's probably a happy event for her though, so probably best to keep any negative opinions to yourself or talk about it with someone who understands.

Just say congratulations and don't be a dick? It's not about you.

Just say Congratulations. As has previously stated, this isn't about you so your personal opinion on her pregnancy doesn't really matter.

Subeta can't tell you HOW to fake sincerity, you just do it. You smile when you don't want to and say 'congratulations.' I understand having weird feelings about pregnancy but you need to just suck it up for this occasion.

Yeah I'd have to agree with everyone here, either avoid it, or smile, do the crinkly-eyed thing, and tell her you're happy for her without really meaning it.

I assume it's too late to find a double who does the job for you so, like others already said, just smile, tell her congrats, wish her all the best and then move on. Tbh I don't see the big problem here, it's not that she wants to marry a mass murderer or something, she's just pregrant. :o

Best not to say anything, really. Faking sincerity can lead to them actually buying it and trying to tell you ALL about it lol. Just look busy if people start talking about it. Make a run to the store, get all involved with the food, etc.

I would just not say anything either. That will get the point across perfectly that you just dont care. If she starts making everyone pay attention to her pregnancy you can just say "how nice for you" and that isnt faking like you really care.

kinda sad that you have to come on here to ask how to fake sincerity other then that don't avoid the situation, if you do cross paths with her just tell her congratulations and move on. you don't need to ask her about the due date or the plans she's making or anything.

Just smile, say, "Congrats!" and maybe give a hug if your family's the hugging type. That's that.

- If you don't feel confident in your faking ability, and know that you're going to be singled out anyway, you could say to her what a friend of mine says: "My condolences and/or congratulations!" Deliver it with a smile!

The remark is off-key enough that the response is usually laughter. People will think you are weird, but probably not a jerk.

Wow, so many things wrong with what you just said.

1. You (or the OP or anyone else in this situation) should not be making a statement about your opinion. It is completely unwarranted. When someone says they are pregnant, you say "congratulations". You do not give your opinion on pregnancy. This is just basic social skills and decency.

2. Again... "getting the point across"? Do you so lack social skills that you feel the need to push your opinion on people regardless of whether or not it's asked for? When someone says they're pregnant, you say congratulations. You do not give your opinion on pregnancy.

3. "If she starts making everyone pay attention to her pregnancy"... seriously? She would be telling her family about her pregnancy, which is important to her and most people there!

I get uncomfortable about pregnancy. I have a phobia. Want to know what I would say if one of my cousins mentioned she was pregnant? Congratulations! Why? Because it's not the fuck about me, it's about her and her happiness. If you have such a problem with others' happiness that you feel the need to make a fucking statement about your opinion on the thing that's making them happy, you're seriously messed up.

Get angry with what I've said all you like. You're a jerk.

i told her not to say anything. how is that pushing my opinion on someone? i agree with the OP. i just plain dont care about procreating and dont like children. the op nor anyone else in the world is obligated to care about other people procreating. how is saying nothing giving your opinion? i'm mean sure she might get the hint the OP doesnt care.. but its not ranting about the fact she doesnt care.

where is this law written down you congratulate people on being pregnant? dont want ... don't have to. sorry if that is such an emotional thing for you to deal with.

i'm pretty interested in how keeping quiet or saying "thats nice for you" is pushing my opinion on her pregnancy. just cause i'm not saying congratulations? get over it.

First of all, if everyone else is saying "congratulations" and you're silent... yeah, that's making a statement. An unwarranted one. It is not up to you to give your opinion on what is making her happy.

If you'd actually read what I said, you'd realize that I never said you had to care. You just don't have to be a jerk about it. Yes, deliberately keeping quiet and not responding is being a jerk.

By the way, you've already acknowledged that keeping quiet was making a statement, so you trying to say now that you're not pushing your opinion/making a statement is silly. :) Besides, your whole post reeks of someone who has a low opinion of people who procreate with your snide comments about how the cousin might be "making everyone pay attention to her pregnancy". The way you word everything is pretty hostile towards people who get pregnant.

Sucks for anyone who has to deal with your irl that you can't even pretend to be happy for them. I hope the next time you get excited about something and tell people that they keep quiet to "make a statement."

i'm sorry for you that this is an issue you choose to get heated about. no one is obligated to even fake happiness for someone getting pregnant. if you think thats being a jerk, whatever you are entitled to your opinion and i'm entitled to mine and the op is entitled to not say anything about their cousin's pregnancy if they choose not to.

the world will move on until of course we are so overpopulated there is no where else to live, no more water to dirnk, we are killed off by the millions and forced off this planet (teehee)

Okay, so you not only choose to ignore what I'm saying completely but you also decided to continue to be a jerk and make stupid comments about people who choose to have kids. Wow. Just... wow. What a bitter person you are. Must suck.

o m g calm the hell down sweet baby jesus' abs you are like freaking out right now lol i don't get what's so bad about not wanting to pretend like you care about something when you really couldn't care less better to mind your own business and keep your head down than be fake like why does a person have to congratulate someone else on being pregnant why

I give up, holy crap. It's not about you or making a point. If someone says they're pregnant, be polite if you're a normal human being with social skills who cares about being courteous to others. It's not hard.

I'm not going to post anymore because it's like talking to a brick wall and I'm sick of arguing with people who value being bitter and making a point to happy people. Not posting doesn't mean I'm giving up and you're right, though.

wh a t I think OP is being ridic about faking happiness for her poor relative but I don't get the deal with why being silent is a bad thing. like damn no one will care if you don't say anything, it's not that serious at all. it's super obvious when people are being fake I'd rather the person just not say anything if I were pregnant and they thought my pregnancy was stupid. a simple "hi" and a smile then receding towards the back of the crowd is perfectly fine, they don't have to say congrats at all.