Ah, yes, the mutual lie thing. For some thing, the instance of that which annoys me almost the most is the way they put water in bacon, and the way it shrinks immediately to about a quarter of its size on grilling. I know they're presenting a lie (or exageration, or putting the best foot forward, or whatever), and they know I know and, so on. It's all rather depressing. You just wish you could say 'cut the shit'.

It reminds me too of the (probably apochraphal) story of the man who wanted a job in the mail room, and had wanted a job in a mail room since being a kid, and would have been really good sorting mail, but was turned down because of lack of ambition in wanting to work his way out of the mail room.