"You don't even know what tapas are?" - The Tapas Moment
“What? You’ve never heard of that author? You don’t know that TV show? Never participated in a game of bowling? You don’t know what tapas are? How weird!” Welcome to the Tapas Moment.
There’s a good chance you’ve experienced one of these moments. It’s when you realize that something, apparently, is considered common knowledge—and you’ve never heard of it. People react with surprise, sometimes even disbelief. How could you not know that one particular author, TV show, or activity? You’ve heard the word “tapas” before, but honestly, you never knew it referred to food.
For the sake of clarity, comfort, and blog SEO, let’s give these moments a name: the Tapas Moment.
Being the outsider
Tapas Moments can be jarring. They can make you feel like an outsider, as if you’ve missed something that everyone else naturally absorbed. Sometimes, people might even make you feel embarrassed for not knowing what seems so obvious to them. But is that fair?
Knowledge as a Privilege
We shouldn’t feel ashamed of not knowing something. Let’s not judge others for lacking information that, in reality, is simply a privilege to receive.
Think about it: the only reason someone does know what tapas are is because someone, at some point, told them. Knowledge isn’t something you’re born with. It’s passed down, shared, and learned. The Tapas Moment isn’t about intelligence or effort. It’s just the moment when you realize that something widely known in a particular time or culture has simply never been shared with you before.
There are many reasons why someone might not know a “common” thing:
They migrated from a different culture where this knowledge isn’t widespread.
Their upbringing didn’t include certain experiences (dining out, pop culture, or specific traditions).
They were part of a community or social group where no one else had this knowledge either.
We all have blind spots in our knowledge, because nobody can know everything. And yet, in a Tapas Moment, we sometimes expect that everyone should.
Bruh
The next time you’ve caught someone else in a Tapas Moment, consider this: no one should feel ashamed of missing a piece of knowledge. Instead of reacting with shock or judgment, take the opportunity to share knowledge kindly. If someone literally doesn’t know what tapas are, don’t laugh – invite them out to try some!
Tapas Moment sharing and caring
We’ve all had them. Let’s carry each other’s burden and share your Tapas Moment in the comments below!