“Douche Chills”

A reader writes:

One of the things I love about the Dish is the way that diverse, seemingly unrelated threads can connect in meaningful ways.

Case in point: Every time I witness the awkwardness of a superficial "Thank you for your service" exchange, I get "douche chills." Of course these men and women should be thanked, but it can be done in more meaningful, thoughtful, and personal ways. Using that boilerplate phrase – and making damn sure everyone around you hears it – makes the exchange all about showing everyone what a great and patriotic American you are. That act of drawing unnecessary attention to oneself – just like the loud talker on the movie line from "Annie Hall" – sends me into "Fremdschamen" overdrive.