Ever find yourself hanging with long time friends and the conversation stream seems to hit a momentary speed trap? Then, like a bolt of electric jive juice up the spine, one friend makes the ‘it’s go time’ challenge?

“Alright, all right, chumps. All time top five…”

It doesn’t matter what the list is. All that matters is you gotta top each other with the sweet buttercream best of the best. Your list has to be solid, have a relatable social impact with each other, and above all. You have to be honest about it.

It’s a competitive mental flex of knowledge, class, awareness, and taste. I can’t tell you the hours spent debating, cheering, scoffing, laughing, and high-fiving in 24 hour diners, bars, and nightclubs. Over this simple and engaging kind of exchange. Music, movies, comics, sandwiches, tv shows, famous people (not porn stars Flynn), books, drummers, candy, etc… The possibilities are endless. And depending on the kind of friends you have and the diversity of tastes you have between one another, it can get down right epic in nature.

Ever have a two hour debate on Star Wars food options compared against replicator foods from Star Trek? It started out as an all time top five ‘science fiction actors that never broke away from being typecast’. After 10 minutes it escalated into obscure absurdity. Yes, my friends and I are monumental dorks.

What I have noticed over the years. Is that no matter what we talk about whenever we hang out. This trigger only comes up when the string of conversation becomes mediocre small talk. Apparently none of us can handle mundane pleasantries.

Do you have an all time top five in anything? Do your friends?