I’d like a diet soda, and some extra ranch.

It's a weird thing that I have been wondering about since I first started serving, what is the obsession with diet sodas? More specifically, why do people think diet soda will make them lose weight? You see this is the problem with our society when it comes to health, we mistake low in fat for healthy. We are obsessed with diets and eating light, or low in fat. The problem with this is that we feel this gives us the liberty to splurge somewhere else so we end up eating more than ever before. Every day I work I see examples of this, one such example happened just the other day. I introduced myself to the table and when I asked what drinks they would like they were extremely adamant about drinking strictly diet soda. When I brought the sodas to the table they insisted that they were not diets and they forced me to bring another round of drinks. I went to the back to check the soda lines and true enough everything was hooked up right so I brought out another set of drinks to placate them. I figured "ok, they're on a diet, I understand." But when I took their order I was extremely surprised when they ordered the highest in calorie appetizer, salads with extra ranch, and deep-dish pizza (also with extra ranch.) I don't get it, why make such a big deal about having to have diet soda (which I'm sorry, tastes like crap) when you're eating instant heart attack? I mean really man, if you're gonna splurge just go for the gold and enjoy yourself, but don't lie to yourself and think that diet soda gives you a free pass to eat whatever you want, (stepping down from soap box). This same situation happens all the time and I still don't get it, maybe you can enlighten me. It sure can be confusing when you're living, in the weeds.