# Food Nazis Jess, calm kiwi, yosemite and even sven ... front and center **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 14, 2005, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-nazis-jess-calm-kiwi-yosemite-and-even-sven-front-and-center/290021 "2005-02-14T16:23:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-nazis-jess-calm-kiwi-yosemite-and-even-sven-front-and-center/290021/321 "2005-02-15T20:52:45Z")
**eleanorigby** , thanks, I do plan to ask my doc about it, but I’ve been so busy working on the depression that it hasn’t yet come up. > [@Stonebow](#): > > I know a lot of people who host dinner parties. Many times, the slightest stupid thing can ruin the whole night for them. Neurotic, maybe, but it happens. It seems like a really small thing to do to make someone happy. Well, I guess I can just turn your own logic against you on this one. How’s this? “Barring a medical reason, I can’t think of any reason why a grown human would feel the need to fall to pieces over someone else’s dislike for a particular food.” ---
**Author:** ![Chotii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@Chotii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chotii)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-nazis-jess-calm-kiwi-yosemite-and-even-sven-front-and-center/290021/322 "2005-02-15T20:54:27Z")
> [@neutron star](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Do you see how this makes you childish? > > No, I do not. How many times in this thread are you (and **Dio** ) going to say that? Evidently, they also can’t see how their insistance that people try, or eat, things they consider vile, repugnant, disgusting, or even merely undesirable…is controlling and boorish. ---
**Author:** ![Stonebow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Stonebow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stonebow)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-nazis-jess-calm-kiwi-yosemite-and-even-sven-front-and-center/290021/323 "2005-02-15T20:54:36Z")
> [@neutron star](#): > > Thanks, Dr. Stonebow. :rolleyes: Newsflash: psychological reasons _are_ medical reasons. > > No, I do not. How many times in this thread are you (and **Dio** ) going to say that? Yes, i understand that they are medical reasons. But it appears to me that a psychological issue that limits one’s freedom in such a way would be on par with a fear of heights or open spaces, and would recommend seeking advice on that. If it’s your issue, that’s fine- but if every food situation with you is an ordeal, rest assured you are making it the issue of anyone you dine with. As for the child thing- it’s because this is a common thing in children. As a parent, I hope that my 10 year old will grow out of his pickiness, just like his older brother outgrew his. So when i see grow ups exhibiting the same behavior, I think…that’s damn strange. ---
**Author:** ![Hakuna\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hakuna\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakuna_Matata)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-nazis-jess-calm-kiwi-yosemite-and-even-sven-front-and-center/290021/324 "2005-02-15T20:55:36Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > The host should not have to always clear the menu with finicky, closed-minded guests who can never try anything new. I may not say anything if you refuse to taste my jambalaya that kicks ass but I will silently think you a dick. > > I also think that having to vet the menu with everybody ruins the element of surprise in preparing the meal. The choice we’re left with is to either narrow the menu the normal, rigid eating habits of the Picky Eater or to have to deal with the quiet pushing away of the dish that the Picky Eater refuses to even try a little bit and take a single bite of. > > I want to emphasize again that I never say anything ever when this happens. I have never once tried to badger anyone (except for my five-year old) into tasting anything they didn’t want. I will just silently think that you’re being a child. So if you invited my me and my Girlfriend over for dinner, and you had a wonderful Caesar Salad there. Well I would love it, however she would pass. You would think her a dick? You stated you would never say anything to her about it. But you would label her a dick—without knowing why she was passing? You would automatically assume that she was being a child. Is that correct? Well see the issue is that she can’t eat cheese. Lots of foods have cheese in it. She NEVER makes a fuss, but if she ate that cheese (even the little in a Caesar Salad) she would be in immense pain for a couple of days. Now I know people have given exemptions for those with food allergies, etc–but again HOW DO YOU KNOW SHE HAS A FOOD ALLERGY? You stated here that you don’t think you as the host shouldn’t have to run the recipes by everyone (and I agree with you). So how in your magical mystical way do you determine who has food allergies, or religious reasons, or whatever for not trying your dish? How do you determine who is a Dick and how has legit reasons for passing over your dish? Or wow–here is a novel concept—maybe you as the host can think ‘hmm…maybe ‘x’ has a reason for not trying my dish, and that reason is none of my business. But there are several other things here and they are trying those and they seem to be having a good time’ See how much easier that is. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-nazis-jess-calm-kiwi-yosemite-and-even-sven-front-and-center/290021/325 "2005-02-15T20:56:20Z")
> [@LindyHopper](#): > > Right with you here. And I know you’re not talking about me, because I never said anything like that. Also, being a “foodie” doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t like chili dogs or Ruffles or frito pie (yummy). Frito pie? Is that anything like a “walking taco”? Me loves walking tacos…yum! **Gaspode** --your tastes sound diverse and normal to me (if I’ve learned one thing from this monster thread, it’s “normal” is a moving target!). I’d go to Paris with you for lunch, any day! I would like the mussels, please–smothered in butter and garlic…mmmmmm. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-nazis-jess-calm-kiwi-yosemite-and-even-sven-front-and-center/290021/326 "2005-02-15T20:57:42Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > I don’t for a second believe that this “gagging” thing has any legitimate merit whatsoever. The puking thing is a melodrammatic stunt. It’s what children do. Hot damn! We got another doctor in the house! > [@Stonebow](#): > > If it’s your issue, that’s fine- but if every food situation with you is an ordeal, rest assured you are making it the issue of anyone you dine with. Actually, no I’m not. Like I said before, it’s a minor inconvenience. Though it does hurt, I don’t whine about it to the people I’m dining with. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-nazis-jess-calm-kiwi-yosemite-and-even-sven-front-and-center/290021/327 "2005-02-15T20:58:57Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > I don’t for a second believe that this “gagging” thing has any legitimate merit whatsoever. The puking thing is a melodrammatic stunt. It’s what children do. Thank you, doctor! All this time I’ve been ashamed and embarassed that eating shrimp (a popular food that many enjoy) made me vomit. It’s happened even if I didn’t know at the time that I was eating shrimp. I’ve always done my best to avoid making others aware of my little problem, both by avoiding shrimp and by discreetly excusing myself when I’ve been unable to politely avoid eating it, so it’s a bit of a surprise to me to learn it’s all really just a melodramatic stunt. But you’re obviously the expert on my tastes and my body, so now that you’ve enlightened me I’m sure I’ll be able to eat shrimp all the time with no trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Chotii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@Chotii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chotii)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-nazis-jess-calm-kiwi-yosemite-and-even-sven-front-and-center/290021/328 "2005-02-15T20:59:10Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > I don’t for a second believe that this “gagging” thing has any legitimate merit whatsoever. The puking thing is a melodrammatic stunt. It’s what children do. Spoken like somebody who has clearly never gagged on a too-big mouthful of slimy oatmeal. Also, like someone who has never spent 4 1/2 years working with a child with oral aversions, who would literally starve herself than eat. Lucky you, **Dio**. Lucky me, a fantastic therapist at U Va got her over it. But that didn’t make it any less real when it was the central focus of our lives. ---
**Author:** ![Kaspar\_Hauser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@Kaspar\_Hauser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaspar_Hauser)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-nazis-jess-calm-kiwi-yosemite-and-even-sven-front-and-center/290021/329 "2005-02-15T21:00:39Z")
This seeming epidemic of people unable to control their bodily functions does not bode well. I fear the next step is people complaing they get wave after wave of massive, uncontrollable diarrhea whenever they accidentally catch a glimpse of a picture of shrimp tempura in a magazine. P.S. I fucking hate broccoli. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-nazis-jess-calm-kiwi-yosemite-and-even-sven-front-and-center/290021/330 "2005-02-15T21:00:47Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > Frito pie? Is that anything like a “walking taco”? Me loves walking tacos…yum! I’m not sure what a walking taco is, but Frito Pie is Fritos mixed up with chili and cheese. I’d never heard of it before I moved down South. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-nazis-jess-calm-kiwi-yosemite-and-even-sven-front-and-center/290021/331 "2005-02-15T21:02:32Z")
> [@Kaspar Hauser](#): > > P.S. I fucking hate broccoli. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-nazis-jess-calm-kiwi-yosemite-and-even-sven-front-and-center/290021/332 "2005-02-15T21:02:33Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > I want to emphasize again that I never say anything ever when this happens. I have never once tried to badger anyone (except for my five-year old) into tasting anything they didn’t want. I will just silently think that you’re being a child. I believe you’d be silent in that situation about as much as I believe **Brutus** donates heavily to the DNC. ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-nazis-jess-calm-kiwi-yosemite-and-even-sven-front-and-center/290021/333 "2005-02-15T21:04:31Z")
You know what this thread needs? A dinner party! Host: OK, everyone, please sit down so we can start dinner! Guest1: Oh, wow! everything smells delicious! Guest2: Yeah, except this balsamic vinegar over here smells like vomit! Guest3: Oh, shut up you idiot, or I’ll heart-punch you so hard you’ll really get to know the smell of vomit! Guest4: I’ll eat anything that doesn’t have dried lemur ears in it! Guest5: Ha ha! I read somewhere that in ancient Rome, Ocelot noses were considered a delicacy! Host: OK, everyone comfortable? I worked really hard on this first dish: stuffed mushrooms. Here you go, pass it around… Guest1: MMM! Thanks! Guest2: Yuck, what are these stuffed with? Looks like dog shit! Guest3: Why you uncultured swine, these are clearly stuffed with some sort of tapenade. (Takes a bite) Oh, no! cilantro! (Vomits all over the centerpiece) Guest4: Vomiting? How childish! Guest5: Ha ha! That vomit looks just like Mexican food! I’m going out for pizza! Who’s with me? (All the guests leave) Host: (Racked with sobs, barely able to speak): What am I going to with all the monkey fetus stew I prepared? ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-nazis-jess-calm-kiwi-yosemite-and-even-sven-front-and-center/290021/334 "2005-02-15T21:06:46Z")
> [@Kaspar Hauser](#): > > This seeming epidemic of people unable to control their bodily functions does not bode well. I fear the next step is people complaing they get wave after wave of massive, uncontrollable diarrhea whenever they accidentally catch a glimpse of a picture of shrimp tempura in a magazine. Look you insufferable prick, I throw up when I eat shrimp. This is a fact. I don’t know why, and I don’t particularly care why. I don’t suffer from not eating shrimp. I don’t long for shrimp. I don’t miss shrimp. The only inconvenience this little problem of mine causes me is that some people won’t shut up and let me not eat shrimp or allow me to politely refuse without painting me as either a hypochondriac or a sociopath out to hurt others with my pathological and anti-social non-eating of shrimp. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-nazis-jess-calm-kiwi-yosemite-and-even-sven-front-and-center/290021/335 "2005-02-15T21:07:37Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > I don’t for a second believe that this “gagging” thing has any legitimate merit whatsoever. The puking thing is a melodrammatic stunt. It’s what children do. Y’know I was wondering how food choice could spawn a 7 page pit thread. I now know why. Honestly Diogenes you think people puke just to be meldrammatic? You don’t think they would be deathly embarassed if they puked in the middle of a restaurant or at a friends house? I know I would be. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-nazis-jess-calm-kiwi-yosemite-and-even-sven-front-and-center/290021/336 "2005-02-15T21:10:49Z")
> [@BayleDomon](#): > > And I would think you’re condescending as hell for thinking you could put anything in front of me and expect me to go “Mmm-mmm!” regardless of what it is. Last time I didn’t get a choice as to what I could eat, I was a pre-teen at the mercy of my parents. Being put in that situation alone would make me feel like I’m being treated like a child. When you go to someone else’s house for dinner it goes without saying that you aren’t going to have unlimited “choices.” Do you expect your friends to function as short order cook making whatever strikes your fancy? > [@](#): > > I do agree that each party should be as polite as they can be, but honestly, someone whose night is ruined because I passed on the peas? I’d wager there’s not a single way I could get through that night without upsetting such a fragile ego anyway. I think part of the problem with this thread is that a lot of things are being simplified into absurdity. The Picky Eater is not the person who passes on the peas. The Picky Eater is the person who chronically and habitually has issues which must be catered to or that person cannot enjoy his.herself at a restaurant or a dinner party. We’re not just talking about a preference here or there or someone that doesn’t like peppers. We’re talking about people who have a _catalogue_ of issues which their friends must memorize in order to assure that they will eat something at the dinner party. Someone who will only eat steak and baked potatoes, no matter what and will never try anything else will always ruin a dinner party because the host must either cook two separate meals, or make everybody else eat steak and potatoes or watch the guest ignore the baked ziti. And I will say for the third time, I DO NOT EVER MAKE AN ISSUE OF IT. I DO NOT EVER TRY TO MAKE SOMEONE EAT SOMETHING THEY DON’T WANT TO EAT. Gahh…what if you liked to paint landscapes and you had a friend who refused to ever look at your paintings even once because, “I don’t like landscapes.” That’s what it’s like for foodies when somebody won’t try even the most benign dishes. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-nazis-jess-calm-kiwi-yosemite-and-even-sven-front-and-center/290021/337 "2005-02-15T21:14:08Z")
> [@neutron star](#): > > I’m not sure what a walking taco is, but Frito Pie is Fritos mixed up with chili and cheese. I’d never heard of it before I moved down South. Well, you lost me with the chili, there. A walking taco (watch out, this ain’t fine cuisine) is a bag of Frito’s (single serving) with either chili or taco meat, sour cream, cheese and toppings of your choice. Open the bag of Frito’s–shake them down. Add the heated taco meat, top with sour cream, cheese, peppers (if desired) and any other garnish you want. take a spoon and walk around the festival or whatever and enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-nazis-jess-calm-kiwi-yosemite-and-even-sven-front-and-center/290021/338 "2005-02-15T21:17:09Z")
> [@Stonebow](#): > > YBut it appears to me that a psychological issue that limits one’s freedom in such a way would be on par with a fear of heights or open spaces, and would recommend seeking advice on that. Addressing the “see a shrink” argument I’ve heard echoed in this thread … well, unfortunately, among the community of mental health professionals, treatment of aversion to certain foods takes a distant back seat to eating disorders such as anorexia and bullemia, much less other mental health issues. Besides, people can live – either happy or, in my case, somewhat frustrated but able to deal – as a pickie, whereas day-to-day life is very difficult when you’ve got agoraphobia. Sure, there may be a few experts out there that specialize in overcoming aversion to certain foods, but I would expect they are most likely located in foodie havens like New York and San Francisco. Uf there was a “Picky Eater Treatment Center” somewhere that I could check myself in to, where treatment is covered by my health insurance, great. I doubt it, though. And … seriously, what the fuck is the deal with the foodies calling pickies “children?” Do you seriously think if I don’t eat emu bladder sauteed in gefilte juice and lightly seasoned with fresh ground porcupine shoots, that I’m living on a diet of chicken nuggets? ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-nazis-jess-calm-kiwi-yosemite-and-even-sven-front-and-center/290021/339 "2005-02-15T21:17:23Z")
> [@Stonebow](#): > > YBut it appears to me that a psychological issue that limits one’s freedom in such a way would be on par with a fear of heights or open spaces, and would recommend seeking advice on that. Addressing the “see a shrink” argument I’ve heard echoed in this thread … well, unfortunately, among the community of mental health professionals, treatment of aversion to certain foods takes a distant back seat to eating disorders such as anorexia and bullemia, much less other mental health issues. Besides, people can live – either happy or, in my case, somewhat frustrated but able to deal – as a pickie, whereas day-to-day life is very difficult when you’ve got agoraphobia. Sure, there may be a few experts out there that specialize in overcoming aversion to certain foods, but I would expect they are most likely located in foodie havens like New York and San Francisco. If there was a “Picky Eater Treatment Center” somewhere that I could check myself in to, where treatment is covered by my health insurance, great. I doubt it, though. And … seriously, what the fuck is the deal with the foodies calling pickies “children?” Do you seriously think if I don’t eat emu bladder sauteed in gefilte juice and lightly seasoned with fresh ground porcupine shoots, that I’m living on a diet of chicken nuggets? ---
**Author:** ![LindyHopper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@LindyHopper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LindyHopper)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-nazis-jess-calm-kiwi-yosemite-and-even-sven-front-and-center/290021/340 "2005-02-15T21:18:22Z")
> [@Stonebow](#): > > I think that **LindyHopper’s** post bears re-reading. **She** is describing the sort of person I can’t stand to be around (Extra bolding mine) Woohoo! I’ve been mis-gendered! I love it when that happens. (Seriously. I think it’s funny.) 😃 It’s the “Lindy” part, isn’t it? Come on, you can tell me. 🙂 Oh, and Frito pie is basically as **neutron star** described. Usually (in my experience), it’s layered. Fritos, then chili (with beans…but we won’t go there), then cheese. Cheddar. A staple of school lunches when I was growing up (Oklahoma). It’s a southern thing (actually, I always thought it was an Oklahoma thing, because my Texas cousins never mentioned it), and it’s beyond yummy. And anyone who doesn’t like it can…can…eat something else. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-nazis-jess-calm-kiwi-yosemite-and-even-sven-front-and-center/290021.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-nazis-jess-calm-kiwi-yosemite-and-even-sven-front-and-center/290021.md?page=18)