# Grape Koolaid a farce? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 15, 2012, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grape-koolaid-a-farce/612906 "2012-02-15T05:58:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grape-koolaid-a-farce/612906/21 "2012-02-15T13:07:26Z")
> [@Blake](#): > > Did you read the link above? As far as anyone can tell it \*was \*Kool Aid. Correcting someone for saying so is not just being pedantic, it’s factually incorrect. Did _you_ read it (and thw Wikipedia article)? It mentions that both were at the compound. In all the early reporting I read, “Kool Ade” was never mentioned, but “Flavr Ade” definitely was. Saying that “Flavr Ade” is factually incorrect is, itself, factually incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grape-koolaid-a-farce/612906/22 "2012-02-15T13:29:04Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Yes, it was Flavor-Aid, not Kool-Aid. Even suicidal comet cults need to watch their budgets. If we’re going to nitpick, note that the “comet cult” was [Heaven’s Gate](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven%27s_Gate_%28religious_group%29). ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grape-koolaid-a-farce/612906/23 "2012-02-15T14:01:48Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > Really? When you want a tissue, you think of Kleenex. When you want to photocopy something, you want a Xerox. That’s a BAD thing for Kleenex or Xerox? I would think that’s the best thing that could possibly happen to a product. Mind share is great. What is not great is failing to defend your trademarked name. Companies work hard to make sure any official instance of someone using their name recognizes their trademark. Allow that name to be used openly as a generic, and eventually Acme Bandage Company can sell “Band Aids” right next to J&J’s, and they can’t do squat about it. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grape-koolaid-a-farce/612906/24 "2012-02-15T14:38:45Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > If you think of every photocopier as a Xerox, then you’d probably be just as happy purchasing a Ricoh or a Canon. This costs Xerox sales. Named after Xerox, the Greek god of reproduction. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grape-koolaid-a-farce/612906/25 "2012-02-15T14:57:27Z")
> [@Mr.Accident](#): > > Here in GA it is. When I worked in fast food and retail, I was asked what kind of cokes we sell, and it was a general catch all for coke, pepsi, and generic soda products. You’re allowed to sell non-Coca Cola products in Georgia? I never would have guessed. So it’s just Atlanta where non-Coke products are illegal? ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grape-koolaid-a-farce/612906/26 "2012-02-15T15:49:36Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > You’re allowed to sell non-Coca Cola products in Georgia? I never would have guessed. So it’s just Atlanta where non-Coke products are illegal? I was born in Atlanta and have lived in its suburbs all my life, and have never even once heard anyone ask for Coke when they wanted something else. If they want Coke, they ask for it. Or Diet Coke. Or Sprite, whatever. And in many fast food places (and some restaurants) when you ask for a Coke they will ask, “Is Pepsi okay?” To which everyone I have ever known has replied, “yes.” ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grape-koolaid-a-farce/612906/27 "2012-02-15T16:00:12Z")
> [@Sister\_Vigilante](#): > > I was born in Atlanta and have lived in its suburbs all my life, and have never even once heard anyone ask for Coke when they wanted something else. If they want Coke, they ask for it. Or Diet Coke. Or Sprite, whatever. This is one of those points of contention that comes up about genericness of the word “coke” in the South. I’ve never heard it used that way, either, anywhere in the South. However, I have heard on occasion the vending machines referred to generically as “coke machines.” In one previous thread some years ago, there were two people from the same county (somewhere in the South), with one saying he had always heard it used generically, and the other saying he had never. And so it goes. . . . ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grape-koolaid-a-farce/612906/28 "2012-02-15T16:08:02Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > Really? When you want a tissue, you think of Kleenex. When you want to photocopy something, you want a Xerox. That’s a BAD thing for Kleenex or Xerox? Yes, because if all tissue are a Kleenex or all bandages are a Band-Aid, then the store brand or some local brand is also a Kleenex or a Band-Aid. The fact that your product says Band-Aid or Kleenex on it is no longer an advantage. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grape-koolaid-a-farce/612906/29 "2012-02-15T16:18:08Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > This is one of those points of contention that comes up about genericness of the word “coke” in the South. I’ve never heard it used that way, either, anywhere in the South. However, I have heard on occasion the vending machines referred to generically as “coke machines.” > > In one previous thread some years ago, there were two people from the same county (somewhere in the South), with one saying he had always heard it used generically, and the other saying he had never. And so it goes. . . . I grew up in Dallas 50 years ago (in those days Dallas was more Southern than it is now.) My family called any brown soda “coke.” I grew up saying it that way, and sometimes I still say it that way. So it’s correct that at least some Southerners use “coke” as a catch-all term for soda pop. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grape-koolaid-a-farce/612906/30 "2012-02-15T17:38:57Z")
That is certainly true here in metro Atlanta. ‘Coke’ is generic for ‘soft drink’. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grape-koolaid-a-farce/612906/31 "2012-02-15T17:48:10Z")
> [@Gagundathar](#): > > That is certainly true here in metro Atlanta. > ‘Coke’ is generic for ‘soft drink’. So, “Coke” is a generic word in the city it was invented. Fancy that. 😉 Next thing you tell me, “Budweiser” is generic for “beer” in St Louis. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grape-koolaid-a-farce/612906/32 "2012-02-15T18:13:55Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > If we’re going to nitpick, note that the “comet cult” was [Heaven’s Gate](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven%27s_Gate_%28religious_group%29). Also, the term “farce” in the title probably doesn’t connote the OP’s implication correctly. “Misnomer,” perhaps, or “historical inaccuracy” would be the idea. I was expecting a humorous play about the Koolaid tycoon’s daughter accidentally getting married to both Ernest and Julio Gallo at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grape-koolaid-a-farce/612906/33 "2012-02-15T19:38:50Z")
> [@Sister\_Vigilante](#): > > I was born in Atlanta and have lived in its suburbs all my life, and have never even once heard anyone ask for Coke when they wanted something else. . . . > [@Gagundathar](#): > > That is certainly true here in metro Atlanta. > ‘Coke’ is generic for ‘soft drink’. Toldja! ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grape-koolaid-a-farce/612906/34 "2012-02-15T20:30:49Z")
In Texas, “Coke” is an all-purpose name for any soft drink. And any Texan will tell you it’s common to hear conversations like this: Hostess: You want a Coke? Guest: Sure! Hostess: What kind? Guest: 7-Up ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grape-koolaid-a-farce/612906/35 "2012-02-15T20:58:36Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > Really? When you want a tissue, you think of Kleenex. When you want to photocopy something, you want a Xerox. That’s a BAD thing for Kleenex or Xerox? I would think that’s the best thing that could possibly happen to a product. Not if it goes to the extreme. Example: aspirin. “Aspirin” used to be the trademarked name Bayer used for its particular acetylsalicylic acid formulation. But everyone called the stuff “aspirin” no matter who made it, diluting the trademark. Eventually, Bayer lost its trademark in much of the world, where it was determined that “aspirin” had become the common term for acetylsalicylic acid. And losing that trademark costs Bayer money. So, companies defend their trademarks zealously. If you write an article about someone using a Kleenex, as though “a Kleenex” is the name of the object rather than the brand, you’ll probably get a nastygram from Kimberly-Clark about how the proper term is “Kleenex™ brand facial tissue.” ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grape-koolaid-a-farce/612906/36 "2012-02-15T21:08:12Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > This is called genericization, and these days companies will try very hard to prevent it from happening to their products. I haven’t seen that word before. I think I’ll Google it… ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grape-koolaid-a-farce/612906/37 "2012-02-15T21:11:20Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > Not if it goes to the extreme. Example: aspirin. “Aspirin” used to be the trademarked name Bayer used for its particular acetylsalicylic acid formulation. But everyone called the stuff “aspirin” no matter who made it, diluting the trademark. Eventually, Bayer lost its trademark in much of the world, where it was determined that “aspirin” had become the common term for acetylsalicylic acid. And losing that trademark costs Bayer money. The Aspirin trademark was lost in the US as part of war reparations for World War 1 along with another Bayer trademark heroin. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grape-koolaid-a-farce/612906/38 "2012-02-15T21:16:41Z")
> [@Mr.Accident](#): > > Here in GA it is. When I worked in fast food and retail, I was asked what kind of cokes we sell, and it was a general catch all for coke Don’t you mean “Co-Cola”? > [@Sister\_Vigilante](#): > > And in many fast food places (and some restaurants) when you ask for a Coke they will ask, “Is Pepsi okay?” They have to ask. If they don’t, then they might be liable for passing off Pepsi as Coke. > [@Max\_Torque](#): > > Not if it goes to the extreme. Example: aspirin. “Aspirin” used to be the trademarked name Bayer used for its particular acetylsalicylic acid formulation. But everyone called the stuff “aspirin” no matter who made it, diluting the trademark. Eventually, Bayer lost its trademark in much of the world, where it was determined that “aspirin” had become the common term for acetylsalicylic acid. Actually, they lost it in France and several other countries as a part of the reparations incorporated into the treaty of Versailles. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grape-koolaid-a-farce/612906/39 "2012-02-15T21:21:15Z")
Other things that started out as trademarks but became generic: kerosene, dry ice, zipper, windbreaker ---
**Author:** ![Blakeyrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blakeyrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blakeyrat)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grape-koolaid-a-farce/612906/40 "2012-02-15T23:31:56Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Other things that started out as trademarks but became generic: kerosene, dry ice, zipper, windbreaker The company that made Rollerblades fought tooth and nail to stop people from using the name… it seems to have worked, I see “in-line skates” used most of the time now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grape-koolaid-a-farce/612906.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grape-koolaid-a-farce/612906.md?page=3)