# Hotdogs and catsup/ketchup. What's the big deal? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 5, 2007, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hotdogs-and-catsup-ketchup-whats-the-big-deal/410599 "2007-07-05T15:25:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hotdogs-and-catsup-ketchup-whats-the-big-deal/410599/101 "2007-07-08T08:21:33Z")
[QUOTE=Shagnasty] That is an excellent point. I don’t have to worry about this type of crisis much in real life because because most guests are pre-screened and cordial invitations aren’t handed out lightly. There is one big exception to this. My wife has a much older half sister that is very large and somehow turned retarded even though people swear their weren’t any problems in early childhood development. We once went out to a very nice restaraunt in Cambridge with my wife’s family inclucing the watermelon chest in question. Everyone chose among the ample varierty of fusion cuisine and SIL was clearly struggling with the choices among those offered. Every one seemed to have one or more prohibitive flaws. Finally, she spied pizza on the menu and all was well. The lovely dishes arrived and we all marveled over them, that is, until SIL got her pizza. “What is this?” she asked the waiter and he carefully explained the beautiful meddley that made up her dish. “THIS ISN"T PIZZA” she exclaimed and sent it back. Alas, there were no standard menu options left for her and her son. She was forced to order plain pasta with butter on it as her meal. Poor dear. She isn’t allowed to go to fancy restaurants with us anyone although I haven’t found a good way to keep her away from my house when she is in town. Other than that, pre-screening does take care of the problem and only a few would be so bold and crass anyway. I swear, some people wouldn’t know a nine piece place setting if you hit them over the head with a water goblet. [/QUOTE] This reminds me of an anecdote once related by Charles Schulz. You know, the guy who drew Peanuts, the comic strip? > [@](#): > > Originally posted by Charles M. Schulz > \*In 1978, I was informed by Monsieur Robert LePalme of the International Pavilion of Humor of Montreal, Canada, that I had been selected as International Cartoonist of the Year. He invited me to attend the judging of their yearly cartoon contest, and to be the honorary chairman of the judging committee. On the first evening, my wife, Jeannie, Lee Mendelson, our TV producer, and I were guests at what was to us a very nice affair. As vichyssoise was being served, Lee spoke loudly to me across the table: “Eat your soup, Sparky, before it gets cold.”… > > …The dinner, of course, was excellent, and the wines were as special as LePalme hoped they would be, although I certainly couldn’t tell, being as ignorant of wine as it is possible to be. Along about eleven o’clock, I noticed that I had accumulated a row of glasses in front of me that was quite impressive: a water glass, two red wines (untouched), two white wines (only slightly touched), and a Seven-Up. LePalme looked at this row of glasses, leaned over to me, and asked, “May I say something to you?” > > “Yes, Robert. What is it?” > > “I do not wish to offend.” > > “That’s all right, a little offending never hurt anybody.” > > “You,” he said, “are the most simple man I have ever met.”\* Simple, perhaps. But that simple man was also kind, gentle, a good Christian, and a talented, insightful artist who managed to touch the hearts of millions around the world, despite his ignorance of wine. I don’t think he ever called anyone a watermelon chest, either, whether to their face or behind their back. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hotdogs-and-catsup-ketchup-whats-the-big-deal/410599/102 "2007-07-13T00:08:25Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] Actually, I’d bet that three of the other five people would be thinking “Thank Og, we don’t have to put up with that leather that Phil always orders, and then be forced to watch him drown it in ketchup. I think I’ll tell my friends about this place. Maybe schedule that birthday dinner for Uncle Lou here…” [/QUOTE] I’ve reread this twice trying to figure out whether it’s a whoosh. Well, just in case it isn’t… Although this is a ketchup thread, the specific message you’re responding to was triggered by me posting about a snotty cook that wouldn’t prepare my mother’s steak the way she wanted it (very well done). No ketchup was involved, not that it matters. Are you _really_ saying that I should have _appreciated_ someone insulting my mother because I wouldn’t have to “put up with” her eating a well done steak? Two questions for you: (a) Why would I care how someone else’s steak is cooked? My wife likes hers rare. My son likes his medium. I like mine medium rare. My dad liked his medium well. My mother liked hers well done. Somehow we all managed to eat together without gagging at each other’s plates. I don’t even _notice_ how other people cook their steaks. Why is it a big deal to you? (b) Why would I schedule Uncle Lou’s birthday dinner someplace where the cook won’t prepare food the way we order it? ---
**Author:** ![Mesquite-oh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@Mesquite-oh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mesquite-oh)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hotdogs-and-catsup-ketchup-whats-the-big-deal/410599/103 "2007-07-13T05:57:44Z")
Some people feel that the ketchup on hotdog thing is a challenge to their deeply held cultural beliefs that contribute to the sense of their identity. I am an American of Mexican descent. I love Mexican food. It is a part of me. When I see a Taco Bell commercial, I become angry. Everytime I see someone eating Taco Bell, or especially, hold on…I am trying to keep it together…see them giving it to LITTLE CHILDREN, who can’t protect themselves, I feel like slapping it out of their little hands before it gets to their mouths. I would then call Child Protective in an effort to save them. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hotdogs-and-catsup-ketchup-whats-the-big-deal/410599/104 "2007-07-13T06:44:58Z")
Did you know that there are several Taco Bell restaurants in Mexico City and that they are quite popular, despite the fact that taco vendors can be found on almost every street corner? ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hotdogs-and-catsup-ketchup-whats-the-big-deal/410599/105 "2007-07-13T06:47:17Z")
Popular with tourists, or locals? ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hotdogs-and-catsup-ketchup-whats-the-big-deal/410599/106 "2007-07-13T06:51:34Z")
[QUOTE=InvisibleWombat] (a) Why would I care how someone else’s steak is cooked? [/quote] Well, if you have to wait an inordinate amount of time for your own meal because somebody else ordered theirs burnt 😃 Seriously, though, I used to think about that when I was a cook at a steakhouse. We’d get a group of people for lunch on a weekday, probably with a limited amount of time for lunch. Six of them will order the soup and sandwich special, and the seventh will order a well done steak. Now the six people who could have had their meals in less than ten minutes instead get to wait twenty, and probably have to wolf their food so they’re not late getting back to work. And they’ll blame the kitchen for being slow, instead of their friend for ordering something that takes a long time to cook. I’ve also had customers who show up in the middle of the busiest part of the day, order a well done steak, and then sit and complain about “What’s taking so long?” ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hotdogs-and-catsup-ketchup-whats-the-big-deal/410599/107 "2007-07-13T07:37:11Z")
The Taco Bell restaurants are popular with locals! They consider them cleaner than the street corner taco vendors. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hotdogs-and-catsup-ketchup-whats-the-big-deal/410599/108 "2007-07-13T12:24:16Z")
Nothin wrong with Taco Smell. Their burritos are like eating a tube of bean-flavored toothpaste. Mmm mmm good! Daniel ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hotdogs-and-catsup-ketchup-whats-the-big-deal/410599/109 "2007-07-13T16:05:50Z")
[QUOTE=Left Hand of Dorkness] I’ll politely turn down lagers, for example, because I know that I’ve almost never enjoyed a lager; this means that I get teased sometimes as a beer snob, and I’m cool with that. [/QUOTE] That’s a pretty sweeping statement. You’ve never enjoyed an Oktoberfest? a dunkel? A doppelbock? Helles, perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hotdogs-and-catsup-ketchup-whats-the-big-deal/410599/110 "2007-07-13T19:51:27Z")
[QUOTE=August West] That’s a pretty sweeping statement. You’ve never enjoyed an Oktoberfest? a dunkel? A doppelbock? Helles, perhaps? [/QUOTE] Unfortunately, a lot of people hear “lager” and think “Coors.” They don’t realize that there’s at least as much variation in flavor among lagers as there is among wines. Pilsner Urquell is very different from a Märzen or a Schwarzbier. I can say “generally I prefer ales to lagers,” because I’m a big fan of porters, Scottish ales and dry stouts. There are still a lot of lagers that I’ll drink, and quite a few that I really enjoy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hotdogs-and-catsup-ketchup-whats-the-big-deal/410599.md?page=5)