# If you are living with a significant other, would you like to engage in an experiment **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 14, 2022, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-living-with-a-significant-other-would-you-like-to-engage-in-an-experiment/971575 "2022-09-14T18:39:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2022, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-living-with-a-significant-other-would-you-like-to-engage-in-an-experiment/971575/21 "2022-09-15T18:35:22Z")
I would never make that request in such generalities. I am always very specific if I need my wife, or anyone for that matter, to pick up something for me, and I insist on specificity when someone asks me to pick something up. If the other person refuses to be specific, they’re getting store brand tortilla chips and whichever can of Fritos dip nearby that I put my hand on first. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2022, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-living-with-a-significant-other-would-you-like-to-engage-in-an-experiment/971575/22 "2022-09-15T18:48:46Z")
The answer is a conditional yes. In my house I do the majority of the grocery shopping at the ‘conventional’ store (Kroger) and my wife hits Trader Joe’s. She dislikes shopping in general, so goes for the lower volume one and I loathe our local TJ’s parking lot with the fury of a thousand suns, so it works out. But in our house, “chips and dip” is a singular thing, corn chips plus a partially homemade heavy bean low cheese queso. Which is one of her favorites, but not one of mine. So if I asked her to get Chips and Dip she’d be a bit surprised that I asked, but get a bag or two of corn chips, a can of Rosarita (in general) refritos and a block of Jack cheese or Mexican blend depending. Alternately, she’d ask if it was for work (potluck) or something, but unlikely, since I normally avoid those due to my shift. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2022, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-living-with-a-significant-other-would-you-like-to-engage-in-an-experiment/971575/23 "2022-09-15T18:50:23Z")
Chips and dips is a “special” food for us, because we almost never have it. Tortilla chips and salsa come with Mexican food, and we eat Mexican food all the time, so it’s _not_ special. Probably Lay’s potato chips and onion dip. When we were kids, we had chips and dips once a year when we got to stay up for New Year’s. It was always potato chips and onion dip. Fancy! ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2022, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-living-with-a-significant-other-would-you-like-to-engage-in-an-experiment/971575/24 "2022-09-15T18:55:03Z")
My wife would say “What are you talking about?” because we never have chips and dip. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2022, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-living-with-a-significant-other-would-you-like-to-engage-in-an-experiment/971575/25 "2022-09-15T18:57:51Z")
How would she know what kind of chips and dip I was in the mood for? ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2022, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-living-with-a-significant-other-would-you-like-to-engage-in-an-experiment/971575/26 "2022-09-15T20:17:43Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > salsa isn’t a dip How does salsa get onto a chip? ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2022, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-living-with-a-significant-other-would-you-like-to-engage-in-an-experiment/971575/27 "2022-09-15T20:21:03Z")
Ya scoop. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2022, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-living-with-a-significant-other-would-you-like-to-engage-in-an-experiment/971575/28 "2022-09-15T20:41:21Z")
And to do that, you need to dip the chip in. Plus we’d scoop just as much with potato chips and onion dip. Plus some salsas are not all that scoopable, being more liquid (typically what I use.) ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2022, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-living-with-a-significant-other-would-you-like-to-engage-in-an-experiment/971575/29 "2022-09-15T22:30:29Z")
I know, this isn’t an argument I take too seriously. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2022, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-living-with-a-significant-other-would-you-like-to-engage-in-an-experiment/971575/30 "2022-09-15T23:12:14Z")
Just asked them to add it to their list. And they didn’t ask for clarification! Just added it. Hang on, I don’t really want chips but What’s that mean to you I asked. Tortilla chips and salsa. Didn’t expect that. Theyte a potato chip and sour cream onion kinda dude. Glad though. Make your own decisions, LOL. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2022, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-living-with-a-significant-other-would-you-like-to-engage-in-an-experiment/971575/31 "2022-09-15T23:21:50Z")
Mrs. Geek said ruffles potato chips and onion dip, which is exactly what I would want. We also both agree that salsa is not a dip. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2022, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-living-with-a-significant-other-would-you-like-to-engage-in-an-experiment/971575/32 "2022-09-15T23:30:33Z")
A scoop is not the same as a dip. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2022, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-living-with-a-significant-other-would-you-like-to-engage-in-an-experiment/971575/33 "2022-09-15T23:31:03Z")
I know. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2022, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-living-with-a-significant-other-would-you-like-to-engage-in-an-experiment/971575/34 "2022-09-15T23:36:58Z")
I don’t have an SO, but _I_ don’t always remember whether I meant potato or tortilla when I put “chips” on a shopping list. I definitely wouldn’t expect anyone else to remember it for me! “Dip” might be easier since I almost never buy dips that aren’t salsa, but I would usually just say “salsa,” so I could see someone who knew me well getting it wrong if I didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2022, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-living-with-a-significant-other-would-you-like-to-engage-in-an-experiment/971575/35 "2022-09-15T23:40:37Z")
I just did this with my wife. Me: “I’d come home with a bag of Lays potato chips, and a tub of Deans sour cream and onion dip. Would that be right?” Her: “Exactly.” To be fair, it’s been the exact same request for 30 years, so I have it figured out by now. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2022, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-living-with-a-significant-other-would-you-like-to-engage-in-an-experiment/971575/36 "2022-09-15T23:58:45Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Probably Lay’s potato chips and onion dip. When we were living in the U.S., this is what he would have picked up. And that was correct. Where we live now, there is no onion dip, and we normally eat tortilla chips with shredded.cheese (normally Manchego): black olives and jalapeños, baked in the oven. So “dip“ would confuse him, but if I said “toppings”, he’d get the right stuff. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2022, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-living-with-a-significant-other-would-you-like-to-engage-in-an-experiment/971575/37 "2022-09-16T01:03:03Z")
Nachos! ---
**Author:** ![dummygladhands71](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c0e974/32.png) [@dummygladhands71](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dummygladhands71)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2022, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-living-with-a-significant-other-would-you-like-to-engage-in-an-experiment/971575/38 "2022-09-16T02:42:03Z")
He’d say Doordash ---
**Author:** ![a6ka97](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@a6ka97](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a6ka97)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2022, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-living-with-a-significant-other-would-you-like-to-engage-in-an-experiment/971575/39 "2022-09-16T13:10:36Z")
Straight up request to get chips and dip would be plain wavy/rippled chips with onion dip. Chips and salsa would be tortilla/nacho chips and mild salsa. Reality would be just buying the potato chips, a 16oz. tub of sour cream and a packet of ranch dip mix and make the dip at home. Then we can use it for chips, vegetables, and on top of baked potatoes. ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2022, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-living-with-a-significant-other-would-you-like-to-engage-in-an-experiment/971575/40 "2022-09-16T17:11:42Z")
No way in hell my wife would go to the store, I’d be the one going. And the chips would be lightly salted old Dutch & “helluva good dip” in the red container. I’d get those right for sure. I’m not a huge fan of chips & dip but I will indulge on occasions. I’m more of a popcorn 🍿 guy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-living-with-a-significant-other-would-you-like-to-engage-in-an-experiment/971575.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-living-with-a-significant-other-would-you-like-to-engage-in-an-experiment/971575.md?page=3)