# It's been years, and I still can't figure this out **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 29, 2001, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-years-and-i-still-cant-figure-this-out/90275 "2001-10-29T12:22:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2001, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-years-and-i-still-cant-figure-this-out/90275/61 "2001-11-06T21:10:49Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Fosfero \* \*\* > [@](#): > > \ “We slather your hot buns with butter!” \*\* Oh dear… I had to read this the day hubby is out of town… :o ---
**Author:** ![bristlesage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@bristlesage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bristlesage)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-years-and-i-still-cant-figure-this-out/90275/62 "2001-11-07T01:31:12Z")
I don’t know how to quote yet, but \*\*jab1 \*\*said, “What are you, a communist?!” Actually, no, \*\* jab1 \*\*, I’m a socialist, but I guess it’s close enough. Just to really cement your views, I don’t like waffles or French toast, either. We socialists are very anti-maple syrup. What’s bad for the trees is bad for the people. Our official sweet breakfast food is the blintz. Delicious as well as reminiscent of our Slavic comrades-in-arms. ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-years-and-i-still-cant-figure-this-out/90275/63 "2001-11-07T12:17:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bristlesage \* > \*\*Our official sweet breakfast food is the blintz. Delicious as well as reminiscent of our Slavic comrades-in-arms. \*\* I have it on good authority that most cowboys don’t love blintzes. Doesn’t go well with the hammy-cakes. ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-years-and-i-still-cant-figure-this-out/90275/64 "2001-11-18T12:47:22Z")
I went to a storytelling festival last night in Connecticut. One of the tellers there told a story relating her true experience a couple of years ago on a simulated cattle drive. People actually went out to Wyoming and paid money to work themselves to the brink of exhaustion. Go figure. But it was designed to be a re-creation of 1800s-style cowboy life. I asked her after the event if they ate ham pancakes and she said they didn’t. I don’t want to cast any doubts on the information **dono** came up with (although it was from a sheep ranch, remember). And perhaps they were less pancake-literate in the 19th Century. I can’t say. But it is obvious more research needs to be done. ---
**Author:** ![dono](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e0b2c6/32.png) [@dono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dono)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-years-and-i-still-cant-figure-this-out/90275/65 "2001-11-18T17:35:22Z")
I was a little premature putting out some of my preliminary findings. That was definitely not ready for publication yet. As you note, the whole extrapolation from sheepherder to cowboy may be problematical. I really have no basis for it; it’s pure speculation. In fact, their main social interaction until recently was shooting at one another, not exchanging recipies. Also, I can’t base an entire thesis on a single data point; ie., one exceedingly cheap camp cook. I agree that more research is needed. And speaking of cheap, if I wasn’t so cheap myself, I’d offer to take the family out to breakfast and do a little menu research. ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2001, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-years-and-i-still-cant-figure-this-out/90275/66 "2001-11-20T00:40:35Z")
I find it hard to believe that we don’t have anyone around here with actual cowboy experience. It doesn’t have to be a cowboy, really. It can be someone who knows a cowboy. It can be someone who cooks for cowboys. It can be someone who works for a Cowboy Culinary Outlet Center. It can be the Annie Oakley version of Martha Stewart. Or, as **dono** suggested, someone who has traded recipes with a cowboy. Right now all we have to support the theory (i.e. Ham Pancakes: Cowboys Love 'Em!) is the word of a Greek-family-owned diner in Rochester, NY, and the experience of the cheap cook and bottle washer at a sheep ranch, from which we extrapolated a parallel hypothesis for cowboys. This needs exhaustive research, folks. I think it’s time we applied for a government grant. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-years-and-i-still-cant-figure-this-out/90275.md?page=3)