# Theo Bromide Makes You Love & Other Dumb Things People Tell You **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 20, 2015, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theo-bromide-makes-you-love-other-dumb-things-people-tell-you/735219 "2015-10-20T10:05:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theo-bromide-makes-you-love-other-dumb-things-people-tell-you/735219/1 "2015-10-20T10:05:45Z")
So in a conversation tonight, I say that I don’t feel that “love” is an emotion as much as a response to attraction. And I am told, wait for it-- that Theo Bromide is responsible of my attraction to someone who is attractive. I stammered, tried to repeat what this person said to me. Theo Bromide. He is dead serious to his idea. I couldn’t even react thinking that Theobromine, said to be an aphrodisiac, is responsible to this poor kid’s idea of love, or at least an excuse for one. Really, Theo Bromide (Bromine?) not “thee-ob-rin-ine” is the pronunciation he came up with? Well, the poor loves-ignorance kid strolled away with his girlfriend before I could even smile. And fi i COULD smile, it wouldn’t be for pleasure. Boys and girls, are you attracted to someone for a reason you just can’t be sure about? Well, just pray to the god of Theo Bromide. He’ll help you. What other dumb-ass things have you heard lately? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theo-bromide-makes-you-love-other-dumb-things-people-tell-you/735219/2 "2015-10-20T10:26:30Z")
Makes perfect sense to me. He misread a single letter. If it were theobromide, it would be pronounced Theo Bromide. Instead, it is pronounced Theo Bromine. It’s not uncommon for people think it contains “bromine.” And, God, apparently. (It really comes from the name for Chocolate-- Theobroma: food of the gods.) ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theo-bromide-makes-you-love-other-dumb-things-people-tell-you/735219/3 "2015-10-20T11:38:54Z")
Okay, so here’s where I’m wrong. I thought the pronunciation is thee-o-BRO-mine. Looks like I’m wrong there. But we’re back to natural aphrodisiacs to process a little muskrat love? Maybe I’m wrong on both accounts. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theo-bromide-makes-you-love-other-dumb-things-people-tell-you/735219/4 "2015-10-20T11:46:20Z")
Well, theobromine (pronounced like you think it is, OP) is a (mildly) psychoactive alkaloid found in cacao, as alluded to by **BigT** above. It’s responsible for the euphoric effects of chocolate, at least those that can’t be explained by the sugar and caffeine content. But the source of love? Nah. Chocolate is more often seen as a _substitute_ for love, most stereotypically in women. Also, don’t feed it to your dog. Was your friend thinking of oxytocin? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theo-bromide-makes-you-love-other-dumb-things-people-tell-you/735219/5 "2015-10-20T11:46:27Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > Really, Theo Bromide (Bromine?) not “thee-ob-rin-ine” is the pronunciation he came up with? Well, the poor loves-ignorance kid strolled away with his girlfriend before I could even smile. And fi i COULD smile, it wouldn’t be for pleasure. > > Boys and girls, are you attracted to someone for a reason you just can’t be sure about? Well, just pray to the god of Theo Bromide. He’ll help you. > > What other dumb-ass things have you heard lately? I just met a guy who claimed he could hear people speaking in miscapitalized letters when he really didn’t know how the word was pronounced. Although if I ever start my smooth jazz band, it will be named Theo Bromide. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theo-bromide-makes-you-love-other-dumb-things-people-tell-you/735219/6 "2015-10-20T13:54:55Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Although if I ever start my smooth jazz band, it will be named Theo Bromide. Tonight, coming live to you, Mr. and Mrs. Middle America and all the ships at sea, from the Luscious Lynx Lounge, high above the skyline of Akron on the rooftop terrace of the Singletree Inn, the melodic groove of… _Theo Bromide and his Omega Three_, with guest vocalist Auntie Occident. ---
**Author:** ![TheFaerie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@TheFaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFaerie)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theo-bromide-makes-you-love-other-dumb-things-people-tell-you/735219/7 "2015-10-20T17:27:39Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Tonight, coming live to you, Mr. and Mrs. Middle America and all the ships at sea, from the Luscious Lynx Lounge, high above the skyline of Akron on the rooftop terrace of the Singletree Inn, the melodic groove of… _Theo Bromide and his Omega Three_, with guest vocalist Auntie Occident. This is the best thing I’ve read all day. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theo-bromide-makes-you-love-other-dumb-things-people-tell-you/735219/8 "2015-10-20T20:50:44Z")
Everybody knows that it’s the Oxy toxin that’s responsible for love. That’s why they say that love is infectious! ---
**Author:** ![jayrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jayrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayrey)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theo-bromide-makes-you-love-other-dumb-things-people-tell-you/735219/9 "2015-10-20T23:46:42Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Tonight, coming live to you, Mr. and Mrs. Middle America and all the ships at sea, from the Luscious Lynx Lounge, high above the skyline of Akron on the rooftop terrace of the Singletree Inn, the melodic groove of… _Theo Bromide and his Omega Three_, with guest vocalist Auntie Occident. \*\* golf clap \*\* Well played, sir. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theo-bromide-makes-you-love-other-dumb-things-people-tell-you/735219/10 "2015-10-21T03:05:51Z")
Forget theobromine. When I really want to get my heart racing, I just take a good dose of theodrenaline. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theo-bromide-makes-you-love-other-dumb-things-people-tell-you/735219/11 "2015-10-21T04:31:49Z")
I wish the kid and his girl stayed around long enough to tell me about Angie O’Plasty, their best friend who grew new legs. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theo-bromide-makes-you-love-other-dumb-things-people-tell-you/735219/12 "2015-10-21T11:07:43Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Although if I ever start my smooth jazz band, it will be named Theo Bromide. And you’ll all take oxy. Oxytocin. :D:cool: ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theo-bromide-makes-you-love-other-dumb-things-people-tell-you/735219/13 "2015-10-21T11:32:48Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > I wish the kid and his girl stayed around long enough to tell me about Angie O’Plasty, their best friend who grew new legs. 😃 They didn’t get quite that far, but they did mention their friend Otto Fellatio, the horny contortionist.