This is in GQ in the (admittedly vain) hopes of avoiding a raft of “joke” answers.
I’d originally envisioned a longer, expository OP, but figured a more abbreviated one would be appropriate for this time of year- thus:
I was browsing through ThinkGeek the other week looking for suitable Christmas gifts for nerdy friends of mine and noted a plethora of gifts with a bacon theme. It’s something I also see referenced here on the SDMB from time to time.
As someone who’s religious beliefs do not prevent me from enjoying bacon, I appreciate it as a versatile foodstuff which goes well with eggs and toast or in other prandial applications-- but I just don’t get the fandom that’s become attached to it in internet culture.
So… what’s What is it with internet culture and bacon?
It’s like chocolate. There is very vocal minority of the population that is freakishly devoted. Not sure this is specific to the Internet; I think the Internet just reflects the popular culture.
Seriously, it’s because bacon is the ideal food. It improves the flavor of anything it is added to. Even bacon itself is better if you add some more bacon. Classical mythology tells us that the food of the Gods was nectar, ambrosia, and bacon. Many people mistakenly believe that the phrase ‘bring home the bacon’ refers to money. Obviously everybody would prefer to eat bacon, money tastes awful.
Can’t say I’ve come across many bacon references on the 'net, but certain programs on the Food Network, mainly those that feature Michael Symon or Guy Fieri, seem to support the notion that bacon is an essential food group. Just yesterday, on the ABC program The Chew, Symon topped some Rice Krispies Treats with bacon and dipped them into a chocolate fountain, and proclaimed it one of the greatest flavor sensations ever. Surprisingly, his co-hosts agreed.
It tastes pretty good, it’s considered sort of unhealthy so there’s a bit of a “naughty” aspect to admitting you like it, and “bacon” is an intrinsically funny word, like “beaver” or “pants”.
He’s right, though. Danish bacon is to our bacon what proper chocolate is to Hershey’s. I suspect there are American visitors to Denmark who tried one rasher and immediately decided to apply for a permanent visa.
Its position on the Periodic Table of Awesoments should help explain matters. Note that that table suggests that the most important substance for life is “dibacon cheeseid” - sounds about right to me.
OP intimates an intriguing point by bringing religion in. Consider:
Bacon Salt was originated by a couple of Jewish guys.
Jews are tastemakers, trendsetters, and opinion-leaders online, as in real life.
Much of the online Jewish community is happily secular, interrogating old taboos of the religion and culture.
Add in the sheer yumminess of bacon, which transcends human differences and even food groups, and you have a natural internet trend. My theory, which is mine.
I can assure you bacon-flavoured salt was on the market here long before it was in the US. I was working in a supermarket at the time when people started doing threads here on this great new Bacon Salt thing and thinking “WTF? We’ve been selling bacon-flavoured salt for years.”
That’s actually not far from what I came up with, you know.
