# What is it with the internet and bacon? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 27, 2011, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-the-internet-and-bacon/607512 "2011-12-27T13:24:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-the-internet-and-bacon/607512/1 "2011-12-27T13:24:55Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Thrasymachus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Thrasymachus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thrasymachus)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-the-internet-and-bacon/607512/2 "2011-12-27T14:28:53Z")
Just another Internet meme. There are slews of them, all the way back… > **[List of Internet phenomena](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Internet_phenomena)** > > Internet phenomena is a social and cultural phenomena specific to the Internet which includes Internet memes, such as popular themes, catchphrases, images, viral videos, and jokes. When such fads and sensations occur online, they tend to grow rapidly and become more widespread because the instant communication facilitates word of mouth transmission. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-the-internet-and-bacon/607512/3 "2011-12-27T15:02:55Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-the-internet-and-bacon/607512/4 "2011-12-27T15:13:20Z")
Tastier than ninjas or pirates, and just as cool. That’s it really. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-the-internet-and-bacon/607512/5 "2011-12-27T15:35:17Z")
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM. BACON!!! 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. ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-the-internet-and-bacon/607512/6 "2011-12-27T15:40:43Z")
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](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chew)_, Symon topped some [Rice Krispies Treats](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-the-internet-and-bacon/607512/7 "2011-12-27T15:53:35Z")
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”. That’s my take, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-the-internet-and-bacon/607512/8 "2011-12-27T17:42:49Z")
I feel sorry for Americans, they’re hooked on stuff, but its not the REAL stuff. Canadians O.K. but you ever try Danish ? You ever try Brit ? You want the real Bacon you gotta go places. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-the-internet-and-bacon/607512/9 "2011-12-27T17:50:41Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > I feel sorry for Americans, they’re hooked on stuff, but its not the REAL stuff. This is a serious thread. Your joke is not funny. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-the-internet-and-bacon/607512/10 "2011-12-27T17:57:58Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-the-internet-and-bacon/607512/11 "2011-12-27T18:00:15Z")
Its position on the [Periodic Table of Awesoments](http://www.geekologie.com/image.php?path=/2008/12/18/tblofawesome.jpg) should help explain matters. Note that that table suggests that the most important substance for life is “dibacon cheeseid” - sounds about right to me. ---
**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:** [December 27, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-the-internet-and-bacon/607512/12 "2011-12-27T18:51:09Z")
[Bacon is a vegetable](http://www.dieselsweeties.com/archive/931). [There’s a T-shirt, too](http://store.dieselsweeties.com/collections/bacon-is-a-vegetable). ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-the-internet-and-bacon/607512/13 "2011-12-27T19:11:27Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-the-internet-and-bacon/607512/14 "2011-12-27T19:22:11Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > I feel sorry for Americans, they’re hooked on stuff, but its not the REAL stuff. > > Canadians O.K. but you ever try Danish ? > > You ever try Brit ? > > You want the real Bacon you gotta go places. oh, here we go again. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-the-internet-and-bacon/607512/15 "2011-12-28T04:32:27Z")
> [@Thrasymachus](#): > > Just another Internet meme. Which one: [Bacon or bacon](http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDEQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSix_Degrees_of_Kevin_Bacon&ei=d5v6Tp6kFOOv0AGy-M0X&usg=AFQjCNEsisOkqaTI-W_bz23n1ROREs94XA&sig2=xYQ1ic0rNMozqgBovrjTww)? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-the-internet-and-bacon/607512/16 "2011-12-28T06:53:29Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > 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. There’s no actual bacon in bacon salt; it’s Kosher. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.pike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Mr.pike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.pike)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-the-internet-and-bacon/607512/17 "2011-12-28T07:31:55Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > 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”. > > That’s my take, anyway. Ha ha I love pants! And bacon, someone should make bacon pants! ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-the-internet-and-bacon/607512/18 "2011-12-28T07:39:45Z")
It’s because Bacon is the candy bar of meat. The internet is just a great medium to spread the word. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-the-internet-and-bacon/607512/19 "2011-12-28T09:28:06Z")
I want to try [The Readhead’s Bacon Peanut Brittles](http://shop.theredheadnyc.com/products/bacon-peanut-brittle). They even note: _Everything is better with bacon._ ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-the-internet-and-bacon/607512/20 "2011-12-28T11:03:16Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > OP intimates an intriguing point by bringing religion in. Consider: > > - Bacon Salt was originated by a couple of Jewish guys. 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.” > [@](#): > > 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. That’s actually not far from what I came up with, you know. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-the-internet-and-bacon/607512.md?page=2)