I just overheard a coworker saying “Oh, I would never try that in my life!”, in a discussion of food. (This was about consuming a steak cooked less than medium well). It made me wonder what life is like for those who refuse to try new food, especially those who refuse to try mundane things like fried shrimp.
Why limit yourself? It seems like such a closed-minded way to view food. Help me understand?
EDIT:
I wasn’t going to do this, but I’m tired of replying to people and will post this at the top.
The person that prompted this question is a close-minded piece of crap. He has no sensory issues, just a shitty mindset, with ignorance and prejudice on display with no shame. I have the pleasure of hearing his annoying shit every night.
The knee-jerk reactions I have received from people in this post have had me examine my own knee-jerk reactions, attributing malice to that which may be misunderstanding rather than bigotry or hatred. This is what I am taking away from this post. That even I should take a chill pill every now and again; it’s not all a tragedy.
I will not delete it, because there are some very thoughtful replies that explain different viewpoints, that people took time to type out. It would be disrespectful to them to do that.
Call me what you like. Don’t care. I will not be replying to any other replies.
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If I try to eat something I don’t like, I’ll throw up. It’s a waste of money and food, and gross for anyone around me.
deleted by creator
Throwing up because you don’t like the food isn’t the same as an allergy
Bro doesn’t know what an allergy is
Every now and then I’ll eat food that I didn’t like the last time I tried them. I still don’t like pickles, mustard, eggplant, etc. and might never like them. There are other foods I don’t like the texture of, e.g. seafood with rubbery textures. There are other foods I don’t try because they just sound fucking gross, e.g. chicken feet. I understand the arguments for trying chicken feet, but it’s a psychological thing preventing me from trying them. My brain just doesn’t want a fucking chicken foot in my mouth. There are other foods that I’ve tried and might have even enjoyed, but I don’t want to create more demand for that food for one reason or another. I’m fond of ducks. Ducks taste good, but I want ducks to live. I’m increasingly fond of cows, which are delicious, so I rarely eat beef now. I’ve had foie gras and I will never have it again. Geese are assholes but they don’t deserve what humans do to them in order to make foie gras.
For the same reason I wouldn’t willingly get stung by most stinging insects. It’s an unpleasant and unnecessary sensation.
Why do some people feel a need to pressure people to do things that make them uncomfortable? Who am I hurting by choosing what I eat?
I’m a somewhat picky eater, not to the extreme that some are but I do limit myself to foods I am sure I will like.
I’m autistic and have sensory issues. I also have a tendency to throw up a lot. I need to choose safe food that I know won’t make me gag and that I’m sure I can physically eat
I have ARFID. Lots of tastes and textures are the same as torture for me. It sucks.
no rawish shellfish, or some fishes. the textures is to gagging.
I don’t eat seafood because I have a weird hypersensitivity to it. Normally I can’t taste anything subtle, but even the slightest bit of seaweed sets off my receptors in an unpleasant way. The smell of seafood alone makes my stomach turn. It’s like the feeling when you realize what you just ate was spoiled.
You might be mildly allergic I had a weird reaction to shellfish before becoming full-blown allergic face swelling up trouble breathing etc .
Not picky. allergies. But it is the real assholes sure love to treat those with allergies like we’re just picky.
either way: what i chose to eat and like is none of all your damned business.
Reading through all the replies, I’m getting the sense that perhaps your coworker is a bit racist but you did a poor job explaining that in your post. Your post comes across as judgemental of all people who avoid certain foods because you did a bad job of explaining that you meant people who avoid foods because of cultural prejudice. I don’t think you’ll find many people on lemmy who are prejudice against other cultures. I’m not sure what answer you expected. There are some who are just racist, others who may not be racist but just don’t trust food they aren’t familiar with because they’re unsure what’s in it.
I think most people avoid certain foods because they either have a medical condition, ethical concerns, or sensory sensitivity. It sounds like you were looking for an answer from the few who are just racist and I’m not sure what explanation you were expecting for their prejudice.
I cook meals from other cultures a lot but I have to be sure I like all the ingredients first.
hey. get off my ass.
Not on it. I’m asking a question to the narrow minded individuals, not those that have allergies/sensory issues. Maybe don’t take things so serious?
I’m a little insulted you characterize picky eaters as narrow minded. Unless their reasoning is prejudice against other cultures (in which case I woukd agree they’re narrow minded) their reasoning probably is sensitivity to certain tastes and textures
you call picky eaters narrow minded but say no one should take this personally? hhaha what is this negging shit? this shit here sounds like the type of shit a sociopath says that no one should be obliged to answer to let alone waste their time on. go choke on your own farts.
Autism.
Textures & temperatures are problematic. I stay with what I know so minimise the chance of freaking out.
Autistic and the total opposite here for home cooking. The (allegedly greater) magnitude of those flavors and textures makes trying new things so enjoyable that it’s worth the risk.
That said, I used to be similar, having a rotation of a few select meals; I’d get “hooked” on a specific food for an unreasonably long time. But nowadays, I get the benefits of both.
I make whatever at home because I know exactly what’s going into it and roughly how it’ll taste, and I’m naturally limited to a few vegan options at restaurants so I can live the dream of having one or two favorites I get every time. It’s a win–win.
Proves again we’re all different. I too am on the side of trying but also need some fixed things.
On the spectrum myself and I am a foodie with an insatiable apetite for new and interesting. My general rule is if it was good enough for them, it’s good enough for me. I don’t always like everything, but I’ll try anything.
I agree Autism too and I always stick with the things I know. Cannot be dealing with unfamiliar textures.
Agree, I’m not a picky eater (but somewhat autistic) and eat basically anything, but there is some texture I can’t, like avocado or liver, I can literally puke.
I’ll eat my own cum but won’t touch ranch dressing. Do with that what you will.
I… okie dokie.
That’s more than enough information, thank you.
Please, tell me less.
So you don’t spit, eh?
Spitters are quitters.
That’s what I’m saying! Why waste a reward?
You busy later?
At least you’re not wasteful?
My nickname is ‘Closed Circuit’
OwO
I’d rather not have anything to do with that. Thank you.
wasn’t an invitation
Do with that what you will
Wasn’t an invitationI’m getting mixed signals here.
They are obviously ordering you to do with it what you will.
I want to know more, like how did you get over PNC and what does it taste like? Does diet really change the flavour etc etc…
PNC?
Post nut clarity
Oh. Well, first ask yourself do you actually want to do it? If yes, just do it. If no, maybe reevaluate. It seems intimidating at first but just dip your tongue in it. It probably won’t taste great but that’s not why anyone does it. I did it maybe three times before I became a pro at consuming one’s own nut. The first times it was like “wow, this sucks”, afterwards it was more like " wow, this would be better if I had a loving goth mommy domme to share the moment with." It’s not gay despite what shitheads will tell you, unless you want it to be. The world is your oyster, i’m just living in it. As for diet, no idea. Mine has always tasted like battery acid. In regards to PNC, just do it and than you can jerk off thinking about it later.
Disgust is an emotional response. No one can choose their emotions.
Jesus Christ the people in the replies to this comment need to get a grip. It looks like Reddit down there, wtf. All of you need to learn to read
Choose? No.
Adjust over time? Maybe.
Uh, yes, in fact thats one of the truly few things in life that you have absolute choice and power over, is your emotions and how you react to things. Most people learn emotional regulation as children.
Yeah but why should we have to emotionally regulate when it comes to this? As long as food we like is available and we’re getting proper nutrition, why force ourselves to eat what we don’t like?
That’s arguable. Setting aside determinism or whatever, what it appears we can choose is our actions (in response to our emotions). Not the emotions themselves. I’m not sure I could any more choose to be happy if a beloved pet died than I can choose what my eyes see when I look a particular direction. I might be able to filter those inputs through my own perceptions moments after the experience but that initial reaction is instantaneous and, as far as I can tell, uncontrolled.
Put another way: if some drunk shitbag, flying down the street, runs over my cat - my initial response is going to be some combination of horror, rage and sorrow all wrapped up in a sense of panic. Whatever I choose to tell myself after the fact, in an attempt to alter that state, will be reliant on me convincing myself of it before (or rather if) my emotional state can then change. Maybe I say to myself “at least Mittens was spared the pain of old age, organ failure and a slow death” and that silver lining is enough to curb the rage and reduce the sadness. Maybe it’s not. Either way it’s post hoc to the initial, visceral reaction.
Another example might be what’s humorous to you. Something “dark” or morbid might leave you in a laughing fit where it would leave others aghast. I don’t think either of us can choose that. I certainly can’t choose to find Seinfeld funny.
Why are you conflating an inability to practice emotional regulation in a sudden, horrific event to the same in the topic of conversation: trying unfamiliar foods? Emotional response is a muscle, and while there are certain things which cannot be practiced for, there are absolutely others which are entirely trainable and controllable, barring some massive disability that leaves you unable to function independently in society. Having an aversion to new experiences is absolutely something most people have the tools to cope with, and I say this as someone who is on the AuDHD spectrum.
Why are you conflating…
If you’re struggling to view the reply chain, cytobit used disgust as a specific emotional response. They stated emotions are not something that can be chosen. A_Random_Idiot disagreed. I happened to agree with cytobit so I provided examples where emotions seem to clearly not be a choice.
…inability to practice emotional regulation…
Emotional response…Who exactly is conflating? What you’ve said is in agreement with my position - that one can control, at least to some extent, how they respond to their emotions. What you’re calling “regulation” and “response” seem to be identical, yet neither have to do with controlling or choosing the emotions themselves - which was my only point.
If you need me to tie it back to food, in some parts of the world there is little-to-no concept of animal cruelty - extending to food processing and preparation. If you witnessed, or have knowledge of, what went into the meal in front of you then disgust might be what you feel reflexively. How intensely you feel that, whether or not you empty your stomach, is most likely outside your control. Assuming the reflex is mild enough that you can maintain your composure then what you call “regulation” and “response,” the actions you choose with regard to your emotional state, has a chance to come into play.
I don’t think this is particularly controversial. Emotions are not, so far as I can see, in any way chosen. Emotional response (actions) possibly can be, which you seem to reiterate, but those come after the fact.
You absolutely can choose your emotions. It’s sort of terrifying that people seem to agree with this statement.
So when someone you love dies, you can just… choose not to grieve, huh?
You can choose to focus on the positive aspects of their life and your relationship, yes. That’s not exactly the same as not grieving but it isn’t allowing your emotions to drive your actions either.
Either way, that’s quite a bit different than taking a bite of food you don’t like, isn’t it?
You basically just paraphrased that you can’t control your emotions, but how you react to them, proving the previous guys point.
You just paraphrased that emotions aren’t uncontrollable, proving my point.
Somehow, I don’t think you understand what your own point is…
Part of growing up is realising what those emotions mean & adapting, otherwise you will have no growth.
it’s called control… and it’s very easily controllable.
Unless you have ARFID
That might be your problem, but it’s no excuse. I have ADD and poor impulse control; that doesn’t entitle me to drive drunk, no matter how good an idea it might sound at the time due to my condition.
Have you ever thought that those are 2 different things? Do you even know what ARFID is or just wrote the first thing you thought when you saw the unknow acronym?
No one can choose their emotions.
Yeah, but most people can still explain where they come from and why they have them.
Most self aware adults anyway.
And you really need to understand, when I use terms like “adults” and “children”, very rarely am I referring to the number of birthdays someone’s had.
wHy LiMiT yOuRsElF
You think I want to live like this? That I’m choosing to? Bewildering.
When offered a new food, you can take it or not.
Since you seem to identify as one who would CHOOSE not to eat it, explaining why you MAKE THAT CHOICE is probably more what they were looking for, as opposed to cryptic sarcasm that leaves us with more questions than answers.
Like I said, I don’t choose to be this way. I do wish I could try more things but most foods make me gag before they’re anywhere near my mouth.
You could choose to eat poop, but you would never because that’s disgusting, so would you really call that a “choice”?
Absolutely. And if someone asked why I choose not to eat poop, I would tell them because it’s highly unsanitary and carries diseases. Besides, the flavor is not enjoyable and it provides little to no nutritional value, so there really is no reason to eat it.
Your turn.
That is what you would say if pressed for a reason, but surely it’s secondary to your gut reaction of “ew”. Or perhaps your instinctual knowledge that it’s a bad idea to eat poop causes the gut reaction, I don’t know.
Yeah, if you forced me at gunpoint I’d (probably — I’m honestly not sure) eat whatever you put in front of me, but I normally don’t because the thought, and the sensory impression, are deeply viscerally unpleasant to me. I wish they weren’t, but I very rarely find myself able to overpower this reaction, and only with foods that doesn’t trigger it as strongly. I suppose next you’ll call me weak-willed.
Why are you so intent on me, and only me, justifying myself, because I was a bit snippy to OP or what? I’m disengaging now.
I’m disengaging now
Without answering the very simple question you were asked, by OP and this commenter. Way to engage.
They just answered it…
It seems that the question was not directed at you, based on your response.
You asked “picky eaters of Lemmy” and got a response from one.
Response, yes. Answer, no.
Eh, fair.
I don’t think ARFID is the same thing as “picky”.
“bEcAuSe I dOn’T” is hardly a response. Every other commenter has been able to identify taste, texture, trauma, something. You’re the only one stubbornly insisted “just because” is a valid answer without contributing to the discussion.
No one is contesting your right to be picky, just asking for insight. If you don’t want to share, feel free to stfu anytime.
