Thought

[The Beatles]

If a man who does not drink (and thus does not like) beer is exposed to a lot of cheap and bad quality beer -- for whatever reasons, it does not matter -- and then a few months later has the opportunity to drink good quality beer, he will say to himself: "Ah, what a good beer that was!". Whereas he still does not like beer, he has deluded himself. He praises the fact that he has found a good specimen, and admires it as a good example of its class. However, he does not like the class itself, yet he subconsciously accepts that fallacy. From then on he will delude himself that he likes beer, until this actually becomes true through force of habit.
This can be extended into other fields and pastimes as well. Some may be more relevant than beer, likely enough. If so, can you draw an analogy with this phenomenon in another habit? For this man, identifying the habit ere too late would have cured it.

I'm not trying to preach, this is just an observation. I'm also not trying to state that I'm correct, so your thoughts would be appreciated.

[Nohc]

Yeah, that could happen... but people don't normally drink beer because of that. So, as to applying it to something else, I can't think of anything off the top of my head.

[The Beatles]

Thanks for your reply.

I didn't say he started to drink because of it (I noted unrelated reasons.) However when he is deluded into thinking he enjoys it, he will have a harder time stopping than before.

[Nohc]

Ah, okay... Hm.... I suppose I could delude myself into thinking that Science and Math classes are way better than English classes, even if none of them are very fun. I actually do enjoy Science and Math though, so that could be why I like them so much but we'll never know, will we. Does it really matter, though? And don't be so formal. XD

[The Beatles]

Thank you for your reply, Mr. E. Brow. How's that for formal?

[Nuclear Raunch]

Thank you for your reply, Mr. E. Brow.

ROFL


Best analogy I can think of is someone who does not like country music hearing a country song he likes. Only trouble is it's somewhat rare for someone to like an entire genre based on one song. Or artist

As far as beer goes it's definately an aquired taste. Many a youth that has recently started drinking will find beer disgusting, but they often drink it anyway. Usually because they either like the buzz or peer pressure. People like the atmosphere of a party and everyone else is drinking a beer so they feel somewhat "left out" if they're standing around beerless.

After a while it doesn't bother you that much, then before you know it you start to halfway like it. If you're trying to drink beer but having trouble with the taste I'd strongly recommend Hefeweisen. Don't go bottled either, go somewhere that has it on tap. And the Pyramid brew is not nearly as good as the Widmer. Depending on the part of the country you're in it may be hard to get though.

If you are trying to get away from drinking beer but like to feel buzzed try mixed drinks. Just tell the bartender what you want (apple, strawberry, sweet, sour, coconut, etc) and he can fix you up with something good.

If you're trying to talk someone out of drinking best I can tell you is good luck. I know of nothing that can help. Just stress the importance of knowing your limits and getting a ride and that's about the best you can do in most cases.

[Kraken]

i have been drinking beer sense i was 3 years old. when my own father would give me the cans that he had emptied and i would suck the suds out of the bottom of the can. so i guess, the best way you could picture me now, is like Barney Gumble off the simpsons, only thinner and in a army uniform. :*laughs*:

[Drahken]

I always laugh my *** off at the whole "acquired taste" thing. How stupid or weak willed do you have to be to try something, spit it out in disgust, then ask for another?! Anyone with an ounce of sense, and who isn't a total wuss will just say "that's disgusting, I'm not eating/drinking any more of it." The only time I could see acquiring an acquired taste is if you're stuck on a deserted island for months. If there's nothing to eat but coconuts, you'll acquire a taste for coconuts, no matter how much you hated them previously.
I don't drink beer, coffee, nor smoke, all because they are hideous and disgusting (and because I'm neither dumb enough nor weak enough to "acquire a taste for it"). Beer is rancid, coffee is bitter, and tobacco is just all-around putrid. What I could really never understand is the whole concept of caffiene free coffee and alcohol free beer. What's the point of drinking something that nasty if you're not even going to get any benefits from it??

Back to the original topic: I agree that people who experience really bad versions of something and then suddenly experience a mediocre version will think that the mediocre one is wonderful by comparison, but I don't think anyone would suddenly love [WHATEVER IT WAS] because of it, they would merely think that that one example was way better than it truly was. A good example is the new transformers cartoons vs the old one. Because each previous new one was total crap, everyone thinks that the newest one is great. If they had experienced the original series, they would see how even the best of the new ones pale by comparison.

[Urran Voh]

A better beverage choice for this question would be wine. People do not often drink wine to get drunk, but drink it because it tastes nice.

[The Beatles]

Precisely what I meant, Drahken! Thanks.

[Nuclear Raunch]

I always laugh my *** off at the whole "acquired taste" thing. How stupid or weak willed do you have to be to try something, spit it out in disgust, then ask for another?! Anyone with an ounce of sense, and who isn't a total wuss will just say "that's disgusting, I'm not eating/drinking any more of it." The only time I could see acquiring an acquired taste is if you're stuck on a deserted island for months. If there's nothing to eat but coconuts, you'll acquire a taste for coconuts, no matter how much you hated them previously.
I don't drink beer, coffee, nor smoke, all because they are hideous and disgusting (and because I'm neither dumb enough nor weak enough to "acquire a taste for it"). Beer is rancid, coffee is bitter, and tobacco is just all-around putrid. What I could really never understand is the whole concept of caffiene free coffee and alcohol free beer. What's the point of drinking something that nasty if you're not even going to get any benefits from it??

Back to the original topic: I agree that people who experience really bad versions of something and then suddenly experience a mediocre version will think that the mediocre one is wonderful by comparison, but I don't think anyone would suddenly love [WHATEVER IT WAS] because of it, they would merely think that that one example was way better than it truly was. A good example is the new transformers cartoons vs the old one. Because each previous new one was total crap, everyone thinks that the newest one is great. If they had experienced the original series, they would see how even the best of the new ones pale by comparison.

I don't think anyone spits it out then tries another one. For the people who drink it out of peer pressure, yeah I think it's weak willed and dumb. For the people who drink for the buzz, it's a matter of drinking something you don't like to make you feel good. I'd say 99% of us have ate or drank something that didn't taste great but we did it because it made us feel better.

If you're doing it to get drunk you chug the first one, the second one you might have to as well, and by the third they don't taste bad. Or you can do it the smart way and just drink mixed drinks instead, that way you get drunk without choking down something you don't like. Plus it's cheaper.

[Nohc]

Go Drahken. I'm with him, but sometimes I drink unsweetened tea just because I know I will get used to it. It's about image, too. So I may drink some wine when I'm older, but beer and tobacco are going much too far. Smoking is bad for you and everyone around you and beer's sole purpose is to get you drunk. I may drink coffee for caffine, but I'll try to avoid it because it has no nurtitional value and really does taste bad by itself.

Edit: And don't you ever call me Mr. Eyebrows again, Beatles... *changes icon*

[The Beatles]

Oh no, I was just calling you Mr. E. Brow. I guess that stands for Mr. Encouragingly Brow. Like highbrow, but different.

[sh0e]

"Sometimes eating bad ramen can be kinda fun, too."
-Haruhara Haruko, FLCL

[Drahken]

"I don't think anyone spits it out then tries another one."
Think again. I once got some cheapass orange soda that tasted nasty. I tried some, had a little fun shaking up the can and spraying it, then just dumped what was left. When my friend came over, I offered him some (aren't I nice? *evil grin*). He tried it, spit it out, then immediately took another sip only to spit it out too. I burst out laughing, and kept harassing him about it for months afterward.

The buzz is the only reason I can accept for drinking beer, although I still don't think it's a good enough reason for beer itself. Between the horrible taste and the fact that it isn't even as strong as other forms of alcohol make it a complete waste. I've considered trying mixed drinks and/or flavored alcohol (mike's hard lemon sounds promising), but I would never drink beer.

For caffiene, just give me a Coke, or some caffiene pills.
I sometimes drink tea, but never unsweetened. I put about a 1/4 inch of sugar at the bottom of a small cup (and obviously more for a large cup).

I'm not against smoking due to the health issues (I'm not health concious), I'm against it because it's disgusting, repulsive, revolting, and just plain nasty. I've grown up around smokers, and I'd rather stand behind and old school bus for an hour than to put up with tobacco smoke.