Girls taste better than boys
Guest poster John Lindner, one of my philosophical gurus along with Ray Lewis, is swimming in deep waters here. But he still manages to pull a Shallow Thought Wednesday out of them. I labeled him my philosophical guru today because he sent me this sage advice when I told him how much I love studies: "Food scares and studies, the bread and butter of Monday news." Next up, peanut butter. EL
Some people believe girls are better than boys. They claim to have evidence.
I don't know what "better" means in this context and cannot consider the point as it's out of the depth of Shallow Thought Wednesday. So I forge on with this bit of important news: A new study has "found" that girls taste better than boys. ...
That may come as no surprise to anyone until one realizes the study states that "girls recognize taste much better than boys. They also found that boys need about 10 percent more sourness and 20 percent more sweetness to be able to recognize the taste of something."
What I don't understand is who gets to decide how something tastes?
If men conducted the study, isn't it possible that the girls just imagined that rather bland things taste sour or sweet?
If women conducted the test, it stands to reason girls would agree with their elders' screwed up taste sense. Unless it isn't screwed up. But who decides?
Near the end, the report casts a very dark shadow of doubt over the entire study by declaring that "about 70 percent of all the children like the taste of fish."
Again, which fish? Or do the studiers believe all fish tastes the same? If so, can we believe anything they say?
The report, in its entirety, can be found here.
Or what if the boys in the study simply exhibited a commitment problem, not wanting to declare a thing sour or sweet till they were "majorly certain"?
What I don't understand is who gets to decide how something tastes?
If men conducted the study, isn't it possible that the girls just imagined that rather bland things taste sour or sweet?
If women conducted the test, it stands to reason girls would agree with their elders' screwed up taste sense. Unless it isn't screwed up. But who decides?
Near the end, the report casts a very dark shadow of doubt over the entire study by declaring that "about 70 percent of all the children like the taste of fish."
Again, which fish? Or do the studiers believe all fish tastes the same? If so, can we believe anything they say?
The report, in its entirety, can be found here.
Or what if the boys in the study simply exhibited a commitment problem, not wanting to declare a thing sour or sweet till they were "majorly certain"?
Posted by Elizabeth Large at 12:19 PM | Permalink
| Comments (34)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
Comments
As a person who's experienced both, I concur with the thesis statement.
Posted by: Joyce W. | February 11, 2009 12:48 PM
Girls taste better than boys? Personally, I think it depends on how you cook them.
Posted by: Trixie | February 11, 2009 1:19 PM
I can think of no possible response to the statement "girls taste better than boys" that wouldn't get me banned from this blog for life.
Posted by: Flipkid | February 11, 2009 1:28 PM
jl, this post is precisely what I was talking about in my new year's email to you.
Posted by: Bucky | February 11, 2009 1:53 PM
Yes but some have a bitter after-taste.
Posted by: Owl Meat Gravy II - The Thunder Monkey Conversion | February 11, 2009 2:04 PM
Must....engage....brain....voice....filter
Posted by: RayRay | February 11, 2009 2:25 PM
I'm with Flipkid. And Joyce. Heck, and Trixie, too.
There is just no way that chicken isn't going to come up. And my brother is the expert there.
Posted by: Lissa | February 11, 2009 2:32 PM
Well, girls certainly smell better than boys :-)
Posted by: RayRay | February 11, 2009 2:42 PM
It's funny to see this video -- I actually posted about these "electric buttons" about a year and a half ago.
Check it out:
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/midnight_sun/blog/2007/10/electric_buttons.html
Posted by: Sam Sessa | February 11, 2009 4:00 PM
From Sam's post on electric buttons: Yes, as far as I know, they're legal. And yes, I know, they don't look legal.
This is how A-Rod started, if I'm not mistaken.
Posted by: Bucky | February 11, 2009 4:17 PM
Sam,
The posted video has a 2007 copyright date, so you and Mr. Yonan seem to be on the same timeline. Question is what has happened in the year and a half? Have these things become more common? Were they just a "flash in the mouth"? Enquiring minds want to know.
Posted by: Retired in Elkridge | February 11, 2009 4:20 PM
I think it's time to dust off this blog"s motto: "De gustibus non est disputandem."
Posted by: Dahlink | February 11, 2009 5:27 PM
Trixie,
Good call. I wish I'd thought of that angle. Although, don't you get more protein, or something, from raw? Or is that just carrots?
And, I suppose, the question remains,if you cooked each precisely the same, then which would taste better? But now that I think of it, this has nothing to do with ... I surrender.
Posted by: jl | February 11, 2009 5:35 PM
jl, that sounds like a vintage Saturday Night Live skit: "What's that? You mean sense of taste? Never mind."
Posted by: Retired in Elkridge | February 12, 2009 10:18 AM
RiE, I think jl was counting on that.
Posted by: Lissa | February 12, 2009 11:15 AM
Rie - I'm seeing Gilda in that skit.
Posted by: Eve | February 12, 2009 1:46 PM
Bucky, I sold them to A-rod for a pretty penny.
R in E, I haven't seen them anywhere since that one night. And that was at Ixia, which is known for fancy drinks with experimental ingredients.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | February 12, 2009 2:10 PM
There is just no way that chicken isn't going to come up. And my brother is the expert there. Ms Lissa, I am going to accept that statement at face value and not consider other possible contexts. (But thanks for the chuckle.)
Posted by: Robert (the Single One) | February 12, 2009 7:52 PM
RtSO, I have a habit of saying things that could be taken several ways, more than one of them true. Sounds like you got the meaning, though .
Posted by: Lissa | February 12, 2009 9:23 PM
This is as good a place as any to wish Robert (the Single One) a very happy birthday today (and never mind that it's Friday the 13th!) Happy Birthday, Robert!
Posted by: Dahlink | February 13, 2009 6:43 AM
I wish I'd read the entire article before I licked my son and daughter to see who tasted best. Definitely my daughter. Ten year old boys stink, and some of them don't like being licked by their Mommies at 5am!
Posted by: A-non Genius | February 13, 2009 8:38 AM
Happy birthday, RtSO!
Posted by: Lissa | February 13, 2009 9:04 AM
Yes RtSO - Happy Birthday! And a good luck friday the 13th!)
Posted by: Joyce W. | February 13, 2009 9:18 AM
Thank you, Dahlink. Growing up (to the extent I can be said to have grown up [rather than just getting old]) this date/day combination is why the whole Friday the 13th was never an issue: how can it be bad luck if it's your birthday every couple of years.
Posted by: Robert (the Single One) | February 13, 2009 9:18 AM
Oh, RtSO! Happy Brithday!
Posted by: Eve | February 13, 2009 9:56 AM
Happy Birthday Dear Robert (the Single One),
may the day be delightful and lots of fun
for someone so plucky,
we hope you get lucky,
make a wish when you blow out the candles Hon.
Posted by: Laura Lee | February 13, 2009 10:31 AM
To My Girls: thank you all. I had a nice dim sum lunch (with lots brought home) so I won't have to fight the Valentine Day crowds.
Posted by: Robert (the Single One) | February 13, 2009 3:18 PM
RtSO, my brother was born on Friday the 13th and turned 13 on Friday the 13th.
Um...don't be like my brother .
Posted by: Lissa | February 13, 2009 6:32 PM
Well, happy birthday, RtSO. I missed this topic all day, I guess.
Posted by: Bucky | February 13, 2009 6:35 PM
Lissa, you scared me for a minute. I was born on Friday the 13th, but a quick google search indicates that my thirteenth birthday wasn't on a Friday.
Posted by: Hal Laurent, VoR | February 13, 2009 7:54 PM
Thanks, Bucky. Ms Lissa, what are the odds of 13 on Friday the 13th? If your brother is half as interesting as you, family dinners must be fascinating.
Posted by: Robert (the Single One) | February 13, 2009 7:56 PM
I missed this topic too. I was quite involved with that work stuff that I have to do. I hate it when my work interferes with my visiting this blog.
Happy Birthday RtSO, from a fellow member of the League of Roberts. There seems to be fewer of us visiting these days.
I hope your birthday was a good one!
Posted by: PCB Rob | February 13, 2009 8:36 PM
Thank you PCBR. I too have noticed that not only has the League of Roberts representation diminished, so many other old friends have been missing of late: Rosebud, Voo Doo Pork, the lovely Amanda. I for one miss them all.
Posted by: Robert (the Single One) | February 14, 2009 9:49 PM
Yes, I am missing my dear sister Rosebud and Piano Rob, as well as all the others who have drifted away. Maybe they are in hibernation and will return with the longer days of spring.
Posted by: Dahlink | February 15, 2009 8:50 AM