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(Was there anything wrong with being single?) Your “lonely people giving up on life” is a huge reach. It’s just food. People are capable of socializing outside

(Was there anything wrong with being single?) Your “lonely people giving up on life” is a huge reach. It’s just food. People are capable of socializing outside of meals. Setting that aside for a moment, though, you also don’t have to replace every meal, as is mentioned elsewhere in the comments. How about just breakfast? Despite it being greatly beneficial to start the day with food, many people feel like they don’t have the time. Something quick, filling, and taking no preparation is ideal.

ghaff 10y ago
And I honestly doubt that anyone here or most places has an issue with Soylent as start-your-day food. After all, smoothies (often with all sorts of questionable "powerfood" additives) are a big thing these days. The hackles come up when it's promoted or discussed as a broader meal replacement.
- kafkaesq 10y ago
  And I honestly doubt that anyone here or most places has an issue with Soylent as start-your-day food. "Powerfood" additives, being basically an orthogonal component -- aside, it's basically a powdered (or perhaps pasteurized concentrate, a la Minute Made) remake of the classic, fresh-everything version of your regular breakfast smoothie. You don't see any issues with that? The hackles come up when it's promoted or discussed as a broader meal replacement. Which just so happens to be Soylent's business plan.
  - ghaff 10y ago
    The standard counter to Soylent criticism though is that it's just an alternative to other quick meals on the go. Personally, I do often make smoothies in the morning and have never had a Soylent so I'm not going to argue against more natural is healthier--even if I'm not going to try to substantiate that general preference scientifically. But yes. Their broader business plan and certainly what gets the press seems to be Soylent as broader meal replacement. If this were just another "nutritional drink on the go" absolutely no one would care.

ghaff 10y ago

And I honestly doubt that anyone here or most places has an issue with Soylent as start-your-day food. After all, smoothies (often with all sorts of questionable "powerfood" additives) are a big thing these days. The hackles come up when it's promoted or discussed as a broader meal replacement.

kafkaesq 10y ago
And I honestly doubt that anyone here or most places has an issue with Soylent as start-your-day food. "Powerfood" additives, being basically an orthogonal component -- aside, it's basically a powdered (or perhaps pasteurized concentrate, a la Minute Made) remake of the classic, fresh-everything version of your regular breakfast smoothie. You don't see any issues with that? The hackles come up when it's promoted or discussed as a broader meal replacement. Which just so happens to be Soylent's business plan.
- ghaff 10y ago
  The standard counter to Soylent criticism though is that it's just an alternative to other quick meals on the go. Personally, I do often make smoothies in the morning and have never had a Soylent so I'm not going to argue against more natural is healthier--even if I'm not going to try to substantiate that general preference scientifically. But yes. Their broader business plan and certainly what gets the press seems to be Soylent as broader meal replacement. If this were just another "nutritional drink on the go" absolutely no one would care.