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Isn't food the underpinning of most cultural traditions? It seems to me like society (as defined by generations of civilization) has already determined that foo

Isn't food the underpinning of most cultural traditions? It seems to me like society (as defined by generations of civilization) has already determined that food has value for it's experience and community aspects. Maybe it's more than just an "HN class of people" thing and you could examine your own perspective? [1] The cultural significance of food and eating - https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0029665182000342 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/c... [2] How Food Shaped Humanity - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/how-food-shaped-humanity-83840262/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/how-food-shaped-... [3] Understanding Culture: Food as a Means of Communication - https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=15&ved=2ahUKEwj-oZ3Gq9DiAhWETN8KHfutA8gQFjAOegQIBxAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fyadda.icm.edu.pl%2Fyadda%2Felement%2Fbwmeta1.element.desklight-3b71a1ed-2c03-499a-8884-ab5ec51e1f56%2Fc%2F05-Stajcic_v01.pdf&usg=AOvVaw17t1K-IMZtOJrAs6gbUcEA https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&c...

Kalium 7y ago
Food, and its production and consumption, is definitely the underpinning of many cultural traditions. Today, many people have the opportunity to choose how bound they are to such traditions. Some people prefer to do their own cooking, at home, for themselves. Others prefer to have every meal prepared by a professional in a restaurant. Still others prefer to have most meals delivered. Some like to mix and match as is convenient. Unbound from tradition, people can make their own choices, and decide for themselves how much they value traditional romantic attachments to home cooking, participation, and interaction in their food experiences.
- moorhosj 7y ago
  I think you are missing my point. At it's core, food is simply fuel for the human body. In practice, it is a common thread that unites different cultures and generations. I am suggesting that we should examine why food plays such an outsized role in our cultures. Is it a part of our social nature, oral traditions, basic necessities, etc.? Is it something that can be "disrupted" like e-commerce or some other man-made industry?
  - Kalium 7y ago
    I think you have made a cogent point. Food is common and an essential part of how every human culture defines itself. I think you have raised a wise question about how disruptable food really is. It might be worth considering that human history - recent and otherwise - might provide an answer. Human food culture is definitely a thing that can be disrupted like any other man-made industry. Restaurants, delivery, central kitchens, self-service grocery stores, relgious food rituals, and more were all at some point major disruptions. It's perhaps possible that the critical and unique centrality of food to culture you correctly point to might not inure it to disruption. You're absolutely right that there is a discussion to be had here. Might it be better understood as a discussion explicitly about social rituals, oral traditions, and uniting humans across generations?
    - moorhosj 7y ago
      ==Might it be better understood as a discussion explicitly about social rituals, oral traditions, and uniting humans across generations?== This is a good point and you are likely correct. I think I was internalizing some things I've read recently on HN that haven't sat well.

Kalium 7y ago

Food, and its production and consumption, is definitely the underpinning of many cultural traditions. Today, many people have the opportunity to choose how bound they are to such traditions. Some people prefer to do their own cooking, at home, for themselves. Others prefer to have every meal prepared by a professional in a restaurant. Still others prefer to have most meals delivered. Some like to mix and match as is convenient. Unbound from tradition, people can make their own choices, and decide for themselves how much they value traditional romantic attachments to home cooking, participation, and interaction in their food experiences.

moorhosj 7y ago
I think you are missing my point. At it's core, food is simply fuel for the human body. In practice, it is a common thread that unites different cultures and generations. I am suggesting that we should examine why food plays such an outsized role in our cultures. Is it a part of our social nature, oral traditions, basic necessities, etc.? Is it something that can be "disrupted" like e-commerce or some other man-made industry?
- Kalium 7y ago
  I think you have made a cogent point. Food is common and an essential part of how every human culture defines itself. I think you have raised a wise question about how disruptable food really is. It might be worth considering that human history - recent and otherwise - might provide an answer. Human food culture is definitely a thing that can be disrupted like any other man-made industry. Restaurants, delivery, central kitchens, self-service grocery stores, relgious food rituals, and more were all at some point major disruptions. It's perhaps possible that the critical and unique centrality of food to culture you correctly point to might not inure it to disruption. You're absolutely right that there is a discussion to be had here. Might it be better understood as a discussion explicitly about social rituals, oral traditions, and uniting humans across generations?
  - moorhosj 7y ago
    ==Might it be better understood as a discussion explicitly about social rituals, oral traditions, and uniting humans across generations?== This is a good point and you are likely correct. I think I was internalizing some things I've read recently on HN that haven't sat well.