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Just asking: Is this some kind of weird humor? Can anybody tell the story of this in short words? I am fearing, that those predicted times will come up, but t

Just asking: Is this some kind of weird humor? Can anybody tell the story of this in short words? I am fearing, that those predicted times will come up, but that somebody would name his product after a product that in a science fiction story was made out of human bodies, is really a little beyond my comprehension. Some kind of self-irony, perhaps? Or reverse marketing?

eurleif 12y ago
Why is it named Soylent? Because it made you ask that question.
deckiedan 12y ago
I believe in the original book ('Make Room! Make Room!'), soylent was not specified as cannibalistic - that was added in the movie.
- nodata 12y ago
  Yes, you're right. Soylent = soya + lentil steaks in the book.
yaddayadda 12y ago
From the horse's (rob's) keyboard: >I don't know anything about marketing or branding but I'm a big fan of underpromising and overdelivering. You're right it doesn't sound that amazing, but it is to me. >Soylent is supposed to disrupt the food that is all marketing and nutritionally disastrous. I'd like to differentiate by being honest and up front. Most food sold is all branding and taste. I feel there's a wealth of science and chemistry to food and nutrition that is largely ignored by the main players in the industry. They just make what they know people recognize and want. Fatty, salty food is sold because that's what people demand. There is a serious gap in the market for cheap, convenient, healthy food. >The name kind of fades in to the background after you say it enough too. My brain has become accustomed to a positive association with the word 'soylent'. If I've had 'real' food for two meals in a row my mouth waters at the mention of the word soylent. Your body learns. The stomach is connected to the brain. Think about 'coffee'. That's a terrible name. It sounds like 'coffin' or 'coughing'. But no one notices because it's become its own idea and most people have formed an association with it, good or bad. >I own the trademark. It could be sold under a different name in addition to soylent for marketing purposes. That's pretty common. Some conservative people may never be able to get past the name. I considered the name 'manna' but it's heavily trademarked, and a little cheesy. I'm open to suggestion. - http://discourse.soylent.me/t/changing-the-name-to-something-less-bland/372/9 http://discourse.soylent.me/t/changing-the-name-to-something...
gojomo 12y ago
I still haven't 100.000% ruled out the idea this is all a long-running concept-art project. I'm also hoping some studio does a Soylent Green reboot soon, reimagined to cash in on the young-adult dystopia trend. The cross-marketing possibilities! (I'd like to see a CGI-reanimated Charlton Heston delivering the line, "You can have my Soylent when you slurp it out of my cold, dead hands... you damn, dirty ape!")
ChuckMcM 12y ago
First, in the movie, only the 'green' variant of Soylent was people earlier versions had other starter material. That said, this product is designed for people who don't cook, don't care what their food looks like, and really would rather it didn't take a lot of time to prepare and make much mess. Oh, and people who believe in the apocalypse but they have their own issues. Personally I like food and eating as recreation way to much to eat this stuff, but there have been times in my past when I was heads down in some project and eating was sort of an after thought. This would be ok in those times. The concept is not original, there are various sorts of manufactured foods both for folks who are starving, and for folks who are otherwise incapacitated (like in hospitals) but this is the first version of that sort of product for general consumer use.
- ballard 12y ago
  Might want to also watch Cloud Atlas.

eurleif 12y ago

Why is it named Soylent? Because it made you ask that question.

deckiedan 12y ago

I believe in the original book ('Make Room! Make Room!'), soylent was not specified as cannibalistic - that was added in the movie.

nodata 12y ago
Yes, you're right. Soylent = soya + lentil steaks in the book.

yaddayadda 12y ago

From the horse's (rob's) keyboard: >I don't know anything about marketing or branding but I'm a big fan of underpromising and overdelivering. You're right it doesn't sound that amazing, but it is to me. >Soylent is supposed to disrupt the food that is all marketing and nutritionally disastrous. I'd like to differentiate by being honest and up front. Most food sold is all branding and taste. I feel there's a wealth of science and chemistry to food and nutrition that is largely ignored by the main players in the industry. They just make what they know people recognize and want. Fatty, salty food is sold because that's what people demand. There is a serious gap in the market for cheap, convenient, healthy food. >The name kind of fades in to the background after you say it enough too. My brain has become accustomed to a positive association with the word 'soylent'. If I've had 'real' food for two meals in a row my mouth waters at the mention of the word soylent. Your body learns. The stomach is connected to the brain. Think about 'coffee'. That's a terrible name. It sounds like 'coffin' or 'coughing'. But no one notices because it's become its own idea and most people have formed an association with it, good or bad. >I own the trademark. It could be sold under a different name in addition to soylent for marketing purposes. That's pretty common. Some conservative people may never be able to get past the name. I considered the name 'manna' but it's heavily trademarked, and a little cheesy. I'm open to suggestion. - http://discourse.soylent.me/t/changing-the-name-to-something-less-bland/372/9 http://discourse.soylent.me/t/changing-the-name-to-something...

gojomo 12y ago

I still haven't 100.000% ruled out the idea this is all a long-running concept-art project. I'm also hoping some studio does a Soylent Green reboot soon, reimagined to cash in on the young-adult dystopia trend. The cross-marketing possibilities! (I'd like to see a CGI-reanimated Charlton Heston delivering the line, "You can have my Soylent when you slurp it out of my cold, dead hands... you damn, dirty ape!")

ChuckMcM 12y ago

First, in the movie, only the 'green' variant of Soylent was people earlier versions had other starter material. That said, this product is designed for people who don't cook, don't care what their food looks like, and really would rather it didn't take a lot of time to prepare and make much mess. Oh, and people who believe in the apocalypse but they have their own issues. Personally I like food and eating as recreation way to much to eat this stuff, but there have been times in my past when I was heads down in some project and eating was sort of an after thought. This would be ok in those times. The concept is not original, there are various sorts of manufactured foods both for folks who are starving, and for folks who are otherwise incapacitated (like in hospitals) but this is the first version of that sort of product for general consumer use.

ballard 12y ago
Might want to also watch Cloud Atlas.