A matter of taste

[Polymath257]

Taste is an unusual sense. It is acknowledged that people will taste things
differently. Things that I like to taste may well be things you hate to taste.
We recognize that taste is a matter of opinion and not a matter of fact. We
even go as far as to say that other opinions (concerning art, music, etc) are
'matters of taste' when we mean that people will experience them in different
ways.

This is quite different than, for example, the sense of sight. We generally
expect that if we see something as red, so will everyone else. Of course,
there are those who are color blind, but we see that as a deficiency and not
an aspect of being 'normal'. Healthy people are expected to se the same colors
while they are not expected to taste the same tastes.

Of course, there are some tastes that people uniformly see as the same. Honey is
sweet, lemons are sour, etc. But there are some that taste broccolli as bitter
and others that do not. There are those who find the taste of vinegar as overpowering
while others can almost drink it out of the bottle.

What is interesting is that we have found *some* reasons for these differences
in taste. The taste receptors in our tongues and palates vary from person to person.
The responsiveness to different chemicals varies and so the signals the tastebuds
send to our brains varies. A 'super taster' has different taste buds than others do.

So what does this say about 'reality'? Since ALL of our information about the world
comes from our senses and we *know* that the senses can vary from person to person,
how do we determine what is 'real' and factual as opposed to 'a matter of taste'?
Do we simply forge 'consensus reality' from those sensations where we all agree and
say the rest are 'opinions'? Do we accept differences as 'personal realities'? And
how can we (can we) know anything about what is really 'out there'?

What tastes do you like that many others dislike? What do you dislike that others like?
For me, I dislike tomatoes and vinegar and really like sweet foods. My wife is
exactly the opposite. What is your experience?

 

[Estro Felino]

Why didnt you speak of olfaction?
Olfaction is much more important than taste...

For example...so many people love to smoke...whereas I find the smell of cigarettes vomitous (no offense for smokers )

 

[Polymath257]

Why didnt you speak of olfaction?
Olfaction is much more important than taste...

For example...so many people love to smoke...wheteas I find the smell of cigarettes vomitous (no offense for smokers )

Primarily because we don't have a turn of phrase similar to 'a matter of taste' for the sense of smell.

It's also interesting how, when we understand something, we say 'I see'. Humans are very, very sight oriented.

 

[BSM1]

Why didnt you speak of olfaction?
Olfaction is much more important than taste...

For example...so many people love to smoke...wheteas I find the smell of cigarettes vomitous (no offense for smokers )

And, as a completely unconnected aside, you don't smell odors when you sleep. This is why most victims in house fires die of smoke inhalation instead of burns.

 

[Revoltingest]

The other day at a dinner with friends, we compared tastes.
Some odd things hated....
- Root beer
- Anchovies & sardines
- Avocado
Perceptions sure do vary, eh.

Btw, I hate the taste of mint.
Mrs Revolt likes it, but it must be kept far from
my chocolate, lest the Mint aroma infect it.

 

[Wandering Monk]

Taste is an unusual sense. It is acknowledged that people will taste things
differently. Things that I like to taste may well be things you hate to taste.
We recognize that taste is a matter of opinion and not a matter of fact. We
even go as far as to say that other opinions (concerning art, music, etc) are
'matters of taste' when we mean that people will experience them in different
ways.

This is quite different than, for example, the sense of sight. We generally
expect that if we see something as red, so will everyone else. Of course,
there are those who are color blind, but we see that as a deficiency and not
an aspect of being 'normal'. Healthy people are expected to se the same colors
while they are not expected to taste the same tastes.

Of course, there are some tastes that people uniformly see as the same. Honey is
sweet, lemons are sour, etc. But there are some that taste broccolli as bitter
and others that do not. There are those who find the taste of vinegar as overpowering
while others can almost drink it out of the bottle.

What is interesting is that we have found *some* reasons for these differences
in taste. The taste receptors in our tongues and palates vary from person to person.
The responsiveness to different chemicals varies and so the signals the tastebuds
send to our brains varies. A 'super taster' has different taste buds than others do.

So what does this say about 'reality'? Since ALL of our information about the world
comes from our senses and we *know* that the senses can vary from person to person,
how do we determine what is 'real' and factual as opposed to 'a matter of taste'?
Do we simply forge 'consensus reality' from those sensations where we all agree and
say the rest are 'opinions'? Do we accept differences as 'personal realities'? And
how can we (can we) know anything about what is really 'out there'?

What tastes do you like that many others dislike? What do you dislike that others like?
For me, I dislike tomatoes and vinegar and really like sweet foods. My wife is
exactly the opposite. What is your experience?

Cilantro!

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Taste is an unusual sense. It is acknowledged that people will taste things
differently. Things that I like to taste may well be things you hate to taste.
We recognize that taste is a matter of opinion and not a matter of fact. We
even go as far as to say that other opinions (concerning art, music, etc) are
'matters of taste' when we mean that people will experience them in different
ways.

This is quite different than, for example, the sense of sight. We generally
expect that if we see something as red, so will everyone else. Of course,
there are those who are color blind, but we see that as a deficiency and not
an aspect of being 'normal'. Healthy people are expected to se the same colors
while they are not expected to taste the same tastes.

Of course, there are some tastes that people uniformly see as the same. Honey is
sweet, lemons are sour, etc. But there are some that taste broccolli as bitter
and others that do not. There are those who find the taste of vinegar as overpowering
while others can almost drink it out of the bottle.

What is interesting is that we have found *some* reasons for these differences
in taste. The taste receptors in our tongues and palates vary from person to person.
The responsiveness to different chemicals varies and so the signals the tastebuds
send to our brains varies. A 'super taster' has different taste buds than others do.

So what does this say about 'reality'? Since ALL of our information about the world
comes from our senses and we *know* that the senses can vary from person to person,
how do we determine what is 'real' and factual as opposed to 'a matter of taste'?
Do we simply forge 'consensus reality' from those sensations where we all agree and
say the rest are 'opinions'? Do we accept differences as 'personal realities'? And
how can we (can we) know anything about what is really 'out there'?

What tastes do you like that many others dislike? What do you dislike that others like?
For me, I dislike tomatoes and vinegar and really like sweet foods. My wife is
exactly the opposite. What is your experience?

I like anchovies.

 

[ChristineM]

Taste is an unusual sense. It is acknowledged that people will taste things
differently. Things that I like to taste may well be things you hate to taste.
We recognize that taste is a matter of opinion and not a matter of fact. We
even go as far as to say that other opinions (concerning art, music, etc) are
'matters of taste' when we mean that people will experience them in different
ways.

This is quite different than, for example, the sense of sight. We generally
expect that if we see something as red, so will everyone else. Of course,
there are those who are color blind, but we see that as a deficiency and not
an aspect of being 'normal'. Healthy people are expected to se the same colors
while they are not expected to taste the same tastes.

Of course, there are some tastes that people uniformly see as the same. Honey is
sweet, lemons are sour, etc. But there are some that taste broccolli as bitter
and others that do not. There are those who find the taste of vinegar as overpowering
while others can almost drink it out of the bottle.

What is interesting is that we have found *some* reasons for these differences
in taste. The taste receptors in our tongues and palates vary from person to person.
The responsiveness to different chemicals varies and so the signals the tastebuds
send to our brains varies. A 'super taster' has different taste buds than others do.

So what does this say about 'reality'? Since ALL of our information about the world
comes from our senses and we *know* that the senses can vary from person to person,
how do we determine what is 'real' and factual as opposed to 'a matter of taste'?
Do we simply forge 'consensus reality' from those sensations where we all agree and
say the rest are 'opinions'? Do we accept differences as 'personal realities'? And
how can we (can we) know anything about what is really 'out there'?

What tastes do you like that many others dislike? What do you dislike that others like?
For me, I dislike tomatoes and vinegar and really like sweet foods. My wife is
exactly the opposite. What is your experience?

Don't know about reality but do know this is another evidence that we are all unique.

I am not sure what individual taste has to do with observation, measurement etc.

And i dont see personal "reality" as real in the physical sense but imagination, the workings of the little grey (and white) cells. I see it as opinion, an opinion that may or may not agree with my opinion.


I like fresh, very strong, unsweetened coffee that many people term as "drain cleaner"

I loath Marmite. Not sure if its available over the pond. Its a yeast extract sandwich spread made from the waste of beer brewing.

In my defense, the Marmite adverts are strong on the "you either love it or hate it" angle.

But usually i enjoy the flavours of just about anything edible.

 

[Revoltingest]

Cilantro!

Yeah....that stuff.
I dislike it, but it works in some dishes, eg, west lake soup (Chinese).

 

[ChristineM]

I like anchovies.

Me to, the rest of the family doesn't.

 

[Revoltingest]

I like anchovies.

Of course you do...you're decent, intelligent, & learned.
But not all people are.

 

[exchemist]

Primarily because we don't have a turn of phrase similar to 'a matter of taste' for the sense of smell.

It's also interesting how, when we understand something, we say 'I see'. Humans are very, very sight oriented.

Regarding smell, by coincidence on a science forum this morning someone posted the following, on a thread about colour:-

"Color is energy as in C=E+1

Can someone explain smell to me? Is smell the same in a capitalistic society as in a socialistic society? Does anyone have a push theory of smell? If not, why not?

My theory is that smell travels faster than the speed of light due to the uncertainty principle and entanglement. Dark energy is really smell in my theory but I don't know how to publish my paper."

He was, as you will have guessed, taking the Mickey out of certain individuals (at least one of whom we have had on this forum by the way), but I thought it was rather good. I especially liked the "push theory of smell".

 

[ChristineM]

Cilantro!

Where would Indian food be without coriander (cilantro)?

 

[Dan From Smithville]

And, as a completely unconnected aside, you don't smell odors when you sleep. This is why most victims in house fires die of smoke inhalation instead of burns.

Then how do smelling salts work?

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Me to, the rest of the family doesn't.

I have liked them since I was a small child. I eat them as a snack on occasion.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Of course you do...you're decent, intelligent, & learned.
But not all people are.

The latter is a sad truth that I have had to learn to accept.

 

[Revoltingest]

The latter is a sad truth that I have had to learn to accept.

Aye, we must show them tolerance.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Regarding smell, by coincidence on a science forum this morning someone posted the following, on a thread about colour:-

"Color is energy as in C=E+1

Can someone explain smell to me? Is smell the same in a capitalistic society as in a socialistic society? Does anyone have a push theory of smell? If not, why not?

My theory is that smell travels faster than the speed of light due to the uncertainty principle and entanglement. Dark energy is really smell in my theory but I don't know how to publish my paper."

He was, as you will have guessed, taking the Mickey out of certain individuals (at least one of whom we have had on this forum by the way), but I thought it was rather good. I especially liked the "push theory of smell".

Do different forms of government have different odors or do they all smell the same?

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

I dislike mint and coconut.

 

[Subduction Zone]

I had an employee once that did not like carrots because she thought that they tasted like soap. She was thrilled when she met another that thought the same. It meant she was not crazy. Then I ran across it on the internet. It turns out a select few having a strong sensitivity to a natural chemical in carrots. To them carrots do taste like soap.

And one's palette changes over time. Try to keep an open mind over food. You might love something that you could not stand earlier in your life.