SageAgainstTheMachine Posted December 20, 2010 Author Share Posted December 20, 2010 In my college days there was a period where I lived on lentils and egg noodles adding sometimes tuna, or frozen veggies - and for favor hot sauce, salsa, or pasta sauce- plain lentils? I give you a week at most, more likely 3 days. I'll take that challenge, good sir. The moment I cheat, I stop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chef Jim Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 For those who didn't feel like reading the entirety of the original post, I'll quickly explain the gestalt of my experiment here... The utility of food is for survival. But for humans with means, it is a luxury...a beneficient shared experience of the human condition. Food fills something of a similar role in our culture to music, entertainment media, reading, etc. Something we indulge in. But what if we stopped indulging? What if food was nothing more than the means to an end, like it is for the rest of the living world? Would the remainder of our human experiences become that much more significant? Well, I plan to check that out. Indulging in food for anything other than survival is a luxury? Good luck with this. I say you last less than a month. This is probably the stupidest experiments I've ever heard. But then again to me dining is more than just filling my stomach. Oh and BTW. Tell all your friends to walk in front of you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloBill Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 Good luck Sage ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chef Jim Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 And BTW with all the different ways you can prepare lentils why go with 356 days of plain lentils? I take back my bet of not lasting a month. You won't last a week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SageAgainstTheMachine Posted December 20, 2010 Author Share Posted December 20, 2010 (edited) Indulging in food for anything other than survival is a luxury? Good luck with this. I say you last less than a month. This is probably the stupidest experiments I've ever heard. But then again to me dining is more than just filling my stomach. Oh and BTW. Tell all your friends to walk in front of you. Of course dining is more than filling one's stomach. That's why this is going to be difficult. I use the term luxury only to mean "non-necessity". Chef, I'm not trying to denigrate the role of food in the shared human experience or the personal human experience...I'm attempting to understand it better. What becomes of the man who denies himself his most common form of joy? That's what I'm getting at. I won't begrudge you the opinion that I'm stupid. I've gotten quite a bit of that, understandably. Edited December 20, 2010 by SageAgainstTheMachine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nervous Guy Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 As for why I plan on doing this, the reasons are four... 1. I believe in testing the limits of our human experience....it will be more than a significant test of my will and spirit. 2. I want to develop a deeper appreciation for the simple joys in life. Sights, sounds, smells will all become more profound...at least, that's the plan. 4. I believe that one ought to do something absurd like this at least once in one's life, and embrace one's eccentricities instead of shunning them. What don't you just drop some acid or try some shrooms??? Trust me you'll address all the above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SageAgainstTheMachine Posted December 20, 2010 Author Share Posted December 20, 2010 And BTW with all the different ways you can prepare lentils why go with 356 days of plain lentils? I take back my bet of not lasting a month. You won't last a week. Well, we'll see. Never bet against a stubborn fool on a mission. What don't you just drop some acid or try some shrooms??? Trust me you'll address all the above. Ah yes, fun things indeed, but artificial. Looking for something genuinely visceral. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nervous Guy Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 Well, we'll see. Never bet against a stubborn fool on a mission. Ah yes, fun things indeed, but artificial. Looking for something genuinely visceral. acid yes, mushrooms no. Have you considered just a good long fast? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chef Jim Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 Well, we'll see. Never bet against a stubborn fool on a mission. Oh no, I always bet against the stubborn fool. Here's why. The fool part usually leads the stubborn part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fezmid Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 I use the term luxury only to mean "non-necessity" When are you giving up on the internet for a year? Good luck, but like others say - a few days and you'll be done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrDawkinstein Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 good luck sage! a few years ago when i was between jobs and broke, i survived for 3 months on almost strictly Jasmine rice (with some butter, salt and pepper). cant wait to hear how it goes. Indulging in food for anything other than survival is a luxury? hundreds of millions of hungry people would answer yes to that statement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chef Jim Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 . hundreds of millions of hungry people would answer yes to that statement Which leaves several billion that would answer no to that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrDawkinstein Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 Which leaves several billion that would answer no to that. Well, given the distribution of wealth, its safe to assume that I grossly underestimated. Also, it doesnt matter if it's even 50/50, given how nature works, eating for pleasure and not survival IS a luxury. Nothing wrong with that, but that is the truth. Just like my cell phone is a luxury. We get it though, you really really love "dining". And youre lucky that you can enjoy such a luxury. Now make me some food! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chef Jim Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 Well, given the distribution of wealth, its safe to assume that I grossly underestimated. Also, it doesnt matter if it's even 50/50, given how nature works, eating for pleasure and not survival IS a luxury. Nothing wrong with that, but that is the truth. Just like my cell phone is a luxury. We get it though, you really really love "dining". And youre lucky that you can enjoy such a luxury. Now make me some food! So my rueben sandwich with a bag of chips I just had was a luxury? Well I guess compared to plain lentils it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim in Anchorage Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 For those who didn't feel like reading the entirety of the original post, I'll quickly explain the gestalt of my experiment here... The utility of food is for survival. But for humans with means, it is a luxury...a beneficient shared experience of the human condition. Food fills something of a similar role in our culture to music, entertainment media, reading, etc. Something we indulge in. But what if we stopped indulging? What if food was nothing more than the means to an end, like it is for the rest of the living world? Would the remainder of our human experiences become that much more significant? Well, I plan to check that out. What kind of degree are you getting over there? I hope it has nothing to do with earning a living? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NyQuil Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 When I am eating some pizza tonight I will think of this thread and probably enjoy it more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrDawkinstein Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 So my rueben sandwich with a bag of chips I just had was a luxury? Most definitely. Not only did you have the luxury of choosing your food, you have the luxury of placing more value on taste than you do nutritional value. Pleasing your taste buds over your body's health. You are eating for pleasure, not to live. How luxurious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SageAgainstTheMachine Posted December 20, 2010 Author Share Posted December 20, 2010 (edited) What kind of degree are you getting over there? I hope it has nothing to do with earning a living? Why? Statistics by the way, but I consider myself an aspiring writer. good luck sage! a few years ago when i was between jobs and broke, i survived for 3 months on almost strictly Jasmine rice (with some butter, salt and pepper). cant wait to hear how it goes. Thanks Dr. Dank! Out of curiosity...how did the dietary boredom affect you? More importantly, do you view food (and by extension, all of life's other pleasures) differently for the experience? Edited December 20, 2010 by SageAgainstTheMachine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chef Jim Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 Most definitely. Not only did you have the luxury of choosing your food, you have the luxury of placing more value on taste than you do nutritional value. Pleasing your taste buds over your body's health. You are eating for pleasure, not to live. How luxurious. No, I did not eat my reuben sandwich for pleasure. I ate because I was hungry. If you compare my reuben to the starving of the world it's a luxury however they're a small minority. So most of the world eats because we're hungry, hardly a luxury and we dine on ocassion to take advantage of the luxury of food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guffalo Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 1. I believe in testing the limits of our human experience. I believe it will be more than a significant test of my will and spirit. ............Get married, that is a sure test of will and spirit 2. I want to develop a deeper appreciation for the simple joys in life. Sights, sounds, smells will all become more profound...at least, that's the plan. ............Have 3 kids within a 5 year period, You will experience plenty of profound sounds, smells and sights that you will never forget (no matter how hard you try) 4. I believe that one ought to do something absurd like this at least once in one's life, and embrace one's eccentricities instead of shunning them. Try to raise those three kids and cloth them, feed them and send them to college, hope that they can grow up to support themselves and prosper BONUS #5! 5. I'll save a ton of money. No, one of those kids need major dental work.....nice try though, thanks for playing . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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