The Blandness I Find in the Sweetest Things

Often when I go out to eat with family or friends, especially my younger nephews, everyone seems to be a huge fan of the desserts which accompany our meals. Usually an ice cream, milkshake, or even a slice of cake. When this occurs, they tend to ask me if I'd like some, as any friend or family would, which my answer will most likely be no. However, peer pressure gets you to try new things and when everyone has the same dish, you at least would like to try it out. From here, two things can or will happen to me.

1: I have a bite, either enjoy it or think its okay and call it a day and leave it alone or

2: I end up eating a whole sweet treat and end up feeling like crap immediately after.

Strawberries

After some time realizing how often the second outcome happens, I've leaned more towards declining any desserts now. Although I'd like to believe it's simply because I might have a bit of a lactose intolerance, I seem to feel the same in products which lack of dairy.

This brings me to one of my more "controversial" opinions or "stupid" ones as my friends would say: Strawberries are gross. I understand their sweetness and how fresh one can feel after having a perfect strawberry, however, the overload which one feels from all the natural sugars overwhelms me and instead of savoring the sweetness, it feels as it is attacking my taste buds. This is the same case with the Pink Lady apple, which quite literally tastes pink and sweet.

The point of this is really to mention the subjectivity of opinion. Although I have yet to meet someone whom agrees with me, most people who which I have shared this opinion at minimum are able to understand my perspective. It's the same as knowing too much bitter is just gross, just with sweetness. Despite this common understanding after sharing my opinion, the initial reaction which my previous statement is met with usually goes along the lines of "What is wrong with you?!". Obviously it's meant in a joking manner but when someone is met with this reaction all too often it got me thinking, how does subjectivity of opinion create standards within an individual or society as a whole.

It seems as certain communities have created the idea of certain foods, movies or books as something that is magnificent, especially when it comes to pieces of art. Whether this art be something like the Mona Lisa which is critically acclaimed to be one of the most significant and popular pieces of art, or the Godfather, a movie which almost everyone can at least recognize the skill of the actors and the effort which was put in the movie. Everyone is aware that each individual has the right to their own opinion, however when it comes to the surface level such as these common discussions of food and art which fill our day, most people often assume that the people who think differently simply "don't get it"

Tons of time is spent trying to open up our friends or family to art or activities which we ourselves enjoy, which can be seen as both a good and bad thing. It can lead to someone realizing they like something they never thought to try, or someone just being pushes around only to continue to hold the same opinion. For instance, when I say I don't like eating strawberries, following the initial reaction is usually some argument about me not having tried the "right" strawberries. Then the presumption is made that I must try the sweetest, non-mushy strawberries. To which the final counterpoint of mine is that I simply don't enjoy the taste of sweets. After making that final statement the other realizes that there is no change to someone's subject opinion of a certain factor on the most vital part of their argument. (The vital point that the sweet strawberries are the best is defeated)

I find this ability of humans to rationalize rather strange, for it does not always work out the same. It's hard to compare strawberries to something as controversial as war, but no matter the argument, there are always two or more sides. For how are we able to so easily in our day-to-day life constantly realize each person you speak with holds their own opinions to be true, and at the same time constantly run into debates which at it's core, lead to the same conclusion?

Let me explain a little more.

Assuming first that the majority of conversations are centered around sharing opinions and stories, we know people run into these arguments very often. Whether it be serious where one or more side gets aggravated by the other's opinion, or a friendly attempt to try and let someone experience something they think they wouldn't like. Now that we know this, if the conversation is able to conclude, it will indeed end with the fact that each person holds a different opinion, unless one or more sides are stubborn with their viewpoint (the most common ending). It's obvious that if everyone was rational to eachother's opinion, there would be a unity between everyone and we would rarely have the global and political problems which we see today. So why can't we? Well humans are nothing near rational, bias continues to live in even the most compromising individuals.

This really has no conclusion or lesson to be learned, just a discussion. I still think strawberries are way too sweet. Everyone can think they're good and I will make no attempt to try and convince them they are not. I cannot make an argument for my taste, it's simply a part of me that needs no explanation. I think people should be more straightforward of their opinions, at least on the dumb things such as foods and such. Cake is gross too.