"A stunning preoccupation with your own comfort"

[Bill McBlueState]

Last night my brother and I were on the phone ranting about everything like we always do.

I started off about how our cookout this weekend is going to suck because people are so whiney about the foods they'll eat. This one doesn't like mushrooms, that one hates onions, the other one has to have all her meat well-done, and on and on. All these little idiosyncrasies mean it's impossible to prepare anything really creative, since the list of inoffensive ingredients is only about six items long.

This led us into the wider issue which, as my brother put it, is that a lot of people have "a stunning preoccupation with their own comfort."

I mean, whatever happened to enjoying the moment, and enjoying the people, even if it means all your needs aren't perfectly met?

It's not just the food thing. There are other areas where this applies, too, but hopefully the example will suffice.

I think part of it is that our culture is so materialistic, people get used to having exactly what they want. Hell, there are 300 options when you go to buy toothpaste, just so everyone can pick exactly what's right for them. The idea of giving up a little comfort -- seeing someone *else's* favorite movie, or going to someone *else's* favorite restaurant -- in the interest of cooperation goes right out the window.

YEARRGH!

[JVS]

1. I'll eat your food and drink your beer

Even if it is Schlitz or Milwaukee's Beast

[JVS]

2. No mayonnaise though.

:-)

[redqueen]

3. Sad.

I've thought about this same thing. I always figured some people were just pickier than others.

[glitch]

4. Nice turn of phrase - I've just been calling it 'spoiled rotten'

and you and your brother are absolutely right. I see it everywhere, and it's depressing. Makes me think we're weak, and may not make it through hard times like our ancestors did.
But, people do have hidden depths. Look at the everyday heroes in NYC on 9/11 and in SF-Oakland after that last big quake. So we'll see.

[regularguy]

5. Oh, you guys nailed it!

I remember explaining to my wife that my sister worships her every need as if it were a God...

[Beer Snob-50]

6. I'll be at your cookout this weekend

as I am also in western mass. i eat anything and everythhing!! it must be an inbred trait with people though on why they have to be that way. i eat anything and my sister (who was raised in the same household, in the same way) is picky as all getout.

[pagerbear]

7. Ackshly, those 300 varieties of toothpaste

...are really a business thing. It's called diversification. You have virtually the same product with numerous labels on it and you sell more than if you had just one product. Americans tend to be very brand-loyal and often exaggerate the differences between brands of toothpaste or cars or blue jeans.

On edit: Having said that, I'm quit with you on how self-absorbed so many people are. Another example: I have acquaintances whom I have never seen accept a dinner in a restaurant without sending it back for one reason or another.

[politicat]

8. Can I steal that phrase??

a stunning preoccupation with their own comfort."
Is beautifully phrased.

Wow.

Thank you.

Pcat

[Bill McBlueState]

9. steal away

My brother's studying to be a journalist, so he's pretty good with words.