Author Topic: Philosophy 101: I like PB & J Sandwiches (Read 619 times)

-sudz- · « **on:** February 25, 2002, 10:29:52 AM »

I finally broke down and bought my aging dog a can of Iam's Active Maturity formula (I was in denial). It was amazing - the next day she was hopping around waging her tail like she used to do. That got me to thinking.

I know this guy who's always manic. Aggressive, but not mean, his diet consists of red meat, gravy, and butter. Some ascetics seem to consist on rice, some fruits, and water.

People say "I gotta have my morning cup [of coffee, presumably].", "I've got a craving for [insert some wierd-ass food].", and "For 30 years I had eggs and bacon for breakfast every day."

But don't write this off as a "You are what you eat" exercise. We all know that what you eat provides you with the chemical resources to maintain life. But what resources are needed for which aspects of your personality . . . Does red meat provide greater resources for the chemicals needed when a person is angry? Or, does a person get angry in order to burn off the excess chemicals obtained from red meat? Or, finally, does a normally angry person crave red meat because they need the chemical resources?

You might be thinking that not only is this a 'you are what you eat' but a chicken and the egg thing. Not so. I want to know:

- To what degree what you eat changes your personality,

- To what degree your personality determines what you eat,

- Is your diet just a series of waves on the river of your personality, or is the food you eat the creeks and streams that form the river, and finally

- What effect does eating a peanut butter & jelly sandwich have on Who You Are?

Rock on you magnificent smart bastards, you princes of thought, you kings of logic . . .
- sudz

PS To be fair, I should say 'mood' rather than 'personality', but I'll keep the word since a persistent mood could be considered a personality trait.

*(Note: this is just an example and may not be entirely accurate. It is used in the sense that it readily illustrates the focus of the question.)

Ripsnort · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2002, 10:56:49 AM »

Having lived with a Dietician in my 20's and living with an RN as my wife, I feel somewhat obligated to answer these questions and add some of my own comments as well:

Quote

I want to know:
- To what degree what you eat changes your personality

I deficiency in any vital mineral will lead to some cases of strange behavior. Animals will sometimes eat things not normally in their diet, but when their diet lacks specific minerals that their bodies requires, mother nature takes over and these animals will eat odd things. I believe the same happens in humans, but at an emotional level.

Quote

- To what degree your personality determines what you eat

Obviously depression takes it toll on many over-eaters, as well as the opposite, not eating at all when your upset (over, say , a divorce, or death in the family)

Quote

- Is your diet just a series of waves on the river of your personality, or is the food you eat the creeks and streams that form the river

I would personally say the latter, I weight-train regularly, hitting "Plateau's" usually means my diet needs regulating. For instance, when I recently (last summer) hit my plateau on bench press of 315, I simply began adding more red meat, and broccoli to my diet, a week later, I hit a 320 bench.

Here's a test for ya if your the athletic type. Go WITHOUT junk food from any carry out/eat in fast food restaurant (McDonalds comes to mind) for a minimum of 1 month. Then eat at McDonalds and go do your regular work out. You will feel sick to your stomach, the reason is, McDonalds food is primarily Fat and Sugar. That is NOT a good combo for prior to any excercise. Carbs IS good prior to a work out, but not that type of carbs.

Quote

- What effect does eating a peanut butter & jelly sandwich have on Who You Are?

This can actually be a good thing. Lots of us were raised on PB and Jelly sands. I have one occasionally with my sons, and we have a great time eating them together. Its actually theraputic for me.

Saintaw · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2002, 11:03:33 AM »

A LOT of cafeine, about the same amount of Tobacco...add to that a couple of "ready made" sandwiches, cookies & a daily 2L coke bottle... and you have my 5/7 diet... does that make me a nice guy ?

Before that ?
... I was married to a Veggie.

No philosophy here, just "the great escape"

loser · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2002, 11:14:55 AM »

logic 101:

error in reason number 1: ad hoc, propter hoc

moose · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2002, 11:23:59 AM »

Well

I dont eat all that much

Drink a lot of caffeine, down lots of junk food

I'm always full of energy for some reason?

Tac · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2002, 12:16:32 PM »

You are what you eat, you aren't what you crap.

Easy!

funkedup · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2002, 12:29:53 PM »

Bacon and cigarettes, a lousy dinner...

Ripsnort · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2002, 12:36:47 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by moose
Well

I dont eat all that much

Drink a lot of caffeine, down lots of junk food

I'm always full of energy for some reason?

Answer: Your young. Wait til you hit 35 yrs or older, your eating habits will change, believe me. Or, maybe they won't! I know that when I changed my eating habits, my energy level doubled.

-sudz- · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2002, 12:46:26 PM »

- Rip That's a good example of what I'm talking about but, your athletism aside, do you find your mental state altering with your diet.

- Saintaw That the question I want answered - are you a nice guy 'cause of the sandwiches or do the sandwiches make you a nice guy?

- loser Since something as subjective as this really can't have any axiomatic or "a priori" statements to begin a logic chain, I can't see how either the formal predicate or propositional logical forms can be of much use.

- Tac To simple, in fact. Check out these implications that the question brings out:

1) Can you change your personality by changing your diet? That would certainly help if applied to our penal system. Think how a steady diet of chicken and fish over several years might curtail an aggresive inmate. Or if a better rounded diet would elicite a positive attitude towards society.

2) Would you hire someone who's diet includes lots of fruits and vegetables over an otherwise equally qualified candidate who's only detriment is that he lives on microwave burritos?

3) Could a person be a better parent if his/her diet gives them the energy to effectively handle a precocious toddler?

You can see that if it can be proven that certain foods help individuals better cope with certain shortcomings and, in general, the world around them, then the quantification I'm asking for is non-trivial.

-sudz
"the secret ingredient is love, dammit! " - Captain Monroe, Sealab 2021

Animal · « **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2002, 12:49:19 PM »

Diet doesnt seem to affect my mood or personality.
Exercise however, can have a huge positive effect on my mood and energy. Its like a very effective natural anti-depressive.

The latest months ive been without exercise due to work, and ive been cranky and lazy.

Saintaw · « **Reply #10 on:** February 25, 2002, 12:53:02 PM »

Sudz, I think my coleages (1st persons I see everymorning....) usualy avoid me before 16:00... does that answer your Question ?

But that's usualy because I start my days trying to do all a week's work... a morning bacon sandwich is not going to change that. For all I know, having a hot meal (has to come with a glass of red, right ?) at lunch will get me lazy & heavy... I tend to avoid that too

-dead- · « **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2002, 12:55:20 PM »

Quote

Diet doesnt seem to affect my mood or personality.

Ahem - now there's someone who's never eaten magic mushrooms

AKDejaVu · « **Reply #12 on:** February 25, 2002, 01:03:34 PM »

Damn.. I thought this thread was gonna be a PB&J tributes. Oh well... it will be now:

Ode to PB&J

Oh PB&J, there is no finer food
You are the sweet nectar of life stuffed in between two slices of wonderbread.

Oh PB&J, I'll not forsake you for another
As I browse through all the mysterious leftovers in the fridge, deep down I know that I'm really just looking for the jelly.

Oh PB&J, women will never understand
Not even after explaining for the 100th time to the wife that PB&J will be just fine in the lunch... no need for deli sandwiches.

Oh PB&J, I know you like no other food
I fondly reminisce every time I look at a jelly stain on a shirt. I remember when it happened and more importantly I remember what the PB&J sandwich I was eating at the time tasted like.

Oh PB&J, there is no finer food.

AKDejaVu,
anti poetry poster boy

Ripsnort · « **Reply #13 on:** February 25, 2002, 01:11:01 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Animal
Diet doesnt seem to affect my mood or personality.
Exercise however, can have a huge positive effect on my mood and energy. Its like a very effective natural anti-depressive.

Sudz, what animal said...unless of course someone slips in those funny mushrooms into my salad, then it is indeed affecting my mood.

Deja, did you know that when we dropped food parcels in Afghanistan, the children wouldn't touch the peanut butter, but instead took to the Pop Tarts. Interesting how food and culture can be dis-associated via a continent. Vegimite is popular in Australia (Brewers yeast) but you certainly don't see alot of Vegimite and Jelly sandwiches here in the US.

Superfly · « **Reply #14 on:** February 25, 2002, 01:15:16 PM »

I think what you eat has an effect to an extent. I have one friend that is a vegetarian and another who eats a lot of junk food and sugar. They are both prettythangholes in their own right. I tend to eat fairly "healthy", and I'm still an prettythanghole too.

I think most of it comes down to your day to day activities. Like Animal, I don't feel as happy or energetic if I don't get regular exercise. Also, if someone does meditation or yoga on a daily basis, they're personality is likely to be more relaxed and happy regardless of their diet.