Users can also upload photos and ask the app which drinks would aesthetically complement their clothes or environment.
Talk about frivolous. This idea makes me angry but I can’t quite articulate why. Maybe because it’s another sign of how out-of-touch those making decisions are from the rest of us?
Here I am, refilling my one reusable cup (received as a gift) with free coffee from work on Friday afternoons, so I can drink it on the weekend without having to buy any. And there’s the billionaire C-suite asshole thinking that making our coffees match our outfits is a top priority.
The funny thing is, I have Starbucks gift cards. I haven’t touched them. I should though, because otherwise that’s money (someone else) already paid to the company and I might as well get something for it. But then I read shit like this and I feel repulsed at the idea of going there. I really wish people would just gift cash instead…
It’s definitely indicative of how out-of-touch these people are. I find it baffling as a concept to specifically order drinks based on “aesthetically complimenting the environment”.
This is solving no problems suffered by anyone rational.
Once you start gifting cash, you also start seeing how unnecessary it is sometimes to gift people things. Family (that you like, but don’t meet much) get together for Christmas? Why bother having adults get gifts that then they gift back in form of another gift and no one really uses?
I’m OK with gifting kids some cash (if possible) since its a one way thing, but once 2 adults would have gifted each other cash back and forth, it exposes how silly it would have been.
Unfortunately I told my family that there is a coffee shop my partner’s family partially owns. They gifted us a Starbucks gift card because “we like coffee” :|
We are already a society that barely interacts with the real world as intended but this is so many layers back that its truly shocking.
Overpriced colorful coffee drinks that are supposed to be shown as a status symbol and an aesthetic?
Not a tasty drink even, which is already yet another layer from the truth of it which is…
This is a highly addictive compound (caffeine) that our ancestors put up with for the energizing effects it gave despite the strong bitter flavor. One that causes strong withdrawal symptoms when you get over reliant on it.
I just can’t imagine letting a company get me addicted on something for the pretend joy it brings for matching my outfit.
This is a highly addictive compound (caffeine) that our ancestors put up with for the energizing effects it gave despite the strong bitter flavor. One that causes strong withdrawal symptoms when you get over reliant on it.
Overstating the case does nothing for your argument.
Caffeine is mildly to moderately addictive. It causes a 10-20% surge in dopamine. Compare this to alcohol (100-200%), nicotine (100-200%), opioids (300-500%), or amphetamines (300-1000%). It’s almost nothing by comparison to any other common drug. So while it is potentially habit forming at a psychological level, it is trivial compared to almost anything else. Even refined sugar can be argued to be worse than caffeine (though the argument would be weak).
So let’s look at the physical factor. All of the above drugs are physically addictive; we become resistant to them as we grow more receptors over time. Which means when we drop them cold turkey there are unpleasant physical effects. Caffeine causes headaches and fatigue when cut. It’s uncomfortable. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms for very strong addiction can be lethal. When not lethal it is at the very least debilitating. We’re talking more than a few days of headaches here. Nicotine, like caffeine, isn’t particularly lethal but it is far more unpleasant when dropped. Opiods are straight-up lethal or permanently debilitating when dropped cold turkey. Amphetamines are not generally lethal when dropped (outside of suicide) but are psychologically crippling.
Now lets look at the tolerance onset. Nicotine’s resistance builds up slowly and is only partial. Even at full addiction it still has its primary effect. Alcohol’s tolerance builds up very quickly, especially to the sedative effect. Nicotine’s is slower than alcohol but faster than caffeine by far. It’s also quite complete; once you develop nicotine tolerance you get no real effect from it, but you get powerful negative effects when you cut it off. Amphetamine resistance is also very rapid in onset.
So let’s take a look at this “highly addictive compound” shall we, in summary? It offers the least “reward”, the mildest withdrawal symptoms, and the slowest tolerance buildup. And this is the one you’re building up as the fantasy powerfully addictive compound? Bullshit. Absolute, pure, unadulterated bullshit. Why would you make up this kind of nonsense?
Not a tasty drink even …
And there we have it. The usual American bullshit of elevating taste to morality. It’s not enough to just not like something. It has to be elevated to “you’re a bad person if you do”.
I happen to find coffee very tasty. I find tea to be even tastier. That “strong bitter flavour” is a very minor component in good coffee and tea. Good coffee also has lovely nutty bitters, sour flavours, and even an umami note. Good teas are so diverse in flavour that some, despite reaching almost to coffee levels of caffeine, come across as floral and sweet, not bitter (i’m looking at Dianhong here). Were I an American I would be instantly claiming this makes me a moral person and anybody who didn’t like coffee or tea is obviously a moral inferior.
Thankfully I’m not American. So I’ll just claim that your tastes differ from mine.
You should try that instead of being a pseudo-moral prick.
And somehow you think you have the moral high ground while talking to people like this.
Very very silly.
Edit: also pedantry for 4 paragraphs then direct insult because of the final paragraphs being you arguing how much you like the flavor is not conversing. Its impressive you decided I started this by existing.
I got to that part and was like “who the fuck buys drinks like that?” Like yeah, mood boards and shit are really popular but people buy drinks that taste good. Only influencers buy drinks solely for the aesthetic
Talk about frivolous. This idea makes me angry but I can’t quite articulate why. Maybe because it’s another sign of how out-of-touch those making decisions are from the rest of us?
Here I am, refilling my one reusable cup (received as a gift) with free coffee from work on Friday afternoons, so I can drink it on the weekend without having to buy any. And there’s the billionaire C-suite asshole thinking that making our coffees match our outfits is a top priority.
The funny thing is, I have Starbucks gift cards. I haven’t touched them. I should though, because otherwise that’s money (someone else) already paid to the company and I might as well get something for it. But then I read shit like this and I feel repulsed at the idea of going there. I really wish people would just gift cash instead…
It’s definitely indicative of how out-of-touch these people are. I find it baffling as a concept to specifically order drinks based on “aesthetically complimenting the environment”.
This is solving no problems suffered by anyone rational.
Once you start gifting cash, you also start seeing how unnecessary it is sometimes to gift people things. Family (that you like, but don’t meet much) get together for Christmas? Why bother having adults get gifts that then they gift back in form of another gift and no one really uses?
I’m OK with gifting kids some cash (if possible) since its a one way thing, but once 2 adults would have gifted each other cash back and forth, it exposes how silly it would have been.
Thankfully, my family knows I don’t go to Starbucks. The gift cards in question were from employers and coworkers.
Unfortunately I told my family that there is a coffee shop my partner’s family partially owns. They gifted us a Starbucks gift card because “we like coffee” :|
Simulacra and Simulation.
We are already a society that barely interacts with the real world as intended but this is so many layers back that its truly shocking.
Overpriced colorful coffee drinks that are supposed to be shown as a status symbol and an aesthetic?
Not a tasty drink even, which is already yet another layer from the truth of it which is…
This is a highly addictive compound (caffeine) that our ancestors put up with for the energizing effects it gave despite the strong bitter flavor. One that causes strong withdrawal symptoms when you get over reliant on it.
I just can’t imagine letting a company get me addicted on something for the pretend joy it brings for matching my outfit.
Overstating the case does nothing for your argument.
Caffeine is mildly to moderately addictive. It causes a 10-20% surge in dopamine. Compare this to alcohol (100-200%), nicotine (100-200%), opioids (300-500%), or amphetamines (300-1000%). It’s almost nothing by comparison to any other common drug. So while it is potentially habit forming at a psychological level, it is trivial compared to almost anything else. Even refined sugar can be argued to be worse than caffeine (though the argument would be weak).
So let’s look at the physical factor. All of the above drugs are physically addictive; we become resistant to them as we grow more receptors over time. Which means when we drop them cold turkey there are unpleasant physical effects. Caffeine causes headaches and fatigue when cut. It’s uncomfortable. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms for very strong addiction can be lethal. When not lethal it is at the very least debilitating. We’re talking more than a few days of headaches here. Nicotine, like caffeine, isn’t particularly lethal but it is far more unpleasant when dropped. Opiods are straight-up lethal or permanently debilitating when dropped cold turkey. Amphetamines are not generally lethal when dropped (outside of suicide) but are psychologically crippling.
Now lets look at the tolerance onset. Nicotine’s resistance builds up slowly and is only partial. Even at full addiction it still has its primary effect. Alcohol’s tolerance builds up very quickly, especially to the sedative effect. Nicotine’s is slower than alcohol but faster than caffeine by far. It’s also quite complete; once you develop nicotine tolerance you get no real effect from it, but you get powerful negative effects when you cut it off. Amphetamine resistance is also very rapid in onset.
So let’s take a look at this “highly addictive compound” shall we, in summary? It offers the least “reward”, the mildest withdrawal symptoms, and the slowest tolerance buildup. And this is the one you’re building up as the fantasy powerfully addictive compound? Bullshit. Absolute, pure, unadulterated bullshit. Why would you make up this kind of nonsense?
And there we have it. The usual American bullshit of elevating taste to morality. It’s not enough to just not like something. It has to be elevated to “you’re a bad person if you do”.
I happen to find coffee very tasty. I find tea to be even tastier. That “strong bitter flavour” is a very minor component in good coffee and tea. Good coffee also has lovely nutty bitters, sour flavours, and even an umami note. Good teas are so diverse in flavour that some, despite reaching almost to coffee levels of caffeine, come across as floral and sweet, not bitter (i’m looking at Dianhong here). Were I an American I would be instantly claiming this makes me a moral person and anybody who didn’t like coffee or tea is obviously a moral inferior.
Thankfully I’m not American. So I’ll just claim that your tastes differ from mine.
You should try that instead of being a pseudo-moral prick.
So you just went on a rant to say you disagree? Thats silly.
Apparently someone passed over the first four paragraphs.
Typical fucking American pseudo-moral twat.
And somehow you think you have the moral high ground while talking to people like this.
Very very silly.
Edit: also pedantry for 4 paragraphs then direct insult because of the final paragraphs being you arguing how much you like the flavor is not conversing. Its impressive you decided I started this by existing.
I got to that part and was like “who the fuck buys drinks like that?” Like yeah, mood boards and shit are really popular but people buy drinks that taste good. Only influencers buy drinks solely for the aesthetic