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Chris Fox's avatar

I could get into this in detail and not only bore most readers but risk being called a racist. But I do believe that there are racial differences that are not explained away by upbringing. Dave mentioned his wife's nose for the freshness of food. I have seen that too. It is beyond doubt. OK, freshness has been an imperative for 2500 years if not longer. That is enough to have a genetic effect.

I will name another, and I am as certain on this.

We all love to eat, and we love food that tastes good. But for Asians of all cultures, as unlike as Japanese and Hmong, food can entail what I will call arousal. I am an astute observer of this; I see Asians abruptly ordering another dish in restaurants because they are aroused by what they are eating. It's usually a seafood dish.

I've never once in my life seen anyone do that, unless still hungry.

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Steve QJ's avatar

"But for Asians of all cultures, as unlike as Japanese and Hmong, food can entail what I will call arousal."

We've talked about this before. I've seen this in Asian people. But I've also seen it in Caribbean people and African people and Italian people. I really don't see the argument for a love of food, even a particularly acute love of food, being genetic. It seems much more likely to be about home environment and culture to me.

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Chris Fox's avatar

I'm not talking about loving good food. Who doesn't? I am talking explicitly about a state of arousal, an excitement. But I don't want to get any more into it save to say that I am sure what I've seen. I have after all had thirty years of watching.

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