What if I like dirty martinis, and that's the only way I like gin, of whatever quality? Should I never drink a dirty martini, because I'm defiling the gin with my olive juice? Or should I just make my martinis with bad gin? (I can taste the difference, BTW. The olive juice does not completely overwhelm the other tastes, to me.)

In fact, I'm not that fond of dirty martinis, but I've had a few, of varying quality, and I liked the high-quality ones better. I have a good friend who loves them more than she loves Hugh Jackman. She makes them with vodka, and she only uses good quality vodka, but I guess that makes her as unsophisticated as me. Even though she likes wine. And gin.

How much food/beverage cred does someone need to establish before they can use a phrase like "the good stuff" without someone wondering if I mean microbrewed stout or Bud Light?

If you asked someone "what's your favorite beer?" and they answered Bud Light, would you let them order a beer for you? Knowing nothing else about their food/drink preferences?

If you asked someone "what's your favorite beer?" and they answered Bud Light, would you let them order a beer for you?

I would. I like Bud Light.

I just don't really care what anyone thinks about my level of informedness about any food or alcohol. I like some finer things and some cheap-ass nostalgia food. And if a dirty martini is the way I like a martini, it's not going to bother me if anyone thinks it's blasphemous. (Not that I do, because I hate olives.)

I guess I don't understand why anyone cares. Who lets other people order for them that often? If I'm not making you drink a dirty martini and spoil good gin, why do you care if I like it that way?

Edited to make sense.

66 posts over night. I was wondering what happened. A booze debate. Huh, would have never guessed that. Surprised the semi-colon argument didn't derail it and cause a 3rd debate (as the cheese/food portion is a spin off). Guess that proves, you have a successful spin off from a single show, but not a successful spin off of a spin off.

{{{{{{ Fay }}}}}}} Tons of ~ma to you. All kinds. Your family too.

{{{{{{ Shir }}}}}}} you too!

Waiting for final moving estimate peson to arrive. Now 10 minutes late. Not a good impression. First dude was early and sat in his car for 15 minutes (yup, saw him arrive, and watched him wait. Maybe it was a driveway moment on NPR). Second dude was pretty prompt give or take a minute. Today, nsm. Not scoring any points on the "we want your business" deal, I tell you what.

ION- today I should get an e-mail with the application for the apartment. Which means tonight I will Fed Ex it with the check. Wheee!

If I'm not making you drink a dirty martini and spoil good gin, why do you care if I like it that way?

Why do people point and laugh at the pics on Go Fug Yourself? Nobody's forcing anyone else to wear those clothes. Why do people bemoan blurbs for embarrassingly bad novels in Literary? Nobody's forcing anyone else to read the finished book.

So, a vodka martini isn't a real martini?

How much food/beverage cred does someone need to establish before they can use a phrase like "the good stuff" without someone wondering if I mean microbrewed stout or Bud Light?

If you asked someone "what's your favorite beer?" and they answered Bud Light, would you let them order a beer for you? Knowing nothing else about their food/drink preferences?

That didn't really answer my question. I referred to my brother's "good stuff" (beer), and you asked "What is "the good stuff" if we're only defining quality by what people like without taking into account their level of informedness on the subject at hand?"

I asked how much cred needs to be established in order for a phrase like "the good stuff" to be understood as microbrew or Bud Light.

So, how much?

In context, I was talking about someone who works for a brewpub whose beer has won awards, so some external authority considers their microbrew to be "good." I also mentioned that he has (1) Miller and (2) microbrew at home. I referred to the Miller as crap, so process of elimination means that when I say "good stuff" in reference to the beer he has available at home, that leaves one choice.

So really, I didn't even need beer cred to call the microbrew the "good stuff," since process of elimination should have made it evident.

But again, what level of cred does one need so that, when discussing someone who has Miller and microbrew available, and they say "the good stuff," you can assume they don't mean the Miller? Is all possibility of cred gone if they say they like Bud Light AND La Chouffe? And if so, how do you figure out what "the good stuff" is?

oh, now someone's just stirring up shit :)

looks at quester, pops popcorn, gets comfy and waits for the fireworks to begin.