By Alex Ripepi

 Opinion Editor

  Chances are that if you frequent the Internet in any fashion, you’ve come upon a blog, Facebook page, Instagram, etc. of a “foodie.” What exactly is a foodie? Strangely enough, the definition of what a foodie is can be fluid based on who is using it.

  Generally, when somebody says they’re a foodie, they mean that they enjoy eating food and have some kind of more meaningful experience with food than the average Joe.

  Let’s not misunderstand each other though, if a person has in-depth experience with a particular food or culinary arts in general, they most likely are getting more out of the meal.

  While it is possible to stumble into a friendly meal with a truly experienced food critic, this isn’t the norm, and that person calling themself a foodie is most likely being pretentious. Claiming to gain something more out of your meal than another person with the same level of training (most likely none) in culinary arts is a ridiculous notion. And in the case that using the term foodie is to simply imply that you enjoy eating, then literally everyone on the planet is a foodie.

  The biggest problem with this idea is the sort of need to be better than one’s peers. If our lives are so insignificant that we have to search for meaning in a plate of spaghetti, then something is seriously wrong. As an aside, if food is your only source of enjoyment and it isn’t your job, then you might need to take a good long look at your life choices.

  Essentially, there is a problem with this type of idea because it promotes a lack of attention when beginning a new experience with food. For example, if you eat something thinking you know all the ins and outs of the dish, then finding a new aspect of the meal will be immensely harder than it should be. Claiming to be a foodie generalizes this attitude to all food.http://therunneronline.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/fotd16d.jpg

  In my personal experience, the title of “foodie” among those who don’t have extensive experience (which I’m not claiming to have) is reserved to those who take pictures of every meal they eat, and people who go to wine tastings to convince others that they’re http://therunneronline.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/fotd16d.jpghttp://therunneronline.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/fotd16d.jpgcivilized.http://therunneronline.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/fotd16d.jpghttp://therunneronline.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/fotd16d.jpg

  Here’s the catch though. Calling yourself a foodie can eventually become a self-fulfilling prophecy if you are truly open to new culinary experiences. But if “foodie-ism” becomes a shield to hide your lack of knowledge, then progress is a taller order than an onion ring tower.

Contact the Runner at the [email protected] if you have any opinions on foodie culture!