I find him a better non-fiction writer than comedian. Fatal Distraction is some of the finest writing out there, IMO.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/fatal-distraction-forgetting-a-child-in-thebackseat-of-a-car-is-a-horrifying-mistake-is-it-a-crime/2014/06/16/8ae0fe3a-f580-11e3-a3a5-42be35962a52_story.html

Anonymous wrote:Weingarten is a great satirist. To appreciate satire one must be open-minded. Since more and more people are becoming more rigidly close-minded (both on the left and right of the ideological spectrum), satire is — regrettably — less appreciated and less understood.

He is a wannabe satirists. While this is a subjective designation, I think a lot of what he writes, like this food piece, is clunky and unfunny.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Indian and I am not offended by Weingarten’s article. The man is entitled to his taste preferences as we all are. Heck, even Indians from one part of the country will knock the cuisine of other states or complain that the food has meat, doesn’t have meat, too much spice, not enough spice…. and so on. Padma Lakshmi does not speak for me.

No one suggests he has to like Indian food. It is his breathtakingly ignorant claim that Indian food is entirely based on a single spice. The food of more than 1 billion people, from a sub-continent, and the very variety of spices that "Western" explorers and conquerors spent centuries seeking.

Yes. I can’t see the old version when he said it was only one spice-the WAPO only has the edited version one with a disclaimer that it’s been updated due to the diversity of spices.

Anonymous wrote:He makes no apologies I find it interesting that he lumped an entire nation's cuisine alongside 'sweet pickles' but if the Indian posters aren't offended, who am I to be?

He makes a point though. If you dislike curry and /or any of its components, it does eliminate a lot of options for you. Kind of like people who dislike cilantro have most Tex-mex ruined for them. I can’t stand fish, and there is so much Thai and East Asian (and the good old Caesar salad) that I cannot eat because of ubiquitous fish sauce.

Does anyone disagree with that line of thinking?

Anonymous wrote:I am Indian and I am not offended by Weingarten’s article. The man is entitled to his taste preferences as we all are. Heck, even Indians from one part of the country will knock the cuisine of other states or complain that the food has meat, doesn’t have meat, too much spice, not enough spice…. and so on. Padma Lakshmi does not speak for me.

No one suggests he has to like Indian food. It is his breathtakingly ignorant claim that Indian food is entirely based on a single spice. The food of more than 1 billion people, from a sub-continent, and the very variety of spices that "Western" explorers and conquerors spent centuries seeking.

Weingarten is a great satirist. To appreciate satire one must be open-minded. Since more and more people are becoming more rigidly close-minded (both on the left and right of the ideological spectrum), satire is — regrettably — less appreciated and less understood.

I’m European married to an Indian. I love Indian food. I don’t understand how anyone cares if Gene Weingarten likes it or not. I won’t get my panties in a wad if he doesn’t like Greek food or Polish food or Scottish food. Nobody else would either because nowadays it’s somehow racist to not like food that is from a country of brown people.

Is it offensive to make fun of British food and say that it’s all bland (i.e. based on not one, but zero spice)?

I agree this guy isn’t funny, but to actually be OFFENDED that someone doesn’t like Indian food and thinks it’s all curry? JFC, get some real problems.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He makes no apologies I find it interesting that he lumped an entire nation's cuisine alongside 'sweet pickles' but if the Indian posters aren't offended, who am I to be?

There are always some Indians that are somewhat self-loathing and keep a colonized mindset. Keep the peace and all, it’s okay, yes man types. There’s a whole Reddit for ‘am Indian, can confirm’ types.

People who are not Indian can see the ridiculousness and how offensive the commentary is. Especially in this day and age, it’s obviously wrong.

NP, also an Indian-American who isn’t offended and frankly doesn’t care about this reference. I think it’s dumb humor, but people are allowed their dislikes. You’re gross. Who are you to project your opinions and mentality on everyone and call people who don’t agree “self-loathing”?

It is horrible.

Now I want to order Indian food.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He makes no apologies I find it interesting that he lumped an entire nation's cuisine alongside 'sweet pickles' but if the Indian posters aren't offended, who am I to be?

There are always some Indians that are somewhat self-loathing and keep a colonized mindset. Keep the peace and all, it’s okay, yes man types. There’s a whole Reddit for ‘am Indian, can confirm’ types.

People who are not Indian can see the ridiculousness and how offensive the commentary is. Especially in this day and age, it’s obviously wrong.

Oh now we have people lecturing Indians about how it is offensive that some of us may not be offended? Who are you to judge me to say I am self-loathing and “keep a colonized mindset” whatever the F that means?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He makes no apologies I find it interesting that he lumped an entire nation's cuisine alongside 'sweet pickles' but if the Indian posters aren't offended, who am I to be?

There are always some Indians that are somewhat self-loathing and keep a colonized mindset. Keep the peace and all, it’s okay, yes man types. There’s a whole Reddit for ‘am Indian, can confirm’ types.

People who are not Indian can see the ridiculousness and how offensive the commentary is. Especially in this day and age, it’s obviously wrong.

+100. You get it.

I didn't read his original article, I looked at it now, and it has an addendum appended about Indian spices being varied and diverse so it doesn't sound particularly offensive, just close minded. I just felt sorry for Gene Weingarten as he did sound a bit like a picky food eating toddler with all the things he doesn't eat. But it's clickbait for the WaPo and with India having a population of a billion people, a lot of people who never heard of Gene Weingarten can now read his work (and shake their heads).

Anonymous wrote:He makes no apologies I find it interesting that he lumped an entire nation's cuisine alongside 'sweet pickles' but if the Indian posters aren't offended, who am I to be?

There are always some Indians that are somewhat self-loathing and keep a colonized mindset. Keep the peace and all, it’s okay, yes man types. There’s a whole Reddit for ‘am Indian, can confirm’ types.

People who are not Indian can see the ridiculousness and how offensive the commentary is. Especially in this day and age, it’s obviously wrong.