Sabin Willett’s Present Value cleverly rolls together a lot of themes that have been discussed here. I read it in one sitting last night, following a massive family gluttonfest down here in Washington, DC. Highly recommended.
[Fifteen years ago an Italian woman studying in Boston told me of her experience at Thanksgiving dinner with a local family. “We Italians have a reputation for eating a lot but never have I seen people stuff themselves like pigs as here in America.”]
Same goes with family feasts in Puerto Rico. I know we ate a lot in our get-togethers, and basically your host will greet you at the door by shoving a plate of food into your hands, but here in the states it is even worse. This is probably the only country in the world where people complain there is too much food.
If they’re not urban legends, perhaps your Italian friend can reintroduce the vomitorium.
Quantity is more important than quality in America. Nothing feels more satisfying than stuffing oneself with a mutant of a turkey that can’t even stand on it’s own legs.
More disturbingly, quality and satisfaction is very closely tied to sheer quantity. Stick more food on someone’s platter, and even if it’s bad, that indivudual is statistically more likely to be satisfied his meal.
Turkey Hunting