Disclaimer: This post is not about picking your's apart, but more of me thinking through this for myself.
When you go out to eat with friends or family and everyone orders something different do we (people with taste buds) all sit around saying "I can't believe you don't like blah blah blah, it's my favorite dish here!" followed by "well remember taste ISSSSS subjective!" ?????
1a) "Friends or family" are completely different than posting on an open forum with people you don't
really know. On a forum, sometimes it is really hard to properly contextualize intentions and tones, therefore the inevitable bickering and squabbling takes place due misunderstandings or just insensitivity to individual circumstances and experiences.
1b) The phrase "taste is subjective" in the context of this forum is vastly different than that of the culinary world. There
are in fact standards, maybe not rules, but clear markers that have been set by many chefs, critics, and "foodies" for so long that it is a bit of cop-out to say "taste is subjective" when referencing why someone likes to eat well-done (leather) steak, over medium-rare. Even still, if that grosses you out, whether you say it or not, the thought crosses the mind, "different strokes for different folks" or "to each his own"--it's really all the same thing.
1c) The eliquid market is so young, there are really no official taste testers, critics, or a consensus on how something is
supposed to taste, let alone how something is
supposed to be made. There really is nothing objective about it, as far as taste.
I've never heard it used to explain or justify why you love what makes me gag or vice-versa. Don't we accept that people like what they like and they are who they are?
2a) Yes, we all should accept what people like and it be okay. The problem is that when on a forum, members often times make broad, sweeping proclamations like "Ahlusion eliquid is better than NLV will ever be" or "NLV juice tastes on par with cheap, mall kiosk e-cig liquid." When you are a fan of NLV, generally the only thing that can keep you restrained from wanting to flip out is saying to yourself that tired, but true, mantra of "taste is subjective."
2b) Lastly and most importantly, I think the phrase is used primarily as a disclaimer to deny any responsibility. How many times have we all waisted our money based on someone else's
taste? Most reviews in this game all
translate into "go buy this" or "don't buy that." I used to think the phrase "taste is subjective" was pointless, until I started doing reviews and getting less than appreciative feedback about my recommendations. Now I may not say that exact phrase, but I sure as hell will imply it!
CYA
p.s. Is the phrase overused? Yes. Do I understand why? Yes.
