A Twitter/X user shares an article about an archaeological discovery at Pompeii — a 2,000-year-old thermopolium (ancient Roman fast-food counter) — and the top reply delivers a masterpiece of missing the point.
The Article: Archaeologists excavate ancient Roman takeout counter at Pompeii. A 2,000-year-old quick-serve restaurant had a lot in common with modern ones. (Kiona N. Smith, Dec 28, 2020)
The Reply (from @Maarek @Vaarblek): “Having strangers prepare food and serve it to you every day is not a basic human experience.”
Gorgocutie says:
My brother in Christ, the thermopolium — literally “hot counter” in Greek — was the Roman Empire’s version of a food truck. These counter-service joints were everywhere in Pompeii, serving wine, nuts, cheeses, meats, and hot dishes to people who didn’t have kitchens or just wanted a quick meal. They’re basically 79 AD Subway with better frescoes.
The reply is technically correct in the most useless way possible. Yes, having strangers prepare your food is not a basic human experience in the sense that breathing or sleeping are basic. But it’s been a normal human experience since at least the Roman Empire. Civilization is literally defined by specialization — you farm, I cook, everyone benefits.
Also, this tweet was posted in 2020. The thermopolium was buried in 79 AD. That’s a 1,941-year gap between the Romans inventing takeout and someone on Twitter discovering it’s “not a basic human experience.” Peak internet.
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