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Friday Fun Thread for February 17, 2023

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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What's the point of having secret recipes if you are not cooking commercially? The fact people have secret recipes is mundane but it drives me insane as to why.

On the topic, being a programmer has me spoiled, people just open source hundreds of hours of work without thinking twice. Not all hobby groups are as generous on average. I am aware of certain amateur photographers that go to great lengths to obscure the locations of their shots so that others can't get the same photo... for no money!

I usually give away all my secrets, open-source all my code, share all my recipes, and give away my photography locations. However, I do not share details about excellent deals I find in local shops so that I can go and snag more later. That makes sense doing as there is a tangible resource on the line as opposed to only status.

I think it's just trying to maximize the IKEA effect; it doesn't just apply to the work of one's own hands, but the work of one's family as well.

It can also be used to cover up a dish being inferior in taste to the commercial examples ("ugly family heirloom item/furniture" is a meme, though it doesn't seem to be as popular these days).

Of course, my priors when I hear "Grandma's secret recipe" are "cheapest possible substitution of any ingredient that would have made the dish taste good + it's going to make the entire house smell horrible + you're expected to choke that down because it's a family recipe", though. People whose folks actually knew how to cook probably think more positively about the concept.