The Misuse Of The Term, "Kool-Aid Drinkers"
By Maggiepie
@Maggiepie (7816)
United States
June 14, 2011 6:45pm CST
I'm guilty of this, & I've heard scads of others misusing the term, as well.
As it is now, the term "Kool-Aid Drinkers" is used to describe people so deluded they'll do damage to themselves rather than admit they've been mistaken. They "drink the (purple/grape) Kool-Aid" & die, rather than admit they were following a bad path to some goal.
But we've forgotten from whence the term derived! "Pastor" Jim Jones, the psycho who convinced hundreds of people to follow his wacky religion, eventually demanded his followers drink poisoned grape Kool-Aid & die rather than allow themselves to be "captured by the enemy & lose their faith." Or words to that effect.
And every one of them did just that--but--NOT because they CHOSE to do so--not because they were deluded! They were forced at gun-point to drink from the tubs of poisoned Kool-Aid!
We really need to stop using the term to describe the willingly suicidal! All the more-so because other expressions already exist for these folks, such as "So-&-So is 'in the tank' for Such-&-Such politician." In other words, these people would do anything on that politician's behalf, including ignore their own principles, even though it's obvious he or she's a crazy loon &/or a crook!
And then there are the lemmings, mindlessly following their insane brethren & sistren off a cliff to drown in the sea....
Anyway, when I was a kid I loved Kool-Aid, & even though my taste buds have long-since outgrown that beverage, out of sheer nostalgia, I say let's give Kool-Aid a break from having their name associated with such ugly images.
Maggiepie
"He that uses many words for explaining any subject, doth, like the cuttlefish, hide himself for the most part in his own ink." ~ John Ray, naturalist 1627-1705
Anyway, when I was a kid I loved Kool-Aid, & even though my taste buds have long-since outgrown that beverage, out of sheer nostalgia, I say let's give Kool-Aid a break from having their name associated with such ugly images.
Maggiepie
"He that uses many words for explaining any subject, doth, like the cuttlefish, hide himself for the most part in his own ink." ~ John Ray, naturalist 1627-17055 people like this
7 responses
@BarBaraPrz (47611)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
15 Jun 11
When I was a kid we used to be able to get rootbeer Kool-Aid... I miss that: all the great rootbeer taste with none of the carbonation.
(Yes, I know this has nothing to do with the discussion.)
2 people like this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
15 Jun 11
Yeah, my sweet grandfather used to make homemade sassafras tea, but I tried it & politely refused any more. Gimme FIZZ! I do like the candies, though, but they're really strong, so I can't handle more than 2 in a row.
Maggiepie
"You can't fix stupid." ~ source unknown...John Wayne, maybe?1 person likes this
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
15 Jun 11
Up above is where Debi thought she responded to the original question!!!
2 people like this
@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
15 Jun 11
When I was in high school (which was about the time that this horrific incident happened), I remember one of the boys in my school ribbing another by calling him "Jim Jones". I was oblivious to the implications until years later when I read some articles on the topic. What a cruel and thoughtless way to tease someone!
But I know what you mean about such sullyings of childhood favorites. I am still reeling over Jerry Falwell's villifying of Tinky-Winky. Although he wasn't my favorite telly-tubby (Po was), it still offended me to see someone projecting evil where none existed.
I could launch into an entire discussion on the topic of "see no evil" or the way some folks will see evil where none is intended or existent...but that is a bit off-topic here. 
2 people like this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
15 Jun 11
Well, Falwell's...a real piece of work... Telly-tubbies. Evil...("wrong buzzer" noise) WARNING! DOES NOT EQUATE! DOES NOT EQUATE!
I'm confused; whom was it being called "Jim Jones?" Walt Disney? I'd never heard of his lemming thing 'til I posted this. I'm just as glad I didn't; I think it would have warped me! 
Oh! I just re-read your sentence. Some kid in your school was being taunted. Bullies made my life hell. That's not what I'd call "teasing," Rather it's torture. I'm glad schools are taking it more seriously than they used to do.
Maggiepie
"You can't fix stupid." ~ source unknown...John Wayne, maybe?
Telly-tubbies. Evil...("wrong buzzer" noise) WARNING! DOES NOT EQUATE! DOES NOT EQUATE!
I'm confused; whom was it being called "Jim Jones?" Walt Disney? I'd never heard of his lemming thing 'til I posted this. I'm just as glad I didn't; I think it would have warped me!
Oh! I just re-read your sentence. Some kid in your school was being taunted. Bullies made my life hell. That's not what I'd call "teasing," Rather it's torture. I'm glad schools are taking it more seriously than they used to do.
Maggiepie
"You can't fix stupid." ~ source unknown...John Wayne, maybe?2 people like this
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
15 Jun 11
Not as bad as a kid whose name WAS Jim Jones. He was strong though, dealt with it well as I remember.
2 people like this
@laglen (19759)
• United States
15 Jun 11
Quite an array of responses you received!
It seems to me that while yes at the time they were at gunpoint, this had been the plan all along and everybody was "on board". I am not trying to excuse the action, but that also changes the use of the phrase. I use it in the context of following blindly.
2 people like this
@laglen (19759)
• United States
15 Jun 11
By the way, I wanted to add to the people not knowing the story behind the phrase, I had heard on a radio program a few years ago, somebody saying that it was a racist term because everybody knows black people drink kool-aid. I L'dMAO!
@urbandekay (18278)
•
15 Jun 11
I am confused, is 'Kool Aid' something that exists or does it just refer to this poisoned drink this Jim Jones dished up?
all the best urban
2 people like this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
18 Jun 11
URBAN: Alaskanray is correct. I would only add to that the fact that, largely due to merchandising (& its popularity with kids), Kool-Aid is iconographic of the happy, American child. Not a worry in the world, playful, breezy. Idyllic. Thus it's especially egregious that Jones forced his hapless followers to drink it or be shot, & so sullying the image of Kool-Aid ever after.
Maggiepie
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter most." ~ Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
15 Jun 11
I have never heard anybody described by that term . u are right , it's not a good thing. People need to be more sympathtic to others problems to start with.
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
18 Jun 11
Yes, true. Sometimes it's difficult, however, when one can so clearly see how someone is obviously headed down the wrong path. Recall the recent fiasco of people buying into that weird preacher's claims that the world was going to end last month, & sold all their goods--though why that was necessary was never made clear to anyone, so far as I know...
But not only had he pulled the same dumb stunt previously (!!!), any even halfway try at actually reading the bible would've made it clear as glass that he was practicing a heretical belief! Christ Himself told people not to do what that man did!
So it's frustrating when people simply follow people such as he or Jim Jones into sorrow--but really it's their own gullibility & even laziness!
Sigh...people. What're you gonna do, though, huh? Gotta love 'em--& forgive 'em. God said so. 
It's just sad when they figure out their folly, though...especially Jim Jones' captive followers, who figured it out too late. 
Maggiepie
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter most." ~ Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King
But not only had he pulled the same dumb stunt previously (!!!), any even halfway try at actually reading the bible would've made it clear as glass that he was practicing a heretical belief! Christ Himself told people not to do what that man did!
So it's frustrating when people simply follow people such as he or Jim Jones into sorrow--but really it's their own gullibility & even laziness!
Sigh...people. What're you gonna do, though, huh? Gotta love 'em--& forgive 'em. God said so.
It's just sad when they figure out their folly, though...especially Jim Jones' captive followers, who figured it out too late.
Maggiepie
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter most." ~ Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
18 Jun 11
Totally fine. I doubt any food exists that is universally liked! I know at least one person who hates coconut, bananas, & pineapples! All favorites of mine! 
Maggiepie
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter most." ~ Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King
Maggiepie
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter most." ~ Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
15 Jun 11
Hiya MP,
Not being from the States I have never heard of this either but anyway I avoid most Drinks like a certain brand and another.
There are two brands I avoid drinking all I can. One brand I did try out of curiosity and I found it way too much for me it gave me a hyped up feeling for about three hours since then I have not touched it with a barge pole.
Sorry to hear about all those People though I have heard the name Kool Aid but only in mention say like writing nothing else.
It´s not something that is sold here even if it is it will be on the Coast which is a thousand odd miles from where I actually am at the moment.
