You Should Warn a Person

I've complained about the rampant flavorization of things that already have flavors, the unrestrained versionizing of things that were fine when they came one way and that was it. There's a limit to how many choices I want to make over pulp level and mineral additives in my orange juice, and it's frustrating when I have to look and look to find regular plain Triscuits. I've complained, I might add, and nothing has been done about it.

So the other day I start brushing from a new tube of toothpaste that I had just grabbed off the shelf because toothpaste is toothpaste. Except all of the sudden whoa Nellie I was startled to find that my mouth was all vanilla-ey, like I suddenly had a mouthful of custard. Look at the tube: "Refreshing Vanilla Mint." I mean, they just don't warn you, it could have been jalapeno popper-flavored toothpaste, for all I would have known, or smoked salmon flavored or just anything.

This trend that I rail against has actually been praised by Virginia Postrel, who's so smart that I just assume I'm wrong. So Virginia, if you're in town, I have a tube of toothpaste you're welcome to. And I'll add toothpaste-choosing to the ever-lengthening list of things into which I clearly need to put more effort. (Sigh.)