Totally agree. It’s sad and they’ve lost the pulse of life and art

Some people derive joy from doing it this way. You or I may not agree with it, but that doesn’t mean it’s a wrong way to enjoy something.

It’s playing pretend, a form of instant gratification. That’s fine as a kid, but otherwise it’s just shallow and sad.

The real food chemists at Lao Gan Ma already figured out whatever it is this guy is trying to prove.

Having hobbies is not only infantile but "hollow and sad"? Very strange take.

If it bothers you so much, don't engage with it. Taking time on a Sunday to write really nasty things about people sharing their hobbies on the internet doesn't seem especially full or joyful.

My “very strange take” was on escapism not broadly having hobbies, you’re just putting words in my mouth at this point.

Despite my going against the grain there’s definitely joy in seeing people agree along with some of the upvotes I’ve gotten. It’s also fulfilling knowing someone is reading this and going “you know what, that is ridiculous. I think I’ll just pour hot oil on chili flakes and aromatics like any normal person would. And with the time I saved not journaling Mickey Mouse garble, I can do loads of other things”.

[delayed]

I’m saying it is wrong

It's just another way of experiencing life. For many of us, the joy of exploring things this way isn't about removing the life or art from it; it's another way of witnessing and experiencing the life and art of it.

For example, I absolutely love aquascaping. I have a very scientific understanding and appreciation of it all, but it doesn't diminish how incredible and beautiful it all is for me. Some people look at it from a very aesthetic point of view, and to me it's often like some glorious chemistry and biology event occurring in front of me. I marvel at the fact that the nitrogen cycle is happening in this little slice of biotope. I love to test the water parameters and log what's been going in and out to better understand how it's working. I make nerdy little movies of the plants and animals. But you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who loves it significantly more, or finds it more beautiful in more meaningful ways. I just process it differently.

With the chili oil, understanding and experimenting with it can be part of how a more cerebral person engages with their appreciation, curiosity, or passion about the oil. Nerding out might just mean the person really loves it, and that's how they go about it. It's all good. Maybe they'll figure out a bad ass recipe that'll make the rounds eventually, and everyone can enjoy it.

Next time, instead of traveling, just ask someone who's already been there for a summary.

Indeed, travel writing is an entire genre. But I also get the gp's point, that especially with cooking it's easy to overcomplicate things while ignoring how the inventors actually worked.

My point is that it is silly to complain about people being nerdy about a specific topic, just because there are others with more expertise. Especially in cooking, the concept of "inventors" and "authorities" for such basic things as chilli oil, is a strange one.

For me personally, getting deep into a specific food item like this is bascally like traveling. I will first do my own experimentation, not because I think I will discover something new, but because I will more deeply understand why things are done the way they are when I (later) read "proper" sources and consult with others. At that initial stage, I am bound to overcomplicate things, but it's the good kind of overcomplication.

It is like traveling to a new place, and walking around randomly before opening a map. Of course I "overcomplicated" my path from A to B, but I've seen so many interesting (but not necessarily important) things on my way.

Old Asian ladies experiment too. Chili oil is very subjective so everyone has their own way to make it. They obviously treat it a lot more casually, but it's also common knowledge to them.

My sister-in-law (Chinese, although not super-old) brings us a new jar of homemade chili oil whenever we finish the last one, and is constantly experimenting with new peppers, oils, spices, and preparations. If we ask nicely, she also brings bags full of homemade dumplings as tasting medium ;)