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Comment by trevoragilbert | Hacker News Reader

It seems like this continues to push forward and tries to be a real product, but there are two things wrong with it. 1) outside of a really small group of people (unless I'm mistaken?), it doesn't seem like there's any demand for it and 2) it has one of the worst product names I've ever heard of.

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What's with the comments on here trying to torpedo Soylent because of its name?

First of all, Soylent passed $2 million in orders, so there is a demand for this, even in its uncertain, preliminary state.

Second of all, what's wrong with the name? You'd have to be absolutely off-the-rails crazy to think even for a moment that it's actually made of people, which leaves the only other meaning - food substitute.

Really, what is it with the undue hate coming at Soylent in this comment section? Jealousy?

Don't confuse demand for hype. There's a demand to have a trial phase with the product, but not for the actual product itself. We'll see if there is actual demand once that phase is over.

No one is demanding a trial phase with the product, as such is not an option. The only option is the product, and there is $2mil worth of demand for the product (likely higher since that number was reported).

Why are you trying to cut them down? "We'll see if there's an actual demand"? There is an actual demand. $2 million in demand. That's undeniable.

> it has one of the worst product names I've ever heard of

I beg to differ: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotted_dick

Old dessert. Meanings of words change. Hence probably not a horrible "product name" back in the day.

http://pioneerstories-asay.blogspot.com/2011/01/lumpy-dick.h...

My wife calls it "Pioneer Cereal".

I don't think the group of people is really small.

People I talk to about Soylent tend to think about it in a binary "all or nothing" way. Yes, there are few who would do use it for the majority of their meals.

There are many people, however, who appreciate the occasional healthy/quick/cheap meal.

Soylent might not yet be "cheap", but it will be big if it gets there.

"it has one of the worst product names I've ever heard of"

It's memorable. And FWIW, 1) the book had no cannibalism, and 2) most kinds of "SoyLent" were not made from people even in the movie.

>1) outside of a really small group of people (unless I'm mistaken?)

You are mistaken. Haven't you seen commercials for those "breakfast drinks"? That's what this is pretty much.

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