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[olimario]

Calling it "Coke" at a restauarant causes a lot more confusion than mixing up, say, Kleenex and Puffs.

"Gimme a Coke."
"What kind?"
"...Coke."
"We only have Pepsi, is that OK?"

But no one says 'pop' or 'soda' at a restaurant, either. You'd go through the same conversation as above. You order by name to avoid that.

But if someone asks what I had to drink, I say that I had a coke.

 

[Hitokage]

I don't see why 'Coke' is so wrong.
We call tissue paper 'Kleenex'.
We call adhesive medical strips 'band-aids'.

Except facial tissue has little difference from one kind to another. It's all soft, white, and made of wood pulp. Same with bandages. However, with "coke" you're trying to force a specific reference to the Coca-Cola brand and flavor into a generic term and then plaster it on a diverse group. Just try using it as a generic term... "Rasberry Coke"... it's ambiguous because the first thing you think of is the Coca-Cola entry in the cola holy wars and with rasberry flavoring, not a fruit drink analogous to Orange Soda. Then there's Cream Soda and Key Lime Soda... don't fuck with Key Lime Soda.

At any rate, I might as well start calling all cars "Hondas".

 

[luxsol]

I don't see how 'soda' is any less old-fashioned than 'pop' seeing as they are both derived from 'soda pop'.

I think it's because you only see older people saying "pop" here, those that moved here from the east. It just seems really old fashioned because of that.

At restaurants it's more likely the menus under the beverage section that it says "sodas" instead of "pop" or "soda pop."

In black and white movies, they say "soda" "pop" or "soda pop" in about the same frequency, but the characters that say just "pop" are usually older, with "soda pop" being used by both young and old characters, and "soda" being used by characters in their 20s-30s. I can't even think of any modern movies or tv shows (current settings) where they say "pop" unless it's said by an older character.

 

[GG-Duo]

soft drink

 

[Cauliflower of Love]

Calling it "Coke" at a restauarant causes a lot more confusion than mixing up, say, Kleenex and Puffs.

"Gimme a Coke."
"What kind?"
"...Coke."
"We only have Pepsi, is that OK?"

Why in the world wold you tell someone the category of drink you want, instead of the actual type.

It'd be like asking for something "hot". WTF? get to the point.

What you do want?

Sprite

What do you want?

Coffee.


I've never ever heard people call soda pop. I think I'm gonna convert.

 

[Ecrofirt]

a lot of times I'll be at a resturant, and they'll ask me what I want to drink before I can find the soft drinks on the menu. In situations like this, it's easiest to say 'coke'. They'll then either say ok, or tell me that they've got pepsi, which I tell them is fine.

 

[xsarien]

Why in the world wold you tell someone the category of drink you want, instead of the actual type.

I don't know, it just leads to confusing situations like the one I illustrated above. To some, "Coke" is an accurate description of everything that comes out of a fountain carbonated.

 

[Hitokage]

a lot of times I'll be at a resturant, and they'll ask me what I want to drink before I can find the soft drinks on the menu. In situations like this, it's easiest to say 'coke'. They'll then either say ok, or tell me that they've got pepsi, which I tell them is fine.

You're just ordering something they have a high chance of carrying, and if they don't have it they usually have the alternative brand of cola.

 

[luxsol]

soft drink

Hahah... that's even better than "soda". And what the hell does it mean anyway? WTF is so "soft" about soda?

 

[Firest0rm]

According to that map the pattern is:

Coke = Republican
Pop = Democrat
Soda = Independant

 

[Pochacco]

We should all just call it "Sodapop" again - that way, I can order drinks with "I'll have me a sodapop Ponyboy!"

 

[Hitokage]

Hahah... that's even better than "soda". And what the hell does it mean anyway? WTF is so "soft" about soda?

It's in contrast to hard drinks, which are alcoholic. You know... hard apple cider, hard lemonade, etc.

 

[KarishBHR]

HERE IS WHY IT'S CALLED POP:



Because, "soda" or whatever you wanna call it was made in Detroit Michigan. I live there, everyone and their moms calls it Pop. When you invent something, you name it... so "soda" can lick my nuts

 

[Litigation Manuel]

Okay, pop, soda, and soda pop are acceptable to me. But calling a caffeinated beverage "coke" is just stupid. Anyone that does that deserves to be drop kicked in the throat. And to the political party thing: Indiana is republican, we all call it pop. Your theory has been turned to dookie!

 

[ConfusingJazz]

HERE IS WHY IT'S CALLED POP:



Because, "soda" or whatever you wanna call it was made in Detroit Michigan. I live there, everyone and their moms calls it Pop. When you invent something, you name it... so "soda" can lick my nuts

And yet the three major soft drink companies are Dr Pepper, Coca Cola, and Pepsi, which all are from the south, one from Waco, and the others from Atlanta.

And living in Texas, I always have called it soda or coke. A teacher once gave a rule of thumb for Texas, we call all soda coke, unless its Dr Pepper, which we call by name. Granted, I don't do this, but he is a native Texan.

 

[Spectral Glider]

I think "pop" is also a northeastern thing, too.

31 years in northeast pa and nobody here has ever called it pop, ever. It's always been, soda, cola, or coke. I generally like to order Sprite from the fountain when I'm out, but if I do want a cola, to avoid any confusion on what kind they serve I just say, "Gimme a coke or pepsi." To me pop was always either somebody's father or a lollipop or a popsicle.....never soda.

 

[EdLuva]

31 years in northeast pa and nobody here has ever called it pop, ever. It's always been, soda, cola, or coke. I generally like to order Sprite from the fountain when I'm out, but if I do want a cola, to avoid any confusion on what kind they serve I just say, "Gimme a coke or pepsi." To me pop was always either somebody's father or a lollipop or a popsicle.....never soda.

Ok, maybe
NW PA - pop
NE PA - soda

There were even "pop" signs in stores.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

Like I said, Western PA and NY are more like the midwest linguistically. And by Midwest, I mean the northern half, becuase there's a significant difference between MN, WI, MI, and OH, IL, IN and IA, particularly the Southern halves of those states.

 

[The Interrobanger]

I don't see why 'Coke' is so wrong.
We call tissue paper 'Kleenex'.
We call adhesive medical strips 'band-aids'.

"Could I get you anything to drink, sir?"
"I'll have a Coke"
"Would you like a Coke"?

:lol

That's one of the funniest things I've heard in a while.

 

[Litigation Manuel]

Calling a fountain drink "coke" is like calling a car a "ford", or a political party a "whig". It's silly to extremes previously unheard of.

 

[Mr Gump]

soft drink

Yep.

 

[luxsol]

It's in contrast to hard drinks, which are alcoholic. You know... hard apple cider, hard lemonade, etc.

Yeah, I can understand that... but shouldn't it be in contrast to actually having HARD drinks? Fast food places don't sell alcoholic beverages and they still have "soft drinks" on the menu. And what about milk and juices? Wouldn't they be soft drinks too? I've never seen milk and juices in the same soft drink category in restaurants nor fast food places.

Neh... just something that puzzles me but I accept "soft drinks" even though I've never used that word in my life (speaking outloud).

 

[belgurdo]

Caffeine is badass drug

Yet you'll get 99 years for doing pot. What a country

 

[GG-Duo]

Hahah... that's even better than "soda". And what the hell does it mean anyway? WTF is so "soft" about soda?

What's so soft about soft water?

 

[Hitokage]

What's so soft about soft water?

Specific mineral content.

 

[luxsol]

What's so soft about soft water?

Soft water is done by taking out many of the minerals that are usually naturally found in water. Hard water contains many minerals, and as we all know, minerals = rock. so the lack of these rocks makes the water soft! GET IT!?!?!?!?!?!?!

 

[Grubdog]

I've never heard anyone call soft drink "pop" or "soda" in real life, they both sound so retarded, but then again I don't live in America. When I was little I used to call it fizzy drink, now I call it soft drink, just like everyone else i've ever met.

 

[luxsol]

Where are you?

 

[Spectral Glider]

Fizzy drink? :lol

 

[GG-Duo]

I know what it is.

 

[luxsol]

Same with liquor -> hard liquor refers to its alcohol content
so by a logical extension, the "soft" could refer to the sugar !@?@@?!@!?!@?@!?@$!@$%$%^$%

NO!!!! cause someone already explained that "soft drink" refers to the LACK of alcohol!! Just like the lack of minerals makes water "soft" as opposed to hard water's mineral rich content!! GET IT!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿⁄¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

 

[GG-Duo]

Oop, missed Hitokage's post.
Thanks for pointing it out.

Urr, I mean. THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!1111

 

[Caddle]

If you want to give up drinking soda or whatever you call it just join the army. This is the best answer. Of course you will give up a whole lot of everything else but hell, no pain no gain right.

 

[Vormund]

soft drink

Indeed.

And who the hell calls all soft drinks Coke?

Maybe call all cola drinks coke perhaps....

 

[Grubdog]

Where are you?

Australia!

 

[luxsol]

Bless your country for not having to deal with this idiot "soda pop" word wars. =P

 

[rs7k]

Caffeine is badass drug

Yet you'll get 99 years for doing pot. What a country

Caffeine isn't mind-altering, and there's few consequences stemming from a caffeine habit. Pot has greatly changed my life, for good and for bad.

 

[Scrow]

"soft drink" for lyfe!

"pop", "soda", and "soda pop" just sound so... well, gay.

(australian here too)

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

http://www.popvssoda.com/

Wow. The midwest is a battleground!

Fighting the pop fight since 1982.

I call it "coke," but I can accept "soda" as a viable alternative word.

Corporate whore!

I don't see why 'Coke' is so wrong.
We call tissue paper 'Kleenex'.
We call adhesive medical strips 'band-aids'.

All tissue papers taste like Kleenex. Dr. Pepper doesn't taste like Coca-Cola.

Coke = Republican
Pop = Democrat
Soda = Independant

The northeast and California = independent?

(australian here too)

We know we've taken a turn for the worse when we're being lectured on silly slang by an Australian.


Allow me to use the appeal to authority:

 

[Warm Machine]

Isn't Coke, Pepsi, RC, etc termed Cola?

 

[Hitokage]

Isn't Coke, Pepsi, RC, etc termed Cola?

Correct, and Cola is a kind of pop/soda.

 

[human5892]

Soda for me (southeastern PA).

I've only ever heard "pop" out in the Pittsburgh area.

 

[xsarien]

Isn't Coke, Pepsi, RC, etc termed Cola?

Right. Except RC, which is termed "toxic runoff."

 

[atomsk]

i remember when i quit Code Red...

man, i was drinking so damn much of that.

was working overnights at the time at a supermarket, and i would get the 4 12 packs for 10 bucks or 4 2 liter's for 5 bucks. and thats all i would buy.

the sale would happen like every other week or so.

and then one day, i didnt pick any up, and kinda didnt pick any up for a week after that

let me tell you... 9 DAYS of headaches. goddamn.

and thats why i'll never go back to drinking Code Red...

now Livewire, i drink a can a day :lol

 

[john tv]

Soda: city people, cool people, people who marry outside their family

Pop: everyone else