I always think this about garlic, chilli, onion, etc. Feeling all tough, naturally designed to punish whatever's just eaten it. Then humans be like, "OOOOO that's yum. Add a bit more."

We like plants that offer a challenge, apparently. We probably evolved to like these chemicals because we refused to be beaten and just ended up liking them.

[–] crucifix_peen@lemmy.ml 25 points 1 year ago (2 children)

plant: evolves chemical defense mechanism to stop it from being eaten

humans: ayo put that shit on my steak

[–] Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

animal: evolves to run away from predators as a defense mechanism

humans: ayo catch that it will go great with the evil plants

[–] Pokethat@lemm.ee 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

"animal: evolves to run away from predators as a defense mechanism"

humans: ayo, catch that shit and put it in circle with wood so they can't leave, since, you know, they like to move. Also posts provide all their food and water and let them fuck to make more. Eat them with the evil plants.

[–] kautau@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago

Also humans:

ayo evil plants aren’t evil enough. Let’s make little more evil baby plants and from those even more evil baby plants and let’s name the really evil one after a combination of a U.S. state and death itself and then put that shit on the tasty movers

[–] BastingChemina@slrpnk.net 6 points 1 year ago

Things like onions, garlic, chili and spices have anti microbial properties. This is why warmer countries tends to have spicier food, it protect from food poisoning.

[–] Fiivemacs@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 year ago

We also alter them by cooking them. Not too many people like eating raw onion or garlic

[–] Matthew@programming.dev 7 points 1 year ago

Being loved by humans is the ultimate evolutionary advantage, so at the end of the day, task failed successfully.

[–] tuxrandom@kbin.social 5 points 1 year ago

It's probably some kind of weird reward effect in our brains. Like "Yay, whatever I just ate attacked me and I survived! Gimme some more of that!"

[–] collegefurtrader@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 1 year ago

Evolution doesn’t always have a purpose. Random mutations + coincidence can result is some goofy results