Drinking the Kool-Aid" is an expression used to refer to a person who believes in a possibly doomed or dangerous idea because of perceived potential high rewards. The phrase typically carries a negative connotation. It can also be used ironically or humorously to refer to accepting an idea or changing a preference due to popularity, peer pressure, or persuasion. In recent years, it has evolved further to mean extreme dedication to a cause or purpose, so extreme that one would "drink the Kool-Aid" and die for the cause.
While use of the phrase dates back to 1968 with the nonfiction book The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, it is strongly associated with the events in Jonestown, Guyana, on November 18, 1978, in which over 900 members of the Peoples Temple movement died. The movement's leader, Jim Jones, called a mass meeting at the Jonestown pavilion after the murder of U.S. Congressman Leo Ryan and others in nearby Port Kaituma. Jones proposed "revolutionary suicide" by way of ingesting a powdered drink mix made from Flavor Aid (later misidentified as Kool-Aid) that was lethally laced with cyanide and other drugs.[1][2]" Wickipedia.
I missed that connection in the "Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test", but then its been a long minute since I read Kesey's book. I only knew of the Jim Jones Peoples' Temple reference.
In the minutiae department, I've handled calls out at Ken Kesey's property a few times. The family still runs (I think) concert promotions etc. There's a statue in downtown Eugene depicting Ken Kesey on a bench, reading to his grandkids. His son Jed Kesey was killed in a van crash involving the U of O wrestling team in 1984.
Hi Ally. Tom Wolfe wrote "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test" and Ken Kesey was the Merry Prankster who took the "test" and publicized the process. Ken and Tom were both wild and wooly intellectuals of the sixties. Read their books, but stay away from the Kool-Aid. Best wishes, Catherine
Ah I remember Kool Aid from years ago. I have to confess I am half American and drank some Kool Aid over there when I was a child. Do you think it is out of my system yet??
It's called drinking the koolaid, Richard. Sound familiar???
Drinking the Kool-Aid" is an expression used to refer to a person who believes in a possibly doomed or dangerous idea because of perceived potential high rewards. The phrase typically carries a negative connotation. It can also be used ironically or humorously to refer to accepting an idea or changing a preference due to popularity, peer pressure, or persuasion. In recent years, it has evolved further to mean extreme dedication to a cause or purpose, so extreme that one would "drink the Kool-Aid" and die for the cause.
While use of the phrase dates back to 1968 with the nonfiction book The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, it is strongly associated with the events in Jonestown, Guyana, on November 18, 1978, in which over 900 members of the Peoples Temple movement died. The movement's leader, Jim Jones, called a mass meeting at the Jonestown pavilion after the murder of U.S. Congressman Leo Ryan and others in nearby Port Kaituma. Jones proposed "revolutionary suicide" by way of ingesting a powdered drink mix made from Flavor Aid (later misidentified as Kool-Aid) that was lethally laced with cyanide and other drugs.[1][2]" Wickipedia.
I missed that connection in the "Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test", but then its been a long minute since I read Kesey's book. I only knew of the Jim Jones Peoples' Temple reference.
In the minutiae department, I've handled calls out at Ken Kesey's property a few times. The family still runs (I think) concert promotions etc. There's a statue in downtown Eugene depicting Ken Kesey on a bench, reading to his grandkids. His son Jed Kesey was killed in a van crash involving the U of O wrestling team in 1984.
Hi Ally. Tom Wolfe wrote "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test" and Ken Kesey was the Merry Prankster who took the "test" and publicized the process. Ken and Tom were both wild and wooly intellectuals of the sixties. Read their books, but stay away from the Kool-Aid. Best wishes, Catherine
ThatтАЩs right; I just remember Kesey because heтАЩs local. His bus, Further, is still around.
Wow!
Fascinating addition to my education MaryPat. Thank you!
Ah I remember Kool Aid from years ago. I have to confess I am half American and drank some Kool Aid over there when I was a child. Do you think it is out of my system yet??
One can only hope, RichardтАж..lol..