It amazes me the number of paranoid people here. If you have a MAJOR allergy issue, then you have a right to be. Other than that, equating people who cook for potlucks with hoarders or judging their food by how they keep their desk?

I don’t get the potluck hate AT ALL. But, I’ve never been to a potluck with loads and loads of people I don’t know. To me potlucks usually involve 5-20 friends or family. Who I enjoy being around. And who doesn’t like cooking for their friends and family? Cooking = love!

I would think it’s the opposite because you can bring something you CAN eat and worst case eat exclusively that, whereas a normal dinner party you’re stuck with whatever the host is serving.

Food is power. Giving a poor community member $100 in groceries so that she can help take the financial and emotional burden off a grieving friend or family member gives power to that person and those she touch. It gives dignity. It uplifts. It gives hope and compassion.

I can dress my cats as peacocks, but you’re on your own as to how they react to it.

I love potlucks, both to attend and to host. You get to show off your cooking/baking if you want, and SOMEONE will bring chips and/or other snack foods that I love but don’t buy, AND you get to try out other people’s cooking/baking! - the fuck’s wrong with that?? Also, neither I nor anyone I know could afford to cater…

Exactly. I’m always cool subsidizing the friends who are legit poor and not making them feel bad about it. Because I’ve been that broke person, and I’ve also had friends that were that broke person and I genuinely wanted to see them even if they couldn’t afford to pay their “fair share,” whatever that means.

Speaking of funerals, I used to request “funeral potluck” items for donations when I ran the kitchen at the drop in centre. Being an impoverished community, many couldn’t afford the wakes. So they’d call our pastor, who’d get in touch with me. I’d provide a frozen turkey, a big can of coffee, tea, sugar, powdered…

I’m gonna counter that potlucks, in being sort of “unequal,” are actually more egalitarian, at least among my social group. We have potlucks almost weekly with a lit grill provided for whoever wants to cook on the spot. We’re all over the map in terms of income and situation, so we know that maybe the dude who just…

I have to respectfully disagree. My friends are poor and busy, so what often happens is whoever is hosting will provide an entree (with the pricey protein) and the rest of us will bring sides or dessert. As long as everybody respects the Rule of Potluck (everyone contributes more than they plan on eating, and if…