h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Firstly, please do not be put off by how long this post is! I would like to know your feedback.

This may sound like a strange question at first, but after it has been answered by a few people I shall explain all. The question is this:

Suppose there are only four types of bread in a hypothetical world, and their properties are thus:

1. The first type of bread dominates most of the shelves in the shops. When you buy a toaster, you get this type of bread included. There is a range of spreads and preserves available to go on this type of bread, made by a number of companies. These companies have been bribed to supply their products only for this type of bread. The manufacturer of this type of bread, though, never reveals how their bread was made. Also, if you have more than one toaster, you must buy separate loaves of bread for each of them.

The toasting process for this bread often fails. The bread is supplied as a sliced loaf and you are not permitted to slice the slices of bread any further.

2. This second type of bread can only be used on a special type of toaster. You rarely see this bread sold separately in the shops, but it tastes and looks better. Most spreads/preserves (e.g. marmalade, butter) that can be put on the first type of bread (above) have been made separately available for spreading on this type. This type of bread has been made with the same ingredients as type 4.

The toasting process for this type of bread is quicker than the others. The bread is supplied as a sliced loaf and you are allowed to slice it up further, but you may not cut the crusts off.

3. The third type of bread can be used on the same toasters as the first type, so long as you throw away the loaf of bread supplied with the toaster (of type 1), or buy a large enough bread bin to contain them both. The bread is made with similar ingredients to type 4 bread, and tells the consumer what these ingredients were and how the bread was made with them. The spreads and preserves that can be put on type 1 and 2 bread cannot be put on this type; instead, there is a limited amount of spreads/preserves that can be used, and the majority of them come packaged with the loaf in large quantities.

The bread tastes nicer, and the toaster can be configured however you want to toast the bread in a variety of ways. It rarely fails. You are allowed to slice this bread as well as cut the crusts off. You are also allowed to resell the bread.

4. This type of bread was the basis for types 2 and 3. It is seen very rarely on the shelves. Some of the same spreads/preserves that are available for type 3 bread are also made to be spreadable on this type too. The toasting process is slightly more complex to complete, but it is done faster and rarely fails. It can be configured in many ways. The bread may be cut anywhere, like type 3.

Type 1 bread is the most expensive, type 2 is less expensive, type 3 is extremely cheap, and the ingredients for it are free, and type 4 bread is also extremely cheap with free ingredients.

And the question here is: which bread in this hypothetical world would you prefer to buy?

(If you manage to detect the subtle meaning within my question, please do not say so until I have done so at the end).

I eat bread #1. Through laziness, more than anything else. Also, it means a lot of different sandwiches and flavours can be easily exchanged with other toast eaters. This is especially useful if you want to take toasted sandwiches to work.

There *are* other types of bread available too, but these are generally used in industrial-sized toasters.

There are also some small, specialist breads and toasters. If, however, they show any signs of popularity, the makers of bread #1 buy them up and incorporate them into their own bread-making recipe.

Yes. You are right about specialist types of bread, but they were too numerous and obscure for me to mention them.

Thank you for your reply.

Used to have a balanced diet of breads 1,3 and 4 whilst at uni, depending on the bakery I was in and what I was using it for. I currently use bread 1 but am considering experimenting with a bread 1 and 4 sandwich. Bread 2 is a little expensive for me at this moment in time but I might buy myself it and suitable toaster someday.

I'll take what's convenient as I've not got time to configure anything.

...and then there's those new, portable "speaking" toasters, where breadmaker #1 is trying to make inroads...

Well initially it seems bread #1 is most popular, even though the toasting process fails quite a bit. Wouldn't you feel bad about the fact that you are buying bread from an anti-competitive bakery?

hmmmm . . . I have the feeling I am using type 1 bread even though I am not totally pleased with it - and it is actually out of character for me to settle for inferior bread and especially faulty toasting - and would probably prefer type 2 or 4.

az

Well, azahar, I highly recommend you taste those other types. You might be pleasantly surprised. Any particular reason for not preferring type 3 as well?

And additionally, in my question, I was really looking for the one that you *would* use, ideally, in the hypothetical world, regardless of the one you actually do.

Type 3 seemed confusing with having to throw away the old loaf and also limited spreads. Though now I think I am confused between 3 and 4.



az the easily confused

i have been brought up with 1. all my life, but i would like to use 3 in the futre < think its 3 that i want, will find out at the end>

I live with a "baker", so I get to use type 4 with the hassle-free qualities of type 1. However, you get more range with type 1, so we have a reserve toaster for those moments when we want to sample a type 1 marmalade, say.

This is the perfect solution, IMO. Everyone needs a personal baker.

mabe i want 4, im not sure ... 3 or 4. the context used is sliughtly confusing.

When I say you have to throw away the supplied type #1 loaf if you want to use type #3 (or you could use them together if you have a large enough bread bin), I forgot to mention that this also applies to type #4. Type #3 is often more accurately called 'T3NT4', which is a recursive acronym for 'Type 3 is Not Type 4' (even though type #3 is based on #4).

Also, I forgot to say that many companies have established to use the same ingredients and method for types #3 and #4, but packaging them up with different preserves and different types of butter, and also offering a support service if your toast burns, or if you have trouble spreading a certain preserve.

"If you manage to detect the subtle meaning within my question"

That reminds me, I need to buy a new melba toast...

B

Sorry, there should have been an ironic < laugh > smiley on the top line of that post.

B

No wonder I'm still using number 1 bread!

az

it is 3 then

how can anyone not notice the meaning.

When you say "it is 3 then" - what is 3? Forgive my stupidity if it is a stupid question.

toast marmalade It's not about breakfast goods then?