this post was submitted on 18 May 2026

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TIL that eating dirt was common in the U.S. South until the 80s. People ate a handful a day, often seasoned with vinegar and salt. (thelemmy.club)

submitted 3 months ago* by Wudi@feddit.uk to c/til@lemmy.world

211 comments fedilink hide all child comments

https://www.nytimes.com/1984/02/13/us/southern-practice-of-eating-dirt-shows-signs-of-waning.html

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[–] Captain_Buddha@lemmy.world 40 points 3 months ago (3 children)

Did... did you just compare dirt to salt and vinegar potato chips?

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[–] chocrates@piefed.world 36 points 3 months ago

The chips are probably worse for you tbh

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[–] inb4_FoundTheVegan@lemmy.world 21 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Potatoes are dirt tumors.

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[–] Captain_Buddha@lemmy.world 19 points 3 months ago (2 children)

All of Ireland clenched their fists at this comment.

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[–] frisbird@lemmy.ml 26 points 3 months ago (1 child)

FYI Ireland didn't choose to be a potato monoculture, it was forced on them by the British. The famine that hit them was collateral damage from the British subjugation of Ireland in an attempt to maximize profit through cash cropping, displacing the agriculture that the Irish had been using to feed themselves.

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[–] Captain_Buddha@lemmy.world 9 points 3 months ago (1 child)

Okay then...

As someone who loves potatoes I'M clenching my fists at his dirt tumors comment.

Better?

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[–] inb4_FoundTheVegan@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

🚨 🚨 wee-woo wee-woo 🚨 🚨

Your joke has been assessed and approve as factually accurate. Don't let it happen again.

This has been the joke police.

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[–] Fedizen@lemmy.world 10 points 3 months ago (1 child)

Ireland has only had taters for 400 years and the famine was caused by british landlords.

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[–] Captain_Buddha@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

Two different people brought up the potato famine... not what I was trying to bring up with my simpleton joke. I went with a country that, rightfully, enjoy potatoes and are known to.

I don't think tubers=tumors. They're delicious.

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