I think this is masochism. Food doesn’t leave any external marks so these people go with food.

I do lots of very spicy food. I think my tongue has literally been damaged over time, so stuff I don’t register as being even the slightest bit spicy are unbearably hot to others, and I have to really ratchet it up.

But what I’ve found at lots of Asian restaurants is that the staff assumes my pale, white ass can’t take real heat. I ask for “5-peppers” hot and they’re like “We’ll start you with a 2.” It’s annoying. I’ve never been served food that’s “too hot” in a restaurant. So I kinda understand these exaggerated descriptions people give on food orders.

I once had to leave a negative review at the Thai place I go for lunch pretty regularly, because they got a new hostess and she kept trying to save me from my hubris multiple weeks in a row.

The owners finally had a conversation with her and now I get my Pad Thai at the appropriate spice level. I gave edited the review to 5 stars afterwords.

It’s funny that this meme, and now you, mention spicy Pad Thai, as that was always one of the Thai dishes that I didn’t think work as well with higher spice levels. I usually lean towards red or pannang curry when I want spicy Thai.

I like my Pad Thai spicy.

I usually get a 4 out of 5. I was getting a 1.