Do People Know Where "Drinking the Kool-Aid" Came From?

I do...and it actually wasn't Kool-Aid...it was Grape Flavor Aid.

It comes from 1978, November...when Reverend Jim Jones brainwashed his followers into drinking and making the children drink the poison laced drink down in Guyana, causing over 900 deaths.

I do not like it when someone refers to this horrible tragedy in this manner...especially when speaking of people that don't believe what they believe or think the same way.

I believe it is disrespectful to the survivors of this tragedy as well as the family members.

Just my opinion and thoughts.

CB, most know where the reference comes from. The term isn't meant to disrespect the victims and families, but to remind us of blindly following without thought. Having worked in a hospital for nearly 15 years, its also a coping mechanism. If you want to hear the most inappropriate jokes, ask people that work near death on a steady basis. This isn't an excuse, just an observation.

I know the origin and don't have a problem with the term. The people of Jonestown let a charismatic figure lead them into the jungle, abandon their families, and drink poison. I think it is very appropriate to use in situations where people blindy follow.

And all this time I thought it was the big fat Kool Aid dude telling peeps.

I didn't look before replying. Of course: Jonestown in Guyiana and the cult membership being forced to drink cyanide-laced Kool-Aid.

So, you think it is a disrespectful cliche about parents who gave up their freedom of thinking that resulted in their childrens' deaths?

The members of the cult gave up everything to listen to Jim Jones. Very scary.

And classic cult.

I believe it is disrespectful to make fun or make light of anyone's tragedy. If someone wants to joke about their own tragedy, that is their prerogative.

It is not disrespectful for something to be so affecting that a saying come from it or it becomes a part of colliquial speech.

It is disrespectful to forget where the colloquialism came from and why. It appears no one here has forgotten.

“Those Who Fail to Learn History
Are Doomed to Repeat It;
Those Who Fail To Learn History Correctly -
Why They Are Simply Doomed.”

Achemdro’hm

“I’ll be more enthusiastic about encouraging thinking outside the box when there’s evidence of any thinking going on inside it.”

Terry Pratchett

I was thinking about this a lot more yesterday...

I know if I were a family member of the deceased or a survivor whose family were poisoned (whether voluntarily or involuntarily), I would feel pain and sadness each and every time I heard the saying.

And I'm very aware that what I say might hurt or cause pain to another, so I just don't do it. Especially because I've experienced a tragedy of my own.

I think the saying is used a little too liberally and as with a lot of sayings (Rule of Thumb being one), is said without thought to what it actually means or who it could hurt.

Gee, who hasn't had one or more tragedies in their families? I doubt if anyone is careful enough not to say something at sometime that offends someone who experienced a tragedy.

Personally, I don't use that phrase because I try to stay away from the latest "in" phrases.