2007-12-17 15:06:34 · 15 answers · asked by Locutus1of1 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
It came from Jim Jones, not Ken Kesey. Jones' followers drank poisoned kool-aid because he told them to. Kesey's "electric kool-aid acid test" had nothing to do with blind idolotry.
And Jones was psycho with a megalomaniacal brain, not a liberal, as someone above me tried to imply.
2007-12-17 16:03:04 · answer #1 · answered by Petrushka's Ghost 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I would say the Jim Jones incident made it popular as a derogatory statment in reference to being a blind obedient follower, but it was popular long before that for other reasons.
It was a favorite comment to make to people, when I lived in Vegas, that was considering going to the scientology free psych evalutaion, or whatever they called the thing.
It was also use as a hint or warning at hippie parties, in the 60s, about the spiked punch bowl.
2007-12-18 00:18:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Depending on the context it could be a reference either to the Electric Kool-Aid Acid test or to Jonestown...
If someone is meaning that you screwed up righteously or you have just made a mistake that could get you fired, broken up with, etc. or burned a massive bridge then that would refer to Jonestown...
If it is because you just said a hardcore non-sequiter, are obviously intoxicated, or are behaving very strangely then it could be a reference to Electric Kool-Aid Acid test
2007-12-17 23:27:37 · answer #3 · answered by vegan_geek 5 · 3⤊ 3⤋
The term "don't drink the Kool-Aid" is sometimes used to describe people that blindly follow their leaders even though it goes against logic.
And, yes, this term comes from the Jim Jones massacre days when his cult followers drank "Kool-Aid" at his command.. After giving it to their children.. Even though they knew it was going to result in their death. They did it because they believed Jim Jones' cult doctrine.
Politically, it is most often used of people that believe Rosie O'Donnell type 9/11 conspiracy propaganda. Bill O'Reilly uses the term a lot when people disagree with him and he is probably largely responsible for the current popularity of the term "Don't drink the Kool-Aid".
2007-12-17 23:30:24 · answer #4 · answered by truthsayer 6 · 1⤊ 6⤋
Jonestown
2007-12-17 23:10:07 · answer #5 · answered by whirling W dervish 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Ken Kesey--and The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test!!
edit: It had NOTHING to do with Jonestown! It had to do with hippie parties where the "punchbowl" full of Kool-Aid was often laced with LSD---
which led to peple saying, "You must have been drinking the Kool-Aid, meaning, "You're hallucinating, Buddy".
2007-12-17 23:13:23 · answer #6 · answered by Joey's Back 6 · 3⤊ 4⤋
Jim Jones ring a bell?
2007-12-17 23:10:58 · answer #7 · answered by JustUS 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The Jonestown massacre.
2007-12-17 23:08:58 · answer #8 · answered by Dastardly 6 · 6⤊ 1⤋
Jonestown.
2007-12-17 23:10:42 · answer #9 · answered by Zardoz 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Ken Kesey, then Jim Jones.
2007-12-17 23:08:52 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋