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[–] 210 points 1 week ago (9 children)

It actually makes sense once you know how it started! In the early 1900s Michelin wanted to encourage people to drive more (and therefore use tyres more), so they made a guide that was essentially a road trip companion. It had some instructions on basic car repairs, locations of mechanics and hotels, and of course good restaurants to visit along the way. Over time, the restaurant recommendations got particularly popular, so they leant into that

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  • [–] 62 points 1 week ago (3 children)

    However the Guinness Book of Records was not created so drunk people had something to argue about in pubs.

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  • [–] 72 points 1 week ago (2 children)

    It was the opposite, wasn't it? It was meant to provide answers to pub debates about things rather than be the topic of them, if I am remembering correctly

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  • [–] 6 points 1 week ago

    What were pub debates like before the Guinness Book of World Record?

    "I'm telling you! Nancy's cousin smoked 28 cigarettes in one puff! I seent it myself!"

    "That's nothing, George! Carl's grandfather smoked 37 when he was a younger man. There's even a photo of it around here somewhere."

    Like, that just seems like simpler times. Could you imagine if there was no Book of World Records, and people could still argue about that kind of stuff instead of I don't know avocado toast or whatever it is today?

    We need a "Guiness Book of Consumer Inflation Indices and Things Actually Getting in the Way of Millennials Buying Houses"

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  • [–] 19 points 1 week ago*

    Came to comment that. It's a very interesting story. We didn't had GPS, so we needed maps. Tire companies would make huge guides with maps and places to stop, an analog GPS, and guides started giving stars to places, like google reviews, aaaaaand them became what it is

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  • [+] -23 points 1 week ago (3 children)
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