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Ariadna Mavila

Lecture: Ross Bullen

Tutorial D: Gillian Nangreave

26 Sept. 2019

A hot dog is a hotdog

In recent viral online discussions, a controversial issue has been whether or not hotdogs

should be considered sandwiches. On the one hand, some argue that hotdogs, for various reasons,

do not qualify to be considered sandwiches and should only be referred to as hotdogs. On the

other hand, however, others argue that by definition a hot dog is in fact a type of sandwich.

In the words of Journalist Ted berg, one of this view’s main proponents, “‘sandwiches’ is

the general term, it implies you will provide some more general form or variety of sandwiches

than solely one clearly defined type like a hamburger or a French dip or, yes, a hot dog”. Here

Ted directs attention to the many different types of sandwiches and their different appearances

and names suggesting that a hotdog is merely one more of these many examples.

The New York based journalist for USA Today wrote an article titled A hot dog is

definitely a sandwich where he states that the term sandwich is very loose and broad and only

requires a protein source sandwiched in between some form of bread, therefore not only hotdogs

but many other plates are by his definition sandwiches.

Ted implies that by the hotdog being “sandwiched” in between bread it is foolish to

debate that it is, in fact, a sandwich. However, you can sandwich most anything between another

item yet that doesn’t necessarily make it a sandwich.

Ted argues that the term is very loose and includes many other dishes mentioned in the

article however he seems to believe that while the term is broad the lines are clearly defined,
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however I’d argue that they are rather blurry. No matter how you look at it, it’s an opinion-based

argument, there is no actual written rule about it. Ted would argue that the definition is clear, its

protein sandwiched between some type of carbohydrate but then is a Taco a sandwich? A wrap?

How about Lasagna or pita. How about no protein sandwiches? Do they count? My point being

that the definition of sandwich is quite unclear, and the lines are pretty blurry. In sum then, the

issue is whether you think that in its loose definition a hotdog is a sandwich, or you completely

disagree with all his arguments and consider the term to be more restrictive. Therefore, the

discussion is an opinion-based argument every time, based on everyone’s personal definition.

Similar to the discussion between what was first, the chicken or the egg. It depends on what you

define a chicken egg to be, is it an egg layed by the first-born chicken or an egg containing a

chicken no matter what chicken precursor lays it.

However, I do agree on Ted’s take on hotdogs being sandwiches but I personally think it

is very childish of him to defend his opinion by ridiculing anyone who dare to think otherwise.

He states that anyone who is still engaging in the viral debate is “desperate for attention” and

suggests that the discussion feels far too much like an eighth-grade argument. Yet he contradicts

himself by doing the very thing that he criticizes, writing an entire two pages essay on hot dogs

and their sandwich-ness. My own view on the hotdog is pointless, and I agree when Ted states

“Why this is still up for debate is baffling”, it is a nonsensical argument to have.

Though I concede that a hotdog is a sandwich, I still maintain that it’s not a discussion

worth having. However, unlike Ted, it is not because I don’t want my position to be challenged

and think all other opinions are invalid but rather because I know it is an argument solely based

on opinion and has no real value whether you choose to agree or disagree.
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In conclusion, then, as I suggested earlier, Ted can’t have it both ways, the assertion that

it is foolish to debate the sandwich-ness of a hotdog is contradicted by his entire article, the only

point he is able to prove is that he is doing the very thing he critiques in the first paragraph,

attention seeking by defending so extensively his opinion on the matter.

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Works Cited

Berg, Ted. “A Hot Dog Is Definitely a Sandwich.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information
Network, 24 Mar. 2015, https://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/03/a-hot-dog-is-a-sandwich.