MetaJess

this sounds like a degenerative sensory condition

No it’s more like wine, olives and bitter chocolate

I find myself liking milder versions of things I like over time

Interesting - what’s the mechanism do you think? My experience would point to: once you “get” what’s good about a thing you can detect it when it’s in smaller quantities ...

I'm thinking more of food/drink we consume for taste rather than stimulant/depressing effects I guess. So even though sensitivity to spice goes down with age, you want less of it too... milder. Though some people get on an increasing-chilli endorphin addiction kick.

But I'm not that sensitive/sophisticated/cultivated in my approach to taste to talk of detecting it in smaller quantities... I think I just don't like intense experiences, and like them less with every passing year

As I get older I am able to avoid almost all unpleasant experiences but I worry that I also lose some kind of edge of flexibility if I do

ah I don't worry because I've already lost it