Bender's Sense of Smell and Taste

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Bender shouldn't be able to taste (My three sons: Leela 'But your a robot, you don't even have a sense of taste') and smell (Bender gets Made: Cop: 'Keep your nose clean' Bender: 'That'll be easy, i don't wear the damned thing!) but yet on many occasions he can smell and taste. Discuss.

[#1 :]

Comedy.  Non-realistic science fiction cartoon.

[#2 :]

I know there are times when he does smell and taste stuff but I can't think of any examples of the top of my head, deas anyone else know any?

[#3 :]

Taste: Fry + the slurm factory, tastes slurm at the end
Smell: Leela's homeworld, smells the sewer gas

[#4 :]

from the dvd commentaries, they originally couldn't decide if they wanted bender to have a sense of taste; they eventually decided that they did not want him to have one (it would be funnier to have a chef without a sense of taste), but it isn't a hard rule.

Taste and smell might be related with meatbags, but they don't have to be with robots.  I don't remember bender ever saying he couldn't smell anything; there are tons of examples when it was implied that he could smell stuff.  Maybe he inhales air in his mouth to smell?

In anthology of interest 2, Bender said, "Why didn't you guys ever tell me tasting things tasted so good?" (when a human).  There are plenty of examples where he can't taste stuff AND where he can taste stuff, though.  Just one of the things that is kinda annoying with one of the most consistant shows out there, I guess.

[#5 :]

He sniffs the Popplers (without his nose on) at the beginning of "The Problem With Popplers," and comments on how the Sterno Nicoise is really good in "Bender Gets Made." All I can think of off the top of my head.

[#6 :]

This applies here, too

 

Originally posted by BrainSluggo in that other thread:
BUT WHY GET TECHNICAL? Most of the science in "Futurama" is bullpoop; it's supposed to be. It's funny.

[#7 :]

If everyone took that attitude, then you can scrap 90% of the threads here and in Re-check.

[#8 :]

My theory: Bender can't taste or smell things the way humans can. But he can, however, analyze the components of flavours and odours, and then compare the results of the analysis with a databank. Thus he can determine in what way a human would respond to a scent or flavour. Similar approach with robot food and beverages.

His response to Slurm could have been to the chemical energy that drink packed, same thing with the Sterno-something at Elzars in "Bender Gets Made" (perhaps it was a high quality, very pure Sterno-something).

The Popplers sniffing, that could just as easily be Bender trying to "sell" the big bag of rocks he just picked up (no need to let a bag of perfectly good rocks go to waste  ).

[#9 :]

 

Originally posted by Chump:
If everyone took that attitude, then you can scrap 90% of the threads here and in Re-check.

Your point?

[#10 :]

I prefer not too analyze too much when it comes to sci-fi. It just is!

[#11 :]

he has smell and taste SENSORS. unlike actual senses, nothing really tastes or smells particuarlly attractive or repulsive. when he turns human, tasty stuff tastes good. he can smell gas, wouldnt mind living in an aparment that smells like a sewer, or serving food with ridiculous amounts of salt. the nose he was talking about wearing is for cosmetic purposes, and leelas 'But your a robot, you don't even have a sense of taste' is pretty much accurate, following the rules i just put up. ha, stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

[#12 :]

Sorry, don't have a pipe and smoking's bad for you 

[#13 :]

Maybe when Leela said "Bender doesn't have a sense of taste" she meant Bender doesn't have a HUMAN sense of taste.

And about his nose... what's the problem? He also hasn't ears, and he can hear.

[#14 :]

Yeah, I agree with you.

[#15 :]

Maybe Bender just has a strong sense for sweet stuff. For instance, he sucked at cooking for the PE crew because it had lethal doses of salt. Like Tendou Akane from Ranma 1/2, Bender's very inept in cooking most kinds of food. However, Bender managed to bake a cake for Nibbler in no time quick. (Maybe Nibbler just has a very strong stomach.)

I think he has something like a gas chromatograph (machine that detects chemicals in the air that trigger smell and taste). Only human noses are more accurate.

[#16 :]

Does Bender have a tounge?  I've never seen Bender show his tounge!

[#17 :]

 

Originally posted by meisterPOOP:
Does Bender have a tounge?  I've never seen Bender show his tounge!

I think he had one installed just so he could stick it out at people.

[#18 :]

 

Originally posted by Oni Zyxer:
He has smell and taste SENSORS.

Plus, as Teral wrote, I'm assuming Bendy can only "smell" and "taste" according to his programming. Were he actually programmed to be a chef, he might have more refined senses. But the cheap-ass won't spring for the upgrade.

 

Originally posted by BrainSluggo in that other thread:
BUT WHY GET TECHNICAL? Most of the science in "Futurama" is bullpoop; it's supposed to be. It's funny.

...okay, Chump don't like dat. Howzthis?

"Nothing is bullpoop! Not if you can imagine it!!"

[#19 :]

Which was said directly after nearly being killed by being wanged on the head twice.

[#20 :]

Bender once raved about how delicious some food Elzar cooked for him was. Fry didn't wanna taste it, but Bender jammed some 800 degree  material in his mouth, and after the screaming ended, Fry agreed it WAS good.