sad people end up with less spice than they want

I had a friend, think he was arab. Ate dehydrated chilis at his desk like some people chew gum.

We went to an indian restaurant. He ordered his curry extra spicy, double spicy, with extra dried chilis on the side. Someone else ordered the same thing, normal spicy (which I assume would still be way too spicy for me). When they came, one was yellow, the other was like radioactive orange. Guy takes the dried chilis, dumps them in, stirs it. Takes a bite, and is disappointed immediately. Some comment like "you just can't get spicy food anymore".

Pretty sure the guy's taste buds are just nuked at this point.