i do not drink soda but this is interesting. if the soda water was not carbonated, it may in theory, taste more like liquid syrup which is make the taste hard to swallow for me (sorry for the pun)

I think, and this is a maybe that the carbonation is a componet of soda may camoflauge the "drinking something like syrup" part of the drink.

just a though and i could be wrong

its sweet isn't it?
it's usually countered by the acidic taste of carbon dioxide.
people don't realize that it's sour but it is.

The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.

Anything stale is

Depends on the soda.

Indeed...And so is beer.

wine without alcohol taste like grape juice lol