There's no reason that mashed taters can't be used the same way guacamole is. You could use it as a dip, a topping/condiment, or a main focus of a simple dish.
However, you can't mash potatoes without cooking them, which is a very important difference. They also aren't used in the ways guacamole is. Nor, imo, would they serve the same role as well.
When I visit a steakhouse and they offer 2 sides I have, on more than one occasion, ordered fries and mashed potatoes. It was potato bliss and I will not feel bad about enjoying it.
Not to mention potatoes are tubers and avocados are a fruit. They have no ingredients in common, and the preparation of each only bears a vague similarity to one another (mashing the main ingredient and literally nothing else). If you're putting butter and milk in your guac or onions, tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice, jalapeno and cumin in your mashed potatoes I will call the cops
Okay, I trust that you'll all respect that I'm entering a Judgment Free Zone.
There was a period in my life where I would buy grocery store potato salad and use it as a dip for Cool Ranch Doritos, and it was actually pretty good!
I don't do that anymore, but all I can say is that it's possible. Thank you for respecting my experiences.
Man, I'm in the camp of whatever brings you even a sliver of happiness that doesn't hurt someone else is all good. And food snobbery is dumber than dammit to begin with.
On another level, it really isn't any different than adding in some ranch flavoring into the potato salad and then mixing in something crunchy. Most store bought potato salad is very low crunch, and there's only so many ways to get it in there.
And there is nothing more American than a jalapeño. Because chilies originated here also. Think of all those cultures known for piquant cuisine: India, Thailand, Vietnam, southern China – none of them had that element before 1492.
That makes sense to me. I bet it would be a lot like guac if you added oil and more seasonings. It's not like an avocado really tastes like much of anything by itself.
That's basically what you get in a breakfast burrito or huevos rancheros. Potatoes are pretty neutral so if it matches the rest of the meal, not bad at all. I put hot sauce and salsa on basically everything so it would be fine with me.
Yeah like that list might not be the first things I think of incorporating into mashed potatoes, but also don't think it would be offensive or anything.