# In My Humble Opinion **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=107 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 108 --- ## [Are Most Flat Earthers Trolls?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-most-flat-earthers-trolls/997011)
**Author:** [@Guapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guapo)\ **Replies:** 226\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2024, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-most-flat-earthers-trolls/997011 "2024-02-13T02:15:57Z")
I have been getting lots of flat earth posts in my FB feed lately. It is all so crazy. I know a few people believe it, but is it mostly trolling like the Birds Aren’t Real folks? If not, god help us --- ## [Do Insurance Companies Commonly Sue to Recover Damages?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-insurance-companies-commonly-sue-to-recover-damages/995827)
**Author:** [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 12, 2024, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-insurance-companies-commonly-sue-to-recover-damages/995827 "2024-02-12T21:44:45Z")
…from insured individuals? Over a year after my auto accident, I received a check from my insurance company refunding my deductible. There was no question of the other driver’s fault, but she didn’t seem well-off and … --- ## [If Texas and California both seceded, how long would the USA survive?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-texas-and-california-both-seceded-how-long-would-the-usa-survive/997267)
**Author:** [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [February 12, 2024, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-texas-and-california-both-seceded-how-long-would-the-usa-survive/997267 "2024-02-12T21:07:22Z")
I don’t see it happening, at least in what’s left of my life \[narrator: which isn’t much\], but assuming arguendo that they both vamoosed, how long would it be before other states started edging, nay, stampeding toward t… --- ## [Do apps really need to update so often? I call BS](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-apps-really-need-to-update-so-often-i-call-bs/996980)
**Author:** [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [February 11, 2024, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-apps-really-need-to-update-so-often-i-call-bs/996980 "2024-02-11T19:12:07Z")
After installing an IOS update, I discovered that Apple took the liberty of changing my settings to allow apps to update automatically. Not only did this cause a couple of apps to become useless to me because of changes … --- ## [Appliance for watching television while using treadmill?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appliance-for-watching-television-while-using-treadmill/997408)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 11, 2024, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appliance-for-watching-television-while-using-treadmill/997408 "2024-02-11T19:07:17Z")
Could you recommend a choice or guide my thinking on buying some device for watching television while I use the treadmill? I’m thinking something in the iPad size range to rest on the “dashboard” of the treadmill. I thi… --- ## [Beach-Compatible Tablet and Keyboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beach-compatible-tablet-and-keyboard/997409)
**Author:** [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [February 11, 2024, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beach-compatible-tablet-and-keyboard/997409 "2024-02-11T13:37:34Z")
Hi folks - My sole computer is a MS Surface Pro with the TypePad cover. We’re pretty inseparable both at home and out in many public venues like parks, restaurants, or libraries. I really like the thing and enjoy intern… --- ## [Enhanced Games (aka no drug testing for competing athletes)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enhanced-games-aka-no-drug-testing-for-competing-athletes/997377)
**Author:** [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 11, 2024, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enhanced-games-aka-no-drug-testing-for-competing-athletes/997377 "2024-02-11T09:25:17Z")
Today I learned about a thing called Enhanced Games. I can’t post a link because I’m on my tablet as my laptop is fuckeded. But have a google…essentially the athletes can take any ‘enhancements’ they want, with no penalt… --- ## [What else don't we know - mysterious objects](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-else-dont-we-know-mysterious-objects/996570)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 121\ **Last updated:** [February 11, 2024, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-else-dont-we-know-mysterious-objects/996570 "2024-02-11T06:41:39Z")
The bronze Roman dodecahedron has famously puzzled everyone as to it’s purpose - even historical experts. What other items do we have from the past that we can’t confidently identify the utility of and that it’s purpose… --- ## [Gabapentin -- what was your experience?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gabapentin-what-was-your-experience/997375)
**Author:** [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2024, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gabapentin-what-was-your-experience/997375 "2024-02-10T23:41:58Z")
I’m currently dealing with a neurological issue for which injections have so far failed, and have discussed with the doctor the possibility of trying gabapentin (Neurontin) as a second form of treatment before the last s… --- ## [Investing in CDs for the newbie. Barclays?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/investing-in-cds-for-the-newbie-barclays/997099)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2024, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/investing-in-cds-for-the-newbie-barclays/997099 "2024-02-10T17:33:48Z")
CD interest rates are so much higher then savings accounts right now. I have never bought any CDs before. I have been reading guides to get started. It looks like online CDs are the way to go. I am looking at Barclays 12… --- ## [How much do you owe a long-estranged parent? (kind of long)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-owe-a-long-estranged-parent-kind-of-long/997315)
**Author:** [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2024, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-owe-a-long-estranged-parent-kind-of-long/997315 "2024-02-10T17:22:56Z")
How much is owed to a long-estranged parent? Asking for a friend. (Yes, truly. Both my parents, and my husband’s, have been dead for a long time.) The situation: my friend has been contacted by her brother, asking – al… --- ## [When a police officer asks “are you carrying?”](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-police-officer-asks-are-you-carrying/983148)
**Author:** [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2024, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-police-officer-asks-are-you-carrying/983148 "2024-02-10T15:29:13Z")
I was in South Carolina recently and got into a minor car accident. After we both pulled over and confirmed no injuries, the other guy (who is a local resident) called the police to come to file the police report. I wa… --- ## [For those that still think they can talk their way out of it with police](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-that-still-think-they-can-talk-their-way-out-of-it-with-police/997122)
**Author:** [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2024, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-that-still-think-they-can-talk-their-way-out-of-it-with-police/997122 "2024-02-10T15:22:29Z")
LAWYER EXPLAINS: 12 Lies the Police Love to Use Remember- the police can & will lie to you. There are a few limits in some regions. --- ## [What is meant by "a pick-me girl."?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-a-pick-me-girl/997230)
**Author:** [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2024, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-a-pick-me-girl/997230 "2024-02-10T04:27:09Z")
I saw a Reddit thread wherein folks were complaining that the phrase “pick-me girl” was being overused and applied to too many stereotypes. But nowhere did they really describe what it’s supposed to mean, or originally … --- ## [Officers sidearms](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officers-sidearms/997200)
**Author:** [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [February 9, 2024, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officers-sidearms/997200 "2024-02-09T22:19:10Z")
Why in the year 2024 do military forces, the whole world over, issue their officers pistols? Rifles are effective at much greater distances, after all. --- ## [Think I may have bought someone's sentimental family photos by mistake](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-i-may-have-bought-someones-sentimental-family-photos-by-mistake/997112)
**Author:** [@LivingGhost371](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LivingGhost371)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [February 9, 2024, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-i-may-have-bought-someones-sentimental-family-photos-by-mistake/997112 "2024-02-09T21:06:37Z")
Saturday I was at an estate sale this weekend, strewn around the basement and in a couple of open storage totes were a bunch of photo boxes, picture frames, photo albums, rolls of 8mm film, etc. None of this stuff had pr… --- ## [Ramifications of the Apollo 1 fire in orbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ramifications-of-the-apollo-1-fire-in-orbit/997265)
**Author:** [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 9, 2024, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ramifications-of-the-apollo-1-fire-in-orbit/997265 "2024-02-09T16:03:42Z")
Most of know the tragedy of the Apollo 1 fire at the launch complex on January 27, 1967. My question is this: if Apollo 1 had launched on schedule on February 21, 1967, with the fire occurring in space how long a postp… --- ## [Best Florida Beaches?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-florida-beaches/993963)
**Author:** [@LivingGhost371](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LivingGhost371)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [February 9, 2024, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-florida-beaches/993963 "2024-02-09T01:25:01Z")
Looking to get back to Florida after a hiatus in traveling. Formerly we had family down there in the Stuart area, but they’ve since moved so we’re on our own. Looking for a nice beach to visit, as close as possible to th… --- ## [If California Seceded How Far Up Shit Creek Would They Be](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-california-seceded-how-far-up-shit-creek-would-they-be/997167)
**Author:** [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [February 9, 2024, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-california-seceded-how-far-up-shit-creek-would-they-be/997167 "2024-02-09T00:50:13Z")
As a sister thread to If Texas Seceded How Far Up Shit Creek Would They Be I don’t know if there’s been an uptick in the actual interest trying to make it happen, or just a marked increase in articles in my newsfeed. C… --- ## [What will be the results of Allen Weisselberg's perjury](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-results-of-allen-weisselbergs-perjury/997241)
**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2024, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-results-of-allen-weisselbergs-perjury/997241 "2024-02-08T23:57:21Z")
So judge Arthur Engoron is understandably pissed Allen Weisslberg admitted to lying in his case as part of a separate plea deal: So what will the upshot of this be? I mean AFAIK Trump is already losing this trial abou… --- ## [Electronically measuring drag on an arrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronically-measuring-drag-on-an-arrow/997082)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2024, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronically-measuring-drag-on-an-arrow/997082 "2024-02-08T20:35:38Z")
I am not sure if this would work but if it did work it would be of some value. In archery flight shooting our goal is to build an arrow with the minimum drag. I have always wanted a way to measure this objectively. so I … --- ## [What are these red and white lines on Google Maps](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-and-white-lines-on-google-maps/997211)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2024, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-and-white-lines-on-google-maps/997211 "2024-02-08T18:24:53Z")
I googled it, but none of the answers given (that I read) seemed to fit. ETA: Closer view --- ## [Meaning of “review bombing”](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-review-bombing/997100)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2024, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-review-bombing/997100 "2024-02-08T18:11:04Z")
Wondering if the teeming hoards can weigh in on this… “Review bombing” is, to my understanding, or possibly misunderstanding, some number of individuals post negative reviews of a creative work having not even actually … --- ## [What would Jews do/think if the Messiah criteria were fulfilled by different people?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-jews-do-think-if-the-messiah-criteria-were-fulfilled-by-different-people/997042)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 105\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2024, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-jews-do-think-if-the-messiah-criteria-were-fulfilled-by-different-people/997042 "2024-02-08T10:17:49Z")
I am not a Jew, and I have only the very vaguest notion of Jewish theology. But from what I’ve read, they expect that the Messiah will fulfill all of the following 4 criteria (and even more) in one lifetime. (They do not… --- ## [Why Aren't People Working? (Personal anecdotes only)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-people-working-personal-anecdotes-only/995662)
**Author:** [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Replies:** 612\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2024, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-people-working-personal-anecdotes-only/995662 "2024-02-07T20:25:56Z")
I see headlines about massive job growth, but when waiting in line at various establishments I still hear grumbling about “people don’t want to work anymore.” Last month I was at Goodwill in the middle of a weekday and t… --- ## [What is it like to work as an engineer (environmental, civil, mechanical, not so much software/electrical)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-work-as-an-engineer-environmental-civil-mechanical-not-so-much-software-electrical/996640)
**Author:** [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2024, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-work-as-an-engineer-environmental-civil-mechanical-not-so-much-software-electrical/996640 "2024-02-07T19:30:35Z")
Is anyone here an engineer of the real-world kind? Like building devices, vehicles, roads, dams, etc., as opposed to circuits and software? Can you share a bit of what your day-to-day’s like, what kind of projects you ty… --- ## [Guess the Chinglish translation for this toy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-the-chinglish-translation-for-this-toy/997202)
**Author:** [@Oswald\_Bastable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oswald_Bastable)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2024, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-the-chinglish-translation-for-this-toy/997202 "2024-02-07T15:43:57Z")
My daughter received this toy as a gift. It’s a craft toy where you push little bits of material through slits in the dresses of cardboard cut out dolls to give a 3D effect. It’s called ‘DIY Versatile Facelift’. Can anyo… --- ## [Has anyone gotten an invite to BlueSky? (Open to all now, invites no longer required)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-gotten-an-invite-to-bluesky-open-to-all-now-invites-no-longer-required/992043)
**Author:** [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2024, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-gotten-an-invite-to-bluesky-open-to-all-now-invites-no-longer-required/992043 "2024-02-07T01:18:21Z")
These things seem to be rarer than Faberge eggs. Anyone gotten in yet? (BlueSky is a Twitter/X alternative. I don’t really know what it offers that’s better than the alternative, but it’s not associated with Musk, so th… --- ## [Why did someone put kalonji seeds in my luggage?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-someone-put-kalonji-seeds-in-my-luggage/996940)
**Author:** [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2024, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-someone-put-kalonji-seeds-in-my-luggage/996940 "2024-02-06T23:40:00Z")
I traveled to Nepal this week, and for some reason my suitcase took a detour through Manila and Seoul. When I finally retrieved it yesterday and unpacked, I found two packages of kalonji seeds in my bag. They were all th… --- ## [Chest/Ribs and a Fall. Thoughts?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-ribs-and-a-fall-thoughts/997144)
**Author:** [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2024, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-ribs-and-a-fall-thoughts/997144 "2024-02-06T19:07:16Z")
I’m struggling with the best title. A week ago I fell on some ice while I was taking out the barrels for trash day. The barrel went on its side and I landed on it, with the corner of it hitting me in (or me hitting it) … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=106) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=108)