# In My Humble Opinion **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=439 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 440 --- ## [Are nouns “illusory”?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-nouns-illusory/826028)
**Author:** [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2018, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-nouns-illusory/826028 "2018-12-13T19:16:40Z")
It came up in a discussion. The point being made is that since things are changing all the time that it’s not right to use nouns to refer to then as some kind of fixed and permanent things but to use action verbs to do s… --- ## [Generic gift for woman](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generic-gift-for-woman/826024)
**Author:** [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2018, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generic-gift-for-woman/826024 "2018-12-13T16:03:17Z")
I need advice on a gift. Not to bore you with endless backstory, but this is a former co-worker (6 yrs) who did me a huge favor getting me on with a great job where she works now. We don’t have much relationship at al… --- ## [Do you share the SDMB to Social Media?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-share-the-sdmb-to-social-media/825711)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2018, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-share-the-sdmb-to-social-media/825711 "2018-12-13T15:15:29Z")
Poll incoming. --- ## [When did everything start staying open for Christmas?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-everything-start-staying-open-for-christmas/825842)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2018, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-everything-start-staying-open-for-christmas/825842 "2018-12-13T14:47:48Z")
Does anyone else remember when literally everything was closed on Christmas, even gas stations? If somehow you were out of luck and had to cancel Christmas dinner plans you wound up having to drive 20 miles to find the n… --- ## [Need gift suggestions for a college bound kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-gift-suggestions-for-a-college-bound-kid/825915)
**Author:** [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2018, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-gift-suggestions-for-a-college-bound-kid/825915 "2018-12-13T07:40:27Z")
Girl 2.0 is having first world problems. Christmas is approaching, followed quickly by her 18th birthday and high school graduation. 90% of the people who might fete her with gifts are perfectly normal\*, and will give he… --- ## [babysitting ad ..is it unreasonable?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babysitting-ad-is-it-unreasonable/825876)
**Author:** [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2018, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babysitting-ad-is-it-unreasonable/825876 "2018-12-13T06:27:39Z")
heres the story --- ## [Do I have to shred these leftover checks?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-to-shred-these-leftover-checks/825869)
**Author:** [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2018, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-to-shred-these-leftover-checks/825869 "2018-12-13T04:45:29Z")
When I switched from the nameless evil megabank to the friendly credit union, perhaps 3-4 years ago, I was left with 6 books of unused checks (about 180 checks plus deposit slips). I said to myself “Oh, I should dispose … --- ## [Heart versus thumb buttons on Facebook](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-versus-thumb-buttons-on-facebook/825958)
**Author:** [@Steve\_McQwark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_McQwark)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2018, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-versus-thumb-buttons-on-facebook/825958 "2018-12-13T04:11:44Z")
A question for people who use Facebook: How do you differentiate your use of the like and love buttons? I tend to associate the heart with the poster, so I only use it for pictures of family members - nieces, nephews, ch… --- ## [Would you want to receive flowers from a dead person?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-receive-flowers-from-a-dead-person/825986)
**Author:** [@Newtosite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtosite)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2018, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-receive-flowers-from-a-dead-person/825986 "2018-12-13T03:23:26Z")
A friend who lives out of the country wants to give roses to a friend whose daughter just passed away. She wants me to deliver them anonymously to the grieving father’s house with a note (that I’ll write) that says “De… --- ## [Do you know the Apostle's Creed from memory?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-the-apostles-creed-from-memory/825649)
**Author:** [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Replies:** 142\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2018, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-the-apostles-creed-from-memory/825649 "2018-12-13T03:23:03Z")
A poll inspired by some of the recent threads about George Bush’s funeral, at which it was recited. As an atheist, I haven’t been to a church service since I was a teenager, and the only services I ever went to were at … --- ## [Will the human race someday have ovens that warp time to make everything cook instantly?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-human-race-someday-have-ovens-that-warp-time-to-make-everything-cook-instantly/825867)
**Author:** [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2018, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-human-race-someday-have-ovens-that-warp-time-to-make-everything-cook-instantly/825867 "2018-12-13T03:20:46Z")
Do you think that someday humanity will be so technologically advanced that the average home will have cooking appliances that warp time? In other words, time will move faster in the appliance so that everything cooks i… --- ## [Non-violent resistance to armed robbery; how likely to result in death/maiming?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-violent-resistance-to-armed-robbery-how-likely-to-result-in-death-maiming/825972)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2018, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-violent-resistance-to-armed-robbery-how-likely-to-result-in-death-maiming/825972 "2018-12-13T01:17:01Z")
Suppose you are a clerk in a 7-11, or a teller in a bank, or just walking down an alley when a robber appears in front of you, brandishing a knife or gun and demands that you hand over the $$$$. Now, suppose that you re… --- ## [With current technology, could we build a space probe that would catch up to one of the Voyagers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-current-technology-could-we-build-a-space-probe-that-would-catch-up-to-one-of-the-voyagers/825905)
**Author:** [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2018, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-current-technology-could-we-build-a-space-probe-that-would-catch-up-to-one-of-the-voyagers/825905 "2018-12-12T23:02:38Z")
If so, how long would it take? --- ## [New Laptop for engineering student under $700](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-laptop-for-engineering-student-under-700/826005)
**Author:** [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2018, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-laptop-for-engineering-student-under-700/826005 "2018-12-12T21:43:04Z")
My son’s laptop is crapped out and he is an engineering student. We were looking at Dell’s and they were about $740 without extended warranties, which for a college student would be helpful. What are some other brands o… --- ## [What will the first person on Mars say?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-first-person-on-mars-say/822938)
**Author:** [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Replies:** 108\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2018, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-first-person-on-mars-say/822938 "2018-12-12T21:01:28Z")
The movie First Man reminded me of a sci fi story I had read long ago that had a line about how saying “That’s one small step for man…” became the traditional thing to say when going to a new planet for the first time, w… --- ## [Eye surgery jokes / music needed!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-surgery-jokes-music-needed/825231)
**Author:** [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2018, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-surgery-jokes-music-needed/825231 "2018-12-12T18:56:58Z")
Going in for cataract surgery a week from tomorrow, finally!! (now-fired doc kept putting it off for no good reason, finally went to someone else). And as always when I’m terrified, I like to have a few topical jokes ha… --- ## [Question for anyone in Virginia who works on defense contracts (CAC question)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-anyone-in-virginia-who-works-on-defense-contracts-cac-question/825910)
**Author:** [@JcWoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JcWoman)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2018, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-anyone-in-virginia-who-works-on-defense-contracts-cac-question/825910 "2018-12-12T17:40:53Z")
Anybody here located in northern Virginia and has a CAC? I have a question about CAC renewal. --- ## [Regular shooters/military folk/hunters: ricochet sound?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regular-shooters-military-folk-hunters-ricochet-sound/825830)
**Author:** [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2018, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regular-shooters-military-folk-hunters-ricochet-sound/825830 "2018-12-12T13:50:11Z")
I know the “ricochet sound” in old Westerns is silly, but have you ever heard a round ricochet in real life? What does it sound like? --- ## [Taxes on babysitter payments](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-on-babysitter-payments/825853)
**Author:** [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2018, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-on-babysitter-payments/825853 "2018-12-12T10:13:50Z")
I have a cousin (in the US) who has been paying a friend to babysit fairly frequently. This has apparently involved a lot of hours and he has paid her about $15,000 this year. She has asked him if he would refrain from … --- ## [Do you own a can opener?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-can-opener/825639)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 85\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2018, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-can-opener/825639 "2018-12-12T06:04:54Z")
Inspired by Yet another victim of the millennial generation: canned tuna --- ## [The shock of finding things that never existed...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shock-of-finding-things-that-never-existed/825777)
**Author:** [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2018, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shock-of-finding-things-that-never-existed/825777 "2018-12-12T05:14:53Z")
Science and archaeology are constantly finding or proving the existence of things that were thought to be non-existent. But what about things that you were told never existed or if they did (e.g. films) have been lost/de… --- ## [Which of the following best describes the Confederate cause?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-following-best-describes-the-confederate-cause/825374)
**Author:** [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Replies:** 269\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2018, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-following-best-describes-the-confederate-cause/825374 "2018-12-11T23:34:21Z")
I’ll spoiler why I am posting this thread so that you can vote first. NOTE: I screwed up the poll. Options 1 and 2 are meant to be two sentences for the same option. If that’s the statement you agree with, please vote f… --- ## [Alternating quickly between feeling hot and feeling cold](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternating-quickly-between-feeling-hot-and-feeling-cold/825837)
**Author:** [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2018, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternating-quickly-between-feeling-hot-and-feeling-cold/825837 "2018-12-11T21:10:04Z")
I suffered a very slight concussion two weeks ago, had very slight headaches which seemed to be easing until today. I stopped taking my daily aspirin. I am 69 years old. Meanwhile, the weather here suddenly changed fr… --- ## [Need suggestions for disposing of cremains](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-disposing-of-cremains/825805)
**Author:** [@Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Licentious_Ectomorph)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2018, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-disposing-of-cremains/825805 "2018-12-11T20:41:57Z")
About 10-12 years ago both of my brothers died, within a year or two of each other (one suicide, one cancer). My parents kept their ashes in urns in their house. Fast forward several years, and my mother died, so my fath… --- ## [Time Magazine 2018 Person of the Year](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-magazine-2018-person-of-the-year/822586)
**Author:** [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2018, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-magazine-2018-person-of-the-year/822586 "2018-12-11T20:38:41Z")
Instead of my usual Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year thread (I still think it’s going to be Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant - they’re not going to let three Warriors NBA titles go unrewarded), I’ll start one for t… --- ## [A skilled swordsman with a Samurai sword vs a charging Kodiak Bear...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-skilled-swordsman-with-a-samurai-sword-vs-a-charging-kodiak-bear/387345)
**Author:** [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Replies:** 109\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2018, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-skilled-swordsman-with-a-samurai-sword-vs-a-charging-kodiak-bear/387345 "2018-12-11T16:29:57Z")
Og I hate these (vs) threads, but I was watching a documentary about the samurai sword and it’s efficacy on the battle field, and they liken the sword to having “no mortal foe” on the battle field. (All guns aside of co… --- ## [How to become a freelance online journalist?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-become-a-freelance-online-journalist/620474)
**Author:** [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-become-a-freelance-online-journalist/620474 "2012-05-04T17:34:45Z")
I have been writing leangthy articles as forum topics on some forums, but is there anything better? --- ## [Anybody Suffering with TN? (Trigeminal Neuralgia) Also HFS (Hemifacial Spasm).](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-suffering-with-tn-trigeminal-neuralgia-also-hfs-hemifacial-spasm/784705)
**Author:** [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2018, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-suffering-with-tn-trigeminal-neuralgia-also-hfs-hemifacial-spasm/784705 "2018-12-11T15:26:49Z")
This thread’s subtitle can be: It’s hard to find data on treatments and their outcomes. WHY??!! Grrr… Why is it, if one has a disease and needs to find which surgeons have performed a specific surgery, nailed right down… --- ## [Side effects from different batches of cannibus](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-effects-from-different-batches-of-cannibus/825922)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2018, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-effects-from-different-batches-of-cannibus/825922 "2018-12-11T03:02:21Z")
My experience here might be somewhat unique because most people I know go through a batch so quickly that they would never make a connection between a side effect and the pot. In my case I use very small amounts on a reg… --- ## [Irish people abroad](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-people-abroad/824812)
**Author:** [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2018, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-people-abroad/824812 "2018-12-10T23:41:40Z")
My wife brought this issue up that generalizes about Irish people and my attitude is always “anecdotes aren’t data,” but I was curious enough about this issue to seek some input from this board. My wife is an artist and… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=438) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=440)