# In My Humble Opinion **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=807 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 808 --- ## [Are animals a who or a that?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-animals-a-who-or-a-that/740943)
**Author:** [@HarryTheHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HarryTheHat)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2015, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-animals-a-who-or-a-that/740943 "2015-12-21T13:14:09Z")
My cat is a who but a crocodile is a that. Why? --- ## [Why aren't radicalized US Muslims outed more often by other US Muslims?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-radicalized-us-muslims-outed-more-often-by-other-us-muslims/740787)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2015, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-radicalized-us-muslims-outed-more-often-by-other-us-muslims/740787 "2015-12-21T05:21:48Z")
In the last few attacks by radicalized US Muslims when the backgrounds of the attackers are probed it’s obvious that some of their friends and acquaintances knew, or suspected what they were up to for some time, but kept… --- ## [Tesla S - WOW!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-s-wow/740580)
**Author:** [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2015, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-s-wow/740580 "2015-12-21T03:19:24Z")
I know there is a long thread in GD discussing the possibility of Tesla revolutionizing the industry, however this thread is just to get your opinion on the car itself. I took one for a test drive recently, and I was am… --- ## [Number of technological civilizations in our galaxy/universe?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-technological-civilizations-in-our-galaxy-universe/740746)
**Author:** [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2015, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-technological-civilizations-in-our-galaxy-universe/740746 "2015-12-21T01:32:54Z")
How many technological civilizations do you estimate exist in the Milky Way galaxy? Assume the total includes the Earth. \[Define a “technological civilization” as one which can at least make simple machines a la the le… --- ## [The Windows Support scam - friend hit, need answer fast!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-support-scam-friend-hit-need-answer-fast/740583)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2015, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-support-scam-friend-hit-need-answer-fast/740583 "2015-12-21T01:20:39Z")
An elderly friend has fallen victim to this scam. They remotely connected to her PC somehow - I have no details yet. She’s been scammed out of some money. She’s spoken to the police and they’ve advised her to not use her… --- ## [Preferred Pet Treats](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferred-pet-treats/167510)
**Author:** [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2015, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferred-pet-treats/167510 "2015-12-21T00:31:59Z")
What sort of treats do your pets prefer? Zen, my wolf hybrid, adores a good pig ear. They only last for five or ten minutes, but during that time, he’s in hog heaven (even if the entire hog didn’t make it there). The sm… --- ## [Legality of sort-of-parody merchandise](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-sort-of-parody-merchandise/740784)
**Author:** [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2015, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-sort-of-parody-merchandise/740784 "2015-12-20T20:53:24Z")
I write indie urban fantasy books, in which my main character is a professor in a fictional department (Occult Studies) at a real university (Stanford). I would like to make some swag merchandise to sell, or even just gi… --- ## [What was that heavily advertised telescope in the 70's & 80's called? It was short with a round base](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-that-heavily-advertised-telescope-in-the-70s-80s-called-it-was-short-with-a-round-base/740891)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2015, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-that-heavily-advertised-telescope-in-the-70s-80s-called-it-was-short-with-a-round-base/740891 "2015-12-20T20:22:09Z")
It was in Sharper Image and other popular science oriented magazines. It was quite short and had a bulbous base that I assume rested in some holder. It was advertised all over the place as some kind of breakthrough desi… --- ## [Anyone with diagnosed Low T? Straight Dope Doctors](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-with-diagnosed-low-t-straight-dope-doctors/729067)
**Author:** [@A.James](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.James)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2015, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-with-diagnosed-low-t-straight-dope-doctors/729067 "2015-12-20T18:44:37Z")
This may be a long thread…I’m looking for input / symptoms from others that have suffered from low T or just general input. I want to get it checked due to my libido loss, but the lack of health insurance is a deterrent. … --- ## [Access computer from TV in 2 rooms](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/access-computer-from-tv-in-2-rooms/740901)
**Author:** [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirka_T_Bawa)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/access-computer-from-tv-in-2-rooms/740901 "2015-12-20T17:27:36Z")
I have my computer upstairs, and a TV downstairs. I would like to be able to view video files, movies, and the like on the downstairs TV easily. I’m not worried about games (my upstairs computer has a TV attached via HDM… --- ## [America/US/USA/etc.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-us-usa-etc/740690)
**Author:** [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2015, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-us-usa-etc/740690 "2015-12-20T15:36:20Z")
One for Americans; if a foreigner wanted to ask a question about your country, what would you prefer they refer to it as? So in context, “How do they celebrate Thanksgiving in \[country name\]”, or something like that, wha… --- ## [Do you share personal issues with family if their response is useless?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-share-personal-issues-with-family-if-their-response-is-useless/740763)
**Author:** [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2015, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-share-personal-issues-with-family-if-their-response-is-useless/740763 "2015-12-20T13:31:51Z")
Since two weeks, I’m home from work. Overworked. I don’t feel very stellar. I have told friends, but not my family. Not my dad, mom, brother. Why? Because whenever I told them any problem, or shared a positive milestone… --- ## [Telescopes for the sky-challenged?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/telescopes-for-the-sky-challenged/740771)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2015, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/telescopes-for-the-sky-challenged/740771 "2015-12-20T11:06:07Z")
Phil Plait has published his annual article on telescopes as presents. But for many people telescopes are simply not an option. There’s skyglow in cities and commonly cloud cover in many northern climes. So, are there ot… --- ## [Help me troubleshoot my computer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-troubleshoot-my-computer/740840)
**Author:** [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2015, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-troubleshoot-my-computer/740840 "2015-12-20T08:09:31Z")
So, I’ve got an intermittent failure in my home computer that is really annoying to me, and I’m hoping you can give me some ideas to tease it out. It’s a video out failure, usu, if not always, when I’m starting it from … --- ## [2015 Predictions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-predictions/703718)
**Author:** [@Waymore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waymore)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2015, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-predictions/703718 "2015-12-20T07:29:50Z")
Might seem a bit premature, but here goes. Let’s make predictions of events we believe will transpire in 2015. Then, we can look back on this thread after the year has passed and see who was right. Please try to make th… --- ## [Does gender effect your willingness to give to panhandlers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-gender-effect-your-willingness-to-give-to-panhandlers/740769)
**Author:** [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2015, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-gender-effect-your-willingness-to-give-to-panhandlers/740769 "2015-12-20T06:28:49Z")
Are you more likely to give money to a panhandler depending on their gender? Is age or attractiveness a factor? --- ## [Is it snowy where you are?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-snowy-where-you-are/740736)
**Author:** [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2015, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-snowy-where-you-are/740736 "2015-12-20T03:46:06Z")
I knew that the current El Niño on top of the general warming trend were making for weird late-fall/early winter weather, but I was still surprised to read today that Minneapolis and its surroundings have very little sno… --- ## [Christians, a little help...?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-a-little-help/740626)
**Author:** [@GiJoe007](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GiJoe007)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2015, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-a-little-help/740626 "2015-12-20T03:38:16Z")
This summer, my Grandpa passed away. He wrote a will which bypassed my family entirely, and gave it all to the other side. This effectively split our relation with that side of the family (whom we had been very, very clo… --- ## [Does being asocial make you a bad person?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-asocial-make-you-a-bad-person/740606)
**Author:** [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2015, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-asocial-make-you-a-bad-person/740606 "2015-12-20T03:21:49Z")
According to Wikipedia: “Asociality refers to the lack of motivation to engage in social interaction, or a preference for solitary activities.” If you google “asocial” the definition that comes up is: “avoiding social i… --- ## [The new Star Wars movie](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-star-wars-movie/740857)
**Author:** [@stosh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stosh)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2015, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-star-wars-movie/740857 "2015-12-20T02:53:05Z")
I’m glad this movie is finally out. It may be a very good movie, but I am sick and tired of everybody who is selling anything mentioning it. It seems like every fast food joint and every company that has a product is me… --- ## [Have you ever had to deal with this? \[client materials stolen at office\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-to-deal-with-this-client-materials-stolen-at-office/740506)
**Author:** [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2015, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-to-deal-with-this-client-materials-stolen-at-office/740506 "2015-12-20T02:32:59Z")
I work for a moving company. We also warehouse for several national logistics companies. As part of my job, I am the foreman for all commercial jobs that require a crew for delivery of goods as well as filling in for/as… --- ## [Tracing the shahada](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracing-the-shahada/740790)
**Author:** [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2015, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracing-the-shahada/740790 "2015-12-20T01:53:26Z")
Dunno if you’ve heard this story, which has actually shut a school district in Virginia - the long and short of it is that during a geography lessons in high school one of the assignments was to trace the shahada written… --- ## [Any fans or collectors of Fiesta Dinnerware (aka- "Fiestaware")?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-fans-or-collectors-of-fiesta-dinnerware-aka-fiestaware/740768)
**Author:** [@Beelzebubba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beelzebubba)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2015, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-fans-or-collectors-of-fiesta-dinnerware-aka-fiestaware/740768 "2015-12-19T19:39:57Z")
As popular as the Fiesta is today, I figured there must be some other Straight Dopers who are also fans and/or collectors. For anyone who isn’t familiar with Fiesta Dinnerware (colloquially referred to as “Fiestaware” b… --- ## [Help me figure out this odd encounter w/woman & baby.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-figure-out-this-odd-encounter-w-woman-baby/739180)
**Author:** [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Replies:** 85\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2015, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-figure-out-this-odd-encounter-w-woman-baby/739180 "2015-12-19T19:33:56Z")
This thing’s been nagging at me for the past week, and I don’t exactly know why. Last Monday I was sitting on a little park bench near the Roosevelt Island Tram here in NYC, checking my email on a drizzly day. I was in… --- ## [You've Got the Wrong Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-the-wrong-number/740714)
**Author:** [@jayrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayrey)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2015, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-the-wrong-number/740714 "2015-12-19T12:28:25Z")
Lately, I’ve been getting messages on my cellphone voice mail from a collection agency asking for someone who is not me. Should I call them back and tell them they have the wrong number? Would they even believe me? I … --- ## [On the whole, how racist is the US?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-whole-how-racist-is-the-us/738921)
**Author:** [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Replies:** 115\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2015, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-whole-how-racist-is-the-us/738921 "2015-12-19T10:08:00Z")
Taken as a whole, how racist is American society? Some points: For the purposes of this thread, let’s limit the discussion to racism against people of color. (I have no idea if that term is still current, but for th… --- ## [Plantar Fasciitis: Solutions other than night splint / boot?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plantar-fasciitis-solutions-other-than-night-splint-boot/640821)
**Author:** [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2015, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plantar-fasciitis-solutions-other-than-night-splint-boot/640821 "2015-12-19T06:44:40Z")
I’ve had plantar fasciitis in varying degrees of severity for a year now, usually just stretching and bearing it. I’d like to finally get rid of it once and for all, so I bought a night splint. It is woefully uncomforta… --- ## [Cars as Houses? Why Not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-as-houses-why-not/740682)
**Author:** [@botsgotme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/botsgotme)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2015, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-as-houses-why-not/740682 "2015-12-19T02:50:34Z")
Why not buy a car with the intention of keeping it for 30-50 years? When you buy a house, you fully expect that it will last a long time-the house we live in is 93 years old. Instead of throwing away cars every 5-10 year… --- ## [Pathways in the brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pathways-in-the-brain/740704)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2015, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pathways-in-the-brain/740704 "2015-12-19T01:41:12Z")
I don’t know enough about this to even phrase the question properly but I will do my best. When we talk about pathways in the brain that I guess electrical and chemical componets travel on I assume many of these pathway… --- ## [Know any "late in life" gays or lesbians?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/know-any-late-in-life-gays-or-lesbians/739677)
**Author:** [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2015, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/know-any-late-in-life-gays-or-lesbians/739677 "2015-12-19T00:43:24Z")
Do you know any (or are you one yourself) gay or lesbian people who switched their sexual orientation late in life? I’m not referring to closeted people who never had a chance at same-sex encounters until late in life. … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=806) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=808)