# Discussion thread for the "Polls only" thread (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 28, 2022, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380 "2022-09-28T11:33:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 129
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/2562 "2023-03-08T19:36:47Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Of the four choices, “Black-cow” comes closest I picked “Black-cow” because that’s the one that comes the closest, but it would probably come out more like “Black-ow”. > [@carnut](#): > > In my local store, the cashier scans them but I bag them. When I worked as a bagger for a while in college, I always got annoyed when the customer tried to “help” bag. Our store had two bagging stations per register, so if a customer was buying a huge cartload of groceries we might have two baggers bagging their order. But if I was the only one at a register sometimes the customer would go over to the other bagging station and start bagging their groceries themselves. And while I was attempting to bag things the way I was trained to, more often than not the customer would just grab items at random and put them in a bag. And I’d be thinking “You’re doing it _wrong_”, but I couldn’t say that because “The customer is always right.” ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/2563 "2023-03-08T21:39:05Z")
I became a bagger in 1974. Back then we actually had to spend a day at the company’s main office training how to bag before being allowed on the front line. They had a room with two fake checkout lanes, complete with register, conveyer belts, and bagging area. There is a technique to it. And, like everything else, you spend 40 hours a week doing something, you get very good at it. mmm ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/2564 "2023-03-08T21:40:24Z")
I’ve never heard of it before, but if I had to read it aloud, I think it would sound like blah-kow. You know, like a really unimpressive cow. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/2565 "2023-03-08T21:41:20Z")
Would you start a ‘how to properly bag groceries’ thread? I’d be curious to hear how the ‘pros’ do it. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/2566 "2023-03-08T21:46:24Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I became a bagger in 1974. Back then we actually had to spend a day at the company’s main office training how to bag before being allowed on the front line. They had a room with two fake checkout lanes, complete with register, conveyer belts, and bagging area. > > There is a technique to it. And, like everything else, you spend 40 hours a week doing something, you get very good at it. > > mmm Oh yeah - I bagged throughout high school. Doing it quickly _and well_ is a real skill set. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/2567 "2023-03-08T21:59:42Z")
Is “grocey bagger” even a job anymore? Every store I go into lately is so short staffed that there’s usually no more than two lanes open, and the cashier scans _and_ bags, usually with the customer’s help. Another reason I prefer the self checkout. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/2568 "2023-03-08T22:03:27Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > Is “grocey bagger” even a job anymore? > Every store I go into lately is so short staffed that there’s usually no more than two lanes open, and the cashier scans _and_ bags, usually with the customer’s help. Our stores (we go to two primarily) almost always have baggers. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/2569 "2023-03-08T22:21:50Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > Is “grocey bagger” even a job anymore? > Every store I go into lately is so short staffed that there’s usually no more than two lanes open, and the cashier scans _and_ bags, usually with the customer’s help. yes, my daughter works as a grocery bagger. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/2570 "2023-03-08T22:22:51Z")
I also wanted an “other” option for gen X vs. Boomers. I think there were a lot of factors, including economics. I don’t think any of the reasons given were significant drivers. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/2571 "2023-03-08T22:23:28Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > When I worked as a bagger for a while in college, I always got annoyed when the customer tried to “help” bag. Actually, at the store I referenced, they had just had a bunch of new baggers hired and so they rounded them up for me to give them a bagging demonstration as the afternoon rush hadn’t appeared yet. When I was done, the manager clapped and said “And that’s how you bag items!” And yes, when eggs come in the formed cardboard carton, you can actually put them on the bottom of the bag. If I were a bagger, I would inform the customer where the eggs were just so they don’t bang that bag around. Putting the egg carton on top can lead to spilled, broken eggs. But it depends on the other groceries packed around the eggs, too. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/2572 "2023-03-08T22:33:15Z")
My usually technique was to put the egg carton in the bottom of the bag, then put soft, lightweight items like bread or potato chips on top. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/2573 "2023-03-08T22:44:06Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > Is “grocey bagger” even a job anymore? At the grocery store where I usually shop, I’ve noticed that, for the most part, the cashiers also sometimes are working as baggers (i.e., the same person who’s my cashier one day, may be bagging, with a different person acting as cashier, the next time I shop there). That said, I’ve also noticed that there are several people who seem to exclusively work as baggers; I cannot be certain, but I strongly suspect that they have some level of developmental disability. There aren’t many of them working there, but all of them have been with the store for years. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/2574 "2023-03-08T23:05:27Z")
When I was hired at Safeway I had to spend a whole week at the regional corporate office getting trained, and at least a whole day was spent on bagging (most of it was spent learning how to work the register and memorizing produce codes; there was literally a test at the end with a fake customer and a cart full of plastic produce and other items). Build a base with cans and other heavy, sturdy items, then get progressively lighter as the bag fills up. I tried to keep it to 6 cans on plastic bags. Management wanted us to do 8, but I knew those thin-ass bags weren’t going to take that, even with gentle handling. 6 cans, then a bag of chips or a loaf of bread, or a variety of smaller items. Always keep food separate from non-food, always bag frozen and refrigerated items together, and always ask if they want their gallon of milk or their 3-pack of tissues or their 2-pack of paper towels or their 6-pack of 16-oz sodas or any other single items that will take up an entire bag if they want it in a bag or not. Sometimes they did, sometimes they didn’t. Building a plastic bag is different than building a paper bag. Paper bags inside plastic bags was a common request. That’s when you really need to adhere to the 6 can base, then get progressively lighter as you go up. 5-lb bags of sugar/flour/etc. on their sides is roughly the same height as a standard can. Eggs get their own plastic bag (or a 12-pack of eggs with a loaf of white bread on top was a common combination), or always go on the very top of a paper bag with other light items in it. A gallon of water weighs 8.3 lbs, and a gallon of whole milk weighs 8.6 lbs. That last one isn’t really useful for checkout purposes, but it’s just one of those things you learn when you spend hours on end in a checkstand. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/2575 "2023-03-08T23:29:26Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > > [@Wheelz](#): > > > > Is “grocey bagger” even a job anymore? > > That said, I’ve also noticed that there are several people who seem to exclusively work as baggers; I cannot be certain, but I strongly suspect that they have some level of developmental disability. There aren’t many of them working there, but all of them have been with the store for years. There used to be a supermarket near us with several longtime baggers, developmentally disabled. Another one near us has maybe two of them. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/2576 "2023-03-09T01:41:42Z")
The Grande Merch (grocery store we shop at in St Martin) has highschool kids bagging who are not paid, they just work for tips. My strategy is to tip big on day one. Then, the kid I tipped watches out for me and bags my stuff, checking closely for problems, like cracked bottles in a case of Carib. I’ve been invited to cock fights also (never attended, but the invitation is cool). ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/2577 "2023-03-09T04:08:56Z")
I have a different problem with the baggers, it seems. My problem is when I get something like aspirin, a dozen eggs and some other stuff. They will put the eggs in one bag, the aspirin in another, and bag the rest however. It drives me nuts. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/2578 "2023-03-09T10:35:03Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > Would you start a ‘how to properly bag groceries’ thread? I’d be curious to hear how the ‘pros’ do it. Bread and eggs on the bottom, canned hams up top. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/2579 "2023-03-09T13:56:45Z")
Only for the lady who holds you personally responsible for Harris Teeter buying Big Star and closing the grocery store two minutes closer to her house. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/2580 "2023-03-09T15:59:03Z")
A white male politician advocating for feminist/minority issues would just be seen as opportunistic and “woke.” ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/2581 "2023-03-09T16:08:56Z")
This happens all the time, doesn’t it? I can’t think of a successful white male Democrat that doesn’t advocate for feminist/minority issues. Sure, the crazies will call everyone sane “woke,” but that doesn’t stop common sense advocacy for important issues. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380.md?page=128) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380.md?page=130)