# 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:** 154
**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 29, 2023, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3062 "2023-03-29T12:41:48Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I loved Santa as a kid, but wasn’t too sad when I figured out the truth. And the truth is. . . ? There are people I know who believe in Santa, and there are people I know who believe in god. I think the Santa believers have more facts/evidence supporting their belief. That your parents helped Santa out doesn’t mean Santa doesn’t exist. ---
**Author:** ![TruePisces](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/truepisces/32/13628_2.png) [@TruePisces](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruePisces)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2023, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3063 "2023-03-29T12:43:36Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > That your parents helped Santa out doesn’t mean Santa doesn’t exist. I love that outlook. I’m a firm believer that Santa exists and doesn’t just show up in December. But maybe I’m just an optimist. ---
**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 29, 2023, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3064 "2023-03-29T12:47:58Z")
My take as a child, which i guess i still believe, is that Santa exists. Santa is an aspect of your parents. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.E](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.e/32/8932_2.png) [@Mr.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.E)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2023, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3065 "2023-03-29T13:13:52Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Snap… I thought the Gold crews and Blue crews got to take several months off each time… They do! but if you’re a non-useful body AKA NUB there’s no rest for you, you either get pawned off onto another boat going out to sea or you sit in the office all day studying tech manuals and begging for checkouts from the qualified folks hanging around. And like @SCAdian said, guys in the shipyard get a similar deal, but unlike offcrew there’s no shortage of work for unqualified folks to do in the yards. ---
**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 29, 2023, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3066 "2023-03-29T13:28:46Z")
Why on earth would anyone smack a racoon with a rolled up newspaper? What could this possibly achieve? Why? Why? _Why?_ ---
**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 29, 2023, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3067 "2023-03-29T13:49:41Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > Why on earth would anyone smack a racoon with a rolled up newspaper? What is this in reference to? ---
**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 29, 2023, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3068 "2023-03-29T14:02:23Z")
**Karen\_Lingel** ’s poll question about squashing bugs and critters ---
**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 29, 2023, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3069 "2023-03-29T14:03:48Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > Why on earth would anyone smack a racoon with a rolled up newspaper? If someone wants to experience rabies virus encephalitis, smacking a raccoon with a rolled up newspaper is step #1. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2023, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3070 "2023-03-29T15:22:49Z")
> [@TruePisces](#): > > > [@kayaker](#): > > > > That your parents helped Santa out doesn’t mean Santa doesn’t exist. > > I love that outlook. I’m a firm believer that Santa exists and doesn’t just show up in December. > [@puzzlegal](#): > > My take as a child, which i guess i still believe, is that Santa exists. Santa is an aspect of your parents. I’ll hold with what I said to my nephew, even if he took it as a “no”: There are different kinds of real. Humans make up all sorts of things. Some of them become one of the kinds of real. And they have real effects on real people’s lives. > [@Cardigan](#): > > Why on earth would anyone smack a racoon with a rolled up newspaper? A pet raccoon, for the same reason they might smack a dog with one, maybe? I have no idea whether raccoons have the same weird reaction to newspaper that dogs do. (I have hit myself with a rolled up newspaper, hard. It doesn’t hurt at all.) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2023, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3071 "2023-03-29T15:34:04Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > Why on earth would anyone smack a racoon with a rolled up newspaper? Because it’s difficult to get in a good thwack if it isn’t rolled up? ---
**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 29, 2023, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3072 "2023-03-29T17:01:38Z")
[![](https://i.imgflip.com/58to4.jpg?a466440) ](https://i.imgflip.com/58to4.jpg?a466440) ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2023, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3073 "2023-03-29T18:25:38Z")
I am amazed by the number of people who are willing to say “I bought this for she”. I could never do that. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2023, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3074 "2023-03-29T18:27:22Z")
I agree that sounds terrible, but I think some people are treating it as one long, proper name for someone…. ---
**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 29, 2023, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3075 "2023-03-29T18:27:46Z")
Which it is. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2023, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3076 "2023-03-29T18:49:41Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > That your parents helped Santa out doesn’t mean Santa doesn’t exist. As stated by the [Perfect Master](https://www.straightdope.com/21342522/is-there-a-santa-claus) himself: > OK, so there’s a certain amount of mortal participation involved. Perhaps, as a parent, you’ve personally done your bit to help Santa and thought you did so of your own accord. The ants in the anthill probably think they’re doing it on a whim, too. But looking at the matter objectively, we can’t deny that a larger purpose is at work and that we are in the service of an agency greater than ourselves. My searching for Christmas presents poll was triggered by the memory of being eleven, and a friend showed me the stash of presents his parents had in the garage, proud that he had unearthed it. I was silent but thought it was exceedingly dumb. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2023, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3077 "2023-03-29T18:58:09Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > I am amazed by the number of people who are willing to say “I bought this for she”. I could never do that. Yet you’re willing to say “Her who”? Plus: what @Maserschmidt and @silenus said. ---
**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 29, 2023, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3078 "2023-03-29T19:20:17Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > I am amazed by the number of people who are willing to say “I bought this for she”. I could never do that. No, you’re saying: “I bought this for (she who must be obeyed).” The clause “she who must be obeyed” is the object of the preposition “for”. The feminine third person singular pronoun is not the object, but rather the entire clause. Therefore, “I bought this for she who must be obeyed” is correct. Thank you Mrs Whitaker for chucking the state curriculum and making us learn grammar for half of eighth grade. ---
**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 29, 2023, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3079 "2023-03-29T19:28:37Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > I agree that sounds terrible, but I think some people are treating it as one long, proper name for someone…. Exactly this. I recognize the nickname, “She Who Must Be Obeyed” from the BBC TV series _Rumpole of the Bailey_; it’s the term which Horace Rumpole used to describe his wife. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2023, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3080 "2023-03-29T20:28:19Z")
FWIW, Arthur Daley in “Minder” called his wife “Her indoors”. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2023, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3081 "2023-03-29T20:38:17Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > > [@Maserschmidt](#): > > > > I agree that sounds terrible, but I think some people are treating it as one long, proper name for someone…. > > Exactly this. I recognize the nickname, “She Who Must Be Obeyed” from the BBC TV series _Rumpole of the Bailey_; it’s the term which Horace Rumpole used to describe his wife. It’s even older than that: [She: A History of Adventure - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/She:_A_History_of_Adventure) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380.md?page=153) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380.md?page=155)