# 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:** 173
**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:** [April 18, 2023, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3442 "2023-04-18T17:54:43Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Not necessarily. In all likelihood you were a lawyer before getting elected. That would mean that you couldn’t be hired (or your firm couldn’t be hired) to represent a company/industry/etc. that you directly dealt with as an elected official. Nothing would prevent you from doing other law-stuff. OK. But suppose you were a farmer/teacher/physician etc, and you ran specifically in order to bring that perspective into the legislature. Other farmers/teachers/physicians etc. would almost certainly want to talk to you while you were in office. Would that mean you’d have to give up farming/teaching/medical practice etc. for the rest of your life? Because you didn’t just say “company”, you said “industry”. Maybe lawyers can chop things up neatly like that (though I’m not sure that they always can); but it doesn’t seem to me that most “industries” do. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2023, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3443 "2023-04-18T17:59:32Z")
At some point, Lou Costello’s voice really started to grate on me. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2023, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3444 "2023-04-18T18:06:48Z")
Mea culpa. I was thinking more along the lines of industrial lobbying groups. If you are a doctor, after leaving office you can’t work for the AMA. That sort of thing. Especially prohibited would be things like going to work for Lockheed after having spent time on the Armed Forces committee. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3445 "2023-04-18T18:15:42Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > I think that not ever taking the drugs in the first place is to some extent under the person’s control, but once the addiction exists it isn’t; although the addicted person may be able to resist taking the drug(s) in question, they’re still addicted. I understand your point. But the poll presented it as a choice between being a drug addict and being clean and sober. I think a better way of indicating the situation is saying it’s a choice between being an addict who uses drugs and an addict who doesn’t use drugs. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2023, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3446 "2023-04-18T18:19:45Z")
All four of the listed comedy teams were great in their own way. I chose A&C over L&H because of their wordplay. Stooges vs. Marxes was a much tougher choice; they are such different entities. I love them both, but I went with the Stooges, barely, because I’ve loved them since I was a child, and they can still make me belly-laugh. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3447 "2023-04-18T18:35:29Z")
For my senior year of high school we took a band trip to New York City. We saw a Broadway show and we each got to choose whether to see _Phantom_ or _LeMis_ and for the life of me I can’t remember which one I picked. I think _LeMis?_ But then how do I know that I hate the _Phantom_ story? The only thing I remember is really impressive set design. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2023, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3448 "2023-04-18T18:53:01Z")
Some men just like the word “panties.” I think it gives them a pleasing little jolt of sexual imagination; it’s certainly a sexier word than “underwear.” A lobbyist ban would almost certainly be unworkable, and very likely unconstitutional. The First Amendment protects “the freedom of speech [and] the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” And if you ban paid lobbyists, only people wealthy, or wealthy enough, through other means will be able to afford being lobbyists. I have very mixed feelings about age limits for public office. Yes, you want good people with sharp minds and sufficient energy serving you. But some old politicians (think John Quincy Adams) have done much more good for the nation than many younger ones (think… well, I’m sure you can come up with a few). I love meat (especially steak, bacon, chicken and hamburger) and dairy (especially milk, cheese and ice cream) far too much to ever willingly become vegetarian or vegan. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3449 "2023-04-18T19:04:41Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > I went with the Stooges, barely, because I’ve loved them since I was a child, and they can still make me belly-laugh. And I can’t remember if the Stooges _ever_ made me laugh. I do love Iggy Pop. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2023, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3450 "2023-04-18T19:53:03Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Mea culpa. I was thinking more along the lines of industrial lobbying groups. If you are a doctor, after leaving office you can’t work for the AMA. That sort of thing. See, that’s why legislation needs to be carefully written! and input from the people likely to be restricted by it can be genuinely useful. But, yeah. I believe there are some laws against the revolving-door office-to-lobbyist effect; but I think they’re pretty weak. It seems to me that what’s also needed, though, is some technique to make sure that people with more money aren’t better heard. Which is tricky, because people with more money can afford to go hang out in DC, or the state capitols, and at places/parties legislators are likely to go to – “afford” both in money and in time. The effects of talking mostly to the people who are mostly around are more subtle than those of taking bribes, and much harder to legislate against; but they’re very real. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > the poll presented it as a choice between being a drug addict and being clean and sober. I think a better way of indicating the situation is saying it’s a choice between being an addict who uses drugs and an addict who doesn’t use drugs It is, however, called addiction for a reason. The body’s come to physically need the drug. Some people can fight it off; others can’t, or can’t without assistance they may not be able to get. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3451 "2023-04-18T20:01:56Z")
When I was a kid, Laurel and Hardy made me chuckle a little bit. Abbott and Costello gave me belly-laughs. Today, both teams make me chuckle a little bit. I’m not sure I ever laughed at the Three Stooges. I still laugh at the Marx Brothers. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2023, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3452 "2023-04-18T20:49:58Z")
“If you can’t eat their food, drink their booze, screw their women and then vote against them, you’ve got no business being up here.” - Jesse Unruh, Speaker of the California House, about lobbyists ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3453 "2023-04-18T22:12:55Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > It is, however, called addiction for a reason. The body’s come to physically need the drug. Some people can fight it off; others can’t, or can’t without assistance they may not be able to get. I disagree. I understand that it’s very difficult for an addict to choose to stop taking drugs. But I feel it’s always a possibility. I compare it to the other questions in that poll. If you have schizophrenia, for example, you can’t choose to not have it. But things like drinking alcohol or snorting cocaine are actions; they’re not something that just happens to you. If you consumed some drugs, it’s because you chose to consume them (setting aside cases were you’re given drugs by somebody else without knowing it). ---
**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:** [April 18, 2023, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3454 "2023-04-18T22:27:59Z")
As a kid in the 80s on Sunday afternoons on one of the VHF channels they would show an old kung fu flick, then a Laurel and Hardy movie, then Three Stooges shorts. Then we had dinner. So those are what I chose. Was not exposed to any Abbott and Costello or Marx Brothers until I was an adult. ---
**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:** [April 19, 2023, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3455 "2023-04-19T14:11:02Z")
Five out of six. But not male. ---
**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:** [April 19, 2023, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3456 "2023-04-19T18:31:24Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Five out of six. But not male Five out of six for me, too; not strictly straight. Re: gun ownership. I initially voted “0,” but after reading the second poll in that post, I changed it to “1,” as I technically own a gun. Twenty years ago, some friends of mine, who have more money than sense, gave me, as a Christmas present, a replica of Han Solo’s blaster pistol from _Star Wars_. It was hand-built by someone, using a replica of a Mauser C96 “broomhandle” pistol as a base (the same type of real-world pistol which was used as a base for the actual movie prop). It has several additional parts added to it, to make it resemble the prop pistol (see an example picture below – it’s not a picture of my gun), and some of the firing mechanism was removed, but at its heart, I suppose it’s still a real (if currently non-functional) gun. [![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71b-Vq9UrhL.jpg) ](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71b-Vq9UrhL.jpg) ---
**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:** [April 19, 2023, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3457 "2023-04-19T18:35:27Z")
I voted that I don’t own any guns; which is true. However, my neighbor hunts this property, often with family members or friends who he trusts as hunters accompanying him (I let him choose who’s in his hunting party, though he always tells me who’s coming.) So there are very often guns on my property. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3458 "2023-04-19T19:57:04Z")
I voted “Lean Yes” on Ronan Farrow. He has features that remind me of Frank Sinatra (although I think he looks mostly like his mom), and I don’t see any features that remind me of Woody Allen. Does Allen have any other bio kids? Even Soon Yee adopted. ---
**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:** [April 19, 2023, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3459 "2023-04-19T20:49:12Z")
I still have my reproduction .57 Enfield rifled musket from my Civil War reenacting days (in which I skyrocketed, in just five short years, to the rank of corporal) somewhere in my basement. I haven’t fired it in years, though. Of _course_ Ronan Farrow is Sinatra’s kid. My God, have you _seen_ him? ---
**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:** [April 19, 2023, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3460 "2023-04-19T21:04:58Z")
No, I have never seen Ronan Farrow, and have never given a single thought to his potential lineage. ---
**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:** [April 19, 2023, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3461 "2023-04-19T21:14:21Z")
ditto. I looked for the “who is Ronan Farrow” option. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380.md?page=172) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380.md?page=174)