# 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:** 175
**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:** [April 20, 2023, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3482 "2023-04-20T15:25:24Z")
I can almost recite the NATO phonetic alphabet, but I couldn’t remember O, Q, V, and Y. So I guess I’m forced to answer no. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2023, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3483 "2023-04-20T15:26:39Z")
I know for a fact that I can’t remember the phonetic alphabet. Over my working career, I spent innumerable hours on the phone trying to be sure that I was spelling someone’s name right or telling them email addresses or alphanumeric access codes over the phone, and I reduced some of the people to tears of laughter over the words I used to convey the alphabet. Some of the people I talked to who were in the military would read the words back to me pointedly using the correct phonetic alphabet. As for the goddesses, well, it is not for me, a mere mortal, to gaze upon their celestial beauty and make judgments. I’d also like to make it clear that, while my weaving is pretty good for a human, it’s got absolutely nothing on any that of any goddess. ---
**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:** [April 20, 2023, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3484 "2023-04-20T15:35:17Z")
> [@InternetLegend](#): > > I reduced some of the people to tears of laughter over the words I used to convey the alphabet. “B” as in “Boy”, “V” as in “Voy”. ---
**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:** [April 20, 2023, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3485 "2023-04-20T15:38:17Z")
“P” as in “phonetic” “T” as in “tsunami” ---
**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:** [April 20, 2023, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3486 "2023-04-20T15:40:07Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > “P” as in “phonetic” My father would always say “P” as in “pneumonia” ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2023, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3487 "2023-04-20T15:59:58Z")
I remember reading what was probably a joke, about a speaker of an Indian language who couldn’t distinguish well between the sounds P and B. Someone was trying to convey a spelling to him and used “B as in Bombay”. He replied, “Bombay India or Pompei Italy?” ---
**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:** [April 20, 2023, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3488 "2023-04-20T16:29:21Z")
You have to go with Aphrodite, being the fairest is her whole schtick. My job often requires giving circuit IDs and CLLI codes over the phone. You learn the phonetic alphabet pretty quickly. ---
**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 20, 2023, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3489 "2023-04-20T16:38:56Z")
I confess a fondness for Athena…from the poetry contest many, many years ago: > [@SDMB Poetry Sweatshop - Dec. 2009 edition, Anthology thread.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-poetry-sweatshop-dec-2009-edition-anthology-thread/520132/4): > > **Revenge** > Winter came to spring, and > Eros made move to bring Pallas Athena > A good man, arranging a chance meeting > Outside MOMA in the rain. > > But Arachne, spying this at a distance > And still fixed on vengeance, > Ticked off the doom of the courtship > On her eight spider legs: > > \*Encounter, persuasion, a fondness for Asian; > Six months to court, and \*le petit mort; > _Devotion, affection, and then the rejection._ > > The summer of love turned to absurd fall, > And cast off at last, Pallas Athena > Enjoyed the bitter taste > Of her own medicine: > _Aconite, plus a pinch of spite._ ---
**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 20, 2023, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3490 "2023-04-20T17:24:46Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > I’m not touching that Hera/Athena/Aphrodite poll! Having gone back and looked at the votes: I’ve touched it. I voted for Hera. Because, damn it, somebody ought to vote for Hera. @Maserschmidt: I like that! ---
**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:** [April 20, 2023, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3491 "2023-04-20T17:29:16Z")
> [@InternetLegend](#): > > I know for a fact that I can’t remember the phonetic alphabet. Over my working career, I spent innumerable hours on the phone trying to be sure that I was spelling someone’s name right or telling them email addresses or alphanumeric access codes over the phone, and I reduced some of the people to tears of laughter over the words I used to convey the alphabet… My work area dealt with this a lot as well. I remember overhearing a co-worker on the phone, she was obviously asked to spell her name, which was Susan. The first thing she said was “S as in Susan.” I was amused. mmm ---
**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:** [April 20, 2023, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3492 "2023-04-20T17:33:21Z")
I can’t remember the NATO alphabet most of the time so I make things u up for each letter. I do know, however, the Greek alphabet by heart. ---
**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 20, 2023, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3493 "2023-04-20T17:34:39Z")
I have never known the NATO alphabet. I’ve heard lots of the letter names, of course, but i don’t know that I’ve ever looked at the full list, and I’ve certainly never tried to learn it. ---
**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:** [April 20, 2023, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3494 "2023-04-20T17:38:32Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > The first thing she said was “S as in Susan.” A woman I know was traveling with Charlie Daniels decades ago. She asked him to sign an 8x10 for her friend (me). She handed him a sharpie and told him my name was “Mark”. He asked how to spell it. She replied M…………A………. And he looked up and growled, “with a C or K, I’m not illiterate!” ---
**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:** [April 20, 2023, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3495 "2023-04-20T18:57:57Z")
I used to use the NATO alphabet in my dispatch job so I thought I still knew it. I guess I thought wrong. But I was mostly correct, dammit. I voted for Athena, though I was very tempted to vote for Hera. There’s much to be said for mature beauty. I think my vote is wishing I were still athletic, as Athena has always seemed to be to me. ---
**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 20, 2023, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3496 "2023-04-20T19:27:43Z")
I voted in the pachinko poll that I knew what it was and was mildly (or whatever the adverb used was) interested in, but I actually owned a pachinko machine at one time. I’m only mildly interested because it’s not as fun as other games…it doesn’t have the fine control necessary to make it really skilled. It looks cool though. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2023, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3497 "2023-04-20T20:38:57Z")
My family had two or three pachinkos. I think they enchanted my father. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2023, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3498 "2023-04-20T20:45:45Z")
Bar games: I voted other, as I’ve been to a few Gastropub style bars where they have on-site board games or spots for RPGS, where I can do things like Runebound with friends while having booze and food. Probably stretching the definition of ‘Bar’ a bit though. Otherwise it’s arcade style or pinball for me. As for the fairest, I decided to risk divine punishment and vote Athena, because while beauty is in the eye of the beholder, she’s certainly the most fair by the other definition, although none of the Greek deities are what we’d consider impartial. 🙂 ---
**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:** [April 20, 2023, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3499 "2023-04-20T21:56:57Z")
I’m surprised more people don’t know the phonetic alphabet ! Bar games : Darts & pool, but also other (Cribbage). ---
**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 21, 2023, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3500 "2023-04-21T02:00:32Z")
Darts & Golden Tee ---
**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:** [April 21, 2023, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3501 "2023-04-21T10:38:46Z")
Gourmet food at the work cafeteria: With those options I’m brown-bagging it. No vote. mmm [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380.md?page=174) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380.md?page=176)