# 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:** 176
**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 21, 2023, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3502 "2023-04-21T11:02:08Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > I’m surprised more people don’t know the phonetic alphabet ! I’m surprised so many people do. What led you to learn it? ---
**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 21, 2023, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3503 "2023-04-21T14:39:06Z")
I don’t know ! I don’t think i made any effort to memorize it, i guess i just picked it up from books & tv shows etc. Eg, british police always use it to communicate vehicle registration numbers. (or they used to - they probably do it all on smartphones these days). ---
**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:** [April 21, 2023, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3504 "2023-04-21T14:45:14Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > I can recite the NATO phonetic alphabet, but, until today, could not correctly spell it. I’ve learnt that A and J are intentionally misspelled as “Alfa” (instead of Alpha) and “Juliett” (instead of Juliet). A common mistake as too many NATO languages don’t know what to to with a ‘PH’. Another common mistake is Golf/Gulf. One midwatch in Iceland the Marine at the roadside guard hut – we had another just outside the door – got it in his head he had to call in for a radio check every half hour and would call for ‘Sahara Gulf’ instead of ‘Sierra Golf’ – Security Group. When I missed a couple he called on the telephone. I came around the corner just as the watch supervisor was saying, “The radio is on the maintenance space. We got only the one maintenance guy. He’s busy doing maintenance stuff, not hangin’ around the radio in case somebody calls.” ‘Juliett’ I gott nuthin’. > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Let’s see…Alpha, Bravo, Chuck-E-Cheese, Deuteronomy, Elephantitis Just don’t use this one. [https://www.lostinthought.co.uk/images/phonyetics/alphabet.png](https://www.lostinthought.co.uk/images/phonyetics/alphabet.png) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2023, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3505 "2023-04-21T15:26:03Z")
After so many years in the Army in positions where I had to be on the radio and many years as a cop the phonetic alphabet comes easier than the regular alphabet (without singing). ---
**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 21, 2023, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3506 "2023-04-21T15:28:29Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > ‘Juliett’ I gott nuthin’. Maybe because in French, “Juliet” would be pronounced without the ending “t” sound. AIUI, adding the second “t” makes sure that that sound is pronounced. ---
**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:** [April 21, 2023, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3507 "2023-04-21T15:30:03Z")
After years of working in comm in the military, the NATO phonetic alphabet comes as natural to me as 24 hour time. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2023, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3508 "2023-04-21T15:53:47Z")
Compare with French month of July, Juillet, pronounced “Joo-ee-yay”. ---
**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 21, 2023, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3509 "2023-04-21T16:07:15Z")
I could have gone for either option on the gourmet, but I voted Ginger Chicken Soup, because though I adore scallops, lobster and watermelon anything is not my cup of tea. ---
**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 21, 2023, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3510 "2023-04-21T16:44:59Z")
I like to have something green, or at least vegetable, with my meal; so voted for the option that included a salad. Both the options are kind of weird combinations. ---
**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 21, 2023, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3511 "2023-04-21T17:00:50Z")
I picked the one with the Ginger Chicken Soup, etc., because I’m feeling a little under the weather today with a sore through and cough, so soup is what I’m in the mood for right now. I might have picked the other one if I was feeling 100% well. ---
**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 21, 2023, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3512 "2023-04-21T18:18:15Z")
I’d be happy with either of the gourmet lunches (although I don’t care for peaches). I’ve picked up a lot of the NATO phonetic alphabet from reading, TV and movies over the years; I’m pretty sure I could name them all, although I have to admit I didn’t try before voting. Bar trivia is the best! I’m in a league which plays every Tuesday night. Good fun, and we often win. I remember reading an article about the Japanese pachinko craze in _Wired_ magazine back in the Nineties. Don’t think I’ve ever actually seen the game IRL, though. Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty, _has_ to be the most beautiful, but obviously all three are contenders. I’ve always had a thing for Athena, I have to admit, since I first discovered Greek mythology in high school - smart, strong, fierce and beautiful, a benefactor to Odysseus, and usually on the right side of most myths. In the Percy Jackson books she’s the mother of that well-known demigod, George Washington, so that’s another point in her favor. > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > 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. Heheh. My wife’s name is Susan; she’s gonna like this. Thanks. ---
**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 21, 2023, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3513 "2023-04-21T18:27:45Z")
I usually have soup for lunch, so I went with 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:** [April 21, 2023, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3514 "2023-04-21T19:15:13Z")
Other - I have no idea what Genie is. ---
**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 21, 2023, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3515 "2023-04-21T19:18:09Z")
Magic? ---
**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 21, 2023, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3516 "2023-04-21T19:28:06Z")
Oh, I was thrown by the capital letter - I thought it was some kind of food service. Though I suppose in that context it is. ---
**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, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3517 "2023-04-21T19:33:15Z")
But why can’t mere mortals provide our cafeteria with cheese, bacon, pie, and ice cream? ---
**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 21, 2023, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3518 "2023-04-21T19:41:25Z")
Maybe the genie can make a version that you can eat with no negative health effects, but tastes just as good. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2023, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3519 "2023-04-21T19:46:21Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > But why can’t mere mortals provide our cafeteria with cheese, bacon, pie, and ice cream? The ice cream is cursed. [![](https://frinkiac.com/img/S04E05/234750.jpg) ](https://frinkiac.com/img/S04E05/234750.jpg) ---
**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 21, 2023, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3520 "2023-04-21T20:20:01Z")
Both gourmet menus included peppers in the main dish, so i won’t be eating either of them. ---
**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 21, 2023, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3521 "2023-04-21T20:26:50Z")
O Genie, I’d still like some vegetables and fruit in the mix. But some variety is better than no variety. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380.md?page=175) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380.md?page=177)