# 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:** 200
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3982 "2023-05-08T22:48:00Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I don’t see what you did there. c’mon, man, it is _so_ transpapent ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3983 "2023-05-08T22:52:57Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > Never seen a Cheesecake Factory And perhaps that may be for the best, as several people claim to have seen the Eye of Sauron there. A place that accomodates pure evil is probably not where you want to be living. [![](https://preview.redd.it/8qszm70csqz31.jpg?auto=webp&s=4af5b3f6e5c3192a8ae907b375e1f726fef0f337) ](https://preview.redd.it/8qszm70csqz31.jpg?auto=webp&s=4af5b3f6e5c3192a8ae907b375e1f726fef0f337) ---
**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:** [May 8, 2023, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3984 "2023-05-08T22:58:27Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > Never seen a Cheesecake Factory, though it seems there are two within an hour’s drive. Not enough variety at Pizza Hut, and the worst service I’ve ever had was at a Waffle House. I picked Olive Garden. +1 The literal poll question was: _Where would you rather live?_ I took it literally as a place I would sleep, bathe, relax, etc. And not necessarily eat every meal at. (I live in my apartment. It doesn’t mean I eat every meal there.) With that in mind, have any of those choosing the Cheesecake Factory been to one? They are the noisiest, most obnoxious environments of just about any restaurant I’ve ever been in. The shack, house, hut, and pit fail the “Would I use the bathroom/washing facilities there?” so the default choice is Olive Garden. QED, Lorem Ipsum, Veni, Vidi, Vici 😜 ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3985 "2023-05-08T23:44:17Z")
I am kind of biased, because I went to visit my dad around christmastime, and we went out to eat, and the best we could find was Olive Garden. He was kind of taken aback by entrées that cost _eight dollars_. But then, about 7 months later, he was gone. That was the last time I saw him in person. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2023, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3986 "2023-05-09T02:15:38Z")
I’ve had a couple of dicey encounters with snakes, but I really find them very cool. My favorite was when my stepfather propped up the fishing boat on a stake so that snakes wouldn’t nest under it, but of course the cottonmouth didn’t get the memo, and when I lifted the boat to prep it for fishing, we were both wildly startled and then it chased me to the picnic table where I sat on top until it left. But otherwise I appreciate seeing them in the wild. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2023, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3987 "2023-05-09T03:15:28Z")
Powers - I picked mind control, and boy, I’d be a supervillain in no time. But, I’ll have unlimited money, and a large number of asshats would be confessing their crimes and turning themselves into the authorities. Heck, with a little luck and planning, I’m sure I could get someone to introduce me (a friend of a friend of course) to certain international troublemakers and have a decent shot at world peace. But damn it, you better not cut (my driver) off in traffic, because there will be NO MERCY. Seriously though, other that some ill-gotten gains, I’d mostly be using it in the sense of the horrible prequel Jedi Abuse and cause people to rethink their lives. With a bit of a more directed suggestion of course. * * * Snakes, are definitely in the ‘awwww’ category. I own several, and they’re (well, 3 of 4) sweet and well behaved. And don’t shriek in the night like Cat # 2 does. I fully find garters cute in the wild, but I have a healthy respect for the various rattlers that I see in hills during summer. Still a ‘awwwww’ but ‘awww, look at the little killer. Let’s move away slowly!’ ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3988 "2023-05-09T04:49:09Z")
I was surprised a rental place (Enterprise in this case) would rent you an EV without a full “tank”. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3989 "2023-05-09T05:31:49Z")
It does seem a little odd. But charging a battery is not like filling a tank. The rental company is somewhat interested in maintaining good battery health, which means charging it to maybe 80% most of the time. If the typical customer is not likely to use the full range out of the gate, no point charging it fully – they just better not insist on a full battery on return. Also, most modern EVs are bristling with teh fancy, so the car itself can probably direct you to a charger. Which is helpful, because when you plug it into the 110 at home, its charging rate will be around 5 miles an hour. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2023, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3990 "2023-05-09T05:44:07Z")
> [@Bayaker](#): > > I’ve heard of them but had no idea it was a regular restaurant. The name made me think it’s a dessert place - maybe like a fancy ice-cream parlor. They are pretty well known for their enormous menu. They have a pretty wide variety of items including healthy choices. Also lots of desserts .If you only eat at Michelin star restaurants you will be disappointed I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3991 "2023-05-09T10:59:15Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > If you only eat at Michelin star restaurants you will be disappointed I’m sure. No worries there. The only way that would happen is if the folks at Michelin went nuts and gave a star to my kitchen. 🙂 ---
**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:** [May 9, 2023, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3992 "2023-05-09T11:14:37Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Enterprise Thieving bastards. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2023, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3993 "2023-05-09T14:18:40Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > They are pretty well known for their enormous menu. They have a pretty wide variety of items including healthy choices. Also lots of desserts .If you only eat at Michelin star restaurants you will be disappointed I’m sure. If you are a decent cook and only eat at home, you are likely to be disappointed. But there is a huge variety of perfectly edible food. And no, i didn’t pay any attention to the second word, because I’m familiar with all those establishments. I will say, I’m swayed by the comments about living vs. eating, though. I’d rather be stuck with the food at the cheesecake factory, but I may well prefer the ambiance of olive garden for living. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3994 "2023-05-09T14:47:33Z")
With the snakes, I first look at the shape of the head to see if it is a rattlesnake or a bullsnake. If it’s a rattler, I leave it alone, to avoid getting bitten. If it’s a bullsnake, I leave it alone, so it will stick around and kill vermin. I admit that my dislike of spiders is utterly irrational, but it is what it is. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2023, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3995 "2023-05-09T15:17:40Z")
For powers, I picked the ability to teleport items. I’d go into business as a mover and earn a decent living unless everyone else suddenly has this power too. There are enough villians in the world, I’ve no desire to become one of them. For snakes, I would freak at first, then check the shape of its head. That spider is darn cute. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2023, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3996 "2023-05-09T15:44:08Z")
Very disappointed in the poor showing of mustard in the condiment thread. mmm ---
**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:** [May 9, 2023, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3997 "2023-05-09T16:12:36Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > check the shape of its head No, do not do this. [It is a bit of folklore](https://africacheck.org/fact-checks/meta-programme-fact-checks/no-shape-snakes-head-doesnt-show-whether-its-venomous-or-not) (along with red, black, friend of Jack). Herpetologists recommend knowing the venomous species in your area. If you aren’t certain, stay back. [I’ve seen pictures of gartersnakes with the most triangular shaped head possible, because they flatten their head down against the ground to appear aggressive.](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/harmless-snakes-avoid-danger-by-mimicking-the-triangular-heads-of-vipers) ---
**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:** [May 9, 2023, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3998 "2023-05-09T16:16:26Z")
I’m more disturbed by the 3 (for now) voters who opted for “Ranch.” ---
**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:** [May 9, 2023, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/3999 "2023-05-09T16:53:12Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Herpetologists recommend knowing the venomous species in your area. If you aren’t certain, stay back. I’ve read that herpetologists have been finding rattlesnakes that don’t have rattles. It’s apparently a new mutation. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2023, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/4000 "2023-05-09T17:11:48Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I’ve seen pictures of gartersnakes with the most triangular shaped head possible, because they flatten their head down against the ground to appear aggressive. That’s okay, it means I stay away, not that I disturb it. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2023, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/4001 "2023-05-09T17:53:11Z")
I really wish the stress poll had been multiple choice. Because I can’t decide between “time”, “energy”, “money” and “health”. So I went “bacon”, because that’s always a true statement. Regardless of how stressed the lack of other things make me, putting bacon in my belly makes me slightly less stressed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380.md?page=199) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380.md?page=201)