# 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:** 246
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2023, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/4904 "2023-06-16T22:05:17Z")
You graduate from high school and you graduate from college. You graduate when you are _done_, not when you still have a few years left to go. Maybe it’s because I came from a small school that I can’t wrap my head around “graduating” from a class when you’ll be across the hall in the same building the next year. Sometimes our teachers even followed us up a grade or two. My first grade teacher ended up teaching third grade after the former teacher retired. Ditto my fifth to eighth grade math teacher. ---
**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:** [June 16, 2023, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/4905 "2023-06-16T22:29:05Z")
My sons’ middle school had Promotion Ceremonies. The principal refused to call it a graduation. ---
**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:** [June 16, 2023, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/4906 "2023-06-16T22:32:19Z")
> [@Reeses\_Monkey](#): > > Maybe it’s because I came from a small school that I can’t wrap my head around “graduating” from a class when you’ll be across the hall in the same building the next year. That makes sense. In our case (graduating from 8th grade / elementary school), we were then moving to a completely different school and campus, with completely different teaching staffs, regardless of whether we were going to one of the Catholic high schools (which were sex-segregated at that time, so the boys went to one school, and the girls another), or to the public junior high. ---
**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:** [June 16, 2023, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/4907 "2023-06-16T22:44:25Z")
You couldn’t get me to jump out of a plane for $1 million. $1 billion, maybe. I now feel guilty for never thanking my dishwashing machine. Maybe that’s why it doesn’t get all the dishes clean sometimes. It doesn’t feel appreciated. ---
**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:** [June 16, 2023, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/4908 "2023-06-16T22:47:36Z")
I _really_ wish the people around here would stop blocking the box. I can handle waiting until there’s room to make my turn. I can’t handle sitting through three incidences of a light turning green because of rude people. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2023, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/4909 "2023-06-16T23:43:52Z")
Some countries, Sweden iirc, have leading green indicators. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2023, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/4910 "2023-06-16T23:56:31Z")
Recent polls: Compost pickup?? They don’t even pick up the trash or recycling. I wish the poll about pre-high school graduations was multiple selection. We had middle school graduation. And I missed it to see my baby brother born, but the rest of my kindergarten class had a graduation ceremony too. Being nice instead of predictable is a horrible impulse to give into while driving. I nearly had an accident when someone nicely stopped to let a car back out of its driveway, because neither the car that stopped nor the driver backing up, saw me entering the left-turn lane because the vehicle that waved the guy out of his driveway was a big SUV and I drive a compact car. Good thing I saw them and slammed on the brakes. And my poll. Sorry, I of course meant red, yellow/amber and **green** are the standard colors. Blue just hopped in there a second time. ---
**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:** [June 17, 2023, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/4911 "2023-06-17T00:36:32Z")
I do not thank my dishwasher. But I do thank my robo-vacuum. In fact, I talk to it way more than is healthy. mmm ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/4912 "2023-06-17T00:40:26Z")
Start worrying when it replies. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/4913 "2023-06-17T00:53:30Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > But I do thank my robo-vacuum. In fact, I talk to it way more than is healthy. What is its name? My robo-vacuum is named Elroy II, and my floor-washing robot is Rosie. ---
**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:** [June 17, 2023, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/4914 "2023-06-17T01:01:13Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The landing would cripple me for life. Or longer. That is similar to my issue, but I have actually helped pack many chutes to garner my friend credit towards free jumps. The jumping site was a fun place to hang out. I like to watch movies on flights because I rarely watch a screen otherwise. I also bring either an iPad or paperbacks to have reading material. When I was in school my district offered junior high and senior high. They now offer middle school and high school. Graduation in my time was only for kindergarten (which I didn’t attend) and high school. I am my dishwasher and don’t ask for thanks. But I do thank Mother Nature when she provides the weather I ask for. ---
**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:** [June 17, 2023, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/4915 "2023-06-17T01:36:02Z")
When I joined the Army I was given a choice of incentives. Either Germany as first guaranteed first duty station or guaranteed Airborne School. I picked Germany. I would have gone to Airborne if assigned but it never happened. If I went Airborne I probably would have been assigned to Fort Bragg which would have meant deploying to Panama or Desert Storm or maybe both. Instead I stayed in Germany for both. I have no interest in jumping out of an airplane as a civilian. ---
**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:** [June 17, 2023, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/4916 "2023-06-17T02:02:41Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > > > But I do thank my robo-vacuum. In fact, I talk to it way more than is healthy. > > What is its name? My robo-vacuum is named Elroy II, and my floor-washing robot is Rosie. You knew it had a name, didn’t you? Vinnie. mmm ---
**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:** [June 17, 2023, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/4917 "2023-06-17T05:19:44Z")
My peanut butter is Smuckers, but it’s the Smucker’s natural no sugar added that you have to stir. I started buying it during the time that the Maranatha factory was shut down because of salmonella, and I discovered I like its flavor better than any of the fancy-pants organic brands. It’s been a very, very long time since junior high or elementary school, but I remember having a ceremony at the end of ninth grade and, I think, at the end of fifth. I may be remembering the Brownie “flying up” ceremony, though, since it was held in the elementary gym. No thank you jumping out of planes. I’ll just shoot quietly in my seat and read my book. ---
**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:** [June 17, 2023, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/4918 "2023-06-17T05:41:16Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Sorry, I of course meant red, yellow/amber and **green** are the standard colors. Blue just hopped in there a second time. In Japan they call the ‘go’ light blue. To them the standard color for traffic lights is closer to blue than green. > [@InternetLegend](#): > > I’ll just shoot quietly in my seat The TSA’s supposed to stop that sort of thing. ---
**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:** [June 17, 2023, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/4919 "2023-06-17T10:27:19Z")
For what reason would we need to know that the traffic light is going to turn green at any moment? That sounds like a bad idea. A blue light warning about emergency vehicles sounds like a good idea, but I don’t see it happening due to cost. Perhaps it might be workable at select intersections. Even better idea: make it a very bright, flashing blue light. ETA: An even better better idea: no need to add another color. Re-wire the existing three (or more) lights and make them all flash in all directions to warn of approaching emergency vehicle. mmm ---
**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:** [June 17, 2023, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/4920 "2023-06-17T11:44:36Z")
Our town has these manically flashing LEDs atop traffic lights when an emergency vehicle is approaching. This is only near the fire/police department building, but I can imagine expanding their usage more broadly. In Germany, when the red light is about to switch to green, the yellow comes on. I’ve mostly driven manual over there, so I find that helpful. ---
**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:** [June 17, 2023, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/4921 "2023-06-17T11:50:36Z")
> [@Reeses\_Monkey](#): > > You graduate from high school and you graduate from college. You graduate when you are _done_, not when you still have a few years left to go. For some reason my kids had lots of graduations and I enjoyed them all. Preschool graduation with caps and regalia was cool. And our dogs have all had graduations from basic obedience classes, with pictures, punch, and biscuits, When Kizzy got her Canine Good Citizen Certification we had a celebration at home, with burgers on the drill for everyone. ---
**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:** [June 17, 2023, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/4922 "2023-06-17T13:50:27Z")
What the appliance is called depends on how it’s being used. If I’m using the top, it’s called a “stove.” It’s an “oven,” if I’m using the bottom. ---
**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:** [June 17, 2023, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/4923 "2023-06-17T14:44:47Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Even better idea: make it a very bright, flashing blue light. We have flashing white lights that indicate that the emergency vehicle (EV) is traveling on our road, steady white indicates that we are stopped because an EV is traveling on an adjoining road and may enter the intersection. I find the lights are handy information. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380.md?page=245) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380.md?page=247)