# 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:** 284
**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:** [July 19, 2023, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/5664 "2023-07-19T20:45:05Z")
I think we cannot. The point(-lessness) of **Polls Only** is, as I see it, to have fun. Some of the polls will be utterly meaningless to you (e.g., I did not vote in the games poll, or even look at the results) or have a binary choice that offers you a Kobiyashi Maru conundrum. It is like a bookstore that has books you will love, books that will piss you off and books thao do not interest you. Just get what entertainment you can out of it. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2023, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/5665 "2023-07-19T20:46:59Z")
Smith just edges out Tennant, but only just. I never watched the old stuff but the Smith-Tennant years were so much fun. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2023, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/5666 "2023-07-19T20:50:50Z")
I don’t need every poll to be meaningful to me, but I don’t like being completely left out. If there is a poll about whether Vivaldi or Mozart wrote better sonatas, I’m not going to be able to vote. But at least I’ll understand the question and not have to start googling random names to try to figure out what is being asked. Recent polls about crime shows, for example, had a ton of shows I never watched. But the subject was identified (even though I recognized most of the names). Your recent poll was a bunch of random names. Most of us had no idea what you were getting at and endorsed “who?” Maybe that was interesting to some, but what harm would have caused by simply adding at the top “Pick your favorite Tennesse counties from the list below.” (or whatever information you were seeking) ---
**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:** [July 19, 2023, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/5667 "2023-07-19T20:59:04Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Your recent poll was a bunch of random names. Most of us had no idea what you were getting at and endorsed “who?” Even though I’m not a fan, I immediately caught on to the theme of the poll. But even if I hadn’t, I tried just selecting, cutting and pasting the first three “random names” into google and guess what came up (And I didn’t even bother to add back any spaces, so the google search was on “HartnellTroughtonPertwee”). I may be getting too old and short of patience, but it amazes me the number of times I see a complaint about an unknown term or reference on this board, when cutting and pasting the phrase into Google immediately answers the question. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2023, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/5668 "2023-07-19T21:16:26Z")
> [@peccavi](#): > > I may be getting too old and short of patience, but it amazes me the number of times I see a complaint about an unknown term or reference on this board, when cutting and pasting the phrase into Google immediately answers the question I certainly do that on occasion. I just don’t get the resistance to putting something in the poll to make it more of a poll and less of a puzzle. Even if all the names are related, we still don’t know what’s being asked. Tallest? Best dressed? Sexiest? Oldest? Most likely to get renewed? ---
**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:** [July 19, 2023, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/5669 "2023-07-19T21:26:03Z")
> [@peccavi](#): > > when cutting and pasting the phrase into Google immediately answers the question. In all fairness, this is a pain in the ass to do on a mobile phone. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2023, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/5670 "2023-07-19T21:26:55Z")
Well, the OP of the Polls thread states it most succinctly: > A thread for random, mundane polls. **random** is right there in the OP and playfulness and randomness becomes evident early on in the subsequent posts. Maybe someone should start a Great Debates Polls Only thread with strict rules on what and how to post? ---
**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:** [July 19, 2023, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/5671 "2023-07-19T21:35:08Z")
I’ll let it go. Maybe even create some of my own and join in the fun. It was just a friendly request in the first place. If people are doing it intentionally, I won’t stand in their way. I thought it was typically just an oversight. . ---
**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:** [July 19, 2023, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/5672 "2023-07-19T21:40:46Z")
Besides, fans know immediately what question was being asked, and non-fans couldn’t answer it anyway. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2023, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/5673 "2023-07-19T22:22:14Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > > [@peccavi](#): > > > > when cutting and pasting the phrase into Google immediately answers the question. > > In all fairness, this is a pain in the ass to do on a mobile phone. Yeah. I’m never going to interact with anything that i need to Google. Depending on my mood, i might be mildly annoyed at the poster, or just move on. But i don’t think “you should Google my post” is anything like a reasonable expectation. Now, if your goal is to create an in-joke, go at it. Just don’t be surprised if those who feel “out” are mildly unhappy as a result. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2023, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/5674 "2023-07-19T23:23:55Z")
Jones, Finkel, Ruben…meant absolutely nothing to me. So you know what I did? I skipped it. Took me all of three seconds and bothered me not at all. mmm ---
**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:** [July 19, 2023, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/5675 "2023-07-19T23:25:10Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Your recent poll was a bunch of random names. Most of us had no idea what you were getting at and endorsed “who?” Maybe that was interesting to some, but what harm would have caused by simply adding at the top “Pick your favorite Tennesse counties from the list below.” (or whatever information you were seeking) I took “Who?” to be a reasonable choice, and chose it; being glad to have that option, as I didn’t know who any of them are. Having read some of the following discussion in this thread, I gather that not only is it a good option, it’s also a pun. And if I don’t recognize the names (or whatever) in a poll, and there isn’t any “other” option in whatever form, I just move on. I don’t find it more annoying than a poll about sports, or whatever, that I don’t follow. I don’t think we should try to fit all the polls into Procrustus’ bed. ---
**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:** [July 20, 2023, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/5676 "2023-07-20T00:34:11Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Your recent poll was a bunch of random names. Most of us had no idea what you were getting at and endorsed “who?” Maybe that was interesting to some, but what harm would have caused by simply adding at the top “Pick your favorite Tennesse counties from the list below.” (or whatever information you were seeking) I hate to break it to you but I have a feeling many who picked “who” knew exactly what the poll was about. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/5677 "2023-07-20T01:01:23Z")
Exactly ---
**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:** [July 20, 2023, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/5678 "2023-07-20T01:16:59Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I hate to break it to you but I have a feeling many who picked “who” knew exactly what the poll was about. Yeah, I eventually figure it out. I doubt anyone would have been disappointed if the options were prefaced by a question. But I see I’m an outlier here, and I’ll drop it ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/5679 "2023-07-20T01:53:59Z")
The first episode I watched was Eccleston’s first. I watched three or four more episodes, with him and possibly with Tennant, then decided it was boring and quit watching. ---
**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:** [July 20, 2023, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/5680 "2023-07-20T02:11:54Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I hate to break it to you but I have a feeling many who picked “who” knew exactly what the poll was about. Yeah, I’m not generally a fan of mystery polls, but i happened to “get” that one, and voted “Who”. ---
**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:** [July 20, 2023, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/5681 "2023-07-20T02:16:22Z")
“Poll 3613” is referenced in post 3609 in the polls thread. Am I missing something or can @DesertDog see the future? ---
**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:** [July 20, 2023, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/5682 "2023-07-20T02:20:05Z")
I wrote a poll to see if i was the only one who saw that. But i wrote it wrong and had to edit it. So if you are one of the first two respondents, can you check if your answer is still right, and change it is it isn’t? ---
**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:** [July 20, 2023, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/5683 "2023-07-20T02:20:06Z")
Post 3613 which I used for the poll number. > [@Polls only: No discussion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-only-no-discussion/953642/3613): > > [poll](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-only-no-discussion/953642/3613) Mine is showing as 3617 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380.md?page=283) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380.md?page=285)