# 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:** 312
**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:** [August 17, 2023, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6224 "2023-08-17T18:29:13Z")
Yeah, i hear three different sounds for Mary, marry, and merry. I start the Hereford the same way i start merry, although “herring” is a better example, since it starts with an “h”. ---
**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:** [August 17, 2023, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6225 "2023-08-17T18:30:54Z")
We just named a kitten “Merry”, as a nickname for “Meringue”, and people are hearing “Mary”, which is slightly awkward, since it’s a boy. But i suppose he doesn’t care. ---
**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:** [August 17, 2023, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6226 "2023-08-17T20:01:56Z")
He was a Merry, too: [Merry Brandybuck - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merry_Brandybuck) I usually prefer not to have movies spoiled, and really try to avoid spoilers online, but I’m not gonna throw a hissy fit if someone inadvertently spoils a movie for me. Blue cheese is far and away my favorite salad dressing (thanks to my mom for first introducing me to it). If it’s unavailable, though, I won’t say no to raspberry vinaigrette, honey mustard, hot bacon or French dressing. And Caesar dressing on a Caesar salad, of course. ---
**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:** [August 17, 2023, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6227 "2023-08-17T20:34:51Z")
indiCAtion inDICative conserVAtion conSERvative provoCAtion proVOCative cumuLAtion CUMulative I’m sure there are many others. ---
**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:** [August 17, 2023, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6228 "2023-08-17T21:17:22Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > He was a Merry, too: [Merry Brandybuck - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merry_Brandybuck) Yes, that’s what i was thinking, and the other kitten we adopted is Pippin. But Merry is a very uncommon name, and Mary a very common one, and friends are mishearing “Merry” as “Mary”. It’s not a huge deal. It’s not as if the cat is going to be upset if he’s misgendered. But it hadn’t occurred to me it would be a problem. ---
**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:** [August 17, 2023, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6229 "2023-08-17T21:21:23Z")
I wasn’t sure what was meant by “using your cellphone while driving”, but chose to interpret it as “using it as a phone”, since some of the options didn’t make sense for the one thing i use it for, which is gps. (no one holds their gos device to their ear.) ---
**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:** [August 17, 2023, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6230 "2023-08-17T21:34:13Z")
> [@Hatchie](#): > > “In 'ereford, 'artford and 'ampshire, 'urricaines 'ardly 'appen”. The first thing I think of is _My Fair Lady_, but I pronounce it like the cow name otherwise. Googie style architecture is pronounced with the second G being a hard G sound. The style was named for a particular coffee shop called Googies, and both Gs in the name were hard Gs. ---
**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:** [August 17, 2023, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6231 "2023-08-17T21:38:27Z")
I never take calls while driving. I use it for GPS. We recently had a law passed in Michigan where you can get busted for texting, even in a stationary vehicle, at a stoplight. I’m not perfect in avoiding distraction. I sometimes use it to navigate my music stuff. I honestly don’t know how anyone can talk on the phone and drive. My brain cannot do those two things at the same time. I know that everyone is compromised while talking on the phone, hands-free or not, to where it’s basically like driving drunk. But other people seem to _think_ they are fine whereas I definitively know that I am not from literally the first second. Am I just hyper-aware of my diminished capacity and other people are not? Or am I just particularly bad at it? ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2023, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6232 "2023-08-17T22:35:19Z")
InforMAtion InFORmative ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2023, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6233 "2023-08-18T02:28:41Z")
When I was a senior in HS in 1980, one of my classmates was a really really good artist. When yearbooks came out, he drew Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. I murmured “Father and son, eh?” He quickly shushed me. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2023, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6234 "2023-08-18T02:44:10Z")
I voted no on the using my phone while driving poll, and while that’s true because my phone is in my back pocket while driving, if I did use it I **still** wouldn’t consider listening to music or a podcast, or having it be my GPS “using it.” Using it to me implies manipulating it in some way while driving either by touching or at the very least giving it voice commands, not passively listening to it as I do the car’s stereo and my stand-alone GPS. ---
**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:** [August 18, 2023, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6235 "2023-08-18T03:10:59Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I honestly don’t know how anyone can talk on the phone and drive. My brain cannot do those two things at the same time. I know that everyone is compromised while talking on the phone, hands-free or not, to where it’s basically like driving drunk. But other people seem to _think_ they are fine whereas I definitively know that I am not from literally the first second. Am I just hyper-aware of my diminished capacity and other people are not? Or am I just particularly bad at it? The only thing you’re bad at is self-deception! It’s amazing how many people think everyone _else_ gets distracted, but not _them_. And it’s not just with a handheld phone; when you talk hands-free, you may not be fumbling with your phone, but you’re still paying attention to your phone, not your driving. ---
**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:** [August 18, 2023, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6236 "2023-08-18T03:32:58Z")
> [@InternetLegend](#): > > It’s amazing how many people think everyone _else_ gets distracted, but not _them_. Agreed. I have a hands-free Bluetooth system in the car and I know I get distracted when the phone rings. However, I’m not above having a phone conversation when driving home from work if I get stuck in traffic. I’m glad I don’t have to touch the phone. That would be an accident-causing event. Also, I use the phone for GPS. Re: schools. Pool in the Jr. Highs, beautiful auditorium in my high school, which was built in the early 70s. Our pep rallies were still held in the gym. Many rooms were multi-purpose like the gyms. Computer lab of the punch-tape type was in middle school but they were working on setting something up in the high school that was a bit more updated. Here-a-ford is “correct” but I said hareford because that’s how I learned it. Even the British ex pronounced it more like I did than the correct pronunciation. England has lots of accents and localisms that affect pronunciation. ---
**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:** [August 18, 2023, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6237 "2023-08-18T03:57:16Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Am I just hyper-aware of my diminished capacity and other people are not? Sort of. I suspect that other people are somewhat aware of the issue, but _this here thing is way more important than the safety of others_. ---
**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:** [August 18, 2023, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6238 "2023-08-18T04:00:06Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > There’s a place called Hereford? There is also a place called Guernsey which is quite close to a place called Jersey (without the “New” or the “oi” sound). Angus, though, still mostly just a person, I think. ---
**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:** [August 18, 2023, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6239 "2023-08-18T07:27:07Z")
Yes, I’m aware of the relationship between the cows and the islands of Jersey and Guernsey. And I’ve had milk from both those breeds of cows. Herefords are much more common in the US, and there’s been a ton of selective breeding of them in the US. So i think of them as a US thing. But i guess they aren’t? ---
**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:** [August 18, 2023, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6240 "2023-08-18T09:16:08Z")
I think it may be useful to know how long your billing period is ! I appear to have used a lot less electricity than everyone else. I get a bill every month; i assume others are quarterly/half year/annual ? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2023, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6241 "2023-08-18T10:11:23Z")
I get billed monthly. Every year it jumps up to 900-1000kwh this month because of air conditioning, the pool filter and the dehumidifier in the basement. “Jailee”? Inmate, surely… ---
**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:** [August 18, 2023, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6242 "2023-08-18T10:27:14Z")
Or jailed ---
**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:** [August 18, 2023, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6243 "2023-08-18T13:05:13Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > > [@InternetLegend](#): > > > > It’s amazing how many people think everyone _else_ gets distracted, but not _them_. > > Agreed. I have a hands-free Bluetooth system in the car and I know I get distracted when the phone rings. However, I’m not above having a phone conversation when driving home from work if I get stuck in traffic. I’m glad I don’t have to touch the phone. That would be an accident-causing event. Also, I use the phone for GPS. I tend to avoid conversing while driving, as I tend to give most of my attention to the giant metal contraption I’m in and the others around it. **Mrs Magill** could always tell (in the days before bluetooth) when I was driving, as I usually limited my vocabulary to “Yeah,” “Okay,” and “Uh-huh,” and then didn’t retain a single thing that was said. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380.md?page=311) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380.md?page=313)