# 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:** 313
**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:** [August 18, 2023, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6244 "2023-08-18T13:29:10Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > I appear to have used a lot less electricity than everyone else. My bill was small (for us) last month, and it was over 3,000 kWh. The highest months over the past year have been over 8,000 kWh. I guess we use a lot. ---
**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:** [August 18, 2023, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6245 "2023-08-18T13:58:35Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > My bill was small (for us) last month, and it was over 3,000 kWh. The highest months over the past year have been over 8,000 kWh. I guess we use a lot Holy cow. I used 245 kWh last month. Averaging PG&E’s kWh price (peak/off-peak) to $.49/kWh, they would have billed me $3920 for _one month_ if I used 8000 kWh. Do you have a staff of 24/7 arc welders or something? ---
**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:** [August 18, 2023, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6246 "2023-08-18T14:02:56Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > they would have billed me $3920 for _one month_ if I used 8000 kWh. It was never _that_ high. $1,000 per month at the worst. Still, a lot. ---
**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:** [August 18, 2023, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6247 "2023-08-18T14:44:47Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > My bill was small (for us) last month, and it was over 3,000 kWh. The highest months over the past year have been over 8,000 kWh. I guess we use a lot. Yikes! I used 713 in 31 days, and that includes farm use (primarily the produce cooler, but there is some additional use.) And I have an electric water heater and an electric stove. There is only one of me, which presumably affects the use downwards. ---
**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:** [August 18, 2023, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6248 "2023-08-18T14:46:21Z")
> [@InternetLegend](#): > > > [@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. Do you always drive alone or do you prohibit your passengers from talking to you when you drive? ---
**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 18, 2023, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6249 "2023-08-18T15:09:19Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Do you always drive alone or do you prohibit your passengers from talking to you when you drive? Major difference. A passenger in a car knows to shut up when things get dicey. And you don’t have to distract yourself by telling them to shut up. They can see the context and where you are and make judgment calls that someone on the phone can’t do while they are talking to you. ---
**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:** [August 18, 2023, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6250 "2023-08-18T15:09:48Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Do you always drive alone or do you prohibit your passengers from talking to you when you drive? That’s actually different from talking on the phone. Your passengers are at least in the car with you; so your mind’s still in the car. And passengers, at least good ones, are likely to notice if the traffic’s suddenly weird, and to adjust their conversation accordingly. Some passengers, of course, are unreasonably distracting. But that’s a separate problem; and because there can be other distractions doesn’t mean that the phone isn’t one. – I’ve been in more than one building that also housed a jail; but haven’t been in the jail section itself. Voted that I haven’t been in a jail. ---
**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, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6251 "2023-08-18T15:14:11Z")
Yes, lots of studies have found that drivers react differently to passengers than to people on the phone. Interestingly, the safety of talking with passengers varies by age. Teenagers are more likely to get into an accident with friends in their car, and middle aged drivers are less likely to get into an accident with friends in their car. (according to a guy from the highway loss data institute, HLDI, which studies all things about auto accidents.) ---
**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:** [August 18, 2023, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6252 "2023-08-18T15:18:28Z")
> [@InternetLegend](#): > > It’s amazing how many people think everyone _else_ gets distracted, but not _them_ In my case, that’s true. Everyone one else should refrain from talking on the phone while driving. I can do it, though. ---
**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 18, 2023, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6253 "2023-08-18T15:28:37Z")
In July - the hottest month in Las Vegas history - we used 1874 kw/h. June was 1061. But back in March, our first full month of residing here, we used a mere 240. Goes to show you how expensive air conditioning really is. This month we’re on pace for 1651, but the next couple weeks are expected to be much cooler, so I anticipate it being somewhat less than 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:** [August 18, 2023, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6254 "2023-08-18T16:29:57Z")
I cannot even begin to describe my loathing for pie charts. And if you really want to get me going, make it a 3D pie chart. ---
**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, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6255 "2023-08-18T16:34:08Z")
The police officer maintained that I was drunk and disorderly. I maintained I was merely disorderly. The Magistrate maintained that _everyone_ on Hillsboro St was disorderly after the win over Carolina and dismissed the case. ---
**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:** [August 18, 2023, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6256 "2023-08-18T16:35:18Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > I cannot even begin to describe my loathing for pie charts. I feel the same way. ---
**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:** [August 18, 2023, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6257 "2023-08-18T16:46:27Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Holy cow. I used 245 kWh last month. Averaging PG&E’s kWh price (peak/off-peak) to $.49/kWh, they would have billed me $3920 for _one month_ if I used 8000 kWh. That’s expensive electricity. My last month’s bill worked out to $.097/kWh, or $193.22 for 1992 kWh. We’ve been in a heat wave with nighttime lows around 80 and daytime highs in the mid 90s every day for more than a month. My bill only goes below 300 kWh a couple of months in the winter. ---
**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:** [August 18, 2023, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6258 "2023-08-18T16:54:12Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > > [@Maserschmidt](#): > > > > I cannot even begin to describe my loathing for pie charts. > > I feel the same way. So you can’t even begin to describe @Maserschmidt’s loathing for pie charts? Neither can I. mmm ---
**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:** [August 18, 2023, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6259 "2023-08-18T19:46:10Z")
> [@Bayaker](#): > > That’s expensive electricity. PG&E, aka Pacific Graft and Extortion. 'Nuff said. I’ve been keeping of the kwh since January 2020 because that’s the first thing the solar sellers ask you. The old heat pump was replaced August that year and resulted in about a 20% drop in consumption. Last bill which included about half of the _month in hell_ with daily highs over 110 was 1,318kwh at 15.5¢ per, delivered. That includes about 5% off for the American Rescue Plan remnant. ---
**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, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6260 "2023-08-18T20:46:24Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > A passenger in a car knows to shut up when things get dicey. My passengers alway scream when the tires leave the road. Wusses. ---
**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, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6261 "2023-08-18T23:26:09Z")
User name checks out. ---
**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 19, 2023, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6262 "2023-08-19T03:04:22Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Major difference. A passenger in a car knows to shut up when things get dicey. And you don’t have to distract yourself by telling them to shut up. Not always. I find myself more distracted with a passenger than with the phone. Of course, one of my passengers tends to be unaware of his own behavior and the surroundings, which doesn’t help. I’m used to road trips of several hours by myself. Sometimes, I even choose to do it in silence. A passenger is hella distracting to me. Each driver can have differing distractions. ---
**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 19, 2023, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/6263 "2023-08-19T04:04:53Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > My passengers alway scream when the tires leave the road. Wusses. Thus we finally learn the reason to fear you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380.md?page=312) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380.md?page=314)