# Discussion thread for the "Polls only" thread (Part 2) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 16, 2024, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636 "2024-02-16T02:56:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**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:** [February 25, 2024, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/181 "2024-02-25T05:09:10Z")
Our downtown (or, more correctly, Downtown) is a specific, defined area of town just east of where the city started (Old Town). It has some retail, but it’s mainly known for government buildings, including City Hall and the courthouses, the main public library, the Convention Center, and the main offices of a bunch of banks and other financial institutions. Oh, and law offices galore. There are bars and restaurants and some art galleries and boutique retail stores, and there’s usually something cultural going on during summer weekends. I intend to go there a lot more often than I actually make 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:** [February 25, 2024, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/182 "2024-02-25T07:46:06Z")
My own town is rather small, so downtown doesn’t include a library (it’s at the school), a courthouse (it’s in another town), and even the restaurants are rather spread out. I sometimes go into town, which means going to the main city in my canton, and there they have a central shopping/cultural area. I’m there about once a month and I usually combine shopping with a stop at a restaurant. If I go to a museum or concert, I might go to a downtown restaurant. Depends on the schedule. ---
**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:** [February 25, 2024, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/183 "2024-02-25T12:29:57Z")
My own town is a suburb. It has a small commercial district, which i think of as “downtown my-town”, but i wouldn’t say I’m “going downtown” if i went to the cheese shop or Town Hall. I might say that if i went to the down town area of the nearby city that it’s a suburb of. So i wondered which was meant by the poll. Then i wondered if it’s just a snatch of a song i don’t know. ---
**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:** [February 25, 2024, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/184 "2024-02-25T14:47:21Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Then i wondered if it’s just a snatch of a song i don’t know. I feel like you must surely know this song by Petula Clark. > When you’re alone, and life is making you lonely > You can always go > Downtown > When you’ve got worries, all the noise and the hurry > Seems to help, I know > Downtown > Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city > Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty > How can you lose? ---
**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:** [February 25, 2024, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/185 "2024-02-25T15:22:52Z")
I’ve hated that song since I first heard it; which I think was about when it first came out. Partly for what always seemed to me to be a sort of forced bouncy cheerfulness; though obviously it didn’t sound that way to most people. But mostly because if I’m feeling worried I most definitely do not want a lot of noise and hurry and traffic, which would only make me feel more pressured. I want a big quiet field with a tree in it, or an entire woodlot or forest, with nobody there to bug me while I calm down and work out whatever I’m worried about. Obviously Petulia and I are two very different people. ---
**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:** [February 25, 2024, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/186 "2024-02-25T15:31:49Z")
The lyrics are actually pretty funny. > And you may find somebody kind to help and understand you > Someone who is just like you and needs a gentle hand to > Guide them along I can find all sorts of things downtown, but I’m pretty sure it’s none of that. ETA Also, I had no idea before this that Jimmy page was a session player on that song. Who knew. Meanwhile, all the locals in my lovely little New England town don’t call it the downtown area, they call it uptown. Not sure where that came from, but it’s pretty universal. ---
**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:** [February 25, 2024, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/187 "2024-02-25T15:47:17Z")
I do know that song, but don’t see the connection between it and the poll. ---
**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:** [February 25, 2024, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/188 "2024-02-25T16:05:42Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > > And you may find somebody kind to help and understand you > > Someone who is just like you and needs a gentle hand to > > Guide them along > > I can find all sorts of things downtown, but I’m pretty sure it’s none of that. I have the distinct impression that in some downtowns if somebody offers you a gentle hand to guide you along you’d better run. That’s not likely to be a problem in the downtowns I generally go to, though; and I expect is so for only some percentage of such offers in the downtowns in which it is a hazard. But as general advice I do think it should come with a caution notice. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2024, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/189 "2024-02-25T16:27:46Z")
DC doesn’t really have a “downtown” in the traditional sense. It’s all federal buildings and the Mall. Nightlife and retail is spread out into certain pockets here and there across the city. Nobody “goes downtown” socially, rather you go to The Wharf, or Adams Morgan, or Columbia Heights, or H Street. ---
**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:** [February 25, 2024, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/190 "2024-02-25T17:36:26Z")
I’m also in a suburb. I couldn’t tell you where the original town was. The courthouse/goverment offices are probably circa the 70s, and there are no shops near there. Instead we have strip malls at most major intersections ---
**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:** [February 25, 2024, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/191 "2024-02-25T19:48:06Z")
One of the poll’s options is … “There’s no one kind there to help and understand me” From the song … > And you may find somebody kind to help and understand you > Someone who is just like you and needs a gentle hand to > Guide them along HTH. ---
**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:** [February 25, 2024, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/192 "2024-02-25T23:46:00Z")
> [@peccavi](#): > > Los Angeles has a downtown. There’s a lot of cultural events downtown or downtown adjacent. Other than that, people only go there for work or legal needs. > > On the other hand, every community in LA County as something equivalent to downtown. There are about 6-8 within a 15 minute drive for me. You can find everything from ballet to farmers markets. Yes, and I live in Los Angeles, but I’m about 15 miles from downtown. I didn’t know how to answer, as the “downtown” for the community within Los Angeles that I live in is one street of no more than 20 buildings. I answered any questions about downtown as about DTLA. ---
**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:** [February 26, 2024, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/193 "2024-02-26T11:57:53Z")
I love travel. But i hate the preparation (buying tickets, etc.) and i sometimes struggle with recovering from travel. So “in general”? Dunno. Thus “other”. ---
**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:** [February 26, 2024, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/194 "2024-02-26T14:13:23Z")
Travelling can be very much what I call “Type 2 Fun”. I can be a real hassle. You have to get tickets, find hotels, eat every meal out, et cetera. Sometimes you have to spend long hours in the car, stay overnight in someone else’s bed, and endure your sister-in-law’s horrendous cooking. But when you get home, you say to yourself, “I’m glad I got to see X,” or “It was nice seeing your brother’s family.” In other words, it may not be enjoyable _while_ your doing it, but you’re glad to have done it after the fact. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/195 "2024-02-26T14:19:27Z")
Was witness at a wedding performed by a justice of the peace. When the question came up does anyone have any reason to object the other witness in the room said “I object!” The justice asked why and she responded “oh, no particular reason, but I’ve always wanted to do that, and never had the opportunity before.” ---
**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:** [February 26, 2024, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/196 "2024-02-26T14:49:12Z")
I love travelling, but I also love being home. So I have mixed feelings about travelling, because it isn’t possible to do both at once. Voted “other”. I don’t care what color the eggshells are (although multicolor packs are pretty); but it isn’t because “eggs are eggs”, because I care what the chickens have been eating and how they’re treated, and prefer the flavor of pasture-raised. However, eggshell color isn’t affected by any of that; it’s only affected by the breed of chickens, and doesn’t affect the human-edible portion of the egg. Didn’t vote. ---
**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:** [February 26, 2024, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/197 "2024-02-26T14:59:59Z")
I feel just the opposite. I enjoy traveling while i do it. It’s the prep and recovery i don’t enjoy. ---
**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:** [February 26, 2024, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/198 "2024-02-26T15:02:52Z")
I voted “white for dyeing eggs”, but that’s not really right. I almost always buy brown eggs when I’m not dyeing them, because i care about all the stuff @thorny_locust cares about, and around here, that means all the eggs i buy are brown. The white ones are all imported from distant factory farms. ---
**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:** [February 26, 2024, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/199 "2024-02-26T15:06:20Z")
That’s usually true here also; but I think some of the factory farms may be on to that and some may also now be selling brown eggs. The breed of chickens that gives the highest production lays white eggs; so most of the factory eggs will be white – but if they think they can get more money for brown ones, they may do some batches of those (though I expect any given factory barn would be one or the other to simplify sorting.) ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/200 "2024-02-26T16:15:11Z")
Three of the poll’s options: > I listen to the rhythm of the gentle bossa nova > > There’s no one kind there to help and understand me > > How can you lose? are references to lines in the song. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636.md?page=11)