# 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:** 197
**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:** [October 21, 2024, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/3922 "2024-10-21T21:27:13Z")
> [@chela](#): > > ah other, okay its my first poll- still getting the hang of it. Stop now. Do let yourself become addicted. It is a dark place (_everyone has an opinion and everyone has, uh, a cowboy hat, yeah, yeah, that’s it, that’s the ticket_). ---
**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:** [October 21, 2024, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/3923 "2024-10-21T22:26:55Z")
The World Series question is, for me, akin to: “Which of the following two dinner items, neither of which you like much at all, would you rather have, if you _must_ have one of them?” The issue I have is that I’ve been a baseball fan for close to 50 years, and the Yankees and Dodgers have, throughout my life, always been the two teams that the sports media has focused on, due to their large fan bases, being the lead teams in the two biggest media markets, and generally being successful franchises. As a Brewers fan, I’m just long over both of those teams. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/3924 "2024-10-21T22:37:31Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Velocity, on the other hand, is clearly among those who say no. And it is most definitely not their first poll. The problem with including an “other/neither” option is that it would make many polls meaningless. If someone were to make a poll, “Would you rather have Trump or Vance be president,” or “would you rather have cancer or AIDS,” etc., and provided a “neither” option, then 99% of people would select “neither.” Who would willingly choose cancer or AIDS when they could have neither? With many polls, a choice has to be forced as a limited-choice question in order to gauge opinion. “Other” would just make it meaningless. ---
**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:** [October 21, 2024, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/3925 "2024-10-21T23:11:25Z")
> [@chela](#): > > But for the World Series there are only two options, it’s been decided. Oops did I spoil > It for you? You left out “I have no idea and I don’t care”. Admittedly, if it’s down to two options (which I didn’t know but don’t care about), and you only want people to vote who do have an opinion, then it works without an “other”. But I would have specified the year; in addition to my not knowing what stage this year’s is at, the question looked kind of general to me. However, I’m probably nitpicking. > [@Velocity](#): > > With many polls, a choice has to be forced as a limited-choice question in order to gauge opinion. “Other” would just make it meaningless. I think the results of the forced-choice polls are likely to be meaningless, also. But we’ve had this discussion before. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/3926 "2024-10-21T23:34:55Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > > [@chela](#): > > > > ah other, okay its my first poll- still getting the hang of it. > > Stop now. Do let yourself become addicted. It is a dark place (_everyone has an opinion and everyone has, uh, a cowboy hat, yeah, yeah, that’s it, that’s the ticket_). I really stepped in short here didn’t I? My Yeti was designed in Yexas Made in Yina, 20 oz rambler Magslide lid no straws Seven years old all original Gallons and gallons of pure hydration. ---
**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:** [October 22, 2024, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/3927 "2024-10-22T00:02:31Z")
The Yankees are my local team. They are the team I grew up watching. I go to several Somerset Patriot games a year (their AA affiliate). I watch over 100 Yankee games a year. So yeah, I picked the Yankees. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/3928 "2024-10-22T00:17:32Z")
Water wasn’t an option on the flight beverage/food poll, but it’s what I would have taken. If I had to choose from the options, though, I’d go with beer rather than a soft drink. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/3929 "2024-10-22T00:20:19Z")
I consider water to be one of the “soft drinks”. That option’s pretty much a catchall for any non-alcoholic drink. ---
**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:** [October 22, 2024, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/3930 "2024-10-22T00:20:55Z")
The Dodgers and I arrived in SoCal around the same time, so I bleed Dodger Blue (Pantone #294.) ---
**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:** [October 22, 2024, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/3931 "2024-10-22T00:21:26Z")
I have no strong opinion about the Dodgers, but I’ve hated the Yankees all my life. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/3932 "2024-10-22T00:22:19Z")
Oh okay. I’d always taken it to mean carbonated stuff like Coke or Pepsi. ---
**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:** [October 22, 2024, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/3933 "2024-10-22T00:45:53Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The Dodgers and I arrived in SoCal around the same time, so I bleed Dodger Blue (Pantone #294.) Ah, you’re just a baby. I was in kindergarten. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/3934 "2024-10-22T00:46:55Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > You left out “I have no idea and I don’t care”. Yeah, I dont care much about professional sportsball. My Dad was an Angels fans, so I suppose if they were one of the choices, I vote for them. But they arent, of course. ---
**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:** [October 22, 2024, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/3935 "2024-10-22T01:19:19Z")
And i need to know whether there’s bell pepper in either or both of those options. Because if it’s in one of them, i take the other. And if it’s in both, I’ll end up eating neither. I might take a dinner and eat the roll or something, or i might eat my emergency chocolate bar. But there’s always the choice, “i prefer to go hungry”. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/3936 "2024-10-22T01:26:46Z")
For the airline food, I have problems with both dishes. Airline chicken (the few times I’ve had a “hot” meal on a flight) tends to the rubbery, and the “gravies” to paste… But I really dislike marina sauces, especially cheap ones that have been frozen and indifferently reheated, and indifferently reheated cheese pasta are their own horror. I voted for the chicken though, as even if the chicken is inedible, the mashed potatoes and probably limp mixed veggies are going to be vaguely passable. Thankfully, even though the poll says I’m unusually hungry and forgot to bring any other food, it gives us a mulligan in that no matter the choice, I still get a salad, roll, and brownie. So that’s a decent amount of calories to carry me through. As for beverages, I’m not much of a wine person, so it’ll be some non-alcoholic “soft drink” depending on what’s offered. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/3937 "2024-10-22T01:39:09Z")
If it wasn’t obvious, the airline meal poll was inspired by this: > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > “Which of the following two dinner items, neither of which you like much at all, would you rather have, if you _must_ have one of them?” > [@ParallelLines](#): > > Thankfully, even though the poll says I’m unusually hungry and forgot to bring any other food, it gives us a mulligan in that no matter the choice, I still get a salad, roll, and brownie. So that’s a decent amount of calories to carry me through. That’s exactly why I included that information. I figured if someone found both options just completely unappetizing, just pick one and skip the main course. But you still have to tell the flight attendant which one you want. > [@puzzlegal](#): > > And i need to know whether there’s bell pepper in either or both of those options. Neither option contains bell pepper. ---
**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:** [October 22, 2024, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/3938 "2024-10-22T01:47:12Z")
Then i will go back and vote. I will take the chicken, because the flight attendant may not realize there is bell pepper in the marinara sauce, but would probably notice chunks of pepper draped over the chicken. And fwiw, i, too, read “soft drink” to mean something fizzy and probably sweet I’ll probably have water, but might have tomato juice. ---
**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:** [October 22, 2024, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/3939 "2024-10-22T01:51:03Z")
What kind of psychopath would put a bell pepper in a marinara? ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/3940 "2024-10-22T01:55:40Z")
I’ve seen quite a few marinara sauces with roasted red bell peppers, and even more (grew up in NM natch) with roasted red chile peppers, so it wouldn’t surprise me. Although I wouldn’t consider it _common_ either. ---
**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:** [October 22, 2024, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/3941 "2024-10-22T02:16:10Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > What kind of psychopath would put a bell pepper in a marinara? My mother. I grew up with a profound distrust of any red sauce. And when she served spaghetti, i had dry spaghetti with some powdered commercial Parmesan from the cardboard cylinder. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636.md?page=196) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636.md?page=198)