# 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:** 268
**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:** [January 18, 2025, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5342 "2025-01-18T21:48:58Z")
I’ll actively be avoiding the inauguration, unless I see/hear somewhere else that Trump’s been shot **again** at which point, I promise my attention will be _fixed_ I tell you, _fixed_. ---
**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:** [January 18, 2025, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5343 "2025-01-18T22:39:41Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > unless I see/hear somewhere else that Trump’s been shot **again** at which point, That’s the only way you’ll hear about Vance for the next four years. ---
**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:** [January 18, 2025, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5344 "2025-01-18T22:45:02Z")
I picked “dad didn’t smoke”, but it would be more accurate to say he didn’t smoke during my lifetime. From what I understand he did smoke when he was in the military before I was born. Mom never smoked as far as I know, at least not tobacco. Both Mom and Dad went to college in the 1960s, and I know for a fact that both of them smoked other plants at that time. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2025, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5345 "2025-01-18T22:54:24Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > From what I understand he did smoke when he was in the military before I was born. That is also when my dad started. When I was a kid, his doctor gave him “the talk”, and he quit cigs, switched to cigars briefly, then a pipe. Later he was smoking only two pipes a day, he just liked to fiddle with it. And you know, not having been in a combat zone in the military, I can’t blame guys who started then. Interestingly, when my dad got in he was a non smoker and traded his for candy. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2025, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5346 "2025-01-19T00:42:36Z")
My dad mostly smoked cigarettes, but he did smoke a pipe for a short time. Mom also once taled him into trying Swisher Sweets. That experiment was a resounding failure ---
**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:** [January 19, 2025, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5347 "2025-01-19T04:31:54Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > I get kind of tired of polls that have no answer I can use. Eh, some polls are targeted to a specific audience. Who wants to see 75% “None of the above”? That’s not interesting. If I’m not in the intended demographic for a given poll, I’ll either just skip it or go right to the results. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2025, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5348 "2025-01-19T04:56:18Z")
Discourse include a “not voting” option, so that those who do not want to vote or are otherwise not qualified to submit as opinion could lock the poll open in their browser – or register a non-vote іп a single-option poll. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2025, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5349 "2025-01-19T12:38:39Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > > [@kayT](#): > > > > I get kind of tired of polls that have no answer I can use. > > Eh, some polls are targeted to a specific audience. Who wants to see 75% “None of the above”? That’s not interesting. If I’m not in the intended demographic for a given poll, I’ll either just skip it or go right to the results. Totally agree. If none of the options apply to you, the pollster is not interested in your response and constructed the poll as such. For example, I did not vote in the quarterback poll because, for me, it would depend on my relationship with the QB and how much I trust his judgement. The poll maker only wants to hear from those who have a solid yes/no opinion, and that is ok. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5350 "2025-01-19T14:41:37Z")
It’s true, I am an NFL team owner. 🙂 ---
**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:** [January 19, 2025, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5351 "2025-01-19T15:02:26Z")
That’s really a straw man. The fact is that people do make interesting polls, polls that are of personal interest, but sometimes they neglect to consider all the possible options. That’s the complaint. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5352 "2025-01-19T16:27:49Z")
Re: NFL, I think allowing people to purchase power is a bad thing to encourage, no matter the reason. I would hope the decision-makers consulted the team, anyway; I don’t know how football works. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5353 "2025-01-19T17:00:12Z")
The current salary cap is about $270 million, so freeing up $60 million would be helpful, but not enough of a gamechanger (pun intended) to give up control of player selection to someone who is likely not very good at it. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2025, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5354 "2025-01-19T17:02:57Z")
If my poll is asking “What brand of helicopter do you own?”, then of course “I don’t own a helicopter” will be the runaway top choice. But that’s not what I want to know, and it will dilute the rest of the results. I only want people who own helicopters to answer. I don’t see why that upsets people. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2025, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5355 "2025-01-19T17:22:39Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > If my poll is asking “What brand of helicopter do you own?”, then of course “I don’t own a helicopter” will be the runaway top choice. But that’s not what I want to know, and it will dilute the rest of the results. I only want people who own helicopters to answer. I don’t see why that upsets people It doesn’t. It’s the polls in which I have an applicable opinion that doesn’t fit in the options given that annoy me. You’d get useful answers (to the extent that any poll here is useful) to your helicopter poll, because the answers you’d get wouldn’t be misleading. Forcing answers into limited boxes for polls that would suitably have additional answers will get you misleading results. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5356 "2025-01-19T17:22:53Z")
But you could allow them to vote, and then just look at the second through Nth answers for your information. (Though if you add “toy,” “model,” “literary,” “filmed,” and “imaginary,” you probably really would dilute your results in an unfortunate way.) ---
**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:** [January 19, 2025, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5357 "2025-01-19T17:46:49Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > The fact is that people do make interesting polls, polls that are of personal interest, but sometimes they neglect to consider all the possible options. That’s the complaint. I agree. There’s been a shocking lack of hindu-atheist selections in recent poll. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5358 "2025-01-19T20:15:29Z")
Do I agree with Paul Simon about **WHAT**? Are there really 50 ways to leave your lover? No one ever dares to disturb the sound of silence? Friendship causes pain? If she _once was_ a true love of mine, could she ever be so again? I should hang on to me hopes? She’s been fakin’ it? Joltin’ Joe has left and gone away, for good? Silver Girl’s time has indeed come to shine? El Condor Pasa? He’s the only living boy in all of New York? Help me out here, @susan. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2025, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5359 "2025-01-19T20:23:01Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Do I agree with Paul Simon about **WHAT**? It’s lyrics from his song “Crazy Love, Vol. II,” from _Graceland_. The main reason I recognize it is that the line immediately before those (see below) is one of my all-time favorite single lines from a rock song. > [@](#): > > Fat Charlie the Archangel sloped into the room > He said, “I have no opinion about this > And I have no opinion about that” > **[Paul Simon (Ft. Stimena) – Crazy Love, Vol. II](https://genius.com/Paul-simon-crazy-love-vol-ii-lyrics)** > > \[Verse 1\] / Fat Charlie the Archangel sloped into the room / He said, "I have no opinion about this / And I have no opinion about that" / Sad as a lonely little wrinkled balloon ---
**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:** [January 19, 2025, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5360 "2025-01-19T20:43:46Z")
> [@peccavi](#): > > There’s been a shocking lack of hindu-atheist selections in recent poll. If only there were a catch-all category for unusual choices! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5361 "2025-01-19T21:18:11Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Do I agree with Paul Simon about **WHAT**? > > Are there really 50 ways to leave your lover? > > No one ever dares to disturb the sound of silence? > > Friendship causes pain? > > If she _once was_ a true love of mine, could she ever be so again? > > I should hang on to me hopes? > > She’s been fakin’ it? > > Joltin’ Joe has left and gone away, for good? > > Silver Girl’s time has indeed come to shine? > > El Condor Pasa? > > He’s the only living boy in all of New York? > > Help me out here, @susan. Let’s focus on the important issue here; what exactly are those pigeons plotting? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636.md?page=267) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636.md?page=269)