# 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:** 293
**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, 2025, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5842 "2025-02-25T15:47:00Z")
I agree with your assessment of his post, that metric was off, at least in my experience. ---
**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:** [February 25, 2025, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5843 "2025-02-25T16:40:46Z")
I just reread _The Hobbit_ a couple months ago, but after thinking about it for a while, I only came up with 12 dwarves. I’d forgotten Ori. The seven Disney Dwarfs are a piece of cake. I’ve been able to rattle those off since I was a kid. As for the plurals, in all cases I voted that they “should be” exactly what they are. @markn_1 did a nice job on the dwarfs/dwarves explanation. I’d always assumed that the Maple Leafs were so named because they represented the national symbol of the Maple Leaf and not a literal leaf, which changed the pluralization. But there seems to be some disagreement on the origin of the name. Some contend the team was named for the WWI “Maple Leaf” regiment, who were familiarly known as “Maple Leafs.” Others claim that story is bogus and that it’s “Leafs” simply because a team name is a proper noun, and proper nouns don’t have irregular plurals. Whatever, it is what it is and I accept it as such. ---
**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, 2025, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5844 "2025-02-25T17:27:02Z")
> [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > Estimate it yourself by assuming 1 sq m (or 1 sq yd) per person in which you are not quite touching the person next to you. But then you first need to estimate the area of the space. Which I have no idea of, either. > [@Wheelz](#): > > Others claim that story is bogus and that it’s “Leafs” simply because a team name is a proper noun, and proper nouns don’t have irregular plurals. But the “Leafs” part is part of the name, I presume? The team isn’t named “Maple Leaf”, is it? and if not, a proper noun, in particular, a name, can be spelled however the ones whose name it is want to spell it. (I’m one of the people who voted “Who?”; not because I’ve never heard the name, but because I don’t know anything more about them than the name, and that, presumably, they’re a Canadian professional team of some sport.) ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5845 "2025-02-25T17:52:43Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > I’ve never heard the name, but because I don’t know anything more about them than the name, and that, presumably, they’re a Canadian professional team of some sport. Toronto Maple Leafs, one of the “Original Six” teams in the NHL - National Hockey League, before any of the expansions (the first one occurring in 1967) happened. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5846 "2025-02-25T18:06:40Z")
Steven Pinker explained this as a manifestation of the English grammar rule that _headless compound nouns do not take irregular plurals_. A headless compound noun is one that refers to an object that cannot be referred to by the last noun alone. For example, a mailman can also be referred to as a man, so it is not headless. But a Walkman cannot be referred to as a man, so it is headless and its plural is not Walkmen (for most people; I did a [poll](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-only-no-discussion/953642/3982) about it a couple of years ago). Likewise, when I talk about all the maple leaves in my yard, each one is not only a maple leaf but is also a leaf, so I can use the irregular plural. But when I talk about Toronto Maple Leafs, each one is a Maple Leaf but is not a leaf, so I use the regular plural. ---
**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, 2025, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5847 "2025-02-25T19:02:40Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Toronto Maple Leafs, one of the “Original Six” teams in the NHL - National Hockey League, before any of the expansions (the first one occurring in 1967) happened. Thanks. I would have guessed hockey, but I wasn’t sure. And yes, “Leafs” does look like it’s part of a proper name; which again is properly spelled however the one(s) called by that name choose to spell it. Why they chose that version, I don’t know; but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and presume it wasn’t because nobody involved with the creation of the name knew how to spell “leaves”. > [@markn\_1](#): > > when I talk about all the maple leaves in my yard, each one is not only a maple leaf but is also a leaf, so I can use the irregular plural. But when I talk about Toronto Maple Leafs, each one is a Maple Leaf but is not a leaf, so I use the regular plural Huh. That makes sense; I didn’t know it was a grammar rule. Maybe the people who chose the name did know that. ---
**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, 2025, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5848 "2025-02-26T01:51:11Z")
Isn’t the difference between “fewer” and “less” something technical about whether it refers to separable things (“fewer things on my list today!”) or overall quantities that don’t divide in that fashion (“less coffee in my cup this morning”)? ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5849 "2025-02-26T02:29:39Z")
Delving back into the depths of time: > [@Polls only: No discussion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-only-no-discussion/953642/5692): > > Children and adults are sometimes teased or mocked for having the following facial features. Which of them do you actually find rather attractive in adults? > [@Polls only: No discussion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-only-no-discussion/953642/5692): > > gap teeth Does this mean a gap because there’s a missing tooth, or a diastema netween two teeth? ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5850 "2025-02-26T04:22:00Z")
No missing teeth, just an unusually wide space between teeth that were always adjacent. ---
**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:** [February 26, 2025, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5851 "2025-02-26T04:30:04Z")
If it was the Toronto Maple Leaves then @Leaffan would have to change his name. ---
**Author:** ![Jegpeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jegpeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jegpeg)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5852 "2025-02-26T14:08:55Z")
Opposite of more depends on the context. Fewer is used for countable objects, less is used for non-countable objects, more is used for both, so: The opposite of more apples is fewer apples The opposite of more water is less water. ---
**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, 2025, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5853 "2025-02-26T16:52:20Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > If it was the Toronto Maple Leaves then @Leaffan would have to change his name Is that what that name’s about? @Leaffan > [@Jegpeg](#): > > Opposite of more depends on the context. > > Fewer is used for countable objects, less is used for non-countable objects, more is used for both, so: > > The opposite of more apples is fewer apples > The opposite of more water is less water pssst – post #5848. Though I think you put it better. ---
**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 26, 2025, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5854 "2025-02-26T17:37:43Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > I recall getting caught up one crowd to the point where I was being propelled along involuntarily and had to fight to get out. Never again. That happened to me at Mardi Gras in New Orleans in the late 80s. I honestly thought I might get crushed to death. Terrifying experience. Fortunately, of short duration. I’ll have to go back and change my crowd size answer. I mistakenly thought there’d only been 200K at Woodstock 2, but there were actually more than 350K. > [@Bayaker](#): > > Never had any interest in, or knowledge of, _The Hobbit_. Same for me. In fact, now? My eyes glaze over any time it (or any other Tolkien stuff) is mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5855 "2025-02-26T19:55:33Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Isn’t the difference between “fewer” and “less” something technical about whether it refers to separable things (“fewer things on my list today!”) or overall quantities that don’t divide in that fashion (“less coffee in my cup this morning”)? Correct. Less coffee in my cup, fewer spoons of sugar. But that is slip sliding away. ---
**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:** [February 26, 2025, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5856 "2025-02-26T20:43:54Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Is that what that name’s about? @Leaffan Look at his avatar. He’s not exactly hiding it. Seems like he’s been away for awhile. ---
**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, 2025, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5857 "2025-02-26T23:16:22Z")
Ah. I can’t usually read/recognize pictures in avatars in the size in which they show next to posts, so I don’t usually pay them much attention. But going to the profile, yes, in that size Leaffan’s is obvious. (Yours, I still can’t figure out.) ---
**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:** [February 27, 2025, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5858 "2025-02-27T00:28:31Z")
It’s a **L** ight **O** bservation **H** elicopter (LOH) pronounced “loach.” ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5859 "2025-02-27T00:42:33Z")
> [@Jegpeg](#): > > Opposite of more depends on the context. Right. It’s kind of like asking: What’s the opposite of “light”? Is it “dark” or “heavy”? ---
**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 27, 2025, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5860 "2025-02-27T00:55:31Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > It’s a **L** ight **O** bservation **H** elicopter (LOH) pronounced “loach.” Ah. Thanks for info. ---
**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:** [February 27, 2025, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/5861 "2025-02-27T03:40:25Z")
I’m _slightly_ torn on the Friday Feb. 28 purchasing. One the one hand, it’s the day I normally do our weekly grocery shopping, and I was planning on the usual groceries, some additional alcohol (since for the second consecutive week the layoffs at my wife’s work have been postponed with no info [33% of staff] ), and the cat fud. On the other hand, I could do it all on Saturday, with minimal fuss, it’s not like I’d run OUT of anything. But it’s it’s almost always more crowded all the places I was planning on going. Still, I’m about 90% certain I’ll take the minor fuss and bother involved and wait a day. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636.md?page=292) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636.md?page=294)