# 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:** 348
**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:** [May 29, 2025, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/6942 "2025-05-29T21:04:40Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Although, i brought it, in it’s original packaging, to a nearby whole foods, and it’s certainly possible the employee there was authorized to throw it away, and not pay to ship it back. Since Whole Foods processes a ton of Amazon returns (at least mine does; there’s always a line at the Amazon returns counter whenever I go there), I’m sure they’re sending stuff back to Amazon by the truckload. I doubt shipping a single sieve back to Amazon cost them much more than a little bit of space on a truck that was already going there anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2025, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/6943 "2025-05-29T21:38:08Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I returned something to Amazon recently because it had been improperly packaged and arrived broken. I was really surprised that they made me return it. Although, i brought it, in it’s original packaging, to a nearby whole foods, and it’s certainly possible the employee there was authorized to throw it away, and not pay to ship it back. > > (it was a kitchen sieve, and it arrived crushed, and with the screen mostly detached from the ring that holds it. It was _really_ broken, and i doubt its value as scrap metal was worth the cost of shipping it.) Looks like the policy changed in recent years! ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/6944 "2025-05-30T00:52:30Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > it was a kitchen sieve, and it arrived crushed, and with the screen mostly detached from the ring that holds it. It was _really_ broken… Probably leaked like a sieve. mmm ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/6945 "2025-05-30T01:11:24Z")
I once ordered a small object from Amazon, and I received … an empty envelope. I did a chat with Amazon and they agreed to refund me. Then after the chat I got an email saying that my payment would be refunded after I returned the item. So then I had to do another chat to ask them if they were sure that they really wanted me to send back an empty envelope to them. Finally got it resolved. But in general I’ve been very happy with Amazon’s customer service and return policies. I am in the midst right now of returning a Dell laptop to them that I bought through a third party seller. I had a problem with the trackpad and when I contacted Dell for service, they informed me that somehow there was no warranty associated with the laptop. I’m suspicious that the seller did something nefarious to result in this situation. But Amazon said they would take full responsibility and is letting me return the laptop to them, several months after the end of the official return window. ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2025, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/6946 "2025-05-30T11:52:10Z")
I never buy anything on credit, except the use of a credit card which I use 1% of the capacity and pay off every month. I honestly don’t see why I should give 2 figs what my credit score is, (although I checked for curiosity and it’s very high). ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/6947 "2025-05-30T12:47:53Z")
The last time I paid attention to my credit score was when buying my house more than ten years ago. I’m sure my rating is still excellent, but I don’t buy anything on credit and don’t know or care what the score is now. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/6948 "2025-05-30T13:40:00Z")
> [@colinfred](#): > > I never buy anything on credit, except the use of a credit card which I use 1% of the capacity and pay off every month. We use our cards for most of our purchases. We also pay them off every month. It’s weird, but your credit score takes a hit when you pay cash for large purchases. My score dropped by about twenty points when we payed cash for a new car last month. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/6949 "2025-05-30T15:14:33Z")
I know exactly what my credit score is because I bought a new car recently. I’m also always slightly aware what it is because of credit karma. I don’t trust it to be 100% up to the minute accurate but it’s pretty close. I have excellent credit in case you are wondering. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/6950 "2025-05-30T15:28:22Z")
Not in the U.S., and Switzerland doesn’t have the same kind of credit rating. It’s more of a traffic light system - green, yellow, and red. If you’re red, forget about buying anything on credit. I have no idea what the U.S. companies have on me for a credit score. Most companies require a U.S. address, which I don’t have. And I don’t need a U.S. credit score at the moment. I might have known it when we were saving up for a house in the U.S. That was about 30 years ago, so probably no longer valid. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2025, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/6951 "2025-05-30T19:19:44Z")
I chose “I check my credit score regularly “, but that’s not exactly right. What I check regularly is my credit card transactions online— what charges have gone through, what are pending, if anything looks suspicious, etc. It just happens that the main web page listing my transactions also shows my current credit score prominently ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2025, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/6952 "2025-05-30T19:29:37Z")
As for the driving question- are they many cars backed up behind the left turning car? In other words, is that creating a big jam? If so, sure, let a car or two in. One car? Let them wait, make the turn. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2025, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/6953 "2025-05-30T19:38:16Z")
Same, plus Equifax sends a monthly update that I usually don’t look at. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/6954 "2025-05-30T19:41:41Z")
The driving question is my daily nightmare. From experience, people dropping off their kids just want to get it done, and being “kind” to people who aren’t inclined to follow the rules does not encourage them to be better citizens, but it does make it harder to drive from my house to anywhere that is not my house. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/6955 "2025-05-30T20:24:52Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > As for the driving question- are they many cars backed up behind the left turning car? In other words, is that creating a big jam? If so, sure, let a car or two in. One car? Let them wait, make the turn. Agreed, so I chose Other. More information needed. mmm ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/6956 "2025-05-30T20:32:38Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > are they many cars backed up behind the left turning car? There were at most two other cars waiting behind the left turning car. They may have also been waiting to turn left, but it’s impossible to know. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/6957 "2025-05-30T21:05:13Z")
None of those are acceptable reasons to drive in the wrong lane; but there are some acceptable reasons. Most of them involve there not being anybody in that portion of the other lane at the time, and there simultaneously being a good reason not to be in one’s own. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/6958 "2025-05-30T21:23:41Z")
This is what happens when people leave their lane. [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52603736965_b5f2e43d11_b.jpg "2023-01-02\_05-18-10") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/190534151@N04/52603736965/) ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/6959 "2025-05-30T21:28:00Z")
On the school poll, thinking about a local school that is across from the top of a T intersection, so I could continue driving north, past the school; turn right into the school driveway, or turn left into a residential neighborhood. IOW, there is a legitimate reason for that car to be stopped (waiting to turn left) other than breaking the normal rules of the road. As a cyclist I have almost gotten creamed by _assholes_ like that. Cyclists are supposed to ride on the right side of the road, are allowed to ride on the shoulder, & _may_ pass stopped cars to the left of them, essentially making it a multi-lane road. If you’re on a four-lane road & the guy in the inner lane stops to motion an oncoming car to turn in front of him, that does nothing about traffic in the outer lane that does have the right of way & has not relinquished their right of way. When the crash happens, it’s not the fault of the guy going straight in the outer lane. It _is_ the fault of the turning driver & probably some contributory negligence on the part of the going-straight driver in the inner lane who motioned them on, who, since they weren’t directly involved in the accident probably drives off, never giving their information. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/6960 "2025-05-30T22:03:32Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > None of those are acceptable reasons to drive in the wrong lane; but there are some acceptable reasons. Most of them involve there not being anybody in that portion of the other lane at the time, and there simultaneously being a good reason not to be in one’s own. Agreed, i always give bicycles i wide berth if there’s room for me to do that. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/6961 "2025-05-30T22:08:04Z")
There are two local schools near me. One is on a small residential road, and i avoid that road at the start and end of school, except when i had children going to the school, when i sometimes drove them. The other is on a slightly larger road, and i just assume I’ll be stuck in traffic for a few minutes if i need to drive down that road. I can’t say i think very hard about exactly which cars I’m waiting for; I’m going to be waiting for people turning into the school. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636.md?page=347) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636.md?page=349)